imperial or "metrinch" sockets

[magic55]

Does anybody have any experience of using "metrinch" type sockets that claim to fit both metric and imperial nuts and bolts? i dont understand how they can fit both correctly.
Ive put a shiney new socket set on my christmas list and dont know which to choose.

Jake

[dangerousdave]

The halfords 150pc proffesional one, its got both and metric spanners and a set of ratchet spanners!!!

[slater]

Indeed, get a real set of sockets. Halfords one is great value at £100 (ive brought 2!) only down side is crappy box and no t-bars

[magic55]

ratchet spanners, what a god send!
I only want a socket set, think im going to go for a nice set of imperial hex sockets and some cheaper metric ones as I dont like working on modern cars!

[Mr_Hoarder]

My advice when it comes to buying tools is to buy the very best you can afford, and as long as you don't lose them they should last forever.

[neilm]

The Metrinch stuff is excellent for old cars where nuts etc can be rounded as they grip on the flats rather than the corner.

There is a nearly always a very close metric equivilant eg 1/2" = 13mm 9/16" = 14mm etc the socket design means you get a good fit what ever you put them on.

But as has been said you cannot beat the Halford stuff.... as the range of AF is good, including AF ratchet spanners.....

[Retromotorsport]

I've got snap-on, which i never hardly use, and Sealey premier, which i use all the time, same garrentee as snap-on but they are just that bit thinner and lighter.


Out of the people on here that work on cars i probably use my spanners and sockets the least, but that said they do get abuse........... well abuse with mechanical sympathy... and the sealeys have never let me down, nor have the snap-on, i would have bought the Halfords pro set if it was as cheap and as well known at the time i bought the sealey gear, i think Rob hit the nail on head though, buy the best you can, it will work out cheaper in the long run.

[magic55]

cheers for all the advice.
90% of the newer tools i use at home (my dad's) are halfords ones and we've never had a problem, so it's probally a good place to start. Lincoln halfords has actually replaced the same 3mm allen key socket 3 times because we keep mashing them!

On a related note.

Do snap-on tools have a lifetime guarantee and how does the garantee work? do you have to have a reciept etc?
We've got a snap on ratchet that keeps jamming.

[dangerousdave]

The guarantee is through having their name on the tool i think so you take it in and its bust and it says snap on and you get a new one. Stuff that will wear like da sanders i dont think have as much guarantee but if something snaps off they will replace it.....think thats right!

[magic55]

thats good to hear.
Where do you take it? as snap on dont have shops. or do they?

Jake

[Retromotorsport]

You need to find when your local garage has a snap on van come round... normally it in a window of an hour so you shouldnt have to long to wait, or if you have a mate who is in a garage he will change it for you, you'll get the same ratchet back but with new inerds

[magic55]

cheers gary. Ill check out when and where my local snap-on man is around

[Roger Miller]

My 2 bobs.................

If there are 2 socket sets to choose of..................
get the one that offers perifferal drive. [most do now]

PS only need for metrench stuff is because whitworth stuff s hard to find [here anyhow] as most socket sets come in metric and af.

[yonner]

i use snap on and the od mac tools the vans come round my work every week adn they always have new specials whitch is grate for me as im an apprentice building up my set i also bought a set of bacho snips whitch u cant seem to damage and as far as chisels punches taps and dies are concerend i like getting hold of the british made stuff as they are the best

[Mr_lizard]

I got a limited edition Snap on chevy bel air box full of snap on stuff, broken quite a few bits (usually abuse though!) Avoid snap on allen keys, they tend to wear badly and round everything out. Halfords finest are far better and about 1/5th of the cost. Destroyed a few snap on 1/2" drive breaker bar heads by putting scaffold tube on the end.............. then jumping on it! Bolts holding buses together are fuckin tight! Never managed to kill a Snap on spanner though.

[stevieel]

i have been using metrinch sockets and spanners for some time now and they have never let me down on those old hard to get out nuts and bolts, would deffo keep a set at hand.

Ste