The Gimmick Tool addiction thread! :)

[may0naise]

I have had this for about 10 years, used it once.
Jaws is the brand name.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=848301&stc=1&d=1546716952

gripon actually makes holders that you can slide their vise grips into to do exactly what you have there https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001G0MGT6/?tag=atomicindus08-20 I always wounder if they would be that useful since a small clamp on table vise costs about the same and seems like it would be more versatile.

 

[d42jeep]

If you find one of these special sockets you can throw away most of your other 3/8" drive sockets because one size fits all! The manufacturer of this fine tool seems to have forgotten to put his name or country of origin on it.
-Don

 

[theamcguy]

I have the FatMax folding chisel, like it. But where did you find the folding razor blade holder, that looks handy.

 

[LawnBoy-5247]

I found the scraper OEMTOOLS Folding Safety Scraper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074HQTF5C/?tag=atomicindus08-20

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[DGersic]

If you find one of these special sockets you can throw away most of your other 3/8" drive sockets because one size fits all! The manufacturer of this fine tool seems to have forgotten to put his name or country of origin on it.

-Don

Is that a Gator Grip? Or a knockoff of one?




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[wiens80]

Hmmmmm, not sure how many need a ruler on a hammer.

Wow, this looks terrible. I picture blood blisters or worse, for anyone that attempts to actually use it in a real work environment.

I hit the “Pre-order” button on the website, to see what this POS would set someone back and it wouldn’t load.


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[Ilikeike]

If you find one of these special sockets you can throw away most of your other 3/8" drive sockets because one size fits all! The manufacturer of this fine tool seems to have forgotten to put his name or country of origin on it.
-Don

I'd never use it in place of a socket,but If you ever put in eye bolt type lags you'll wish you had that.

 

[rlitman]

I am not sure that is really a gimmick tool. It looks like a copy of the Knipex plier wrench which is highly regarded on here...

Not quite. While both have parallel action, the pliers wrench has smooth jaws, and manual adjustment. That awful Kobalt magnum grip travesty has the automatic-adjusting jaw style reminiscent of the Robo-Grip pliers that Sears introduced us to years ago. I find that style of adjustment (also seen in some awful vise-grip style tools) to be terrible. The problem is that you generally use a wrench multiple times on the same fastener, and every motion is needlessly exaggerated with auto-adjusting wrenches.

"TURBO"

The trademark of a gimmick tool! If turbo is in the title it's probably a terrible tool [emoji16]

My "turbo" pliers from Olympia tools. Basically the same as those pliers in the video of the first post. Made from pressed steel parts.

Bought 2nd hand for £1 because they were wierd and I was bored [emoji38]

Not actually bad...but do nothing normal pliers can't do better with attention... Certainly not TURBO

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LOL, yeah, "turbo" is a "red flag". Though the Robo-Grip pliers are not parallel action like the Magnum-Grip were. I bought the Magnum-Grip pliers for that reason (and they were on clearance), and keep them at work. Can't say that I'd enjoy using them on a regular basis, but sometimes it's nice to have a tool available. It's the sort of thing I'd keep with my spare tire.

Having a good sharp chisel in my tool bag is often a must.
Not really a half bad idea and I actually like it.

Curious now if there was multiple sizes offered.

Protects both the tip and your gear from damages. Rubber caps get lost and the crummy vinyl pouch sleeves never hold up anyways. Ha...mine are all reinforced with duct tape!

Now provided it holds up when you hit it with a hammer

FastCap sells folding chisels in a few sizes. No, they're not made to be hammered on. In my book, they're too light for heavy work, and too heavy for light work. If you travel with chisels and lose the caps, make a proper roll for them instead.

 

[ScottsGT]

Isn't the ratcheting screwdrivers more or less a gimmick these days with the popularity of the electric screwdrivers?
Had a Snap On years ago until stolen. Keep wanting to replace it, but every time I go to use a screwdriver I think if this would be a good job for the old Snap On. Nope, gimme my Milwaukee driver!

 

[Alpine4x4]

Isn't the ratcheting screwdrivers more or less a gimmick these days with the popularity of the electric screwdrivers?
Had a Snap On years ago until stolen. Keep wanting to replace it, but every time I go to use a screwdriver I think if this would be a good job for the old Snap On. Nope, gimme my Milwaukee driver!

