Metrinch tools
Submitted: Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 03:03
ThreadID:
12275
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9845
Replies:
11
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12
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Member - Lawrence L (WA)
HELP!
I am stuck, does anyone know where i can buy Metrinch tools???
Bunnings used to sell them, seems they have ceased too.
thanks
Lawrence
Reply By: Member - Cruisin (QLD) - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 06:51
Reply By: The Publican - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 08:18
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 08:18
Metrinch
tools are the worst craaaaap you could every buy.
AnswerID:
55450
Follow Up By: Pete G - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 09:02
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 09:02
If you are so knowledgeable and have first hand experience please let us all know about it.
FollowupID:
317289
Follow Up By: Member - Alan- Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 12:58
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 12:58
Well I've used a 1/4" drive set of sockets for about 3 years and they're excellent.
When working at my trade I bought heavier duty stuff, Britool, some of which has lasted me for around 40 years! Anything not in the set now is because I lost it not
broke it.
Metrinch is good for what I want on the vehicle.
Don't listen to the so called "The Publican" ........ most of his posts are just what he says the
tools are - crap!
FollowupID:
317327
Follow Up By: Member -Bob & Lex (Sydney) - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 17:36
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 17:36
Ignore him, the rest of us do
FollowupID:
317393
Follow Up By: Member - Jiarna (SA) - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 22:15
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 22:15
I've had a set for 5 years, and the only hassle I've had is losing some of the smaller sockets. I don't use the open-enders much though, as a normal open-ended spanner works better than a Metrinch in tight spots.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Jiarna (SA) - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 22:17
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 22:17
The Publican obviously hasn't bought Supatool spanners or sockets recently!!!
FollowupID:
317451
Follow Up By: colcam - Friday, Apr 23, 2004 at 18:11
Friday, Apr 23, 2004 at 18:11
Hello all you experts on tools!!!
Alan mentioned Britool kits. I still own a full set of Britool hexagon drive sockets that my mother bought me at the start of my apprenticeship, 1958. A bit worn but I still use the original plug spanner. Sometimes these
tools have worked when others have let me down. (Whitworth and A/F sizes) I haven't worked as a Mechanic for a long time but most of my Sidchrome sockets are
well worn too, I now have a "bitser" set which helps me to easily identify the individual
tools in the box.
Happy wrenching!
FollowupID:
317542
Reply By: Hedonist - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 09:34
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 09:34
The Toolmart chain in
Perth carries them.
Cheers,
Pete
AnswerID:
55465
Reply By: Ruffstuff - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 09:54
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 09:54
Hi
Lawrence,
Blackwoods, formerley known as Atkins Carlyle also stock Metrinch tools.
AnswerID:
55471
Reply By: Member - Lawrence L (WA) - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 10:10
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 10:10
Thank you all, I am curious as to why they are the "worst crap", If you have had a bad experience with them please let me know, as i intend to buy a few today.
personaly i feel they are excellent as an in car tool kit, due to the reduced number of spanners and sockets needed.
thanks
Lawrence
AnswerID:
55474
Follow Up By: Member - Al & Mrs Al (Vic) - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 10:21
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 10:21
Hi
Lawrence,
Al works with
tools everyday [in his capacity as a maintenance contractor], he said you should be able to get the Metrinch in any All
Tools store [not sure if they're in WA], he said they're a great tool for the handyman, but for him and the work he does he doesn't use them - he requires a more heavy duty tool, but for the application you're after he agrees as in car tool kit they'd be great.
cheers
Lyn
FollowupID:
317306
Follow Up By: Pete G - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 11:12
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 11:12
Lawrence,
A google search on Metrinch will flick up some sites of interest. Think the Aust Distrib is called Tridon based in Silverwater NSW. They probably dont allow Bunnings a big enough margin
Thye compactness of a set makes them ideal for the reasons you say.
I have seen and used these over the last 10yrs and have had no issues and whilst i look after my gear they have earned their keep.
I did send you a member message (because of the slagging above)
Regards
Pete G
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 15:38
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 15:38
Mrs Al thats not a nice way to talk about Al's workmates.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Al & Mrs Al (Vic) - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 15:45
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 15:45
Bonz,
I'd say it was fairly accurate actually...ahahhaha
FollowupID:
317362
Reply By: KENM - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 13:41
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 13:41
The sockets & ring spanners are OK but the open enders can only be used directly in line with
the nut. Not much good in tight
places.
