Tool kits - which brand?

[VFast]

Looking to spend up to $2500 on a roll cab style tool set.

Will be for home use only, but i want a good quality set that will last me a lifetime. Have been looking at Kincrome, Teng Tools and SP Tools.

Any advice on these brands or any others on the market?

[Micks]

I don't mind the Kincrome, can't comment on the other two.

[white lie]

I've got kincrome, have had them for years. No dramas with them but I do prefer the feel of some other brands of spanners and ratchets. That said, I haven't used the newer kincrome stuff either

[QldKev]

I've got some 10+ year old Kinchrome gear, never had dramas with it.

[mjrandom]

My older son started an electrical apprenticeship 3 years ago and given he will do a lot of repairs to mechanical equipment as well he needed more that the usual sparkie tools. After a lot of trying and testing and checking out what was available he went for mostly Kinchrome. Some specific electrical stuff by others but for spanners and socket sets Kinchrome was the best value for money. We have access to Bluepoint and SnapOn at mates rates and he bought a few bits and bobs there too but overall the Kinchrome is great. Be careful of the toolbox (es) you buy as well. Make sure you try out the drawers with some weight in them. There are some that are absolute rubbish and not cheap. We bought boxes from TradeTools which you don't have in WA. Good quality and reasonable pricing. Some Repco tools are also ok but we were disappointed with Sidchrome and SP for the same or more money than the Kinchrome.

[offshore]

Snap On have a special at the moment with a starter kt for around $2000 or so.

[Woodchukka]

Have replaced some stuff lost or broken with SP tools and quality wise they would be as good as kingchrome.

[Plenty]

Snap On have a special at the moment with a starter kt for around $2000 or so.

Doesn't get much better than this gear!

[blackvussii]

New snap-on gear isn't as good as the old stuff, they still charge the same for it though. Kingchrome is good value for money. I use stahlwille, koken, knipex and snap-on for my work tools. Have some cheaper gear from Trade Tools that goes ok for home.

[XUV]

Snap On have a special at the moment with a starter kt for around $2000 or so.
That get's you a ratchet and your choice of socket ;)

[offshore]

https://www.kincrome.com.au/product/K1510/208p-contour-w~shop-blue-%28mp%29

[vyls1wa]

I have the above kit, but a 300 odd set it came with, love it and has everything I've needed doing work on the car short of a torque wrench.

[cashie]

I've got a 316 pce Powerbuilt set, cost around your budget from Repco about 5 years ago.
Love it, also has a lifetime warranty, can't verify if its any good as none of my tools have failed yet.

[kane355]

ive been using kincrome, gearwrench and JBS tools for 20years with no problems.

[amckiwi]

I have some Teng gear
It is lovely to use, I use it so infrequently cannot comment on longevity
Stu

[ls2 cruiser]

I have a repco cabinet tool set and a sidchrome cabinet set at 2 different properties. I have had the sidchrome for 36 years and the repco set for 23 years. Both have lifetime warranties. Cant kill either set.

[bush_basha]

I have a mixture of tools, from Kincrome, sidchrome trade tools and snap on, I won't get any other ratchet other than snap on, need a house loan for each one however, lol. I just like the fine tooth on them. Trade tools has some great value for money tools as well. Tho seems repco with a lifetime warranty can't complain with that.
Just be wary about lifetime warranty as they like to get out of fixing it, lol

[VFast]

I have the above kit, but a 300 odd set it came with, love it and has everything I've needed doing work on the car short of a torque wrench.
Is that the Kincrome Contour set you are referring to vyls1wa?

If so, the above set is only 208 piece set, I take it yours is a more comorehensive set (300ish pieces)?

Just wondering with the Kincrome - are all of the drawers etc full of gear, or are some empty to store extra tools? (Not really clear on the website)

Any good places in Perth have these on display?

What about prices - can you do much better than the rrp?

Thanks in advance.

[vyls1wa]

My wife bought mine for my bday, but was 2200 and end up K getting it for 1700 I think, she paid it off over some time.

From memory it was all draws full except 2 or 3 can't remember exactly how many, just when we picked it up there was mine in like 10 boxes or the floor model which had a higher number of tools.

