Tool talk!

bargin424 on 26/06/2013 - 16:20
Last edited 27/06/2013 - 00:29

Hey everyone,

I'm planning to buy some tools and was wondering if anyone knows a good place to buy tools at a good price!

I have been currently looking at supercheap, repco and also amazon. It seems that amazon has the cheapest tools considering shipping too if I buy lots of stuff.

Anyone know a place in Sydney that sells tools at a good price? I find that supercheap and repco are over priced even with sales. There must be a store that sells good tools at a cheap price somewhere!

Things I'm looking for:

  • ½ metric socket set with extensions (thinking Stanley)
  • ½ ratchet (thinking Stanley)
  • Impact screw driver for rotors (not sure what to go for this one)
  • Compression tester (I'll probably go with amazon on this one)
  • 3/8 torque wrench (Thinking of kinchrome @ bunnings for $78, cover 6.8-108.5 nm)

Edit: More information

I currently have a 3/8 tool set and I don' think it is feasible for suspension work. I think I require 1/2 right?

Automotive

Comments

  • berger on 26/06/2013 - 17:46

    Try an independent hardware store, for all the above, go Kincrome the lot and see if the hardware store is a HBT member. They have access to good Kincrome prices, better than bunnings. It's all marked up heaps.

    • bargin424 on 26/06/2013 - 20:17

      Any reasons of Kincrome over stanley? Also, any recommendations on the independent hardware store?

      • berger on 26/06/2013 - 20:35

        Where are you located? Hardware and general are a customer of mine in Sydney, that's about all I could reccomend.

        Kincrome have excelent return policy, priced fairly, quality is good, even if it's imported. Stanley were good back in the day, but have gone down the cheaper line.

        Just my opinions of course

        • Macgyver on 26/06/2013 - 20:42

          Yep Stanley was a excellent brand. I have a lot of chisels, planes and other stuff from Stanley that are 15, 30, 40, 50 years old etc. Great tools but they are cheap crap now.

          I haven't got much Kincrome stuff. I assume they are also cheapy rubbish but probably fine for a one time job, home diy person etc.

          All my tools are antiques now…

        • bargin424 on 26/06/2013 - 23:56

          I'm from Sydney

        • mskeggs on 27/06/2013 - 06:47

          This is worth bearing in mind. If you can source 2nd hand brand name tools they are likely to be better quality than new. Some of the Record vises and clamps I have from approx WWII are built like tanks.

  • ntmango on 26/06/2013 - 23:35

    I personally wouldnt go Stanley for ratchets. I went through 2 - 1/2'dr ratchets and 1 - 3/8dr ratchet in 4 yrs as an apprentice mechanic. Bought a sidchrome one, died within 6 months, took it to my rep n demanded a refund and bought a kincrome 1/2dr and 3/8dr and its still going strong for the last 10yrs. Good lube and general care should last another 10. As for sockets, the stanley sockets i got in my apprentice tool kit has given me no trouble whatsoever.
    Ive used ABW wobble head extentions and theyve awesome. Well worth the extra couple of $ over the normal straight head extensions. Great for those really tight spots and when u move ur ratchet at different angles it doesnt move the socket of the nut/bolt so u have less chance of rounding the sucker off.
    Again, ABW or if u can find it, Koken (not that well known japanese brand) for the impact screwdriver. Kincrome one i bought was badge engineering at its finest. Cost double of a cheapie and it was EXACTLY the same.
    If ur going to buy a kincrome torque wrench u might aswell buy the cheapie ones coz thats what ur gonna get. If ur serious about adjusting nuts n bolts to their right tension ur better off in the long run to invest in a good torque wrench. Ive used a Warren Brown wrench all my life. To give u an idea, my old work place,we re-calibrate out tools every 6 months. - 3 WB, 1 snap on and the 2 workshop sidchrome wrenches, never out if spec. The apprentices kinchrome wrench was always out and needed recalibrating so a cheapie torque wrench might do more harm than u think, especially if u say over/under tighten headbolts on a race motor or on brake calibres on a race car and it could then fail.
    Spend that extra bit of $ on specialty/ precision tools but dont waste ur $ on high end hand tools. Most likely ur mates will end up borrowing and losingl them. Buy Japanese tools where u can, usually theyre very good quality even if uve never heard their brand before and usually affordable.

    • bargin424 on 27/06/2013 - 00:01

      What's the process of recalibrating the torque wrench?

      I want a torque wrench as I'm not quite familiar with how tight a nut should be. I think its more accurate if I get a torque wrench rather than guessing the amount of torque i should apply.

  • thereyougo on 27/06/2013 - 08:00

    Have you tried eBay, there's a listing in there for a tool shop in Sydney. They have everything from hand tools to power tools.
    http://stores.ebay.com.au/Sydney-Tools-Pty-Ltd/About-Us.html
    or if no eBay account
    http://www.sydneytools.com.au/

    Try not to skimp on tools, Sidchrome sockets for instance aren't going to break in 3 pieces taking off your harmonic balancer, same with extension bars. Again Sidchrome or Kingchrome wont round your nuts unlike your $15 set someone gave your for Christmas.
    Grays and eBay have some ripper deals on impact drivers and power tools.
    http://www.graysonline.com/home-and-garden/power-tools
    Good luck building your tool kit up, for some of us its an on going quest that last a life time, women hate that!

    • bargin424 on 27/06/2013 - 09:44

      Is kincrome better than stanley? or are they about the same?

  • r2160 on 27/06/2013 - 08:46

    Ebay is your friend.

    Look at buying old sidchrome tools. Kinchrome are also nice.

    They arent selling for a lot of money and are just about indestructible!!

    cheers
    Glenn

    • bargin424 on 27/06/2013 - 11:58

      Any links/suggestions?

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