Found 2 weird tools today...

[Fugio]

...that you might (or might not) be interested in.

I was doing some general bodging for a retired lady at her rental property and found a box of old tools that belonged to her dad.

LOTS of forgotten old brands, but nothing too special, except for 2 things I've not seen before.

First was a pair of Vise-Grips (Vise-Grip brand) that were the really old ones that didn't have a release lever. I played with them and wwas suprised how well they work! They were exactly like this:

http://toolmonger.com/2011/08/04/back-to-the-future-lever-less-visegrips-from-1942/


I also found an old Chraftsman 1/4" breaker bar about 6" long. WTF would you even need such a thing for? LOL

This Ebay listing has the exact same breaker bar in case you're interested in seeing it:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Cra...et-/381145654166?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6390

 

[Beemer533]

I'm not sure why you would really need a 1/4" breaker either, but they are still made... Here is one from Armstrong:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004WABT/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Fretters]

Those handles aren't breaker bars as such. They're merely for allowing running a nut/bolt from various angles. They're extremely useful for reaching awkward spots.

 

[jkwilson]

I have several 1/4" "breaker bars". They are really handy in certain situations. 90% of the time when I use one I turn it so I'm spinning it like a screwdriver to move the fastener quickly.

 

[Beemer533]

Those handles aren't breaker bars as such. They're merely for allowing running a nut/bolt from various angles. They're extremely useful for reaching awkward spots.

I would definitely agree as far as not being a breaker bar, but that is what Armstrong calls them..

http://www.armstrongtools.com/armstrong-10-918-1-4-drive-breaker-bar-5-3-4.html

 

[rayh91]

I have a SO 1/4" breaker bar. Never used it and it came as a deal with two other 1/4" ratchets.

 

[Jagmandave]

I have a pair like that, I never paid much attention to the brand names or other details of my tools till I joined this site - I just used them!

Mine say Vice-Grip, but on the back they say Petersen Mfg, in Nebraska?

View media item 48455
View media item 48456
I also have a couple of 1/4" breaker bars, I always assumed the name came from the ability to break it over to the other side, rather than it's ability to turn stuck fasteners.

 

[CatSplat]

Mine say Vice-Grip, but on the back they say Petersen Mfg, in Nebraska?

Locking pliers were invented by Petersen, who gave them the name "Vise-Grips". Yours, having no release lever, are likely pre-1957 as I understand it.

 

[Fretters]

I would definitely agree as far as not being a breaker bar, but that is what Armstrong calls them..

It's probably akin to how vacuum cleaners are generally referred to as Hoovers.

I tend to use mine in the same manner as JKW. It's like having a nut spinner and tommy bar in one item.

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

Those handles aren't breaker bars as such. They're merely for allowing running a nut/bolt from various angles. They're extremely useful for reaching awkward spots.

Yep.

In fact, should have one of these here today or tomorrow:

 

[Jagmandave]

Locking pliers were invented by Petersen, who gave them the name "Vise-Grips". Yours, having no release lever, are likely pre-1957 as I understand it.

Makes sense, I got them from my father, and I'm in my late 60's......

 

[Palmer812]

I have a newer style Craftsman 1/4" breaker bar and a co-worker has a Mac.

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[thebeekeeper1]

That breaker bar link is cool! I'd buy it for the novelty of it, but not for thirty bucks. Bleh!

 

[Gmonkee]

Not two weird tools as much as two vintage tools really. And the cream of the crop at that. The days of these being common or cutting edge are long gone but the utility and quality remain.

I have both a small socket driver like that and a slightly battered pliers of that same vintage. They still work as intended and I still use them when required.

 

[Fugio]

Well dang, now I want them both! Maybe I can talk her out of them one day, if I'm really nice.

 

[Bighead38]

I have the kobalt 1/4 breaker bar. Looks like a snap on handle.

 

[lakota]

Found a weird word in your post, " bodging". Are you British?

 

[lakota]

Then there is a Slide Bar Handle, 1/4 in. Drive
link: http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-4-1-2-in-slide-bar-handle-1-4/p-00904354000P

 

[Jagmandave]

Yeah, I have one of those also, but I don't find it as useful as the little break over bar. I find I don't use any of them very often, but when you need one it's nice to have it handy....

View media item 48466
Top one is Snap On
Next down is Husky
Next is no-name
Bottom one is an Indestro

Other than the SnapOn, I have no idea where I got them....

 

[Fugio]

Found a weird word in your post, " bodging". Are you British?

Nope, I'm as Texan as you'll ever find. Howdy!

But I used to LOVE a show called "Junkyard Wars." They used the word "bodger" a lot on that show and it really describes what I do best, as well as what I enjoy doing best. So I adopted the word for myself. I am the local Artful Bodger.


For anyone who doesn't know the word, I'll copy/paste the Urban Dictionary for ya here:

Bodger
1. Anyone who creates objects (machines, vehicles, buildings , etc.) from a mishmash of found or improvised materials

2. An expert in bodging: bodge

3. An unorthodox hobbyist or artist whose body of work has been hobbled together from garbage or materials used in ways that deviate from their intended pupose
Every bodger knows that PVC pipe and duct tape are the two most important resources on Earth.

You can commonly find bodgers in their natural habitat: hardware stores, dumpsters, and junkyards.

 

[bluebolt]

I use both 1/4 breaker bars and T-handles

The breaker bar can be used to break the fastener loose and then used to spin it off. as already mentioned. Sometimes I have used it where a ratchet won't fit.

The T-handle I use with an extension, break it loose and then spin it with one finger while holding the shaft with the other hand.

 

[Bagherra]

Our general mechanic toolboxes in the Army came with those 1/4" breaker bars. We taught our students that ratchets aren't used to break torque.

But in my 20+ plus years as a helicopter mechanic, I never used it...lol