Auto one in atwell, they've always been good to deal with and I've never paid full price for anything there.

Yes it is a contour one.

Correction, Mrs paid $1499 and it was a 264 piece.

[white lie]

Yep, another plug for auto one atwell/cockburn. Huge range of kincrome gear.

[VFast]

Thanks for the replies.

Kincrome seems to have the numbers so might go and check them out.

[mummbles]

I have mostly sidchrome gear with a good number of teng tools ratchets and gear drive spanners.
I prefer the teng geared stuff to the sidchrome and kinchrome versions.
sidchrome or kinchrome would be my preference for standard ring and open enders.
pliers and side cutters, sidchrome ftw.

[R8HSVHRT]

Got a Kincrome wall cabinet 200 od piece which is over 29 years old
Screw drivers show some wear but what wouldn't that age life time warranty cnt complain

[offshore]

Thinking of buying this any thoughts?

http://www.bunnings.com.au/sidchrome-13-drawer-tool-trolley_p6120156

[Micks]

Thinking of buying this any thoughts?

http://www.bunnings.com.au/sidchrome-13-drawer-tool-trolley_p6120156

Nice box, whaddya gunna put in it though? You don't seem to do your own spannering?

[offshore]

Nice box, whaddya gunna put in it though? You don't seem to do your own spannering?

Im setting up my garage so I can do more we just insulated the whole garage the other day and setting up part of ir as a man cave sort of thing. And I wouldnt mind just getting a one of those just to have tools better organized. Me and a mate are also thinking of building an LS1 or similar from scratch just for practice.

[bush_basha]

Pretty sure my Mate just bought that box the other day, or very similar but I believe that's it and it was a nice bit of gear

[offshore]

Pretty sure my Mate just bought that box the other day, or very similar but I believe that's it and it was a nice bit of gear

Yea I checked it out this arvo its pretty good. Will do the job thats for sure only reason I didnt buy it then was because I couldnt fit it in the car I had ill get it tomorrow probably with a mates 4wd

[offshore]

Well I just bought it and got it home in a trailer was to big for the 4wd seems like a pretty good thing and a good addition to the garage.

[toey]

My suggestion is to buy a bare cabinet and fill it with what you will need and already have. The kits generally have stuff you won't really need. I have a mixture of sp tools, kincrome, sidchrome, nipex and snap on. Can't got wrong with the main players. I would be looking at getting 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" socket sets, 2 large spanner sets, ratchet spanners, screw drivers, Allen keys (torx/tamper proof ones too), inhex sockets (torx/tamper proof ones too), pry bars, breaker bars, extension bars, good mix of pillars and cutters, Stanley knife, cordless rattle gun, impact sockets, torque wrench and a magnet pick up tool. I have built up my kit over the last couple of years and my wife got me for Xmas just past a empty kincrome contour 8 draw box and matching roller cabinet. I either buy tools as I need them or keep an eye on the major brands catalogues and if anything is on sale that I have wanted to get but haven't really needed I'll buy it on sale

[VFast]

I settled on buying a Kincrome tool set with roll cab and top box.
Ended up getting a ripper deal on a 329 piece Contour kit $1905 delivered to Perth:

[offshore]

Im just going to fill my roll cab up with top quality stuff as I need it. I could have bought the whole set as well but this will do me even though its more expensive doing it this way. Ill use the roll cab for a few other things to not just tools.

[VFast]

I alteady had a few decent tools but not really anything that was in the kit. There is also plenty of extra space which i have started to fill with new tools similar to what you have listed actually.

[NOD1CEls1]

Kincrome & SP Tools are my favorites, top brands!

[lumina ss]

Stahwille are the best by a long shot as far as spanners are concerned. Snapon for sockets and ratchets knipex for adjustables, cutters and pliers

[blackvussii]

Stahwille are the best by a long shot as far as spanners are concerned. Snapon for sockets and ratchets knipex for adjustables, cutters and pliers

Koken are good for sockets. New snap on is crap, had a wall collapse on a new deep socket not long ago, the casting was rubbish

[macca_779]

Kinchrome for me. Used most brands high end stuff in a professional capacity and I find them the best.