Sealey tools?
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Sealey tools?
I've just started an apprenticeship that'll hopefully take me to my B1, and need to be buying a tool kit before anyone thumps me for borrowing their tools any more..
Are Sealey tools any good? Sealey Black 10 Drawer Top Chest + FREE Hand Tools Worth £402.25 - AP2310BCOMBO8 - SEAAP2310BCOMBO8 - Sealey Chest & Roller Cabinet Tool Sets looks abit too good to be true, i don't want to be stuck with dogs. Obviously i'd be buying other stuff to add to it as i go but need something like that to get around the simple jobs..
Cheers, Dan
Are Sealey tools any good? Sealey Black 10 Drawer Top Chest + FREE Hand Tools Worth £402.25 - AP2310BCOMBO8 - SEAAP2310BCOMBO8 - Sealey Chest & Roller Cabinet Tool Sets looks abit too good to be true, i don't want to be stuck with dogs. Obviously i'd be buying other stuff to add to it as i go but need something like that to get around the simple jobs..
Cheers, Dan
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Dan first question, what are the Aircraft you will be working on ?
I ask because buying metric tools may not be the ones you need, also some companies may have a scheme to provide you with a tool guide or even a kit..
But for what its worth when I came out of the RAF I bought a similar set up and then worked from that to tailor it to my needs....
You may if i remember rightly be able to get a tax allowance to buy tools..... don't expect money, they just reduce it a bit, or they did.
Let us know and we will help give you a guide as to what you will need.
This may help too
Tools and Equipment - Aircraft Engineers Bulletin Board
I ask because buying metric tools may not be the ones you need, also some companies may have a scheme to provide you with a tool guide or even a kit..
But for what its worth when I came out of the RAF I bought a similar set up and then worked from that to tailor it to my needs....
You may if i remember rightly be able to get a tax allowance to buy tools..... don't expect money, they just reduce it a bit, or they did.
Let us know and we will help give you a guide as to what you will need.
This may help too
Tools and Equipment - Aircraft Engineers Bulletin Board
Last edited by NutLoose; 8th Aug 2008 at 17:25.
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Looks like a car mechanics kit.
Try and find some crusty old retiree who'll flog you a bit of his set for 14 days on a SAGA break, the industry is full of retiree's were told.
Liz provided my kit for 12 years so I went to Machine Mart and bought a load of Clarke ****e for about £400 when I came out just to get me working. I replaced this over my first year and built on that.
If you can put up with the jibes about not leaving your spanners near a heater then that may do you
Try and find some crusty old retiree who'll flog you a bit of his set for 14 days on a SAGA break, the industry is full of retiree's were told.
Liz provided my kit for 12 years so I went to Machine Mart and bought a load of Clarke ****e for about £400 when I came out just to get me working. I replaced this over my first year and built on that.
If you can put up with the jibes about not leaving your spanners near a heater then that may do you
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Cromwell Industrial Tools UK: Kennedy Industrial : ENGINEERS APPRENTICES TOOLKIT 107-PCE : KEN-595-0500K
try something like this but ask them if they can do an AF version instead.
try something like this but ask them if they can do an AF version instead.
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Thanks for the replies helping to steer me around.
I'm working on eurocopters, and after a weeks work think the main kit i need is a decent set of spanners, a socket set, various pliers, screw drivers, then a few extra bits like the magnet on a stick, a mirror, hammer and punch, and a knife.
Are there any other essential bits?
Britool seem really good but quite pricey, thanks for the links, i found my way to this Cromwell Industrial Tools UK: Kennedy Industrial : ENGINEERS APPRENTICES TOOLKIT 208-PCE : KEN-595-0550K but not sure about the quality?? The price seems very reasonable though.
Thanks for all your help.
Dan
I'm working on eurocopters, and after a weeks work think the main kit i need is a decent set of spanners, a socket set, various pliers, screw drivers, then a few extra bits like the magnet on a stick, a mirror, hammer and punch, and a knife.
