Any "Basic" Tools You Grew Out Of As Toolset Expanded?

[oldschoolcraft]

Are there any basic tools you bought as a beginner or student that you grew out of using over time as your toolset expanded? I asked about wrenches in a recent thread and it seems like even though people expand their wrench collections to include double box open and stubby wrenches over time, that their original basic combination wrenches are still heavily used.

For me, as a non pro, the only thing I've grown out of was slip joint pliers. Now I'd rather use either lineman, needlenose or 7" knipex cobra depending on what I'm actually doing with them.

I also grew out of a pretty cool knipex mini needlenose plier that also has 3 wire strippers built in, above a wire cutter. Now, I'd rather strip wires using either a knife or dedicated adjustable wire stripper and use a dedicated needlenose pliers for needlenose tasks.

I find that I don't use a claw hammer much anymore. I can count on one hand the number of times I've taken a nail out of a wall and I think I used pliers since they were closer. I'd much rather use a more task-appropriate hammer now.

So, tell us, are there any tools you started off with that as you grew your skillset and also grew your toolset that you find you no longer need?

And if so, would you recommend to a beginner that if they have the money up front, to just buy the more advanced tools from the start to save money in the long run (for example, in my case, if I skipped the slip join pliers up front, and just bought 3 other more focused pliers at the beginning of my tool obsession, I'd have saved money in the long run)

 

[davethorik]

I guess it depends what you do, and personal preferences. I definitely don't use slip joints much, I have a 10" pair of Channellocks and a vintage 6" pair Snap-On vacuum grip, but they do see occasional use.

I do a lot of contracting and property maintenance so I need a good claw hammer. Air nailers make us less reliant on hammers, but there will always be a need. I actually have 3, all Estwing. 2 main users are a 20 oz rip claw, and a 28 oz milled face rip claw framer. 3rd is a 20 oz curved claw, I prefer rip claw but this one was free, so it is now my "kitchen junk drawer hammer"

I've found that I have upgraded certain tools I have with higher quality when I've felt the need, so I outgrew those tools. However, I have outgrown a few toolboxes as I got more tools.

 

[larry_g]

I'm retired now and bought my first set of tools at 18 years of age. I have not relegated any tools to not needed status yet. I have disposed of a few sets of cheap tools that were junk but never parted with good tools. Over the years all have played a role. The only tools that I have willingly parted with were ones that came with large buyouts that were acquired with the idea of parting with some, mostly machine tool related.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[General Geoff]

slip joint pliers and claw hammer are the two examples that stand out to me.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Personally I feel like the use of breaker bars has disappeared because of space constraints.

 

[cptn_zippy]

I grew out of cheap tools.

J

 

[BK13]

Probably not what you’re asking about, but you couldn’t give me a CM RP ratchet...


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[Two Door]

I started doing car work in the seventies, well before cordless impact tools. Now that I have some, I am getting rid of chrome sockets in favor of thin wall impact. If I were just getting started I would *not* be buying your traditional chrome starter sets.

I might even say the same about short vs mid length sockets, although the jury is still out on that score.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Small drills that plug in to the wall.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

I might even say the same about short vs mid length sockets, although the jury is still out on that score.

Short or mid is better?

 

[Two Door]

Short or mid is better?

When the only choices were regular (aka short) and deep, then short was obviously your default choice unless forced otherwise.

Now that mid-length sockets perform some of the functions of both short and deep, I'm thinking that the short sockets might better be replaced by either the new super shallows, or the same thing in a swivel, if such a thing exists yet.

Edit - for anyone googling for "super shallow", I should have said "low profile" as that seems to be the standard terminology.

 

[crewchief888]

Probably not what you’re asking about, but you couldn’t give me a CM RP ratchet...


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ive never even owned one
i started buying tools in '76...

 

[Flinter987]

I grew out of cheap tools.

J

Yep! I've had good luck with a few harbor freight items. Lightly using other HF items in auto repair soon showed up their shortcomings. My prybar set and punch set have both been replaced with better quality stuff now!

 

[yjWrangler]

but you couldn’t give me a CM RP ratchet

I'll one up that and say Craftsman RP anything

 

[crewchief888]

i rarely use a pair of slip joint or channelock pliers for anything.

my "working tools" pliers drawer consists of 2 pair of dykes, wire stripper, crimpers, 410 channelocks, a long pair of bent needlenose, pair of mini bent needlenose, and 1 pair of slip joints.

garage pliers are almost as sparse.....

some some reason ive never used DOE or DBE wrenches that much. double open ends cut cut in 1/2 to have open end stubbies.

