Monday, April 19, 2010 - 08:25 pm, by: Aaron Mead(Aaron)
Matthew Sharpe wrote on Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 11:25 am:
I've bought a lot of tools second hand including my torque wrench, which is a Warren & Brown - really, really old but still has NM's and still works perfectly well.
Me too! Stole mine for $80 from a mine worker. Sent it down south and got it certified. $25 later and its good as new. A lot of older blokes from racing circles I meet seem to swear by the W&B deflection type bars. Many of them dont even look at the ratcheting type.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - 06:12 am, by: Matthew Sharpe(Madmatt)
Not much to go wrong with them I guess. I can't remember what I paid for mine as it was ten years ago - something like $80 I expect. The little pin was sticking a bit but a good dose of lithium spray sorted that out and its been fine ever since.
If you still haven't bought anything sidchrome aren't bad but the price is up on the high side compared to other good brands. But I would recommend a set from the sp tool range good quality at a reasonable price. And seeing that you live in brissy warranty is easy because they are based there (austech industries).
Also for a cheap and not too bad a breaker bar check out www.amanstoyshop.com.au thay have a 1/2" bar tht is resonable quality for $44
Sunday, May 23, 2010 - 12:02 pm, by: Glen Muller(Doom_and_gloom)
A mate from work bought a massive Powerbuilt cabinet full of everything you'll need to work on a car or bike. I borrowed a few items a while ago and the quality is fantastic. Gave his 22mm socket a serious workout with the 600mm breaker bar and neither gave any signs of giving up. When I have the money, I'll definitely be in the market for a set for myself!
Sunday, May 23, 2010 - 09:40 pm, by: Mike Beck(Gold_40gt)
Glen Muller wrote on Sunday, May 23, 2010 - 12:02 pm:
I borrowed a few items a while ago and the quality is fantastic.
Yeah it's pretty good from my experience too.
A lot of people say it's crapola but I've had two Powerbuilt socket sets, a 1/2 and 3/8ths, I've used them both for over 4 years and not one piece has failed, even after doing pretty much everything on my cars from the engine to the suspension nuts and bolts.
I would buy more fancy Japanese or American stuff when I could afford it though, just for shear enjoyment of having it.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - 11:13 am, by: Glen Muller(Doom_and_gloom)
Matt Newman wrote on Monday, May 24, 2010 - 04:32 pm:
mate get down to your local BSC they have powerbuilt sets on sale the basic one is about $800
I can't afford a six-pack at the moment haha.. It'll have to wait. God it sucks being back at Uni, I miss the money I was earning while working full time again. But, it's a means to an end.. the end of working in crap jobs I don't like and going home covered in oil, grease and little tiny metal chips that find their way into your clothes and bug you all day long!
Friday, May 28, 2010 - 07:08 am, by: Glen Muller(Doom_and_gloom)
I work in metal fabrication, and we make farm equipment. NOTHING we make is light! The largest tow-behind sprayer we make has a 6500L water tank and weighs over 6000kg dry... then there's the self-propelled dealy: the chassis is knocked up from 200x100x9 RHS with massive thick laser cut gussets all over the place, and it can carry a 4500L tank and roar around at 50km/h thanks to a 225hp turbo Cummins engine.
Friday, May 28, 2010 - 06:48 pm, by: Brett Cutts(Boof390)
guys you should try doing a search for minimax on ebay. The minimax men are starting to list a lot of stuff at 99cents. I bought a 3/8 drive metric socket set with flexable ratchet deep and short sockets and a couple of wobble bars for 95 bucks rrp $480. I am a mechanic and some of my minimax stuff is heading for 20 plus years old and its lasted every bit as well as similar vintage snap on and sidchrome stuff I have, and a guy I have worked with on and off since I was a apprentice is still using minimax stuff he bought as a apprentice in the early 1980's. I dont like t&e tools at all (too many busted knuckles) sp stuff is excellent value for money at the moment though.