Do you have designated "abuse" tools?

[autoace]

I rarely ever need tools replaced under warranty, except brand new Craftsman duds, and a few brand new SO q.c. problems in the past.

I have a large tool box full of Harbor Freight, Northern tool, and other off brand tools, they are specifically used for "abuse" duty.

I also make odd tools with the cheap tools with the welder and red wrench LOL

How many guys here don't have cheap tools to take the abuse, and if you don't, do you use the premium tools for jobs they were not intended for?

I am in the process of creating my dream tool set, based on many years of brand "trial and error/service experience", but I can't be without the old clunker tools, for the non-appropriate tasks.

I just throw out the old cheap tools, after they break, and like the fact that the premium tools don't get scathed.

Don't get me wrong, I USE the premium tools, and give the torque to them, but only for their designated purpose.

Does anyone else have the same quilty pleasure of "throw away" tool back-ups?????????????

 

[Bull]

Oh yeah, for sure, and my "premium" tools are surely less awesome than yours.

With me, it's screwdrivers in particular. It seems that there are dozens of uses for a screwdriver, other than driving a screw. I have a dozen or more of various sizes for all kinds of tasks.

I don't have any sacrificial ratchets, but I am probably too careful with my favorites. Instead of using them to break bolts free, I often reach for the breaker, even though the ratchet can, in most cases, handle the job.

 

[krooser]

When I started I had to have everything in "sets"... I was a freak about organizing and having everything exactly it it's place. If I lost a socket I'd immediately replace it with the same one... no substitutions.

Over the years I realized that if I organize everything perfectly I would never have time to actually use those tools... so now I'm not quite as organized. I have a few complete sets of sockets and ratchets but now use an assortments of various tools found at swap meets and yard sales... 99% USA made.

I have a couple old wrenches that I have modified for cetain tasks... mostly wrenches that needed speacial bends for certain tasks. But I can honestly say that I seldom ever break anything. Occasionally I'll crack a socket if it gets used on an impact. And I recently broke a Craftsman 1/2" extension while using it on an impact.

But I have probably never really abused any tool that I own. I use generous amounts of heat and penetrants for rusty stuff... just don't seem to break very much.

I have tools in my box that I purchased in 1965 and they are still used frequently.

 

[rsanter]

I have some beat up and junker stuff that I have aquired over the years that are great for when you need to brutalize something

bob

 

[autoace]

Oh yeah, for sure, and my "premium" tools are surely less awesome than yours.

With me, it's screwdrivers in particular. It seems that there are dozens of uses for a screwdriver, other than driving a screw. I have a dozen or more of various sizes for all kinds of tasks.

I don't have any sacrificial ratchets, but I am probably too careful with my favorites. Instead of using them to break bolts free, I often reach for the breaker, even though the ratchet can, in most cases, handle the job.

Yeah! I have many sets of beater screwdrivers, they have soo many uses LOL I buy those cheap 30pc. Northern tool type driver sets every few years, just to use for non-fastener turning applications.

 

[autoace]

Oh yeah, for sure, and my "premium" tools are surely less awesome than yours.

With me, it's screwdrivers in particular. It seems that there are dozens of uses for a screwdriver, other than driving a screw. I have a dozen or more of various sizes for all kinds of tasks.

I don't have any sacrificial ratchets, but I am probably too careful with my favorites. Instead of using them to break bolts free, I often reach for the breaker, even though the ratchet can, in most cases, handle the job.

I don't go easy on the premium stuff. If I lean hard on a 3/8 drive Cornwell ratchet and the bolt doesn't give. I may grab a 1/2 inch drive ratchet and socket, but I expect the premium tools to be strong for their intended purpose.

I don't impact chrome sockets or extensions, etc..........I'm a firm believer of using the right tool for the job, unless it is nowhere available, then it is HF etc..tool sacrifice time. LOL

 

[Stick]

I've got a set of proto wrenches designated for cutting on, bending to fit, and welding sockets onto. Off the top of my head I've also got a 3/4 extension covered in marks from a 36" pipe wrench that was almost always pulled by a crane when I drove a service truck. I'll also use 3/4" and 1" drive sockets as seal drivers if I don't have time to turn one on the lathe. I've got a screwdriver bent 90* with a 5/8 socket welded to it for doing valve adjustments on Cat engines.