 

[ItsNemo]

Hand saw and those folding clamping saw horse things....with a mitre saw, circular saw, table saw, you never really need the manual tools anymore.

Most mechanics tools the most that's happened is an upgrade in quality...but still use wrenches, sockets, etc all the same.

 

[BK13]

I'll one up that and say Craftsman RP anything

I’m not quite there yet. I’d eventually like to replace the RP combo wrenches with Hazet, Wright, and/or Carlyle....


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[Leaflessshadetree]

I use vise grips, adjustable wrenches and hammers a lot less frequently than I used to.
Wouldn't say that I outgrew them but they did get the job don'e when I didn't have a better tool available.

 

[speed bump]

I don't know that there are tools I don't use anymore but there are tools that I don't use as much anymore.

Dremel, while it still has its place I only use it about once every 6 months to a year. When I was younger I used it for everything.

SMAW welder, haven't really outgrown it but most of my welding is sheet metal so the little MIG covers 99% of my welding duties.

Air ratchets, I used my 1/4" air ratchet last week for the first time in probably 5 years. Before I bought my 10.8v impact I used an air ratchet all the time.

Hacksaw, most of the time I would use a hacksaw is to cut pipe and now I use use a pipe cutter, cutoff saw, or the Sawzall. I do use my wood hand saws fairly regularly though.

 

[Rustypigeon]

My first real set ratchets and wrenches were USA Craftsman RP from the mid 90's. I carried them with me in the trunk of my car through college.

I still have them and will always keep them for sentimental reasons, but I don't really use them much anymore. I much prefer my SnapOn and Gearwrench ratchets and sockets along with my Wrightgrip wrenches. They are much more comfortable in the hand.

 

[sberry]

i rarely use a pair of slip joint or channelock pliers for anything.

my "working tools" pliers drawer consists of 2 pair of dykes, wire stripper, crimpers, 410 channelocks, a long pair of bent needlenose, pair of mini bent needlenose, and 1 pair of slip joints.

garage pliers are almost as sparse.....

some some reason ive never used DOE or DBE wrenches that much. double open ends cut cut in 1/2 to have open end stubbies.

I use dbe and 440 channeloks, the opens I can do without but would be lost without channels.

 

[Fbmoose48]

Knipex pliers wrenches out perform every adjustable wrench

 

[Druder]

My first real tools were a Stanley socket set, I still have it in my car for emergencies and it actually comes in handy for that purpose. I filled my first tool box with a Craftsman mechanics set that I got as a gift. They were still American made but just switching over. I have always hated the ratchets in that set and much prefer a higher tooth count SO or alternative. I use roughly half of what that set came with these days, although I've never been truly impressed with any of it. It came with partial wrench sets, partial sockets, etc. Craftsman always left out the sizes that were actually useful when you bought sets at a "discount." I've filled in the voids with other brands since their quality dropped. As a teen if I had to borrow a tool from my dad more than once I bought my own. Unfortunately that also means I had a lot of cheaper tools that will not last a lifetime but they're changed out as needed.

 

[StreetRage320]

Radial Arm Saw..had it for 25 years, haven't used it in at least 3 years. Too many other options.

 

[Siding Pro]

I haven't used an adjustable wrench in years. I'm not even sure how I ended up with 3. When you get in the habit of not using them, you get pretty good with eyeing up a fastener and knowing what size you need.

 

[ajchien]

Now that mid-length sockets perform some of the functions of both short and deep, I'm thinking that the short sockets might better be replaced by either the new super shallows, or the same thing in a swivel, if such a thing exists yet.

I sure could have used some mid sockets last week. Couldn’t reach with a short, couldn’t fit with a deep, swivel slipped off and beat up the nut.

Wound up removing the obstruction and getting after in in a different way.

Kind of wished socket extensions came in different lengths, 5mm at a time...

 

[AustinChamp]

Speed braces or as Snap on calls them, speeders
power tools have made them redundant.

 

[Bessy]

I'm not sure I can say for sure that "basic" tools in my box will ever be replaced. I mean they may be relegated to a different box/kit/job, but when it comes to tools, as soon as you get rid of one, you need it for some reason.

