Cheap crap Taiwan socket sets,& spanners!

Thanks footloose, Got that stuffed up!! . ,

Axle, I know that one cause I'm so old :))
Might also have to do with only being able to afford junk until I needed to use it, result was much frustration and skinned knuckles not to mention blood. So I went and bought some quality stuff, one by one as I could afford it.
The crap went long ago. The good stuff is still being used after 30 years.

"Ya kanna handa man a granda spanna" Was the saying.
I used to have the full kit but over the last 20 years they have slowly been borrowed and not returned... :(
Although I prefer Stahwille (spelling) Paid $250 for 4 spanners 20 yrs ago which was 2 weeks apprentice wages back then, and they are still going strong in my tool box

I have been using a minimax toolset for the past 22 years.

During this time, I have not managed to break a spanner or socket (not for the want of trying). I have had a 6 foot "breaker bar" on one of the 1/2 inch drive sockets while splitting a John Deere tractor to rebuild the engine.

What I have observed with some of the other sets, (lately sidchrome is included as well), is that the stamping is not quite central in the sockets and ring spanners.

"Ya kanna handa man a grander spanner" hehehehehe

I bought cheap and when I break/strip one I replace with Sidchrome.

So far, in 30 odd years I have bought 1 10mm socket, and them spanners have done a power of work

Bonz, I think the same person *borrowed* my 10mil spanner also :)

"Sidchrome"
has been made in India for the past 10years as far as I am aware.

cheers aston

I think it might be fair to say that although the Chinese could make better ones they manufacture according to what the customer wants. Hey mister, do you want a $9.99 set of sockets or a $59.99 set. We can do either for you. Believe me, the two sets are NOT of the same quality. Old adage - YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR and that's been brought about by greedy retailers seeking higher profits.

saw a snap on jack today at a garage sale. Made for snapon in China!
Bought a set of 3/8 sockets, brit tools, been looking for a set that didnt include AF for yonks.

You have to get second hand stuff now for quality. Wierd aint it.

Owen

Yeah I considered Snap on for all of 30 seconds

Snap On, Sockets set ½ drive
General Service, Metric, 12-Point (45 Piece.) A$2,782.05 !!!, and that about did it, No Socket set is that Good, i have used Snap On tools but thay are not worth the price IMO

the

Just bought 1/4" - 1 " open end / ring spanner set was described as second hand , When I got it was like new . Cost $220 shipped from the States , $ 540 for the same new here.

At home use Repco tools and am pleased with the results .

Like I said , just went through my work tools cause I figured I will be on the tools for another 20yrs, The only stuff that didnt need sorting out was the Snap On gear I had bought 15 yrs ago.

At work I am a professional engineer and use the appropriate tools .

Glenn.

Hay Glenn, do you find with your Repco spanners, the open-end side on the Combination spanners, the Chrome gets damaged and begins to peal after moderate use?

I have a set of Repco A/F Combination spanners at work and it has happened to just about all of them, I got them on a gift Voucher so not really to bothered about it, But considering they are actually not a "cheep" spanner around $170 for a ¼ to 7/8” set you would expect a bit more durability.

The Sidchrome & Kinchrome spanners I have don’t suffer from this.

It looks like you and I are in similar fields of work; I am in Mechanical Fitting, Just a poor 3rd year at the moment am trying to get 6 months knocked of my prison sentence too LOL, also picking up some heavy-duty diesel units at nights when I can, but it isn’t easy to get Tafe to run the units i whant

Cheers.

Hi Glen D,

Do you know who owns Repco and where they source their tools from ?

I think you will find they are asian :-))

Repco brand look a lot like rebadged ultima spanners

Havent had any probs with the spanners , have 1/2 drive sockets too .

Only use them to work on the car but , and its not like they are used all day every day.

Good luck with the TAFE Expoloder, more tha a little while since I was there.

I am an Aircraft engineer , everyone has a pretty high standard with their tools. One apprentice we had bought some of those ' Metrinch ' sockets ( but they are metric and imperial , how can that be bad )

Its not only the toughness that bothers me, the tolerance in the size can be absolutley shocking!! .

Had a garage sale today with a sidcrome socket set ie af/ring opened and sockets all 40 plus years hardly used .no interest.

Theirs nothing left mate!!. Put up,.. Pay the price,......Or shut up! Thats it.

Cheers.

As long as they are the premium ones you should be ok ! LOL

The way I rate lifetime warranty is if it breaks its life is over ! LOL

Have had a 10 yr old Snap On rachet screwdriver drop about 80ft and dettonate , the Snap On guy to his credit rebuilt it, they are over $100 now . Thats what I call Lifetime warrany.

Glenn.

Glen, Your Lifetime rating is spot on :))))))

Always had a hundred years stuck in my brain when that was mentioned! LOL.

Cheers.

Yeah the Super works Premium stuff would more than adequate for the home mechanic type jobs.

>Yeah the Super works Premium stuff would more than
>adequate for the home mechanic type jobs.

And that hits the nail very squarely on the head (good pun I thought :)

As a professional electronics engineer the amount I have spent on tools over the years is huge! A$200 each for small side cutters, needle pliers etc but I did that because it was my living and I wanted the _best_ to make my job easier and to last for extended professional use - wait 'till you see the price of electronic test equipment - makes a few A$k look cheap!! :)

BUT... my socket set is used a dozen times a year and, usually for hobby, not professional applications; so a $200 no brand set has performed the job admirably for the past 10 years or so and I see no reason why it won't continue to do so for the next 20 - if I were a mechanic I would probably spend A$1k or whatever on a socket set.

Horses for courses.

Mike harding