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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Canberra
    Age
    63
    Posts
    14

    Default Australian Sidchrome

    When was Sidchrome at it's best in Aust.

    After recently acquiring some 60's spanners I noted that the quality was not as high as the ones I purchased new in the late 80's.

    Any experiences?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Glenhaven, NSW
    Age
    81
    Posts
    205

    Default

    My Sidchrome (AF) spanners all date from the late 50s to the early 70s. I haven't been able to break one yet. Likewise my Dufor Whitworth sockets. I have an openended 1/4" BSW that I ground down to about 1/8" thick to fit in the arbor of my old jointer for the blade holding setscrews. It really gets a workout if the blades haven't been moved for a while and there's no sign of the jaws spreading.
    They don't make 'em like they useta!
    Cheers
    Graeme

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    22

    Default

    I have 80's versions of a Sidchrome socket set, a set of ring spanners and a set of open ended spanners. All are made in Australia. I reckon they're great quality. My understanding is that Sidchrome is now part of the Stanley empire. The stuff sold in Australia now under the Sidchrome banner is sold in other markets overseas as Stanley Proto which is supposedly Stanley's premium brand for sockets, spanners and the like.

    Regards,
    Mirboo.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Belgrave, Victoria
    Age
    69
    Posts
    25

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Mirboo
    I have 80's versions of a Sidchrome socket set, a set of ring spanners and a set of open ended spanners. All are made in Australia. I reckon they're great quality. My understanding is that Sidchrome is now part of the Stanley empire. The stuff sold in Australia now under the Sidchrome banner is sold in other markets overseas as Stanley Proto which is supposedly Stanley's premium brand for sockets, spanners and the like.
    G'Day Mirboo,
    You're dead right! Stanley bought out Sidchrome in 2000 and then proceeded to move all the manufacturing to China!
    So much for another Aussie Icon !!!
    Cheers, Steve.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Does that mean they're going to change their slogan from:

    Ya can ne han a man a granna spanna

    to:

    Screw you! We're going to live from our rep!




    Damien
    Is it wrong to be in love with a sawbench?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Gold Coast
    Age
    66
    Posts
    192

    Default

    Some (20?) years ago someone ran some simple tests on Sidchrome and Kincrome spanners. I think it was Choice. They tested them for strength by bending them until they broke and then for corrosion by exposing them to artificial wet conditions and seeing how long it was before the chrome was permeated so that the steel surface-rusted. Kincrome won by a whisker I think, not on strength but on rust resistance.

    It wouldn't surprise me if, despite urban myths to the contrary, the latest Sidchrome spanners actually outperform all of the previous ones. With advances in Metallurgical sciences, why would they drop a few kilos of this or that metal in order to economise on spanners marketed as "quality"?

    Personally I use Kincrome, but only because I like Japanese stuff. I've had spanners, both Sidchrome and Kincrome, on the end of a long steel pipe, and they've hung in there well before the bolt or nut has chucked the towel in.

    You know, in the end, no matter what you buy, if you accidently leave it out in the weather, you soon learn how good it's metal is. I recently left a Teng Tools spanner out for six weeks (it fell under a trailer) and when I retrieved it there wasn't one spot of rust (yes southern doubters, it rained). That says something to me.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    The Fabulous Gold-plated Coast.
    Age
    69
    Posts
    2,251

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Rossluck
    I recently left a Teng Tools spanner out for six weeks (it fell under a trailer) and when I retrieved it there wasn't one spot of rust (yes southern doubters, it rained). That says something to me.
    I have a couple of Teng Tools things. I don't see them around anymore-too bad, as I am powerfully impressed by the ones I have. The rest of my tools are Stahwille and Snap-On, and the Tengs are as good, especially when rated value for money.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Japan。
    Age
    49
    Posts
    212

    Default

    Damien, mostly 'b'.

    They are not junk now, but they aren't a match for the older stuff.

    They 'feel' soft, and Proto have a rep for soft tools. So they won't shatter or crack, but they will wear out.

    The old 'crinkly' finish was nicer to grab a hold of too, but the new snot-slick finish is easier to clean.

    I have a set or three of the new ones, picked up cheap. I also have quite a few old ones, and I wouldn't buy the new one's again.