I got one for $20 from a guy at work and wonder why I ever bought it. I always grab my regular hard handles or now the 14.4 electric...

 

[Catch_22]

I was trying to make a junkyard bag and looking to consolidate as best I could to make carrying it out easier. I went on a long journey to find quality gimmick tools. Its not easy. Most I passed on but I ended up getting a few things.

"Sockets" and adjustable wrench.

I realized I needed a longer ratchet and flexible head. So that left me to get a Pass-Thru Vortex
Its not bad but ive run into problems like needing to borrow a socket from someone but I have no way to use a standard socket. Later found an adapter to use normal 3/8s (part of Gearwrenches tap and die setup). I no longer use it though as I find it more bulky overall in tight spaces.

I picked up this as a pry/hammer. When I needed a hammer to knock a tie rod loose I realized I need a real ******* hammer with weight.

These I got and was told by buddies they would be terrible, but I love them. I still use them and I keep a set on my seat creeper at home as well. I have added more wrenches to my bag but only because I needed open ended, duplicate sizes and offset from time to time as well. A single set of offset gear wrenches will suffice all 3 needs.
Husky branded ones are the exact same as gear wrench. I've bought more and I think they are a keeper gimmick tool.


In the end I found it easier in the end to just find duplicates of my existing real tools so my yard tools feel/act like my shop tools. It's a lesson I had to learn the hard way - despite knowing better in the start of it all. My yard bag is heavier but its functional.

 

[Gmonkee]

Re: The Gimmick Tool addiction thread!

The Black & Decker battery powered adjustable wrench comes to mind.



Never had the pleasure of owning one.

I have two and will buy more when cheap. Gritty stuff they outright **** but in the bike kit just about perfect.

They are a bit sloppy in the jaw but wear well in real world use. (Mine do not have batteries in them anymore to avoid leaking battery damage
)

 

[theamcguy]

I found the scraper OEMTOOLS Folding Safety Scraper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074HQTF5C/?tag=atomicindus08-20

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Thanks I'll be ordering 1 or 2.

 

[cdsloop]

Re: The Gimmick Tool addiction thread!

I have two and will buy more when cheap. Gritty stuff they outright **** but in the bike kit just about perfect.

They are a bit sloppy in the jaw but wear well in real world use. (Mine do not have batteries in them anymore to avoid leaking battery damage
)

What do you have for trade? There's one in the shop that has probably never been used, but I'm sure that the battery is dead!!

 

[Gmonkee]

Shipping out of Mexico is crazy high the last months.

I am not sure of going south into Mexico

Better to wait for now but thanks for the offer.

 

[ImportTuner]

Gimmick tools you say? How about balisong chisel and scraper. The chisel can be flipped open and closed one handed but the scraper cannot. Both very plasticy and don't get used but I like them anyway.

That chisel would be idea for my small "to go" tool box ...

 

[Moparman390]

Hmmmmm, not sure how many need a ruler on a hammer.

OMG! I need one if they ever make 'em and they're $20 or less, it's going straight to the White Elephant!

 

[Premium08]

Funny reading this thread after I cleaned out unused tools out of my tool boxes last weekend. I got rid of more than just these.


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[coljar]

Robogrips in my toolbox at work in mint condition. I have no plans of bringing them home with me when I officially retire in a few months.

 

[dodge610]

Robogrips in my toolbox at work in mint condition. I have no plans of bringing them home with me when I officially retire in a few months.

Send them to me i use the daylights out of my robo grips

 

[dwasifar]

Looks like Robo Grips have the widest love 'em / hate 'em swing in this thread.

I use mine from time to time. I've gotten enough use out of them over the years to justify what I paid for them. They did irritate me from a storage perspective until I learned the trick of how to get them to stay closed.

 

[jkesselr]

Looks like Robo Grips have the widest love 'em / hate 'em swing in this thread.

I use mine from time to time. I've gotten enough use out of them over the years to justify what I paid for them. They did irritate me from a storage perspective until I learned the trick of how to get them to stay closed.

So what is the trick you are referencing for keeping them closed?

 

[Jc2043]

I just pulled my staple gun out to attach some flashing on a project. Forgot how much I appreciate this simple redesign that greatly improves function! Maybe not much of a gimmick.


