Gimmick Wrenches, Tools.

[DadsTools]

I was taught that all adjustable wrenches are gimmicky wrenches

Adjustable wrenches were indeed gimmicks (as per my definition in my previous post) when they first hit the market. You can imagine many mechanics poo-poohed them and made jokes about them. The gimmicks that worked as a practical solution to a particular problem PLUS gathered a large enough following survived.

I can see why some would still see adjustables as gimmicky. They didn't earn the nicknames of knucklebusters and Oklahoma open ends for nothing.

 

[DadsTools]

I still use Robogrips.

There is a time and place, but at that time and in that place you'll be glad you have them.

The number of gimmicks incorporated into angle nose pliers is legion. Not to mention again that the original Champion De Arment "channellocks" were gimmicks too. I'd bet you could literally write a book just on these kinds of gimmick pliers.

 

[bonneyman]

I still use Robogrips.

There is a time and place, but at that time and in that place you'll be glad you have them.

I never got the Robogrip thing. Most of my friends love 'em - not me. Leatherman's, too.

Must be an Irish thing.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Leatherman's, too.

I am with you on this.

As an engineer I am often in a position to admire designs that maximize efficiencies in size, weight, power, and cost, that don't also sacrifice utility, easy of use, and elegance. And some of my favorite hand tool innovations are good exemplars. John Zilliox's Park Metal Ware Xcel Multi-Head Wrenches, linked here, come to mind. His brilliant mechanical design, motivated by engineering principles and practicality, not market chicanery, created the ability to put fifteen (15) different detachable open end wrench heads, ranging from 3/8" to 1-7/16" on a single shank, reducing the amount of steel (and also space and weight in a carry box or hanging on a rack) heretofore needed to constitute that DOE wrench set by ~65%, without losing effectiveness.

But sometimes efficiencies can go too far.

The Army's Gerber D.E.T. Multi-Plier 600 Blasting Cap Crimper is a good example, in my opinion. It pretty much splits the EOD/sapper community in half, as well. Like you (and I), some guys love them, some guys hate them. I think they look like one of those wisecracking little characters in Transformers, they are just as prickly, and I would rather carry a small kit with a few more handles than deal with them. Others revere the all-in-oneness.

 

[Macduf]

picked it up for cheap, kind has that gimmick look

 

[bushmechanic]

I never got the Robogrip thing. Most of my friends love 'em - not me. Leatherman's, too.

Must be an Irish thing.

Consider them the result of a mating event between Vice Grips and normal pliers. They give you that middle ground that you don't even know is missing until you have the solution in your hand.

I wouldn't use them like the commercial without guards (which they used to sell), but in their own little environment, they're pretty darn nice.

Just used them to remove a stuck locking ring on the guitar in my thread, because a wrench would have scratched the pick guard too easily, and vice grips can change geometry a bit when they lock or simply slip off.

The ring is entirely undamaged.

Robogrips are actually great for precise stuff. I use them on computers a lot.

 

[d42jeep]

If you are in a big hurry to screw in your slotted screws you might need one of these. It looks Xcelite but I couldn’t find any markings. Maybe whoever made it was too embarrassed to put their name on it.
-Don

 

[Farmer J.]

If you are in a big hurry to screw in your slotted screws you might need one of these. It looks Xcelite but I couldn’t find any markings. Maybe whoever made it was too embarrassed to put their name on it.
-Don

Nice one! A 'speed wrench screwdriver'..
Does the handle actually rotate freely? Or is it just fixed like a normal screwdriver handle?
Can't imagine it would stay in the screw slot for long before it slips out and gouges in to whatever.

 

[bonneyman]

I am with you on this.

As an engineer I am often in a position to admire designs that maximize efficiencies in size, weight, power, and cost, that don't also sacrifice utility, easy of use, and elegance. And some of my favorite hand tool innovations are good exemplars. John Zilliox's Park Metal Ware Xcel Multi-Head Wrenches, linked here, come to mind. His brilliant mechanical design, motivated by engineering principles and practicality, not market chicanery, created the ability to put fifteen (15) different detachable open end wrench heads, ranging from 3/8" to 1-7/16" on a single shank, reducing the amount of steel (and also space and weight in a carry box or hanging on a rack) heretofore needed to constitute that DOE wrench set by ~65%, without losing effectiveness.