    I do think that if I need to get some more sockets/spanners, I'll grab some KTC stuff from here. At 1/2-1/5 the price and good quality, how can I go wrong?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Canberra
    Age
    63
    Posts
    14

    Default

    I have completely reamed out the inside of a Taiwanese sidchrome 10mm socket trying to undo a seized nut. Bunnings didn't care - here have a new one.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Melbourne, Victoria
    Posts
    559

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Rossluck
    Some (20?) years ago someone ran some simple tests on Sidchrome and Kincrome spanners. I think it was Choice. They tested them for strength by bending them until they broke and then for corrosion by exposing them to artificial wet conditions and seeing how long it was before the chrome was permeated so that the steel surface-rusted. Kincrome won by a whisker I think, not on strength but on rust resistance.

    It wouldn't surprise me if, despite urban myths to the contrary, the latest Sidchrome spanners actually outperform all of the previous ones. With advances in Metallurgical sciences, why would they drop a few kilos of this or that metal in order to economise on spanners marketed as "quality"?

    Personally I use Kincrome, but only because I like Japanese stuff. I've had spanners, both Sidchrome and Kincrome, on the end of a long steel pipe, and they've hung in there well before the bolt or nut has chucked the towel in.

    You know, in the end, no matter what you buy, if you accidently leave it out in the weather, you soon learn how good it's metal is. I recently left a Teng Tools spanner out for six weeks (it fell under a trailer) and when I retrieved it there wasn't one spot of rust (yes southern doubters, it rained). That says something to me.
    I always thought it was kingchrome (or is there both, and kingchrome are trying to fool you into thinking it is kincrome?) Just wondering, as I always thought they were cheap, nasty crap to avoid. Or perhaps I am right, and Kingchrome is cheap, nasty crap, and kincrome is high quality, good stuff?

    Irrespective, I'm glad I got my spanners (open and closed) before 2000, so I can be confident that they are the respected Aussie ones. I don't care if my spanners are heavy - they feel better in the hand if they have some weight.
    "Clear, Ease Springs"
    www.Stu's Shed.com


  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Ipswich QLD
    Age
    54
    Posts
    30

    Default Sidchrome.

    Yep my dad reckons they are crao since going O/S. i have a few of the older ones and there is a difference in them i think. i have a few snap on spanners and I find them to be great. Shame about Sidchrome though, another great Australian product gone to the dogs.
    Dave,
    hug the tree before you start the chainsaw.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Bowral, NSW, Australia
    Age
    74
    Posts
    2

    Default

    For those who have no tools or for someone who is an apprentice starting out there is a special deal on Sidchrome at the moment - the stand, the drawers and zillions of sockets and hand tools for $900 through Just Tools or you may be able to alk down the $1000 from Gasweld.
    (PS I'm not in the business)
    Carry Pine

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by stuart_lees
    I always thought it was kingchrome (or is there both, and kingchrome are trying to fool you into thinking it is kincrome?) Just wondering, as I always thought they were cheap, nasty crap to avoid. Or perhaps I am right, and Kingchrome is cheap, nasty crap, and kincrome is high quality, good stuff?
    Kincrome is an Australian company. One of the Sons who are the "kin" in Kincrome is the captain of my baseball team. As far As I know most of their stuff comes out of china. I'm not particularly impressed with the quality (and I told him so ). Some of their stuff is ok though.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Gold Coast
    Age
    66
    Posts
    192

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by stuart_lees
    I always thought it was kingchrome (or is there both, and kingchrome are trying to fool you into thinking it is kincrome?) Just wondering, as I always thought they were cheap, nasty crap to avoid. Or perhaps I am right, and Kingchrome is cheap, nasty crap, and kincrome is high quality, good stuff?

    Irrespective, I'm glad I got my spanners (open and closed) before 2000, so I can be confident that they are the respected Aussie ones. I don't care if my spanners are heavy - they feel better in the hand if they have some weight.
    Maybe you're right about that. There's been confusion in my head about it because I remember the kingchrome spelling from somewhere. I'm referring to Kincrome, made in Japan. I have a set of their spanners and sockets and I trust them. It's this trust thing that is at issue here. When you tackle a big job with el cheapo spanners they're just a disaster. When my fitter and turner brother helps me with stuff, he just chucks them straight in the bin. This sometimes happens halfway through one of my sentences after I hand him an el cheapo: "They're Chinese but ..." CLANG!

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Glen Innes NSW
    Age
    80
    Posts
    28

    Thumbs up Old tools

    I have a set of sidchrome sockets 42 piece bought new in 1966 and the only one which broke was 5/8 socket. They have some corrosion which set up on some of the sockets. They travelled around the country for a couple of million kilometers in the tool boxes on the trailer.. I feel I got my moneys worth after 40 years of fairly heavy service, I still use them occasionally.

    Regards Mike

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