Thread: Super Works Gold tools at SuperCheap Auto

Probably Chinese crap

Dear Zillah & Rowdy,

Chinese I'd say for sure. Carp - I'm not so sure... The "SuperWorks Gold" tools are definitely a cut above the standard "SuperWorks" range, and miles above the "Best Buy" range (which seem to be made from forged sweepings off the factory floor). As you have said, the SWG tools have a lifetime warranty, and because SuperCheap are the only retailer selling them, you apparently don't even have to come up with the docket if you break one in ten years time. They are made for SuperCheap by one of the big guys (someone like Sidchrome) but I just can't remember which one. The Repco in-house range of tools are made by Sidchrome, but they hardly seem to go on sale (except for lately...)

Zillah, do some searching for threads discussing them at car forums like www.fordforums.com.au and www.ls1.com.au and I think you'll find that the consensus opinion regarding them is quite positive - but make sure they're talking about SWG rather than just plain SW tools. As far as tools with lifetime warranties go, I don't think you'll find better value than SWG if you're patient enough to wait for what you want to go on sale. I've got the 1/2" drive micrometer-style torque-wrench (ie. the type that clicks when you reach the dialled up torque), and I can tell you that it is absolutely dead-on accurate. Brilliant buy for only $39.95 on sale. Sidchrome are made in Asia now, by the way.

Rest assured, you can buy either Repco's in-house range, or SWG from Supercheap, with full confidence that you're getting a quality tool, and not just wasting your money. Just be patient enough to wait for the sale...

Best Wishes,
Batpig.

Hi Batpig,
I wishe to second your motion re the Super Works Gold series tools. Walk into any Super Cheap outlet.These are the tools in the lock up display case.Obviously someone thinks they are worth stealing.
The good thing about them is that they are available as singles and as you say relatively cheap. I have replaced a number of lost ring and socket spanners I have lost, with SWGs.

I have a few of them and they are on test here in rust city otherwise known as Mackay. My ring spanner collection hangs off a rack of pegs, along the wall. I am now in the habit of spraying the tools with Lanotec after they are used and go back on the rack.

The chromium coating on the S.W.G.s seems a bit thicker as they are yet to succumb to the traces of corrosion evident in most of the others.

Grahame

Dear Grahame,

You're spot on about the convenience of the SWG singles. Now that I think about it, I've also got a 250mm x 3/8" Extension, a 3/8" Uni-Joint, and a 1/2"-3/8" Reducer - all of which were bought singley at very reasonable prices. I would have bought a whole 1/2" SWG socket set off them as well, except that I wanted to go for something 6-sided (in the way of "edge-drive") as opposed to a more conventional 12-sided "corner-drive" style set, so I ended up getting the house-brand 1/2" set from Trade Tools (also has Lifetime Guarantee) for an unbelievable $89 (thanks to a friendly technicality...) But looking at the two, I have more confidence in the SWG. It certainly has more Chrome on it than the TTD, and by the sounds of it, would hang in there for much longer up in Mackay. My 1/4" set is Stanley (also excellent, but not worth the extra money over SWG), and I've got a few individual Sidchrome sockets of Dad's that I keep in the Plumbing toolbox. I don't have a full spanner set yet, because I've got so many leftovers from Dad that I've been able to get by so far. One exception to my previous comment about SuperCheap's "Best Buy" range is the 1/2" Breaker Bar, which I bought after being assured by staff that they weren't coming back broken, whereupon I bought one, and obviously haven't been killed by it yet...

Kind Regards,
Batpig.

Note Bunnings have a range of "Gold" and "Black Titanium" plated spanners.

Originally Posted by rowdyflat

Probably Chinese crap

Probably

Hello again,

I've just looked at the box for my said deadly-accurate SWG Torque Wrench, as well as my lifetime-warrantied Stanley Sockets, and they are both made in Taiwan. You might just find that Sidchrome are too nowadays.

Best Wishes,
Batpig.

Its not simply a matter of which country is manufacturing the tool its down to the quality of the manufacturer.

A lot of Jet machinery is made in china, but to American standards and quality.

You get what you pay for.

About the only tools not made in China/Taiwan are the known European brands like Hazett, Stahlwille, Gedore etc. Just take out a very large credit card facility to buy them. My son recently started his apprenticeship and we bought Stahlwille, as they became available on special, because they will last and they are the nicest spanners known to man. The only non Stahlwille were the socket sets, the prices are just stupid. What we didn't buy was any imperial of any description or socket sets above 3/8 drive as they are not needed these days by the average mechanic working on light vehicles.