Gimmicky Tools

[dxdexter]

How about this Adjustable / vise grip wrench from Stanley for $19. First I have seen of them. I wonder how they work. All the reviews on Amazon say they work great.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00009OYGZ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Uncle Buck]

How about this Adjustable / vise grip wrench from Stanley for $19. First I have seen of them. I wonder how they work. All the reviews on Amazon say they work great.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00009OYGZ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Pointless!

 

[bchee]

I was thinking about getting that vise grip/adjustable pliers. It has good reviews on Amazon. I think it works like the Knipex pliers/wrench. 2 parallel, flat, non-marking jaws which shouldn't slip off of the fastener. I'm not saying quality is the same, but idea is the same. An adjustable wrench not prone to slipping.

 

[64merc]

I was thinking about getting that vise grip/adjustable pliers. It has good reviews on Amazon. I think it works like the Knipex pliers/wrench. 2 parallel, flat, non-marking jaws which shouldn't slip off of the fastener. I'm not saying quality is the same, but idea is the same. An adjustable wrench not prone to slipping.

I agree, it looks like it might actually be handy to have. Like most things of this type, it won't work for everything, but it has it's place.

 

[bchee]

According to Amazon reviews, main complaint is lack of larger size for more leverage.

 

[dxdexter]

This may be a good ratchet , but I hope it comes with the directions to solve the maze that it is.

 

[wilbilt]

This may be a good ratchet , but I hope it comes with the directions to solve the maze that it is.

I could have used that yesterday!

I have never written an Amazon review; nor do I read them.

Kinda like Consumer Reports, IMHO.

 

[SCguy]

I would add the Craftsman "ratcheting" screwdriver set that is nothing but a screwdriver with a foam grip that you release pressure off of so you can spin it without lifting the screwdriver.

RD

 

[Uncle Buck]

This may be a good ratchet , but I hope it comes with the directions to solve the maze that it is.

I have that ratchet, but I cannot see how it will ever get much use with me though!

 

[Kevin54]

Looks some someones kid has been playing with the tools again.

 

[eschoendorff]

I would add the Craftsman "ratcheting" screwdriver set that is nothing but a screwdriver with a foam grip that you release pressure off of so you can spin it without lifting the screwdriver.

RD

:ack: I hate those things!

 

[bchee]

Here's a watch/wrench on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Stanley-spanner...ryZ31387QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I don't know what those sizes are commonly used for.

 

[64merc]

Here's a watch/wrench on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Stanley-spanner...ryZ31387QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I don't know what those sizes are commonly used for.

Computers maybe? I don't mean to offend anybody but I think you would look a little geeky if you wore that.

 

[dxdexter]

This one is for guys that don't know which end is up.

http://www.builderdepot.com/seo/JCHammer/408290_16_Oz_DOUBLE_HEAD_MAGNETIC_HAMMER.ihtml

 

[Stuey]

I currently have an "autoloader" screwdriver in my possession that I'm trying out. It looked awkward at first, but I'm kind of liking it. I hope to post a review in a few weeks.

There's a Craftsman rebadge available as well.

 

[wilbilt]

Here's a watch/wrench on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Stanley-spanner...ryZ31387QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I don't know what those sizes are commonly used for.

They are for changing out the poison darts in the various James Bond weapons. The largest size is for dimming the lights in the Space Shuttle....

 

[lbgradwell]

I currently have an "autoloader" screwdriver in my possession that I'm trying out. It looked awkward at first, but I'm kind of liking it. I hope to post a review in a few weeks.

There's a Craftsman rebadge available as well.

This one?

I just got one a week or two ago as well. In Canada, they are most commonly found in the re-badged Mastercraft Maximum form from good ol' Crappy Tire! This set was $12.49 and the extra bits are very handy...

So far I really like it as it truly makes bit changes a snap!

 

[bchee]

Not sure if these have been posted, but here's my contribution. The Craftsman "Reflex" ratcheting adjustable wrenches. Biggest POS set of tools that I own. I absolutely hate these things.

I found some adjustable ratcheting wrenches similar to the Craftsman reflexx.

Marketed by bob vila

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garde...ng-Adjustable-Wrench-Set/3421730/product.html

 

[olds88]

I think its possible to have something that has a "innovative design" but in "real world usage" may not be that great. In my mind, if you try to make something that does "everything" it typically doesn't do "anything" particularly well. There is definitely a reason why tool companies sell hundreds, if not thousands of socket and wrench types/sizes.
Another example is the "gator grip socket":
http://www.endeavortool.com/Gator_Grip/page/Gator_Grip.html

When I first clicked this thread I thought of the infomercial I seen for "gator grips" years ago!

 

[PowderKeg]

Sears - King of the Craftsman's Gimmicky Tool-Land!

Honestly though, when I first saw GearWrenches, my first thought was "Oh cripes, another gimmicky POS - that's what a ratchet's for, duh!". Guess I was wrong on that one...

 

[Voltron]

Don't know if you guys have ever seen one, but i have a hammer that has a recess and magnet on the top of the head to slot your nail into, so the point sticks out about 1/2" from the hammer face. The idea is to get your nail started without having to hold it - and risk hitting your thumb. Downside is that if your too hopeless to hit a nail without hitting your fingers, how accurately could you possibly be when you start your nail hole by swinging the hammer at it?
Useless, used it once and buried it in my toolbox.

 

[speed bump]

Don't know if you guys have ever seen one, but i have a hammer that has a recess and magnet on the top of the head to slot your nail into, so the point sticks out about 1/2" from the hammer face. The idea is to get your nail started without having to hold it - and risk hitting your thumb. Downside is that if your too hopeless to hit a nail without hitting your fingers, how accurately could you possibly be when you start your nail hole by swinging the hammer at it?
Useless, used it once and buried it in my toolbox.

I always liked those for nailing stuff I could only get the hammer into. They also are nice becuase you can hold what you are nailing and put in a nail in without needing another hand.

 

[dwilliams35]

I have a strange gimmicky ratchet. It has a rod that runs through the handle with a T on the end. You turn the T and the drive turns. I guess it was designed for tight places but the head is HUGE so I don't know where one might use it.

I got one of those probably thirty years ago: saw it in an ad in the back of some popular mechanics magazine or something similar: they called it a sidewinder as I remember. I talked my grandad into buying one for me. Yep, that size is a limiting factor, but that thing has gotten me out of some binds over the years. Pretty much all the other gimmicky stuff I've got was a gift of one type or another: from people who don't know when a tool is crapola.