Are there any other essential bits?
Britool seem really good but quite pricey, thanks for the links, i found my way to this Cromwell Industrial Tools UK: Kennedy Industrial : ENGINEERS APPRENTICES TOOLKIT 208-PCE : KEN-595-0550K but not sure about the quality?? The price seems very reasonable though.
Thanks for all your help.
Dan
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Sealey are OK; they're budget tools and obviously not in the Snap-On/Proto/Stahlwille league but I have bought Sealey in the past along with all sorts of other stuff. As the other guys say, Metric is still not that common on aircraft (apart from Russian stuff!) and you would need a load of AF wrenches and sockets in most cases. Best to see if there is an AF alternative set about.
When I started I bought a tool box with a basic range of Williams tools out of my Mum's catalogue for £85 (well it was 1975.... ) and then just went out and bought what extra things I needed individually. I certainly got a tax allowance for tools (£25 per year back then) so I'm sure you still can now. There are also some good deals to be had at the moment with the Pound/Dollar rate if you buy from the USA but you must allow for shipping and (possibly) duty on import.
Then once you have your B1 you'll be earning so much moolah that you will be on the Snap-On man's Christmas Card list! (yeah, right!)
When I started I bought a tool box with a basic range of Williams tools out of my Mum's catalogue for £85 (well it was 1975....
) and then just went out and bought what extra things I needed individually. I certainly got a tax allowance for tools (£25 per year back then) so I'm sure you still can now. There are also some good deals to be had at the moment with the Pound/Dollar rate if you buy from the USA but you must allow for shipping and (possibly) duty on import. Then once you have your B1 you'll be earning so much moolah that you will be on the Snap-On man's Christmas Card list! (yeah, right!)
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As said above, thats why I asked what you are working on, of you have a load of Socatas or a flying LOL Diamond, they will be metric Airframe wise, though the Socata will have a US engine and that will be A/F..... Mind you the Diamond may have a U/S engine for a different reason LOL..
Sealy are not bad as said they are budget...... Halfords
do a "professional range" and to be honest they are not bad quality either.......
Again as I said above, give us an Idea on what you are working on and a rough budget......... you do not want to spend a fortune straight off...
Sealy are not bad as said they are budget...... Halfords
do a "professional range" and to be honest they are not bad quality either.......
Again as I said above, give us an Idea on what you are working on and a rough budget......... you do not want to spend a fortune straight off...
Last edited by NutLoose; 10th Aug 2008 at 23:19.
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I only tinker with cars, but can highly recommend the Halfords Professional tools. They are very good quality and have a lifetime replacement warranty.
Paying stupid cash for Snap-on isn't worth it. It's brand snobbery and the price does not in any way reflect any imperceptible improvement in quality. Halfords are just as good.
Paying stupid cash for Snap-on isn't worth it. It's brand snobbery and the price does not in any way reflect any imperceptible improvement in quality. Halfords are just as good.
There isn't anything to beat Snap-On ratchet screwdrivers in my opinion. Use other makes all day when de-panelling on a major check and you're going to get palm blisters. Their range of offset open-end spanners is essential for those awkward-to-get-at nuts & bolts. No need for a complete Snap-On kit though: I also use Facom, Stahwille, Hazett, Bedford, Gedore and Halfords products, plus cheapies that I don't mind grinding down for specific applications.
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Funny I was going to add that.......... if you blow the budget on anything get a Snapon Ratchet Screwdriver, it will last you years........ I am on my second and it is used as everything it says not to use it as on the handle lol.....
Two might sound a lot but we are talking 30 years.. so I get 15 years plus of service out of them and the second is still going strong, everything is replaceable on them as well......
for the rest of the range, they are not as good as they used to be, since they no longer make them all in the USA.
Two might sound a lot but we are talking 30 years.. so I get 15 years plus of service out of them and the second is still going strong, everything is replaceable on them as well......
for the rest of the range, they are not as good as they used to be, since they no longer make them all in the USA.