In terms of replacements, since being introduced to knipex, the only time I used a regular pair of channellocks was to "lock" a cupboard door to keep my cousin's dog out of the dog food bag while they were away. The plierwrench is the same, I will probably never use a regular adjustable in the shop again, short of my 18" Proto which I use for hitch balls and such. The one place I guess that I would choose an adjustable over my knipex is when working on the docks or the boat, If I drop it and can't find it again, i won't be as heart broken.

I still use an air ratchet from time to time, but only because I haven't bit the bullet on a battery powered one just yet, but i can tell you, I own two speeders and I've probably used them once. without a wobble extension, I could never really get the feel for using them.

 

[Rickster]

No more air compressor. It's all battery operated now.
Replaced my hack saw with an angle grinder.
Speed wrench is long gone.

But I'm still keeping my rawhide mallot!!!

 

[andrewordrew]

Working 2 jobs and going to school, I bought very few tools as I was starting out wrenching. The tool trucks would come by and I’d always take a look, walking away with 1 or 2 nice tools every week. In time, everything has served its purpose.

Also for those of you not up on their Internet forum shorthand like myself: CM = Craftsman. RP = Raised Panel like shown in the image below.

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[Yarpo]

I sure could have used some mid sockets last week. Couldn’t reach with a short, couldn’t fit with a deep, swivel slipped off and beat up the nut.
.

Semi deeps are the first things I reach for! So handy.

https://www.coastaltoolsupply.com/product/KDT-80554SPRO.html

 

[BK13]

Love me some semi-deeps! I have plans for 3/8” metric impacts and 1/4” chrome SAE sets...

I’d love to get the GP 3/8” universal impacts, though I need to work on my justification. I have faith I can convince myself soon...


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[bcradio]

For me it would be Speeders, Hand Saws, and Breaker Bars.

They are all only special use items.

 

[sberry]

I never really used speeders much but can go along with hand saws. I certainly have stuff I don't use anymore, at one point I needed extra. Need a lot less extra chrome sockets.
I wpuld be lost without adjustable, channels and simple combo wrenches. Nut drivers too.

 

[bczygan]

Craftsman Raised Panel Wrenches and Ratchets?

I love them.

In fact, if you don't want yours, send them to me. PM or email for address.

I like how stout they are. You can pound on them with a hammer!

Bill

 

[d.mcfarland]

Craftsman Raised Panel Wrenches and Ratchets?

I love them.

Ratchet? No way. Wrenches? Yes, but only if they are a few years old USA stuff. No lobster claw ****.

 

[Finky198]

+1 on the Wrenches I have 4 sets of older USA RP Craftsman’s I keep in 2 wrench rolls.
I have had them for years even bought them used form a guy who didn’t work on anything more than a light bulb, and I have no reason to replace them as they work. I’ve gone elsewhere brand wise for other wrenches, but heck they get the job done and it doesn’t warrant spending money twice...


You guys and your puny oweeee they hurt my hands need to grow a pair...

of calluses... I will say the ratchets really ****....

 

[Mikeske]

For me it would be Speeders, Hand Saws, and Breaker Bars.

They are all only special use items.

I had a guys at work before I retired that were watching me take 6 access panels off a under wing. NO air to man lift and NO noise coming from me on the lift. I had the 6 panels off in the time my partner on the opposite wing had 2 off. What I used was a screw bit on a adapter on my 3/8ths breaker bar to break loose the fasteners and my speed handle was then used to remove the fasteners. I did this 3 weeks before I retired. My boss who knew me for 20 years made a bet with the new foreman of the team on who would finish first. My boss knew I would be done faster. Those old hand tools properly used can be faster then the air or battery stuff. Sure I love the battery stuff but sometimes it all depends on the person who knows how to use the hand tools on what can be done. (BTW I was also lucky none of the fasteners were froze)

I still have my original Craftsman set my older brother and father bought for me in 1974. I always kept it at home for my home set and my Bonney set at work that I bought in 1983. To me none of the tools are redundant as they did their job and I have kept all of them.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Long ago, when Craftsman was still a respectable brand, I bought the largest pair of arc joint pliers (Channellocks) they had (12" ?). I probably have used them less than 10 times in 40 years.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

Long ago, when Craftsman was still a respectable brand, I bought the largest pair of arc joint pliers (Channellocks) they had (12" ?). I probably have used them less than 10 times in 40 years.

Interesting, I used to use mine all the time when I did more industrial type work. Is there another tool you use instead or just don't have any tasks that need a large pliers?