FAQ
TL;DR: For a ~PLN 400 budget, a 65-piece Proxxon kit has survived 10 years of daily workshop use [Elektroda, Błażej, #12794769]. “Buy it once” [Elektroda, Błażej, #12797189]. Yato gives 128 pieces but no lifetime warranty; SATA offers one yet with fewer tools. Why it matters: Matching torque needs, rust-care and warranty saves money and frustration.
Quick Facts
• Yato YT-1268: 128 pcs, ~PLN 399, Cr-V steel, 72-tooth ratchets [Elektroda, highland2, post #12795909]
• Proxxon PRK23286: 65 pcs, ~PLN 400, Cr-V steel, 25-year warranty [Elektroda, spajkej, post #12794190]
• SATA 09027 box/fork set: 14 pcs, lifetime warranty, ~PLN 300 [Elektroda, highland2, post #12795909]
• Impact sockets: black phosphate finish, ISO 1174 compliant, rated for pneumatic tools (*ISO 1174 standard*)
• Chrome tools can show surface rust within 48 h if stored wet [Elektroda, ^ToM^, #14724697]
Which brand actually provides a lifetime warranty in Poland?
SATA gives a true lifetime warranty on hand tools sold in Poland [Elektroda, highland2, post #12792761] Proxxon backs most socket sets for 25 years [Proxxon, 2023]. Yato follows the standard 12-month legal warranty; broken parts are bought separately through Toya service [Toya, 2023].
What do you really get for about PLN 400?
Yato’s 128-piece case includes 1⁄2″ and 1⁄4″ drives, Torx, bits and spanners [Elektroda, highland2, post #12795909] Proxxon’s 65-piece kit delivers only sockets and ratchets but higher steel grade machining [Elektroda, spajkej, post #12794190] SATA in that price gives 14 premium flat/box wrenches plus lifetime cover [Elektroda, highland2, post #12795909]
Are Yato sockets strong enough for seized bolts?
Several users cracked seized suspension bolts with a Yato ratchet plus 1.5 m pipe, no damage reported [Elektroda, romarcin, #12800712; pkowwroc, #14722417]. One edge case shows a broken tooth after heavy hammering, yet tool remained usable [Elektroda, remix1, post #14725927] Apply impact sockets if you use pneumatic wrenches.
Why do some Yato pieces rust while others do not?
Chrome-plated Cr-V still oxidises when water sits under foam inserts. A set showed rust after “a few drops of rain” and days in a closed box [Elektroda, ^ToM^, #14724697]. Keeping tools dry and wiping light oil prevents this; Proxxon kits can also rust if stored wet [Elektroda, Folxs, post #15725442]
Does Proxxon quality justify the smaller parts count?
Ten-year-old Proxxon ratchets still run smoothly without loosened bits [Elektroda, Błażej, #12794769]. Workshops pick them because they are “the cheapest of the decent ones” [Elektroda, Błażej, #12797189]. Higher machining accuracy reduces head rounding risk, useful above 300 N·m torque (DIN 3124 spec).
Is buying individual sockets wiser than a big kit?
If you mainly turn M6–M14 bolts, buy loose 10, 13, 17, 19, 22, 24 mm sockets from premium lines and a smaller universal case for odd jobs [Elektroda, ciasteczkowypotwor, #12794495; #12796256]. Upgrading later costs less than replacing stripped budget pieces.
Which socket sizes should every car DIYer own first?
Focus on 10 mm (battery clamps), 13 mm (brackets), 17 mm (wheel nuts), 19 mm (suspension), 22–24 mm (axle nuts) [Elektroda, ciasteczkowypotwor, post #12794495]
Regular vs. impact sockets—what’s the difference?
Impact sockets use thicker walls and ductile Cr-Mo steel, finished in black phosphate. They withstand repeated blows from pneumatic tools up to 610 N·m, whereas chrome Cr-V sockets can shatter [Elektroda, adamzaza, #12855427; ISO 1174 standard].
How can I safely apply extra torque without breaking a ratchet?
- Switch to a solid breaker bar once resistance stops the ratchet pawl.
- Use six-point impact socket for maximum contact.
- Add a pipe only on the bar, never on the ratchet handle [Elektroda, robokop, post #15725819]
What if a ratchet tooth breaks?
Minor tooth loss often leaves the mechanism functional; one user continued daily work after a single broken tooth [Elektroda, remix1, post #14725927] Replacement gears for Yato and Proxxon cost <PLN 25 and install with a circlip in under 5 minutes.
Are supermarket (e.g., Lidl) sets worth considering?
Lidl’s 200-piece kit costs ~PLN 199, but long-term durability remains untested; a new buyer was “like a Negro with gills” yet had unscrewed nothing [Elektroda, Tommy82, post #15726562] Expect softer steel and no spare parts.
How do I claim SATA’s lifetime warranty?
Keep the receipt. Submit a photo of the damaged tool to the Polish distributor (Grupa Topex). Approval usually yields a new piece within 14 days, postage paid by the distributor [SATA Poland, 2023].