AnswerID:
55496
Reply By: Glenn D - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 18:01
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 18:01
Hi
Lawrence.
Dont know if you have Repco stores in WA but I just had to buy some tools ( every other car plus work is imperial ). At work I have snap on and couldnt justify that at
home. Repco s own brand
tools are high quality and reasonably priced. Life warranty and you dont need your docket cause it says Repco on it. Use metric for metric and imperial for imperial - The right tool for the right job!!!
AnswerID:
55536
Reply By: Pete G - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 19:12
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 19:12
Folks,
IMHO they are are made as well as most others on the market and are sold as "Industrial Quality". As I have said before I look after my gear, however if needed it gets a workout. No I do not believe in cheater bars and if desperate as with any other spanner would only use it on the ring in this case. I think I have seen that they are guaranteed against breakage.
One very good feature of them is that they grip on the flats of the head/nut and will work where others will not when the corners are rounded. Nut stuffers should be shot at the stake anyway!!!.
One drawback is that the ring end of the combo spanners require more swing than other types (except for the elcheapo 6 pointers). This due to the way the tool is designed to work on the flats. If using the open end there is a bit more play than normal spanners. The sockets are fine as the ratchet mechanism allows a smaller swing.
They are definately ahead of supatool etc. I dont think they have been well promoted in Aust and hence the scepticism. Their overall range is a bit limited as well (although adequate for most needs).
Repco is a respected brand along with many others.
I have a 71 piece set which is contained in a plastic moulded box that measures 33 x 38 x8 cm. It contains 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 sockets std and deep upto 32mm and a set of ring OE's 8 to 22mm plus accessories. This set will cover Metric AF and Whit. so if need be you could work on an old FJ or Landy. Otherwise you would need a medium size toolbox + helper springs. The set cost about $300 - now selling about $400.
Times have changed - I rember there once being an 11 or 13 piece sidchrome set which would allow you to strip & assemble a Holden Motor and I am pretty sure that included a shifter, pliers and a screwdriver. (The tension wrench was by feel in those days!!!)
I have a GU2 3.0l and dont forget to take the Torx set and the allen keys.
There is a website Metrinch.com or do a google search.
I guess that it is horses for courses, however if space and weight are a premium you get true flexibility thrown in. The ability to assist others or ttravel light if in a group is also a factor. As one who has had a need for Metric/AF/Whit I can say that they are the best thing since sliced bread.
As a
young fella I started with AF's and then had to buy metrics (and a few whitworths) along the way so perhaps I am a little biased. OK for the younger metric only whippersnappers.
Hope this helps
Regards
Pete G
AnswerID:
55552
Reply By: Member - Nigel (QLD) - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 19:42
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 19:42
Only spanners and sockets I own are metrich - had them for 5 years and no probs at all.
Got em all half price coz a hardware
shop was closing down.
AnswerID:
55564
Follow Up By: Pete G - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 20:41
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 20:41
Nige.
mate and way to go eh!!!. Some are less enlightened than others!!
At $200 for a 45 pce siddo set (1/2 inch stds only+ 8-19mm combo's ) the metrinch stacks up vvery well.
Regards
Pete G
FollowupID:
317426
Reply By: Foss - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 21:05
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 21:05
Only two brands of tool worth using.
1. Stahl Willy
2. Snapon
The rest might have been good in there day. Competition and market pressure has seen the quality and manufacturing standards decline. Nothing like bursting your last 21mm sidchrome socket on the
birdsville track trying to get a wheel nut undone on a flatty. But then, I guess you can always just hop down to repco and get a free replacement, Eh!..
Sorry about the sarcasm, cheap
tools are just not worth the CR#P they are made from.
AnswerID:
55577
Follow Up By: Pete G - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 22:02
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 22:02
Foss,
Sidchrome - you cannot hand a man a grander spanner!!! I think that was the add bthen!!!. As for yours then well wait for a Jumbo to fly overhead dropping little parachutes!!!.
Regards
Pete G.
FollowupID:
317445
Reply By: cokeaddict - Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 23:41
Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 at 23:41
used to run my own mobile tool van in
sydney. Sold all brands, as people required different quality tools. The metrinch
tools were fantastic for the price. I couldnt get enough of them way back when they first arrived here in australia.
Best part was, they came with unconditional warranty at the time. The only reason for NOT giving warranty was if a customer LOST it. And thats where my dusiness thrived....lost or stolen
tools kept me busy.
Hope you find them, they are still out there.
AnswerID:
55606