Really, nothing is safe if I need to build a tool to finish a job. I'll reach for the cheap stuff first, but I've also got a few good tools that have been modified, like a snap-on double box wrench that the 1 1/2" end was cut off to make a "porkchop" for stuck studs on budd wheels.

Field service work tends to do things like that to you. You'll do pretty much anything to get equipment back up and running.

 

[Bull]

I don't go easy on the premium stuff. If I lean hard on a 3/8 drive Cornwell ratchet and the bolt doesn't give. I may grab a 1/2 inch drive ratchet and socket, but I expect the premium tools to be strong for their intended purpose.

I leaned hard on a vintage New Britain 3/8 flex head to loosen a bell housing bolt today. I thought I felt the ratchet begin to skip a tooth, so I freaked and let off, then grabbed the breaker. Now I feel like I abused the NB...maybe should put a band aid on it or bathe it in some therapeutic trans fluid. Funny thing is, it is in my service tray because it is the less nice of my flex heads so I figured I could be more harsh when using it.

 

[autoace]

I leaned hard on a vintage New Britain 3/8 flex head to loosen a bell housing bolt today. I thought I felt the ratchet begin to skip a tooth, so I freaked and let off, then grabbed the breaker. Now I feel like I abused the NB...maybe should put a band aid on it or bathe it in some therapeutic trans fluid. Funny thing is, it is in my service tray because it is the less nice of my flex heads so I figured I could be more harsh when using it.

Hands down, the strongest ratchets I have ever owned are my 30 tooth Cornwell ratchets. When I first started using Cornwell and still today, I put massive muscle to the ratchets and they don't miss a beat. 4 years running, and never a failure, they look brand new on the inside when i lube them up every 6 months or so. Cornwell USA hardline trumps any brand I have ever used, except for maybe, maybe Hazet.

 

[Plombob]

If I have to grind a socket to do a job, I buy a CMan. No way will I grind my premium ones!

 

[tw33k2514]

I have this big great neck combo wrench that I beat the ****** hell out of all the time. I really do not understand how it is still in tact.

 

[autoace]

I have this big great neck combo wrench that I beat the ****** hell out of all the time. I really do not understand how it is still in tact.

Amazing how strong some of the "ugly duckling" tools are huh?

 

[Merkava_4]

Don't have any designated abuse tools - I pretty much use the tools the way they're supposed to be used - I don't mean that the way it sounds.

 

[TangoFoxTrot]

I also have tools set aside that are the junk ones to abuse, but what's funny is the cheap stuff holds up so well, that I often times regret buying the expensive tools in the first place.

 

[tw33k2514]

I also have tools set aside that are the junk ones to abuse, but what's funny is the cheap stuff holds up so well, that I often times regret buying the expensive tools in the first place.

Ive had that feeling, like the other day when I busted the box end of a mac wrench. whipped out the great neck hammer on it, and bolt came loose ...I was like WTF!

 

[nate379]

I know it!

I bought a $29.99 4.5" grinder at Walmart to finish a job at 2AM when my ~$200 one died.... well that $200 one got fixed and I bought another $29.99 grinder. I keep a cut off wheel on one, grinding wheel on one and flap disc on the other.

I also have tools set aside that are the junk ones to abuse, but what's funny is the cheap stuff holds up so well, that I often times regret buying the expensive tools in the first place.

 

[Garage_Mahal]

Yeah, all the no-name tools I bought when I was a penniless teenager are now my designated abuse tools. That, or they go in the kids' tool boxes for them to abuse. I've done some horrendous things with those wooden-handled screwdrivers . . .

 

[cruiser808]

Yeah! I have many sets of beater screwdrivers, they have soo many uses LOL I buy those cheap 30pc. Northern tool type driver sets every few years, just to use for non-fastener turning applications.

