Must have 'spare bit' to be carried!

by frederic Sun Sep 11, 2016 1:18 pm

Just fitted a Thetford Toilet seal plate, pt no 50731, which comes complete with fitting instructions.
Easie peasie as long as one has a posidrive screwdriver.
Hopefully won't need another but will get one just in case (postage was more than the seal) as it is not quite the same using a Beamish 1/2 pt. beer glass!
frederic

by Askit Sun Sep 11, 2016 3:55 pm

I've been wondering just how little I can get away with in terms of tools to be carried. Funny how the screwdriver you need to fix something is never one of those you've got rolleyes

Anyway, just spent all of £6.99 on a set of screwdrivers from Lidl (I think including several of the posidrive variety) and I'll take some of them as part of my kit.

by m8form8 Sun Sep 11, 2016 9:10 pm

Afraid I am a screwdriver snob, I never travel anywhere without my Snapon USA precision ratchet handled screwdriver with multi heads in the handle. They are a very pricey bit of kit but I have only ever bought 2 in 30 years, the first one I dropped overboard on my yacht or it would still be in perfect working order and I have never found a screw it will not shift. allthumbz

Sadly cheap screwdrivers the heads wear and break, not on a snapon and if it does they have a life time free replacement service. They are generally only sold to the motor trade but you may see a van about and ask the dirver to sell you some, great tools all round for mechanics. hugegrins

by -mojo- Sun Sep 11, 2016 9:55 pm

I've stopped taking away a comprehensive toolkit, but I still take an Aldi screwdriver bit set with me, because what used to be unusual are now quite common when it comes to fixings - for example Torx and hex heads are now not rare at all, and VW use spline quite a lot too. A bit set and small ratchet handle is a good space/weight saving way to cover most of what you're likely to meet, and while Aldi/Lidl products are nowhere near SnapOn quality, they are probably good enough for most uses, and ~significantly~ cheaper!

by dbroada Sun Sep 11, 2016 10:29 pm

-mojo- wrote:and while Aldi/Lidl products are nowhere near SnapOn quality, they are probably good enough for most uses, and ~significantly~ cheaper!

Yes, most of my toolkit is Lidl. If I only expect to use it once or twice why spend more. However if i was using it 5 times a day I'd look elsewhere.

by Betty's Mum Sun Sep 11, 2016 11:30 pm

I have a handy little kit - got it when I got my first trailer tent and it has moved up with me through 5 years of trailer tenting, 10 years as a shed puller and the last 3 years with Betty. Most recently used the 10mm socket to remove the battery clamps ... a bargain cheapie from Woolies and doesn't take up much space allthumbz

by frederic Mon Sep 12, 2016 4:10 pm

I still have the Woolworth 1/2in Socket Set that was bought in the late 60's (about £6) its a metric one and has a ratchet, angle head bar, 6in extension rod and about 12 sockets + spark plug spanner (older large plug size though) This has been added to as the needs arose for sump plug sockets squares etc. Very good quality at the time and has not failed yet!
Even removes wheel nuts when a long bar is added.
frederic

by m8form8 Mon Sep 12, 2016 7:55 pm

frederic wrote:I still have the Woolworth 1/2in Socket Set that was bought in the late 60's (about £6) its a metric one and has a ratchet, angle head bar, 6in extension rod and about 12 sockets + spark plug spanner (older large plug size though) This has been added to as the needs arose for sump plug sockets squares etc. Very good quality at the time and has not failed yet!
Even removes wheel nuts when a long bar is added.
frederic

Well 'thats the wonder of Woolworths' then.

As for Aldi and Lidl their stuff is pretty good value for money, the trouble is I get tempted thinking thats useful and could easily have a pile of tools that often never get used these days. I still have my Dads 2nd world war issue nail puller in the cupboard at home although my days of pulling nails out of planks is long gone lol. hugegrins

by AndyLouch Tue Sep 13, 2016 8:04 am

Bought a few 'cheap' tools before most recent trip including a 'ratchet' screwdriver/socket kit (Stanley I think), for about £7. Whilst it was OK for a couple of light jobs, when I tried to raise my bike saddle seat the soft handle cover on the screwdriver just slipped and I couldn't get sufficient purchase!
Bought a more expensive replacement (another Stanley, but much more robust!) yesterday which is able to get the required purchase. SWMBO not impressed!!

by Askit Tue Sep 13, 2016 6:18 pm

W

m8form8 wrote:
frederic wrote:I still have the Woolworth 1/2in Socket Set that was bought in the late 60's (about £6) its a metric one and has a ratchet, angle head bar, 6in extension rod and about 12 sockets + spark plug spanner (older large plug size though) This has been added to as the needs arose for sump plug sockets squares etc. Very good quality at the time and has not failed yet!
Even removes wheel nuts when a long bar is added.
frederic
Well 'thats the wonder of Woolworths' then.

As for Aldi and Lidl their stuff is pretty good value for money, the trouble is I get tempted thinking thats useful and could easily have a pile of tools that often never get used these days. I still have my Dads 2nd world war issue nail puller in the cupboard at home although my days of pulling nails out of planks is long gone lol.

It's a bit frightening to think that my basic toolkit was accumulated over 50 years ago when I was serving my apprentiship as an electrician think_smiley_46

The bulk of it is still in pretty good nick but the screwdrivers were either of the wooden or amber handled variety and didn't fair as well. Like you I think twice about buying stuff that they have on sale, almost bought a set of hole cutters but had second thoughts. Just as well as I found a set in a cupboard, bought the last time they sold them hugegrins

by m8form8 Tue Sep 13, 2016 9:20 pm

Must have 'spare bit' to be carried!

Must have 'spare bit' to be carried!

Re: Must have 'spare bit' to be carried!

Re: Must have 'spare bit' to be carried!

Re: Must have 'spare bit' to be carried!

Re: Must have 'spare bit' to be carried!

Re: Must have 'spare bit' to be carried!

Re: Must have 'spare bit' to be carried!

Re: Must have 'spare bit' to be carried!

Re: Must have 'spare bit' to be carried!

Re: Must have 'spare bit' to be carried!

Re: Must have 'spare bit' to be carried!