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[GeoBruin]

I must be a sucker because I feel like I could use almost everything in this thread (except the weird hammer thing). That balisong chisel will be mine!

 

[darkzero]

If you find one of these special sockets you can throw away most of your other 3/8" drive sockets because one size fits all! The manufacturer of this fine tool seems to have forgotten to put his name or country of origin on it.
-Don

I've got one of those somewhere. Gator Grip was the brand I think & I think I got it from Sears. I used it for a past hobby of mine, to change the front pinion on a minimoto (Italian), aka pocket bike. The pinion tool was like $30 and had only 2 sizes. This pin socket thing was much cheaper. It actually worked quite well for that. That's all I ever used it for though.

 

[darkzero]

Does this count? I felt like it was one of those As Seen on TV products but my dumb *** still had to buy one.

 

[seber]

Does this count? I felt like it was one of those As Seen on TV products but my dumb *** still had to buy one.

Have you tried it? Does it work? I've thrown old cans away before because they were so frozen I couldn't get the ball to move.

 

[Firefighter1406]

Does this count? I felt like it was one of those As Seen on TV products but my dumb *** still had to buy one.

That actually looks very interesting.

 

[mrvm]

Picked up this monstrosity on clearance several years ago and I don’t remember why. The reputation was supposedly for the next apocalypse but so far I’ve never had to use it. Can’t think of any good constructive use and probably would be laughed off a construction site. Probably best left to hang on the garage wall as a conversation piece or in my bug-out bag for the zombie attack next week.

 

[IndyGarage]

Picked up this monstrosity on clearance several years ago and I don’t remember why. The reputation was supposedly for the next apocalypse but so far I’ve never had to use it. Can’t think of any good constructive use and probably would be laughed off a construction site. Probably best left to hang on the garage wall as a conversation piece or in my bug-out bag for the zombie attack next week.

Oh, that has ridden in my truck for years. I've been waiting for a road rage incident to occur.

Actually if you've ever wrecked the decking off a patio, it comes in real handy.

 

[darkzero]

Have you tried it? Does it work? I've thrown old cans away before because they were so frozen I couldn't get the ball to move.

It actually works quite well & is why I still have it. I use it for exactly that, cans that have been sitting around for a long time & the larger Rustoleum can.. It will mix up a can very quickly.

Have to run it on low speed, that's all it needs though. I feel like the strap or something might break if ran too fast. That's hard to do with my Hackzall, very tempting to just pull the trigger all the way. I don't own a Sawzall of my own.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Does this count? I felt like it was one of those As Seen on TV products but my dumb *** still had to buy one.

I'm actually interested if the price is reasonable! Going to have to check out eBay or Amazon I guess.

 

[darkzero]

$25-$30 depending on where you buy it. I think I ordered mine through Amazon.

https://www.mixkwik.com

 

[spike99250]

Mine live in the truck as an emergency tool, but they do work for straightening crooked lumber when nailing it off.

 

[mc4life27]

Oh, that has ridden in my truck for years. I've been waiting for a road rage incident to occur.



Actually if you've ever wrecked the decking off a patio, it comes in real handy.

That or if you have a real twisted up 2x it helps. I raise your Stanley with the stiletto Tibar 16
Doubles as a a worthless hammer



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[Fialaja]

These two turds were in my toolbox at one point but have mercifully disappeared and I can’t say I miss either one.

 

[dsgreen3]

So what is the trick you are referencing for keeping them closed?

You press on the handles with your finger and thumb just below where the front handle bends

 

[Lesserstore]

I got this Husky convertible t handle screwdriver a few months ago for $2.50 at HJE. It has 2 2-n-1 bits with a ball detent, so unfortunately you can't use normal bits. The back of the packaging said "Made in USA," but it doesn't say that on the screwdriver itself. I saw a NOS craftsman version that said that the handle was made here, but the shaft and bits were imported. Overall I like it because the t handle is quite useful when things are really tight.

 

[Ralf11]

any adjustable wrench comes to mind...

 

[pelletman]

I actually use the gator grip sockets to install eye hooks for hanging things. I had gotten a hammer/flashlight years ago, right about when I tossed my Robogrips

Me too