+1 on the screwdrivers. I have a "junk" box full of no name USA made screwdrivers that I've purchased a local flea markets over the years. I'm guessing thse have wandered off from Pearl Harbor shipyard at some point in their lives.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

My impact sockets are HF. This is/was due to very low use at home, and wanting some that could be modded at work. (we also have other brands there)

I had one Great Neck wrench, that was bought when I was close to Autozone and needed it for one project (walked there and picked it up). It turned out I didn't have that size at home, which has been rectified since. I just sold it, and some HF long wrenches, that I picked up for in the vehicle (had it broke into before), at a garage sale. Been picking up used/estate sale tools to replace them with.

I still have some old import screwdrivers, and several pairs on locking pliers from those boxes. I will hang on to them, but most of everythiing else, is planned for garage sales (keep what I want, get money for the rest).

I try to avoid abusing them, but with today's tight engine compartments, I have found times when you must use a hand swivel socket, instead of an impact grade. It really ***** IMHO.

 

[r6_cannibal]

I have a few designated "pry drivers" and a pair of slip joint pliers that get abused but that's about it. I try to follow the right-tool-for-the-right-job motto.

 

[litljay]

Oh yeah. I've got home "tool box" tools and a work "tool bag" tools.

The tool bag tools have a tendency to grow legs here at work.

 

[greenreese]

I rarely ever need tools replaced under warranty, except brand new Craftsman duds, and a few brand new SO q.c. problems in the past.

What were the QC issues you had with SO? I had an 8mm FDP wrench that the open end wouldn't fit on 8mm nuts or even around a SO 8mm allen wrench. The back edges were also much sharper than any of the other ones.

I have also had a few Craftsman duds. A long time ago I got a big set and the 1/2 ratchet didn't work straight out of the box. Brought it back the next day and the lady handed me another one that looked like it had been sitting at the bottom of the ocean for 50 years. I told her I wasn't taking that one and to go get a new one. That set also came with a 1/4in extension with no ball in it.

Lots of my tools are modified. Bottom bracket wrenches ground down to clear suspension pivots. Screwdrivers with slots cut in them to remove stripped ******* with too long spokes in them. Low profile 5mm allen wrench to clear chains on bmx brakes. ISIS BB tools turned down for a flush edge to fit better. Even a piece of bar stock welded to a piece of sharpened plate steel for ...ice chipping... or splitting skulls... I don't know, but it's cool.

 

[isr2kba]

When I need to pull out the gas ax, grinder and welder to make a tool, I try to head over to autozone to purchase the donor tool. I have doubles and triples of everything, but I love them too much to abuse them.

Three weeks ago, I needed a right-angle 9/16 wrench to get at a bell-housing bolt at 2am. Autozone was closed so, I bent the Craftsman (and it broke). I welded it back together and then the open end opened up and couldn't turn the bolt. I had to build one out of a Snapon wrench instead.

So when I need it, I need it, but I do try to designate donor tools in some pecking order.

 

[HandyManny]

Generally I have a tin junk pale that I keep stuff like worn-out screwdrivers, drill bits, worn-out mill files, damaged chisels and such. I'll use those for abuse tools when needed. Of course all striking tools are abuse tools, hammers, punches, cold chisels, pry bars, etc. Generally my stuff like wrenches, ratchets, sockets, and breaker-bars, pliers, pullers, mill files, hacksaws, all get pretty well used, but no reason to ever get what I'd call abuse. No reason that I can see in keeping your so-called "dream" tool set pretty and unscathed. Tools are made for a reason, use them correctly and they will serve you well, but in the process they will get scars and show hard use. All hard working things do, call it character.

 

[35mastr]

All of them. I dont think I have ever bought a tool that I was afraid to use.

Have even cut,bent with a torch brand new SO wrenches to make that one time special tool that I needed right at the moment.

Then just went to the truck the next time he would come by an buy one to replace them.


Tools are to use as they were designed for.

 

[Chris Adams]

I carry 'abuse' tools to the wrecking yard. Not afraid to use my good tools, but very afraid of leaving a 20 dollar wrench while buying a 4 dollar part. I know I find tools there all the time.

I also have some HF tools, some blue handle screwdrivers, etc. that I don't mind dropping, abusing, etc.
Also some of the 'pro' HF ratchets that I don't mind stomping on, or smacking around.

I must say my abuse tools hold up fantastic.