Tools...

[Straydog]

Well as I have not been in and around mechanics for a while (used to work in a workshop), and I canna afford the top end tools, add to that a being a displaced foreigner I am not up on the brands in the uk,.

So what is a good tool brand and any recommended kits for messing around with the bike and other things laying around that just demand attention when the other half is looking to put you to work…

I just want a decent sent of tools, not overly expensive but just a good brand that is respected I really don’t want to pull together a odds and sods kit. Would rather go out and just grab a good “complete” set.

Any recommendations from the grease monkies?

 

[MrIFan]

Halfords professional stuff is not bad, and they have a sale on some of it at the moment http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...oductId=173083&msg=&langId=-1&catalogId=10151 and they do a trade discount card that knocks a load more off.
I use Teng, pretty good kit with a pretty good guarantee and a fraction of the price of the high end stuff.
Sure someone will be along soon with more ideas.

 

[cookie]

Draper Expert stuff is pretty good too.

 

[Straydog]

thanks guys.. will take a look.

 

[sabang62]

This is a exact copy ot Touratecs tools, but half the price.
http://www.amazon.com/Cruztools-ROADTECH-TOOL-KIT-RTH3/dp/B000WK3SWK

 

[Ceri JC]

Halfords professional stuff is not bad, and they have a sale on some of it at the moment http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...oductId=173083&msg=&langId=-1&catalogId=10151 and they do a trade discount card that knocks a load more off.
I use Teng, pretty good kit with a pretty good guarantee and a fraction of the price of the high end stuff.
Sure someone will be along soon with more ideas.

What he said. My kit is a mixture of Halfords Professional and Teng. Both are very good for the money. I've never needed the Teng warranty, but the one time I needed to replace a Halfords tool, it was a painless process.

Unless I:
A) Won the lottery.
Or
B) Spannered professionally.
I don't think I'd ever be able to justify the real top end stuff. I've used some and yes, it's better, but we're only talking 5-10% better, yet it costs three times the price.

 

[Grey Beard]

This is a exact copy ot Touratecs tools, but half the price.
http://www.amazon.com/Cruztools-ROADTECH-TOOL-KIT-RTH3/dp/B000WK3SWK

Actually I don't think it's going to be that much cheaper. I tried that as a test and Amazon.com cannot ship to Germany. If they did, you would probably be looking at $25-$55 for postage. Then add on local VAT/MWSt+Import Duty, say 23% or so.

That set in Touratech Germany is Euro120.

Grey Beard

 

[Grey Beard]

Kamasa and Britool also are pretty good (or at least were when I bought these many years ago).

Snapon tools very nice, but expensive.

Have a look at Tilgear (Cuffley) and also Axminster. They have reasonable tools and will give you advice on which manufacturers offer good quality gear. Stanley for screw drivers and Bahco for adjustable wrenches, etc.

Grey Beard

 

[JASONBC]

Quite a lot of the kit i use are Facom or Britool (same compony now) but Teng are very good and reasonable prices saying that i have alot of MAC and Snap-on kit, but you get what you pay for anything i will use a lot i buy the good stuff something i don't use that often get a cheaper brand.

Sykes-pickavent stuff (also same firm as Facom and Britool) very good aswell

 

[ghiribizzo]

I use Snap-On, but I did formerly use the tools professionally. Break one and they give you a new one, but you pay for it dearly.
They do fit better - no rounded or damaged nuts etc. Other plus point is that often Brand X's 'slim' sockets wont fit down narrow recesses in Jap bikes whereas Snap-On or Beta will.
On the bike I have a Cruz tools set. But you need to add in a Torx socket for the rear wheel on a 1200 plus a Tommy bar. That with a Wunderlich front spindle adaptor gives enough length to get the rear bolts out and obviously the front spindle.
That lot plus puncture kit goes in a GSEmotion tool case behind the RHS pannier frame.

 

[JASONBC]

They do fit better - no rounded or damaged nuts etc. Other plus point is that often Brand X's 'slim' sockets wont fit down narrow recesses in Jap bikes whereas Snap-On or Beta will.

We have over £15k worth of Beta tools in work and it is expensive cr*p we are for ever replacing it as it doesn't hold up to quality required for plant work. Think the onl reason th efirm bought the BETA kit was because thats the only brand our local steel stockist are supplying now. Would have been better off with TENG than BETA but we don't have a local TENG agent

 

[waterloo700]

If you have the time to collect the stuff - look out for secondhand Snap-On / King Dick or the like.

Never yet regretted spending a bit and buying good tools - plenty of regrets buying crap.