Halfords Pro range

[Dave123]

What's the general thoughts? I'm looking at the 7/5 draw top box (Can't decide whether to save some money by going 5 draw or not) and also looking at the 3 draw roll cab.
I'll also be picking up some tools such as ratchets, spanners etc because the £30 argos special off ebay has rotachets that don't ratchet and spanners that are no existent :lol: but the rest is pretty decent.

I know in an ideal world snap-on would be my best bet, but being a student/trainee mechanic, funds won't allow. Plus there's talk of halfords pro range being made by snap-on so they can pick up sales in economic down turn. And! even better is that it has lifetime guarantee! :dance:


Dave

[trecfive]

Draper expert are very good if buying on a budget,but make sure it is the expert range not the chocolate stuff.

[Lewis.J.P_1987]

The majority of my tools are halfords professional. I could not recommend them enough. My tool chest was from there range and was the actual demonstration one so I got it at a reduced price. It has probably been opened and closed thousands of times even before I brought it, Ive had it for years now and all is fine.

 I would say that having halfords professional tools is actually better than having snap-on or even teng tools just for the simple fact that if you do brake a tool you can just nip down to your local halfords and they replace the tool on the spot. Even if you twist a 6mm alen key!

[Mash]

I've used Halfords Pro stuff for a while now in a profesional capacity as a beakdown mechanic..Personally I cannt fault then.

I like the fact that I can walk into Halfords up to 8 o'clock at night and get them replaced if needed, whereas I only see my MAC and Snap-On dealers once a week :(

The last thing that broke was one of their locking extension bars and it had an 8mm allen socket on the end.Both replaced with no questions asked..

The other side of the coin for me is if I loose something I'm not too bothered whereas if I loose a snapon rachet at the side of the road I'd be well peeved  :doh:

[Dave123]

Cheers chaps, I thinkyou've swayed me to go ahead with it! This'll be the most expensie purchase in the last 12 months :lol:

And Lewis, are the ball bearings a nice silky quality or a bit rough? and, if it's the roller you have then are all the swiveling wheels all alright to turn? no binding or grindng atall?

Dave

[Drift]

Nearly all my stuff and boxes are halfords Pro, the trade card helps keep the price down and nothing has broke yet and one set it years old.
They dont replace the ratchet mechanisms I believe but they do sell repair kits for them.

[Yoshi]

As Drift says, the ratchet mechanisms arent covered in the lifetime guarantee, but then i think that snap on have the same rule dont they?

[Frankie-Boy]

You might be able to get a trade card too, that can save you a few quid.

[boss]

another vote for halfords, the only things that went wrong was i opened an 8mm spanner up and i broke the ring inside a rachet spanner both instances were my fault and the replacements wernt as pricy as snapon as sain before, look at the draper expert stuff aswell. that is also very good stuff.

[Lewis.J.P_1987]

Yep my balls are fine, good as new. :lol: The only damage is on the lid were i dropped a flywheel but that was my fault so no complaints at all.

[Disco Matt]

Another vote for them, I've got the three drawer tool chest (non ball bearing version, I couldn't justify the extra) and it seems pretty good to me. Also have one of their breaker bars which is very nicely machined, although I've only used it to loosen a few tight wheel nuts so far.

[freeagent]

Their tools are great, cannot praise them enough... i've given mine loads of abuse and not broken anything.

As for tool chests, i've got a Halfords Roll cab and top box (pro range with roller bearing runners) they are OK, and good value for money, but not a patch on my Snap-on top box.

I'd buy halfords tools and a second hand snap-on box (off ebay) if I were doing it again.

[Sharpshooter]

As Drift says, the ratchet mechanisms arent covered in the lifetime guarantee, but then i think that snap on have the same rule dont they?

Depends on your dealer. Ive had a couple of ratchet mechanisms replaced. One they did, the other they wouldnt.

I have Snap on only for the fact my father used them for 30+ YEARS in the trade with no probs. And as im in the trade, i have chosen to use them too.

I have however used some Halfords pro range tools at a mates house. And i must say i was very impressed. :)

[carbore]

I have used them for a while and get on very well. Have survived a bit of abuse and being left out in the rain at track days etc.

Also try to blag a Halfords Trade card. I did one as I have a small farm and various cars. I have had loads of money off on lots of things, bulbs are pence and I got £10 of my last purchase of mobil one.

[hairyasswelder]

I know in an ideal world snap-on would be my best bet, but being a student/trainee mechanic, funds won't allow. Plus there's talk of halfords pro range being made by snap-on

Was always told it wasnt Snap-on but FACOM that made the maority of the PRO tools  ;) (Halfords were Facom agents )

I have all brands in my toolbox and think the main brands Snap-on Facom etc are overpriced for the quality difference.

I would reccomend Halfords PRO, Britool, Draper EXPERT, Teng and Sykes p.....vant (cant spell it  :oops: ) as mid range tools.

My bottom box is a 7 drawer BETA in Orange  :? which cost me £250 new off an e-bay shop, bearings in drawers and a good lock

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300296990209&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2F300296990209%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm38%26_nkw%3D300296990209%26_naf%3D1%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1mechanism

It would seem to have doubled in price  :-k :-k they have added plastic bumpers  :-# :-#

Steve

[hairyasswelder]

As Drift says, the ratchet mechanisms arent covered in the lifetime guarantee, but then i think that snap on have the same rule dont they?

They are all the same..... fair wear and tear on moving parts  ;)

If the ratchet spanners start slipping, clean them in wd40 and if that doesn't work, bend the open end  :roll:

[Disco Matt]

I'll put a vote in for Sealey too. I've got a couple of their ratchet handles and some sockets, they're well made. Not Snap-On but they're definitely a big step up from the socket sets you might be bought by well-meaning relatives at Christmas. The prices aren't too bad either.

Don't buy Rolson, or at least be careful what you buy. I have a set of their extension bars and I'll swear one of them has twisted!  :lol:

[morson4x4]

i got the halfords proffesional tool box and hasn let me down yet and it been thro all sorts of mayhem and the box is pretty tough as well

[Lucy1978]

I've had my halfords pro set for about 6 years now, it's travelled the length of Africa, been given plenty of abuse but has stood up well.  I've managed to sheer an extension bar, and break a screwdriver bit so far.

[robert francis]

DAVE STOP.

 i got a halfords trade card, and i love the pro halfords range, great value, with this card you can save upto 25%

let me no what you want and il get some prices for you to show you the savings, ok mate,
il send you a pm