But sometimes efficiencies can go too far.

The Army's Gerber D.E.T. Multi-Plier 600 Blasting Cap Crimper is a good example, in my opinion. It pretty much splits the EOD/sapper community in half, as well. Like you (and I), some guys love them, some guys hate them. I think they look like one of those wisecracking little characters in Transformers, they are just as prickly, and I would rather carry a small kit with a few more handles than deal with them. Others revere the all-in-oneness.

Well, in the spirit of full disclosure, I did buy a Leatherman once. And gave it to my wife..... so she could have some small tools at work.

 

[d42jeep]

Nice one! A 'speed wrench screwdriver'..
Does the handle actually rotate freely? Or is it just fixed like a normal screwdriver handle?
Can't imagine it would stay in the screw slot for long before it slips out and gouges in to whatever.

The handle rotates freely. If you gently hold the shaft of the screwdriver I think you could keep it in the slot of the screw while in use.
-Don

 

[geneg]

For many years electricians used these for devices & coverplates. Usually referred to as swivelsticks. Amazingly fast for someone who had experience with them. Klein called them rapi-drive screwdrivers.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

P&C actually made a speed wrench like that, with a very shallow, oddly angled swing, that was meant for one not two handed operation. Same principle as the swivelstick. With just enough pressure, the offset provided just enough counterweight to spin it with one hand.

 

[Farmer J.]

For many years electricians used these for devices & coverplates. Usually referred to as swivelsticks. Amazingly fast for someone who had experience with them. Klein called them rapi-drive screwdrivers.

Interesting. I can see how it would be useful for electrical cover plate screws, with a long thread and very little friction. Not like driving a wood screw.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is a gimmicky screwdriver made by crescent

 

[bobg03]

I remember having a Wlliams brand wrench like that in a Pharma Plant in the early 80's. It was bigger but worked great for opening up railroad cars and tank trailers.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Oooo, I like those Crescent folding T handles, Otg. Those are legit in my book. Same principle as the high hex nut shanks that Smith, Tobrin, Ryan and others put on heavy duty screwdrivers for grabbing and turning with a wrench. But built in. Not easy to find, either. I have never seen one in the wild in about 10 years of flea prowling. Congrats.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Got a 1941 k22 box from a colleague selling some estate stuff for the widow, had this and a bunch of other odd goodies in it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Sweet.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

If you are in a big hurry to screw in your slotted screws you might need one of these. It looks Xcelite but I couldn’t find any markings. Maybe whoever made it was too embarrassed to put their name on it.
-Don

I have a CMAN USA version of this. It was handy when doing my switch plates and outlet covers.

 

[Arne73]

Here's my dog bone, a German made Zerem #400

Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[h~moto]

I think the dog bone wrenches are great. I have the Williams 1999 and others. The one on the bottom is metric. Just wish it had a 10mm size. I also have a USA made Craftsman not shown in the pics.

 

[h~moto]

I think this classifies as a gimmick tool. It is made in Canada though.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

One of the guys I worked with used a dogbone wrench for oil changes for years. Seemed to work well.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I think the dog bone wrenches are great.

Agreed. Totally legit. I have a 1930's Williams. See post #5.

I think this classifies as a gimmick tool. It is made in Canada though.

I can't profess to the modern jobbies, and there are so many knockoffs I can't even keep track, but I am a big fan of the original (c. 1920's) Cochran and Speednut Corporation "SPEEDNUT" wrenches. They are robust, open with a flick of the wrist, and immediately self adjust and lock on to any nut with just a little force. We have a dedicated thread on them, linked here. And for a bit of 'small world' GJ trivia, the original mfgr was Ryan's distant great-great uncle.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Anybody recognize this palm-grip wheel ratchet?



I found it irresistible at the flea market this morning.

It's 3/8-inch square drive - and could be used solely as a palm grip wheel ratchet.

But as you can see it also contains eight (8) sockets around the perimeter of the grip, all 12-point except the 1/4" opening, which is hex. At first I thought they were detachable. I was standing there sure they were meant to pop out and be used on the drive stud. Like a self-contained 3/8-inch drive set. But they're not. It's one solid piece of steel around the ratchet in the middle. They allow the tool to also be used as a close-quarter socket wrench, turning the device with your hand in the other axis, using the entire body of the grip sort of like a round tee-bar.