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The Metric/Imperial (including BSF) balancing act is always a problem. I invested in a 1/2" drive Metrinch socket set and they've been brilliant. I must admit to using them more on my British cars than I have on my American aeroplane. I understand that the Canadian Navy was considering standardising on them when they bought our old "T" Boats.
Metrinch-tools - IF THIS CAN'T DO IT, NO TOOL CAN
I was somewhat irritated that the Britool offset head O/E spanners I bought recently were made in Taiwan!
Metrinch-tools - IF THIS CAN'T DO IT, NO TOOL CAN
I was somewhat irritated that the Britool offset head O/E spanners I bought recently were made in Taiwan!
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Metric not common on Aircraft ? If your working on Eurocopter metric is all you will need. As stated the Halfords professional is decent quality at reasonable price. What type of Eurocopter will you be working on ? 332's/225's or 365/155 etc ?
NST
NST
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Thanks for all the advice, the ammount of replies with useful info is raather impressive!
From all the advice i've decided to piece together a kit mainly from halfords professional and britool - i'd love SnapOn but can only stretch to £400 which will just about get a (bloody good) socket set...
I'll be working on EC120s, 130s, 135s, 145s & 155s, as well as AS350, 355 & 365. As far is i'm aware, all the ECs work with metric while the squirrels are imperial, so a bit of a mix.
As is so happens i've been borrowing someone's SnapOn rachet screw driver and thought it was a really decent bit of kit..guess i'll get one of those!
Cheers again, Dan
From all the advice i've decided to piece together a kit mainly from halfords professional and britool - i'd love SnapOn but can only stretch to £400 which will just about get a (bloody good) socket set...
I'll be working on EC120s, 130s, 135s, 145s & 155s, as well as AS350, 355 & 365. As far is i'm aware, all the ECs work with metric while the squirrels are imperial, so a bit of a mix.
As is so happens i've been borrowing someone's SnapOn rachet screw driver and thought it was a really decent bit of kit..guess i'll get one of those!
Cheers again, Dan
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Sorry for getting back to you so late, you mentioned some tools from Kennedy, well Rolls Royce Aero Engines in Derby buy a lot of tools from Cromwell tools and a lot of Kennedy stuff as well, so the quality is good, I have some as well such as the digital micrometers and the like, if you decide on the kit, you might get a discount if you try and blag it as well...... as for the other makes, well do an Ebay search for them, you will often be suprised what gets listed even Dessouter drills etc.
What ever happens good luck on the career
even Dessouter drills etc.What ever happens good luck on the career
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I've only mechanic'd on road-vehicles, so, fwiw.
Snap-on single-hex,deep,3/8-drive sockets....slim-wall,don't slip, don't chew the corners of nuts....ONLY buy the commonly -used sizes. their ratchets are really good,lookalikes wear rapidly in the head and a service-kit will NOT cure that.-again, a king's ransom but worth it. anything up to 19MM /3/4 AF should be OK with 3/8-drive stuff (1/2" drive is heavy and clumsy) 1/4 drive is usually too flimsy. Snap On short universal joint is unbeatable!....
...plenty of other brands have been mentioned..I'd second Williams and Britool..also, IMO Teng tools are very underrated.
Snap-on screwdrivers! first time you slip with a cheap brand, you'll appreciate why the S/O product is worth it...again, be selective...6" upward flats.#2 Poz and philips (don't know about A/c but phill. is virtually obsolete)-NOTE they are NOT the same!
Aviation snips(blue-point iirc, but sold by S/O vans) far superior to the "lookalikes"
Certain specialised items(EG. pipe flare-nut spanners,) very thick jaws spread pressure over the whole flat/cheaper,slim-jaw stuff just cuts a slot/crushes in a stuck union...the S/O product earns it's keep!
IMO, small electricians screwdrivers,etc. are a waste in S/O ...most get lost/stolen rather than worn-out!
I personally had no other S/O kit other than a 13/14 mm ratchetting ring-spanner
Combination-spanners generally more useful than separate O/E and Ring-sets.
