Question aimed at the mechanics out there. Good tool suppliers.

[The Monk 50]

Righty dokey.

The only tools I own are pretty crud at best. One of the Argos 300 piece sets and a few dozen other bits.

I''m already sick to death of the place that I'm working because the only guy out of the 3 to have tools is the main supervisor. The other 2 guys spend all their money on booze and going out every weekend, fair enough, their choice, but get by by using the supervisors and some various cruddy bits from years ago.that need replacing.

I want to start building my own tool kit up and I'm in the process of sourcing a good tool cabinet ect ect.

What I want to know though, you experienced guys and mechanics out there, are there reputable tools/suppliers with a decent price and if so, who and where?

All I'm saying as I'm sure you're all aware is that I don't want to spend £70 on a set of 6mm - 19mm spanners.

Any ideas?

[legvw 0]

I'd go Snap-on for whatever i can, just because of the abuse my tools get on heavy plant. Snap-on tools are up to the job, and now.

On a cheaper note, before my snap-on stuff, i used alot of halfords kit, very similar style to snap-on, but cheaper, as some of it is just as good, ideal if your on a budget.

[b road blaster 0]

it all depends on how often you will use them IE:if its a spanner or any tool that i'm only gonna use once in a blue moon the cheap as poss halfords tool mart and such like but if i'm gonna be useing every day and it gonna get alot of stick (abuse) then blue point/snap yes loads of cash but you gets what you pays for

[vr6stormt 0]

like paul says snap on all the way or britool or halfords pro stuff reasonably priced for the quality but some things have to be good quality to do the job right first time with no probs

[legvw 0]

Kennedy stuff is quite good toohttp://www.kennedy-tools.co.uk/ a supplier we use down south http://www.cromwell.co.uk/

[xyber 1]

Blue Point, basically Snap-on, same warranty, cheaper

I buy alot if tools from US eBay, I keep and eye out for bargains and go for snap-on, blue point, mac and with power tools makita snap-on and milwaukee. I got a makita 110v impact gun for £50 Inc shipping, bit rough to look at but works perfectly. I got a uk hitachi one for £22 Inc shipping

Also a big fan of tools from my local military surplus yard!! Bomb-proof and cheap!! Monster socket set with a ratchet nearly 3 feet long and sockets upto 40mm, I suspect they are tank tools but they've rescued me several times. I also buy ratchet spanners down there whenever they have them because they are possibly the best tools ever!!

They also sell the odd deactivated heavy machine gun aswell for normally around £350. Resisted the temptation a few times to go all Death Race on my car haha

[cabrioman 6]

dude get halfords stuff life time warrnety pretty good and good selection of tools .... snap-on are good but £££ £200 for a set of standard spanners ..... and they still can break trust me i know lol

[The Monk 50]

Not just Gearbox's and driveshafts then T

Blue point has had a lot of problems with their Air powered tools and some issues very recently with their hand tools. Heard several bad remarks about them from several people I know.

Halfords can't even assemble a bike properly T, though cheap stuff can be just as reliable as the expensive stuff. Will take a ganders at all of the recomendations on here.

Xyber...get a sodding machine gun. I may buy a GIMPY and place it in the middle of my roof lol.

Thanks for the ideas guys

[spadam 7]

Halfords professional does the job but i do want to get some snap on stuff just so dam expensive. £400 for a impact wrench

[cabrioman 6]

Halfords professional does the job but i do want to get some snap on stuff just so dam expensive. £400 for a impact wrench

got one of then the battery one lol but is one of th etop 5 tools i have ever brought ... also got a crawler board that looks like a bucket seat that cost me £150 lol

[spadam 7]

Yea noticed u had a snap on impact wrench pauls got one to great pieces of kit just need to get one. Are the 240v corded impact wrenches any good.

[Jamesr_VR6 0]

dont forget to somehow marker/label all and i mean ALL of your tools.

i used to work in a bodyshop and a few guys their sounded like your colleagues, used the crappy, over-used tools around the shop to take things apart n stuff, so i decided a small cabinet on wheels, with all my tools on it,

gradually i had less n less tools, because some scroat was stealing them all the time and never putting them back,

and once they got mixed in with the main batch of shop tools it was a nightmare figuring out what was mine, and even more so proving it when i left the business

[xyber 1]

Xyber...get a sodding machine gun. I may buy a GIMPY and place it in the middle of my roof lol.

I fancies mounting it in the bed of a caddy sprayed in a desert rats stylee haha

[brynvr6 1]

Snap-on all the way. Expensive, but worth it. And unlike bluepoint. Covered by the no questions asked lifetime warranty. And there are often good deals to be had. Try and get in contact with a local representative and talk to them about what you want. New deals come out every two weeks.