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Australian Politics Forum
http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl Member Run Boards >> The Tool Shed >> Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1443247072 Message started by Redneck on Sep 26^th, 2015 at 3:57pm

Title: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Redneck on Sep 26^th, 2015 at 3:57pm

Just interested in your thoughts on automotive spanners.

Some suggest Snap On are the best quality, others reckon Stahlwille. Both are professional garage mechanic quality.

I have bought a few Stahlwille and am quite impressed however they are very expensive. They are not overly thick like the el cheapos (to make up for crap steel etc)

Not sure if I have any Snap Ons...Mmmm

I also have lots of the old Sidchrome (the made in Australia ones) which I have flogged to death.

Your thoughts?

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Sir Bobby on Sep 26^th, 2015 at 4:07pm

Redmond Neck wrote on Sep 26^th, 2015 at 3:57pm:

Yes - Sidchrome are terrible because they
are too thick to get into tight places.

Those other 2 brands are fantastic.

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Redneck on Sep 26^th, 2015 at 4:37pm

Bobby. wrote on Sep 26^th, 2015 at 4:07pm:

Redmond Neck wrote on Sep 26^th, 2015 at 3:57pm:

Yes - Sidchrome are terrible because they
are too thick to get into tight places.

Those other 2 brands are fantastic.

Yes thick spanners.

I really noticed that when I was trying to remove the starter motor I think it was from my old project car (Aside: An old Alfetta that will most likely never get finished) anyway I had to really hunt for a spanner with a small head to fit over one nut that was hard to get at and be then able to turn it a little bit at a time.

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Aussie on Sep 26^th, 2015 at 4:45pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY4upxZ_zOs

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Redneck on Sep 26^th, 2015 at 5:05pm

That certainly was the talk in the old days Aussie when they were made in Oz.

Not sure that still applies.

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Aussie on Sep 26^th, 2015 at 5:15pm

Redmond Neck wrote on Sep 26^th, 2015 at 5:05pm:

That certainly was the talk in the old days Aussie when they were made in Oz.

Not sure that still applies.

I would not know Mr Neck. The Thread reminded me of that decades old jingle so I went in search for it, is all.

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Kat on Sep 28^th, 2015 at 2:20pm

No idea whether they are still available, but there is/was a Japanese
brand, 'Mini-Max', which were very good, but not cheap.

Had a set of their 3/8"-drive sockets for literally years.

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Redneck on Sep 28^th, 2015 at 5:12pm

Kat wrote on Sep 28^th, 2015 at 2:20pm:

No idea whether they are still available, but there is/was a Japanese
brand, 'Mini-Max', which were very good, but not cheap.

Had a set of their 3/8"-drive sockets for literally years.

Yes I also had some of them years ago Kat and also liked them, cant recall what happened to them. Maybe they were Whitworth sizes that I used on my old pommie cars (Austin, Vanguard etc.?)

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Sprintcyclist on Jan 13^th, 2016 at 5:25pm

I have bought quite a few sets of 'Force" sockets .

Very good, they'ld make good spanners too

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Sprintcyclist on Jan 13^th, 2016 at 5:35pm

A guy at work the other day said 'Yato' tools are good.

They look ok .

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Sir Bobby on Jan 13^th, 2016 at 5:42pm

Redmond Neck wrote on Sep 26^th, 2015 at 4:37pm:

Bobby. wrote on Sep 26^th, 2015 at 4:07pm:

Redmond Neck wrote on Sep 26^th, 2015 at 3:57pm:

Yes - Sidchrome are terrible because they
are too thick to get into tight places.

Those other 2 brands are fantastic.

If you have bought Sidchrome spanners & sockets - all is not lost

- you can easily grind them down with a bench grinder to fit into tight spots.

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Sprintcyclist on Jan 13^th, 2016 at 5:47pm

bobby - I have done that.

It's not easy. Must not let the spanner get too hot, must keep the surfaces parallel.

It worked though, looks a bit ugly

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Redneck on Jan 13^th, 2016 at 5:49pm

Yes I have ground a few down myself!

I dont think I would try with a chinese /indian made brand though!

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Sir Bobby on Jan 13^th, 2016 at 5:58pm

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jan 13^th, 2016 at 5:47pm:

bobby - I have done that.

It's not easy. Must not let the spanner get too hot, must keep the surfaces parallel.

It worked though, looks a bit ugly

Don't worry about what they look like -

the Sidchrome steel is so strong that it can take the heavy grinding.