Deep Offset-rings tend to cant over and slip off (analyse the pressure and torque applied to the "free" end ! )
DON'T be seduced by glittery chrome and "good ideas" you CAN'T buy skill or ability. No point in paying £15 for a socket you only use once in 2 years! or a "broken" open-end set that takes so long to dig-out of the toolbox, you just use the ordinary one already in your hand!
Start with a basic kit and ask the "old hands" for advice.
Good luck in your chosen field!
Snap-on single-hex,deep,3/8-drive sockets....slim-wall,don't slip, don't chew the corners of nuts....ONLY buy the commonly -used sizes. their ratchets are really good,lookalikes wear rapidly in the head and a service-kit will NOT cure that.-again, a king's ransom but worth it. anything up to 19MM /3/4 AF should be OK with 3/8-drive stuff (1/2" drive is heavy and clumsy) 1/4 drive is usually too flimsy. Snap On short universal joint is unbeatable!....
...plenty of other brands have been mentioned..I'd second Williams and Britool..also, IMO Teng tools are very underrated.
Snap-on screwdrivers! first time you slip with a cheap brand, you'll appreciate why the S/O product is worth it...again, be selective...6" upward flats.#2 Poz and philips (don't know about A/c but phill. is virtually obsolete)-NOTE they are NOT the same!
Aviation snips(blue-point iirc, but sold by S/O vans) far superior to the "lookalikes"
Certain specialised items(EG. pipe flare-nut spanners,) very thick jaws spread pressure over the whole flat/cheaper,slim-jaw stuff just cuts a slot/crushes in a stuck union...the S/O product earns it's keep!
IMO, small electricians screwdrivers,etc. are a waste in S/O ...most get lost/stolen rather than worn-out!
I personally had no other S/O kit other than a 13/14 mm ratchetting ring-spanner
Combination-spanners generally more useful than separate O/E and Ring-sets.
Deep Offset-rings tend to cant over and slip off (analyse the pressure and torque applied to the "free" end ! )
DON'T be seduced by glittery chrome and "good ideas" you CAN'T buy skill or ability. No point in paying £15 for a socket you only use once in 2 years! or a "broken" open-end set that takes so long to dig-out of the toolbox, you just use the ordinary one already in your hand!
Start with a basic kit and ask the "old hands" for advice.
Good luck in your chosen field!
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I go along with a previous post,build up a good quality set over time but also get some cheap stuff to grind down and generally modify as required.Clarke tools are robust enough and cheap enough for this as are Drapers.also Drapers do a very good allen key set for all the little fiddly grub screws found on control units.
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tooling
There are some things you are best buying the best and other things not so.
I would definitly have the snap on ratchet screwdriver it really is a must! I can say i would spend a bit more on the items i would be using on a daily basis i.e 1/4 drive ratchet and sockets(std and deep), combination spanners, decent set of duckbills etc.
In my experience i can highly recommend Facom for these, top quality and no-where near as pricey as snap on, their ratchets really are superb with a very fine gearing excellent for tight spaces. They arent too pricey if you check out ebay.
The other stuff to look at you should consider Craftsman, only avail in the US but there are many retailers on ebay.com that will ship to the UK for a reasonable fee.
Its the old cliche you get what you pay for, but you really dont have to spend a fortune to get you started.
I would definitly have the snap on ratchet screwdriver it really is a must! I can say i would spend a bit more on the items i would be using on a daily basis i.e 1/4 drive ratchet and sockets(std and deep), combination spanners, decent set of duckbills etc.
In my experience i can highly recommend Facom for these, top quality and no-where near as pricey as snap on, their ratchets really are superb with a very fine gearing excellent for tight spaces. They arent too pricey if you check out ebay.
The other stuff to look at you should consider Craftsman, only avail in the US but there are many retailers on ebay.com that will ship to the UK for a reasonable fee.
Its the old cliche you get what you pay for, but you really dont have to spend a fortune to get you started.