Note that the sockets aren't arranged sequentially from smallest (1/4") to largest (11/16" or 17mm) around the perimeter. They are arranged for balance. Note also that the points aren't angular, they're lobular. I'm speculating that's to accommodate for the "slop" between the implied dual imperial and metric sizing, a correlation that doesn't truly exist with precision.

The tool is not cheaply made. It's steel, not pot metal, and the blue composite is hard and durable yet very comfortable in the hand. The ratchet mechanism (43 teeth) is smooth with a good switch. It weighs a robust 9 ozs.

I kind of like it. Lots of utility in a small package.

No mfgr, brand, or COO. No markings of any kind.

 

[RTM]

Ohhhh, maybe this. Thorsen from Walmart

Robot or human?

Also on amazon and elsewhere with the 39-054 part number. Are the sockets captive in the blue thing? They show using it with the socket embedded in the blue still. And fits 56 fasteners.....

3-Piece Puck Socket Wrench with Adapter, 39-054 Thorsen - - Amazon.com

3-Piece Puck Socket Wrench with Adapter, 39-054 Thorsen - - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks. Not the same, but definitely related. I wasn't thinking it would be modern.

 

[bbbarracuda]

Maybe?

echo

echo

www.echoprotool.com

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That looks like it.

 

[steaks&anvils]

That looks like it.

So the 1/4in is a bit holder, that makes sense.
I'm sure you are disappointed that you didn't find the pink one.

 

[GaryM909]

I bought these at a garage sale about 10 years ago. They are poor quality but I liked the design so I welded a good quality
C-clamp to vice grips. They work great when I am away from a work bench.

 

[4xdog]

I've had this Craftsman 44663 adjustable box wrench since it was new in the first part of the 1990s. It sorta works, but I don't think I've used it more than two or three times and it lives in a put-away bin.

It is beautifully made, however, with lovely satin chrome over a nice forging and very well done knurling on the adjuster. Pity the gimmick doesn't work any better than it does.

 

[Ricky Joe]

I've had this Craftsman 44665 adjustable hex wrench since it was new in the first part of the 1990s. It sorta works, but I don't think I've used it more than two or three times and it lives in a put-away bin.

It is beautifully made, however, with lovely satin chrome over a nice forging and very well done knurling on the adjuster. Pity the gimmick doesn't work any better than it does.

I actually found those very helpful when running the nuts down on the sill plate of the foundation of a house I helped build years ago. I don’t know what the real boys use, but for me, this worked great.

 

[bonneyman]

I bought these at a garage sale about 10 years ago. They are poor quality but I liked the design so I welded a good quality
C-clamp to vice grips. They work great when I am away from a work bench.

That looks like a jealous wife tool. If squeezing don't get the truth then crushing will.

 

[humber2]

There’s no name on this masterpiece but it was patented by a US chain maker.

6mm thru 11mm and comfortable to use but a tad heavy.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

but it was patented by a US chain maker

Which one? That's pretty cool.

 

[DAustin]

I actually found those very helpful when running the nuts down on the sill plate of the foundation of a house I helped build years ago. I don’t know what the real boys use, but for me, this worked great.

They work great for holding Punches and Chisels so you don't hit your hand.

 

[MarkH]

In one of the first posts. Neff1 and Neff2 The world famous adjusta-box. I do not know what one of my forefathers bought them. We still find them buried in the dirt at the bottom of the tool boxes on little used machines. If only our good tools would tolerate that with as little rust and wear. As one of the guys who worked for us stated great tool as long as it it a 5/8 inch bolt in the middle of the floor. Worthless anyplace else on a farm.

 

[nadogail]

For several years, until my legs got weak, I kept a Dog Bone Wrench in my bicycle tool bag.

 

[Mallen]

The other day I was a buddies place and he handed me this old Skill Muti-wrench. It is kind of strange and seemly well built. I just trying to figure out where Skil would use the thing.

Anybody else have these gimmicky wrenches. Lets see some pictures. I know about the cheesy Craftsman Robogrips and I had a nephew give me one and I tried to use it one time and it broke into pieces and it ended up in the recycling.

Then you throw it in the box of broken Craftsman tools. When it's not made any more you try and talk them into exchanging for a pair of locking pliers or channel locks or something. The really crappy gimmicky tools don't last long anyway