Need Recommenation for What Kincrome Socket Set to Get

Richmond Tigers on 02/06/2022 - 19:36
Last edited 02/06/2022 - 20:27

Hi all

I am looking to upgrade my tools slowly and the next thing i need is a decent socket set. I am keen to keep my Kincrome sets going.

However i have no idea with these as there are so many sets to choose from. At the very least I dont think I need 3/8 as I can get away with 1/2 probably on light car jobs like changing brake pads. Otherwise it would be for more household jobs.

So any suggestions? Imperial, metric or both? Should i get something with both 3/8 and 1/4? Are extenders and flex handles vital?

cheers

Home & Garden Kincrome Socket Set

Comments

  • apsilon on 02/06/2022 - 19:52

    I saw somewhere once as a guideline, 1/4 drive for small stuff like car interior, 3/8 for everything else except engine internals and suspension which is where you're better off with 1/2. It's not perfect but it's not far off and I use my 3/8 set for 95% of what I do on both car and home.

    Metric vs imperial etc depends on what you're working on. All of my cars have been metric (except the old Land Rover) but the house is old enough that imperial does get some occasional use so basically it depends on what you expect to be working on.

    Extensions definitely very useful, flex handle I've literally never used one.

    • Richmond Tigers on 02/06/2022 - 20:35

      Cheers, I wasn’t thinking 3/8 but makes sense. Probably go metric newer house and cars, do new things get made with imperial bolts?

      • apsilon on 02/06/2022 - 20:45

        Some US made stuff is of course still imperial but even a lot of that has switched to metric now. Bunnings for a long time had a weird obsession with only selling imperial bolts, coach screws etc but I think they have metric available now as well. You may encounter them depending on what you work on exactly but they're not as common as they were.

  • larrydavid on 02/06/2022 - 21:36

    Get a Bahco set. They've got some 140 piece ones with both metric and imperial sockets, in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch.

    Better than Kinchrome, IMHO.

  • Worf on 02/06/2022 - 21:57

    Any tips on downsizing tools… I’ve accumulated a bunch of tools over the decades with various diy here and there, every time I think about letting something go, my brain says this could be handy one day.

    • Richmond Tigers on 03/06/2022 - 09:43

      My old man had the same thought process then I inherited all his tools and I had to cull, literally hundreds of screwdrivers, spanners, wrenches, crappy pliers etc etc.

      Its all horses for courses, I have a pretty new house and cars so it's not like I'll need shedloads of tools, hence going for quality over quantity.

      The only thing i regret getting rid of were bolt cutters, that was a poor choice.

      One thing that I found did help in the cull, I purchased 1 high quality toolbox on wheels that was not big and can only fit a meagre amount of tools. Also a couple good tackle boxes are great for all your bits and pieces.

    • umexcuseme on 12/08/2022 - 17:28

      I had a breakout dongle for a soundcard I bought in 2004. I lost the soundcard years ago but kept seeing the dongle in my drawer and would always say "i MIGHT need that one day". 3 months ago I finally said "what's the chance i'll need this dongle that can only be used on an 18 year old sound card?!" so I threw it out.

      The FOLLOWING WEEK I had to buy a cheap but good soundcard off Gumtree. It ended up being the same model as the one I'd bought in 2004. When I opened it up, whaddaya know? Dongle missing.

  • pegaxs on 02/06/2022 - 22:54

    For working on cars, get a 3/8 and 1/2 set. And since there really are no more imperial cars around, just get a metric set. Most of the metric sockets will fit imperial bolts anyway.

  • Euphemistic on 03/06/2022 - 07:12

    Can’t remember the last time I used an imperial socket in anger. I bought my set when I had a car from 1969 (older than I) last century. At the time I also bought a set of metrinch spammers that do both imperial and metric with one spanner, but they’ve hardly touch an imperial bolt either.

    My set has been well used over several vehicles and household upgrades and only recently was found lacking because the stupid car I was working on required deep sockets and torx heads.

    Extensions are pretty important and I’ve used all mine time to time including putting a couple together, especially in modern engine bays where space is tight. Flex/uni joints are handy but not used often.

  • mapax on 03/06/2022 - 08:01

    Get 6 point sockets, avoid 12 point.

    • BewareOfThe Dog on 03/06/2022 - 09:03

      Especially for tyres.

    • Worf on 03/06/2022 - 16:43

      I’ve never come across a 12 point bolt, yet a lot of my ring spammers are 12 point!

  • brendanm on 03/06/2022 - 17:29

    I use mainly 1/4 and 3/8. 1/2 and 3/4 only when really required.

  • dorikin on 04/06/2022 - 22:16

    I would go for the full set in a kit 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2” in metric
    If you’re on a budget, wait for the ToolPro kit to go on sale at SCA

    Something like this will do just fine for a hobbyist
    https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/toolpro-toolpro-automoti…

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