Just dip in water every 10 seconds to keep them cool.

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Sprintcyclist on Jan 13^th, 2016 at 6:38pm

Oh, for me, the looks of my tools are paramount.

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by SupositoryofWisdom on Jan 20^th, 2016 at 10:30pm

I have stahlwille and snap on , i prefer the stahlwille as the edge is more rounded / feels better in hand and the snap on chrome finish makes it slippery when it gets a bit oily. Never used the stahlwille sockets and ratchets so cant comment but the snap on stuff great , sidchrome good as well but im no fan of their ratchets in 3/8 drive , gear mechanism just feels really budget.

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by The Mechanic on Jan 21^st, 2016 at 6:12am

I use Repco

the set I have is 15 years old with a polished finish...

strong, slim and well balanced...

there are a lot of dearer and "claimed" better spanner sets and perhaps they are a good tool, but I do know that they are certainly dearer..

are they worth it?

if you have a tool set with a life time warranty and you are really happy with then why would you spend three times the money just because it says "snapon"??

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Sir Bobby on Jan 21^st, 2016 at 6:28am

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 21^st, 2016 at 6:12am:

Mechanic is forgiven for not reading the thread first.

Quote:

Sidchrome are terrible because they
are too thick to get into tight places.

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Sprintcyclist on Jan 21^st, 2016 at 8:00am

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 21^st, 2016 at 6:12am:

did not know repco made spanners.

Yes, snapon are wildly overpriced.
Not really a clever/catchy name either. Sounds like a leggo thing.

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by SupositoryofWisdom on Jan 21^st, 2016 at 11:01am

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 21^st, 2016 at 6:12am:

I was young and it was hard hopping off that truck without some shiny tools in hand

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by The Mechanic on Jan 21^st, 2016 at 11:22am

Bobby. wrote on Jan 21^st, 2016 at 6:28am:

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 21^st, 2016 at 6:12am:

Mechanic is forgiven for not reading the thread first.

Quote:

Sidchrome are terrible because they
are too thick to get into tight places.

I'm not sure what you are talking about bobby.. I didn't mention Sidchrome at all... :-/

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Sir Bobby on Jan 21^st, 2016 at 9:45pm

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 21^st, 2016 at 11:22am:

Bobby. wrote on Jan 21^st, 2016 at 6:28am:

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 21^st, 2016 at 6:12am:

Mechanic is forgiven for not reading the thread first.

Quote:

Sidchrome are terrible because they
are too thick to get into tight places.

I'm not sure what you are talking about bobby.. I didn't mention Sidchrome at all... :-/

The Repco ones are similar to Sidchrome.

forgiven

namaste

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by The Mechanic on Jan 22^nd, 2016 at 6:23am

Bobby. wrote on Jan 21^st, 2016 at 9:45pm:

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 21^st, 2016 at 11:22am:

Bobby. wrote on Jan 21^st, 2016 at 6:28am:

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 21^st, 2016 at 6:12am:

Mechanic is forgiven for not reading the thread first.

Quote:

Sidchrome are terrible because they
are too thick to get into tight places.

I'm not sure what you are talking about bobby.. I didn't mention Sidchrome at all... :-/

The Repco ones are similar to Sidchrome.

forgiven

namaste

no they are not...

if you had read... they are slimline, light and polished..

I will get you a picture when I can..

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by The Mechanic on Jan 22^nd, 2016 at 11:34am

here's a picture of my tools bobby..

they are 15 years old this lot and am about to retire them... today in fact :)

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by The Mechanic on Jan 22^nd, 2016 at 11:34am

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Sir Bobby on Jan 22^nd, 2016 at 3:41pm

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2016 at 11:34am:

here's a picture of my tools bobby..

they are 15 years old this lot and am about to retire them... today in fact :)

They look OK -

look how fat the Sidchrome ones are:

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Aussie on Jan 22^nd, 2016 at 4:13pm

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2016 at 11:34am:

I'm at my mechanic's place regularly and know all the blokes there pretty well as you'd expect after about 12 years. The mobile tool boxes they have have become (decorated) phallic symbols. The Owner's is the biggest and the poor old apprentices have very little ones. And all hell breaks loose if a tool is missing from a box. Of course, whenever I go there, knowing that, I'll deliberately and sneakily move a tool from one box to another.

;D

Title: Re: Best Brand Of Spanners on the Market
Post by Redneck on Jan 22^nd, 2016 at 4:38pm

These are nice but a bit pricey!