Tools - Wheres the best place to get them ?

[Hewie]

Ok ... Im about to make myself sound like a n00b ... primarily thats cause when it comes to mechanical stuff ...... I am, but I aim to change that.

So ........ with that in mind ... where do I buy or who has a good range of tools and tool kits for mechanical work ??

And what should I get so I can do all basics ??

I was looking at getting a proper cabinet thingo so I have everything I need to start learning how to do stuff.

So .... wheres it at ?

Cheers

n00bcanic

[lee]

Every general mechanic I know has wet dreams over 'snap on' tools, that being said, I'm not sure if theres a bike specific brand which do smaller/better tools, or what your budgets like.

Personally, I've got a cheap $30 marlows tool set which has done just about EVERYTHING I've needed to do on the bike (drop oil, remove fairings, adjust TPS, get to front sprocket, adjust chain, etc), and everything else I've borrowed my old mans tools for

[BlackICE]

Be careful buying cheap tools, if you ever get the chance get the Snap on man to show you the torque test they use to show how good thier tools are, not saying that you have to buy snap on tools, just good quaility ones...
I myself have both Snap on and Sidcrome, with a great snap on tool box which alone cost me $3500 (no tools included), a simple combination spanner will cost around $60, so unless you are using them every day, forget about snap on... But they are great tools...
Maybe try cash converters and places like that, even the Sunday markets...

Good luck...

[offtheshelf]

As BlackIce said, cheap tools can be nasty and they generally are...

Snap-On are well and truly the best tools on the market without a doubt. But the price of them doesn't justify buying them over other quality names such as Sidchrome. Sidchrome used to be Aussie owned and Aussie made I am pretty sure they are now being made in Sweden after being bought out... correct me if I'm wrong... They are still high quality and relatively well priced... I got a 63 piece 3/8" drive socket set for $180 (Brand New) from eBay which is pretty good...

As someone always says on these threads, shop around...

[ONYERBIKE]

Be careful buying cheap tools, if you ever get the chance get the Snap on man to show you the torque test they use to show how good thier tools are, not saying that you have to buy snap on tools, just good quaility ones...[/b]

Ha ha sounds like the Kirby vac man

Go the Sidchrome only ever had to take one ratchet back and had no trouble getting a replacement

[Pete]

Get yourself

2 Sidchrome socket set. Small and Large
Sidchrome spanner set in a rollup doen't matter
kinchrome allen key set
kinchrome screwdriverset and a cheap ass stanley set as well.
A couple of large braker bars
Few spanners of different sizes
grippers and pliers and assorted
small no name roller cab form supercrap

Shouldn't cost you more then 300 all up if you shop around or do a deal. Just by other stuff as you need it.

[Slice]

yeah Snap on are good but overpriced. Get the sidchrome for a good quality set that is still garrenteed for life but you wont have to sell all your shares for

Pretty much anywhere that sell tools sells them but conventrys is a good place to start.

[Fenris]

Be careful buying cheap tools, if you ever get the chance get the Snap on man to show you the torque test they use to show how good thier tools are, not saying that you have to buy snap on tools, just good quaility ones...
I myself have both Snap on and Sidcrome, with a great snap on tool box which alone cost me $3500 (no tools included), a simple combination spanner will cost around $60, so unless you are using them every day, forget about snap on... But they are great tools...
Maybe try cash converters and places like that, even the Sunday markets...

Good luck...
[/b]

A three and a half thousand dollar toolbox with no tools...
Does it make breakfast?

[Miss Behave]

Oh You're talking tools as in implements! Silly me By the heading I was gunna suggest maybe have a good look around in here, or pr, or mcnews or just about most other internet based forums

[MuNch]

I have found Repco tools look nice and are reasonably priced. Snap-On is the best but you pay. There is a farm supply store in Midland (Farrel Road) that has a HEAP of good quality toold , cant remember the name though.

[Pkunk]

Ok ... Im about to make myself sound like a n00b ... primarily thats cause when it comes to mechanical stuff ...... I am, but I aim to change that.

So ........ with that in mind ... where do I buy or who has a good range of tools and tool kits for mechanical work ??

And what should I get so I can do all basics ??

I was looking at getting a proper cabinet thingo so I have everything I need to start learning how to do stuff.

So .... wheres it at ?

Cheers

n00bcanic
[/b]

atom supply welshpool

ask for lewis mortimer

tell him matt (pkunk) sent you

[Infusi0n]

The only thing i will add is dont go and buy a hex key set buy a torx key instead, they wont strip as easily and have a few more uses on fiddly auto screws ie: car stereos etc.

[Foofie Foofie]

I have a whole 2 stack box (s) of Snap-On. It is really expensive, but i started collecting tools at the age of 15 .... im 31 now and ive returned possibly 3 items, so for over half my life these things ahve done me well. Its not just tools , its kinda like an investermnt of some sorts, cause you know you have them for life.

As far as cheap tools go. Forget. They do more damage than good. Sidchrome nowadays is just as expensive in some tools as Snap-On, so be aware. In 1990 i paid (re-payed more like it) about $2600 for my two empty boxes ..... so firstly you have to decide what it is you wanna spend on a box. Make sure it has enuf draws and is lockable.

Then it depends if you like air or not needed . I cant go without air tools, they kick ass. If you want i can write a list of basically what you would want on working on a bike perhaps ?

[BlackICE]

A three and a half thousand dollar toolbox with no tools...
Does it make breakfast?
[/b]

I wish it did...

But when you have the Snap-on van come around to your work all the time and dont have to pay there and then, its just soooooo easy to buy stuff that you dont really need....

[Arwon]

with screwdrivers go for electrical ones, probably from blackwoods or the lie. they are hardened and last a long time. I only use the really large stanley ones. the rest are only good to open beer cans.

Bronhus allen keys have universal ball ends and are life time garanteed.

Sidchrome Pronto are a nice spanner.

sockets, you get what you pay for. try and get hold of a set that drive on the flats.

[Hewie]

Thanks for the responses peeps.

I do have a set of those bondhus t allen key thingos already..

Basically I was looking at one of those master sets you get .. Proto Blackhawk looks ok .. just so I get a starting point. Ill build on it from there.

Does it matter what sizes you get ? I mean I keep seeing 3/8 12/83598752 etc on things .. what does that refer too ?

[Pkunk]

Does it matter what sizes you get ? I mean I keep seeing 3/8 12/83598752 etc on things .. what does that refer too ?
[/b]

oh even i know that

feel free to correct me someone

thats the size! something like 3/8's is imperial, which may or may not be useful for you. Since i personally work on my japanese bike and japanese car, ive no use for imperial tools. My dad has some that i can use if the need should ever arise for one

on metric tools you will see things like 1mm, 2mm, 3mm ... etc

[Fenris]

That's the size of the square thing sticking out of the wrench that your sockets fit onto. Generally you'll have 1/2" or 3/8", sometimes 1/4" if you're working with small sockets.

1/2" sockets will fit on a 1/2" drive wrench and 3/8" sockets will fit a 3/8" drive wrench.

[snowman95]

If you want i can write a list of basically what you would want on working on a bike perhaps ?
[/b]

I would like to see this list

atom supply welshpool

ask for lewis mortimer

tell him matt (pkunk) sent you
[/b]

lew lew

[Hewie]

Ta Fenris.

So basically as long as you can get a 8mm and 10mm socket for the wrench then it doesnt really matter what that number is ?