Paul Woodward Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 I'm looking to buy an a/f and metric 3/4" drive socket set. It's not going to get a great deal of use so I don't want to spend too much. I thought I'd buy a cheaper set and if /when something breaks I'd replace that bit with a quality one. At the last place I worked we had a set that took some real stick, it was chrome vanadium but un branded. Looking on eBay there's a vast range of sets so has anyone got any recommendations? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Idris Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 "I thought I'd buy a cheaper set and if /when something breaks I'd replace that bit with a quality one." Sounds an excellent plan. The ratchet is the bit that you'll kill easily, so a cheap socket set and a decent ratchet works well. I got lucky and my cheapo ratchet takes a scaffold tube okay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimaquinas Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 hi i have a af n metric draper set that goes upto 46mm and a 1metre snap on crack bar its the best set i have ever had it takles every thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 Halford's have some cracking deals socket sets it's worth a look as most are metric and imperial. jason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 Once you've stuck a scafold bar on a 3/4 drive tomy bar and bounced up and down a few times you'll never want to abuse 1/2" drive tools again Have to agree with Team Idris that the only thing you'll likely break is the ratchet internals.... with a scafold bar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gti-90 Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 hi, i was asking the same question on here a year or two ago, the reply was fantastic, not sure how i can link it up but im sure a whizz kid can. if you google "what socket set on lr4x4" it comes up straight away, hth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 There you go http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=63405 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xorigamixartstx Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 I have a set of halford advance which I am very happy with. They always have a deal on one of their sets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UdderlyOffroad Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 Once you've stuck a scafold bar on a 3/4 drive tomy bar and bounced up and down a few times you'll never want to abuse 1/2" drive tools again Seconded! I bought one of these, a bit cheap'n'nasty looking, and metric only, but so far has been an fantastic at removing everything I've thrown at it. And it includes a proper tommy bar too! I always wince when people on here mention that they stuck a scaff bar on the end of the ratchet...why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffR Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 Avoid Draper, the sockets are fine, but the ratchet, well, lets put it this way, got a 1/4 drive Sealy ratchet that can put up with more abuse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 Personally I wouldn't buy a socket set. I'd buy the bars and ratchets then get the sockets as needed. I've only four 3/4 drive sockets in my tool box. Then I only worked on trucks, not plant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmatt Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 why not buy a 3/4 drive knuckle or breaker bar instead of sticking a scaff pole over a ratchet? I rarely use my 3/4 ratchet as I can usually use a 1/2" ratchet and adapter once its been cracked with a bar. Extending a ratchet is a disaster waiting to happen it'll result in a knackered ratchet or even personal injury! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickeyw Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 I'd go for something 2nd hand, and old of a reasonable brand. It's amazing what crops up. I've just been given a 3/4" set, ratchet, t-bar, extensions etc by by next door neighbour, the sockets are marked Taiwan, which dates it rather. But it's a Kamasa set in a metal case, and I have always thought well of that name. My dad has a 1/2" Kamasa set that must be over 30 years old, we've yet to break that and it's seen quite some abuse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickwilliams Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 Madmatt has it right - no point in abusing a ratchet when a knuckle or 'T' bar is far cheaper and much stronger. There are times when you need to put a ratchet on a 3/4 drive socket, but they are few and far between, and most times you just need the maximum grunt to get something loose (or really tight). I'd go for a good quality 'T' bar and buy sockets as you need them. I bought a 3/4 Facom 'T' bar last year and it was only about 30 quid. Nick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 why not buy a 3/4 drive knuckle or breaker bar instead of sticking a scaff pole over a ratchet? I rarely use my 3/4 ratchet as I can usually use a 1/2" ratchet and adapter once its been cracked with a bar. Extending a ratchet is a disaster waiting to happen it'll result in a knackered ratchet or even personal injury! That's the way I work Matt. Even to the half inch stuff. Break with the correct bar then go to hand size. Yes I do have a 3/8" [for the ratchet] to a 4/4" adaptor {for the socket] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuck Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 My set is by Facom. You need to bare in mind that a ratchet in that size is about 18" long so can't be used in many places. As has been said I tend to use a bar to get things moving then switch to 1/2" (unless I can get the windy gun in, never come across anything that won't shift.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 I have a 3/4 drive torque wrench and when under the 110 you can only just get 1 click of the ratchet before hitting the road, so yep length goes against you. I have a set of 3/4 drive impact sockets that I bought off eBay (I think) and an old T-bar that my Dad picked up somewhere. The T-bar has survived over 6ft of scafold pole when undoing some military split rims that hadn't been split in 40+ years and is still dead straight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Two-Jacks Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 I have had a Silverline (don't laugh ) ratchet set for a few years and it has been given some stick on the basis that if you break it its cheap and they say they will replace it for life but I haven't tested this as I haven't managed to break it yet. I used to smash a few ratchets some years back trying to undo rusted stuff, blissfully unaware of such a thing as a BFO breaker bar. Now I would give it some beans with the biggest bar straight away if it even looked a bit rusty and not ruin the ratchet. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/21-PC-3-4-DRIVE-METRIC-SOCKET-SET-GUARANTEED-FOREVER-/370595149711?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item564931378f#ht_2560wt_1320 J2J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zim Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 Most of our ratchets at work are 3/4. But i refuse to use a scaff bar on the end of them. Instead break the bolt / nut with a strong arm and then use the ratchet. We have various makes facom, gedore etc...Most of the ratchets eventually break, but you can get service kits for them and rebuild. The fun starts with big windy guns I don't think we've actually got a 1/2" gun at work maybe 1 x 3/4" the rest are 1" / 1 1/2" G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 While at a friends workshop I saw a gun they had been sent in for a service, wasn't compressed air ... it was a 2 stroke petrol engined impact gun , apparently belonged to a mobile tyre fitter .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Two-Jacks Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 While at a friends workshop I saw a gun they had been sent in for a service, wasn't compressed air ... it was a 2 stroke petrol engined impact gun , apparently belonged to a mobile tyre fitter .... Now that's bloody heavy duty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 Now that's bloody heavy duty! Not the one I saw at my mates but a newer version ... http://www.erico.com/products/GT3500GE.asp 1030Nm at full throttle apparently Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Woodward Posted May 8, 2012 Author Share Posted May 8, 2012 Thanks for the replies everyone. What you're saying about buying a quality bar and adding sockets as and when makes a lot of sense. I work on vintage cars, the nuts can be big but not usually that tight. Occasionally I'll need to use a 1/2" rattle gun but not the chain saw version! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbekko Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 Not the one I saw at my mates but a newer version ... http://www.erico.com...ts/GT3500GE.asp 1030Nm at full throttle apparently I saw a 4000Nm one of those, but still air powered, in a catalogue a few days back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffR Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 Not the one I saw at my mates but a newer version ... http://www.erico.com...ts/GT3500GE.asp 1030Nm at full throttle apparently Forget swapping series engines with Montego diesels, one of these would do the trick nicely :hysterical: :hysterical: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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