Quality small metric spanners

[Henry ArtistParticipant @henryartist43508]

I have a couple of sets of Bergen metric small spanners, both open ended and combination which have served me well for years. I seem to end up using a lot of M2 and M3 fasteners in my model engineering.

I also use Expo nutrunners – they look like a screwdriver but fit over a nut.

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

Each to their own

If I was a professional mechanic working in a busy garage then I'd hope to own a durable, comfortable set of tools. But as a poor (in the sense of ability) hobbyist I stick with cheap. Inevitably you end up needing two of each size and it's easier to have sets in barn, house and shed than plod across the yard in the rain to get the one good set.

In my previous life I owned some superb quality surgical tools but suiffered severe 'pain in the psyche' when my staff fumbled a £1K item to the floor…not, sadly, that uncommon when covered in slimy gore..

pgk

[peak4Participant @peak4]

Posted by Ady1 on 20/11/2020 17:27:47:

I got lucky with a bargain set of these 4 in 1 ratchets from Britool, so 3 spanners do from 8-19mm

…………………………………

These are well worth grabbing if the price is right

Is this the link, or did you find an even better deal? (£45.95)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Britool-Expert-Facom-Ratchet-Ratcheting/dp/B078K3NKKW/ref=sr_1_15?dchild=1&keywords=britool+ratchet+spanner+set&qid=1606221597&sr=8-15

Bill

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I got a lucky grab bag on the bay for less than that but if you're after a set and you will use them a lot that's not a bad price

The entire set only weighs 0.536kg, which is about one pound

edit: checked on a set of scales and got 0.49 kg

Edited By Ady1 on 24/11/2020 13:25:35

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Ultimately, we come back to "Fitness for purpose" and "Buy cheap, buy twice"

Years ago, because of budget constraints, I bought a really cheap socket set. the most used socket soon wore out.

Compare with my late father's pre WW2 Britool set, still very useable over 80 years on, but much more costly.

A spanner that "feels" right, comfortable, and does the job well will be selected for work more often than a similar tool. A cheap tool, rarely used may suffice, whereas one in regular use needs to be comfortable to use, durable and correctly sized.

A loose fitting open ender on a stiff fastener is short cut to the First Aid box!

A quality tool will outlive a cheapie, and withstand all manner of abuse.

For my use, now, Facom, Snap On etc would be an expensive overkill. But there is still no use for tools made out of metallic plasticene!

Howard

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