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Bionic wrench

W

Weird Tolkienish Figure

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Jun 12, 2013
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North Shore Boston MA area
https://www.amazon.com/Loggerhead-T...8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=recent&pageNumber=3

Neat tool, but I have yet to find a use for it. The backstory is interesting: Sears copied their design then shifted production to China. This made me go out and buy the original. Problem is that I cannot find a use for it. A lot of the Amazon reviews are similiar: Sears *****, bought out of spite, where would you use this thing?

Not that it's useless, it's just that 99% of the time nuts and bolts are blocked by things. By making the metal "grippers" wider 90 degrees to the handle, so that when you laid this thing parallel to the bolt it would clear obstructions. this thing would be a killer in terms of use. A longer handle would be better too.

A little redesign on this thing and it would be a great tool.
 
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Gmonkee

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One size fits all has but one result.

It does nothing well.

I have a box full of odd miracle tools and only one pressed steel bike multi wrench works decently.

I have yet to find a bionic wreck or its clone in the quarter bin but I will have it when that happens.

An American inventor story that went wrong is compelling but the underlying question will always be the same.

What is the damn thing good for?

Don't worry for the kids because about every twenty years someone will re-invent this thing again and it will be back to plague tool users again.
 
B

BadDriver_GoodCar

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Location
Schaumburg, IL
Gmonkee said:
One size fits all has but one result.

It does nothing well.

I have a box full of odd miracle tools and only one pressed steel bike multi wrench works decently.

I have yet to find a bionic wreck or its clone in the quarter bin but I will have it when that happens.

An American inventor story that went wrong is compelling but the underlying question will always be the same.

What is the damn thing good for?

Don't worry for the kids because about every twenty years someone will re-invent this thing again and it will be back to plague tool users again.
Click to expand...

Looks like it would be useful for a bolt that's against a wall and you need a little extra torque? Does the angle it gives you help with that?
 
C

CGT80

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Aug 29, 2014
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IE, SoCal, USA
That is another Sears/Craftsman POS solution to a problem that does not exist.

I might have one of those and I also have the dog bone wrench. They were gifts, so I keep them and think of family when I see them in my drawer, but they have never been used. None of the multi layered tools impressed me.
 
P

Packard V8

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Mar 16, 2009
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Spokane, WA
If someone gave me one of those, I'd put it to good use and use it to beat him about the head and shoulders for being a dumb-***.

jack vines
 
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Gmonkee

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I collect gimmick miracle tools. When they pop up dirt cheap they join the menagere.

I missed the plastic adjustable socket ratchet wreck and a few of the current ones Stuey reviewed.
He gets them all at launch and plays with them years before they filter down to my price level.

The Loggerhead story behind this Bionic wrench is good drama but doesn't make it a great tool.
I'll find a use for it someday is a horrible reveiw of any consumer product.

And I have a pile of them, the B+D electric adjustable found its place in the bike kit but a dozen others just cannot find a place they shine in any of the varied things I use tools for. There is ALWAYS something better suited and less frustrating to get it done.

Even Oxwall stamped wrenches found a place to adjust bike wheel bearings, limited use of course but still the best I have for the job.
And if **** like those can shine its for simplicity. One point lost early when you say "lets make this the only tool the world will ever need for anything".
The point of building the better mouse trap better be it catches more mice.
The idea behind the super wrench is it has to do more, better than century old wrench designs.
Few meet that goal in even minor ways.

Meanwhile we wait for that amazingly simple idea as we continue using stuff designed so long ago that has barely been changed since our grandfathers used them.
 
K

kball

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Feb 8, 2014
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SoCal
Someone on here mentioned using it as a quick punch/chisel holding tool. I think that's a great idea for it. Would be much faster to use than the usual screw it tight type. If I find one cheap enough I'll definitely pick it up.
 
OP
W

Weird Tolkienish Figure

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Location
North Shore Boston MA area
My proposed changes to redesign the tool:

1) make the handles longer to give you more leverage
2) Make the metal "grippers" longer perpendicular to the tool. This makes it useful for bolts that are hard to reach.
3) make it lockable. Something along the lines of locking pliers or vise-grips.

So you'd have an adjustable wrench where your typical adjustable wrench cannot get into. This would make this a useful tool.
 
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G

Gmonkee

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First check the status of the Sears patent on the locking feature and handle angle. Thats how they Stole Loggerheads thunder.

Then go for it, even possibly through Loggerhead as they already have production facilities.

Don't put a 2nd mortgage on the house to finance this, if you do put a big motorhome in a trusted friends name. You'''ll need it later.

The life of most gimmicky tools is to make it a big seller fast then sell that patent fast before everyone realizes it's limited capacity just after fathers day.
Let Sears hold the bag when the market washes out.
 
B

BadDriver_GoodCar

Active member
Joined
Jul 6, 2016
Messages
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Location
Schaumburg, IL
Weird Tolkienish Figure said:
My proposed changes to redesign the tool:

1) make the handles longer to give you more leverage
2) Make the metal "grippers" longer perpendicular to the tool. This makes it useful for bolts that are hard to reach.
3) make it lockable. Something along the lines of locking pliers or vise-grips.

So you'd have an adjustable wrench where your typical adjustable wrench cannot get into. This would make this a useful tool.
Click to expand...

Like this, maybe? Or I could just take a day trip to six flags lol

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AM1YBW0/?tag=atomicindus08-20
 
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