Tool designs that have devolved?

[PCustoms]

Anyone else notice that certain tool designs have devolved over the years?

I'm digging for some concrete piers today as the digging is super easy. 3' no problem with a shovel, I went out to get post hole digger to go deeper (frost is 60" !). Hardware store has 2, both have a measuring tape printed in the handle. They only go to 48"! That's 48", right to the grip, you'd be on your belly at that point with wrists at ground level.

I swear whenever I had to use one of these growing up the handles were at least 60".

What other tools have you come across that while they still look like the original, but have some changes that make them useless?

 

[PCustoms]

There seems to be a few options out there up to 12', but at this price I could have rented a Dingo:

Seymour Midwest Atlas Digger, Med Duty, 8ft. Wood Handles 21108 | Zoro

Order Seymour Midwest Atlas Digger, Med Duty, 8ft. Wood Handles, 21108 at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.

www.zoro.com

 

[KnurledNut]

I had to dig an 8' hole once and rigged handle extensions to a standard pair.
I have seen some post hole diggers for lineman/utility work that are like 10' long.

 

[neophyte]

Anyone else notice that certain tool designs have devolved over the years?

I'm digging for some concrete piers today as the digging is super easy. 3' no problem with a shovel, I went out to get post hole digger to go deeper (frost is 60" !). Hardware store has 2, both have a measuring tape printed in the handle. They only go to 48"! That's 48", right to the grip, you'd be on your belly at that point with wrists at ground level.

I swear whenever I had to use one of these growing up the handles were at least 60".

What other tools have you come across that while they still look like the original, but have some changes that make them useless?

Yes, it *****.
The reason may have to do with “cheap” power augers that can do holes just as deep or deeper, and which are more likely to be used by professionals who need to dig the deeper holes.

 

[Dagny]

your hole would be 3 feet wide at the top.

 

[Lucid Moments]

Frost? What is that?

 

[dscheidt]

Anyone else notice that certain tool designs have devolved over the years?

I'm digging for some concrete piers today as the digging is super easy. 3' no problem with a shovel, I went out to get post hole digger to go deeper (frost is 60" !). Hardware store has 2, both have a measuring tape printed in the handle. They only go to 48"! That's 48", right to the grip, you'd be on your belly at that point with wrists at ground level.

I swear whenever I had to use one of these growing up the handles were at least 60".

What other tools have you come across that while they still look like the original, but have some changes that make them useless?

post hole diggers have always come in a range of sizes (and styles, there are alternatives to the clamshell kind). Even if you're digging 6', a 4' post hole digger is faster to use for the first three feet or so. If you're digging any number of holes, having both makes sense. your problem here is that the only people who buy a fence post digger at the hardware store are using it for mailboxes, and they're not going to dig that deep. Most post holes are dug with a machine, so the demand isn't there.

 

[Schurkey]

Interesting thread.

I've wondered for years about a certain design of "wire stripper/crimping" pliers that have a feature at the very front of the tool.

I'm moderately certain it's a holder for an accessory piece meant to put a "W crimp" into larger-gauge wires, except NOBODY has the accessory piece(s). Which makes that "feature" of the tool totally useless.