Tools that rarely get used anymore

[jkeyser14]

obstruction wrenches, adjustable wrenches, hand saws (except for coping saws and flush cut), 8-point wrenches, old pistol grip style soldering irons, hand held circular saw (miter saw, table saw, sawzall, and multitool do all the work now), handheld jigsaw, and I am sure I am missing probably a dozen others.

 

[Mikeske]

Ironically, I bought mine for the same reason; access panels under wings. Most of the guys get the 1/4 drive, but I wanted the 3/8 drive for more versatility.

I have all three sizes and normally used the 3/8ths also

 

[larry_g]

obstruction wrenches, adjustable wrenches, hand saws (except for coping saws and flush cut), 8-point wrenches, old pistol grip style soldering irons, hand held circular saw (miter saw, table saw, sawzall, and multitool do all the work now), handheld jigsaw, and I am sure I am missing probably a dozen others.

Dang your world must be small and narrow. I've used near all of those this year.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Certified Drunk]

piston ring groove cleaners.

I have one of those in my tool box.

 

[Tonyuk]

I use slip-joint pliers often, probably more than any other type.

But i haven't gaped a spark plug in years, they're far too cheap to bother messing around with them, although the gauges can be useful when checking a gap if a cylinder is misfiring.

 

[MushCreek]

Every so often, when I'm digging through boxes of stuff, I run across my old carb synchronizer from my old air-cooled VW days. I also still have the clutch pilot tool, several books, and the 36mm socket for the rear end. I haven't had a Vdub in over 40 years!

Funny enough, I was idly looking through old VW's on craigslist yesterday, and the urge started to kick in...

 

[L.Cheapo]

Every so often, when I'm digging through boxes of stuff, I run across my old carb synchronizer from my old air-cooled VW days. I also still have the clutch pilot tool, several books, and the 36mm socket for the rear end. I haven't had a Vdub in over 40 years!

Funny enough, I was idly looking through old VW's on craigslist yesterday, and the urge started to kick in...

...then you wake up one morning and realize you own three of them, a couple spare motors, a transmission and a few extra wheels and tires. Don't ask me how I know this.

 

[S/RConcepts]

...then you wake up one morning and realize you own three of them, a couple spare motors, a transmission and a few extra wheels and tires. Don't ask me how I know this.

Completely true. Years ago, I had 4 Karmann Ghias... along with 7 engines, a spare bedroom (not to mention garage) FULL of spare parts, and 2 sets of some super rare Porsche wheels that were in-vogue at the time. All of this obtained within 6 months of purchasing the first one.

I've since said many times that aircooled VWs come in sets... whether you like it or not

 

[ishiboo]

Amen to slip-joint pliers, I haven't thought of a single need to pull them out in years. I finally made a few tool kits out of the small metal-drawer boxes I had and gave them away to a few friends/family with few/no tools. Better than nothing if you don't have Knipex cobras/etc.

I use my Knipex pliers wrenches more than anything probably, but I still occasionally use an adjustable wrench. Especially for Cat 1/2 3-point pin nuts with my big 24" GearWrench.

I end up doing a lot of electrical work, and I can't think of a single thing I've pulled out linesmen pliers for in the last decade. The wire nuts I use don't require pre-twisting and I use a 5/16" nut driver to twist them on. My Klein NM strippers (and the Southwire ones which I like, since being stainless they don't rust) get the vast majority of my use.

Flat, cheap wire strippers/crimpers are also a goner for me... when I find them I throw them in my "Donate to Restore" box.

With all the newer plastic plumbing products, I haven't really touched my pipe wrenches save for the one galvanized fitting in my house which is now gone. Though I plan on redoing all the soft copper gas piping in my house with black pipe as well as air lines in the new garage/shop, so they'll get warmed up again soon.

 

[930dreamer]

Dwell meter, but I still have one or two.

 

[ultgar]

For setting up the carbs on your E3 or E9 BMW (coupes and bavarias).

 

[Cope]

Every so often, when I'm digging through boxes of stuff, I run across my old carb synchronizer from my old air-cooled VW days. I also still have the clutch pilot tool, several books, and the 36mm socket for the rear end. I haven't had a Vdub in over 40 years!

Funny enough, I was idly looking through old VW's on craigslist yesterday, and the urge started to kick in...

I bought a 36mm Challenger socket to do work on my brother-in-law's VW back in 1973-74, and haven't used it since.

 

[OCJohn]

 

[L.Cheapo]

Completely true. Years ago, I had 4 Karmann Ghias... along with 7 engines, a spare bedroom (not to mention garage) FULL of spare parts, and 2 sets of some super rare Porsche wheels that were in-vogue at the time. All of this obtained within 6 months of purchasing the first one.

I've since said many times that aircooled VWs come in sets... whether you like it or not

Truth! I don't know anybody that has just one. And I know a fair amount of ACVW owners.

 

[dwasifar]

That thing looks like a fingertip blood blister waiting to happen.

 

[MushCreek]

Funny; I never had more than one VW at a time. I started with a '56, then had a '63, later a Squareback (Ugh!), a Karmann Ghia, and the last was a VW based dune buggy. Now, the prices turn me off ( I used to pick 'em up for $50!) but if the right '66 or older came along for a few grand, I could be tempted.

 

[byoungblood]

How about a vacuum tube tester?

Got one you want to part with?

I use my vise grips all the time, even more so since I started welding. I use 'em to remove stripped out screws or hold onto something I can't keep enough force on manually all the time.

Same with slip joints, I guess I'm not like some and have 50 different types of pliers so I can always grab a specialty pair for a job. If I don't care about it getting marred they work well.

As far as what I don't use, I've got a steering wheel/dampner puller that hasn't seen use in years, along with my 70s era SO tach/dwell meter. Can't bring myself to part with the latter as it was something my grandfather gave to me. Everything I have is OBD II, so I just plug in the bluetooth adapter and read the engine speed off my phone.

 

[ttpete]

Every so often, when I'm digging through boxes of stuff, I run across my old carb synchronizer from my old air-cooled VW days. I also still have the clutch pilot tool, several books, and the 36mm socket for the rear end. I haven't had a Vdub in over 40 years!

Funny enough, I was idly looking through old VW's on craigslist yesterday, and the urge started to kick in...

At one point, I worked in dealerships and opened two in the 1960's here. I still have special tools for the 25 and 36 hp cars. Those had 14mm heads on M8 fasteners. I have the fuel pump and oil cooler wrenches, a 14mm clutch adjuster wheel, a DBE 21-36mm for the generator pulley and a 30mm box end for the two rear engine mount bolts. I also have a 300 ft-lb Sturtevant torque wrench for axles and flywheel, a DBE 13mm for valve adjustment, and a pair of 27mm front wheel bearing wrenches.

 

[MO-Iron]

Been a long time since I used a 4-way lug wrench. A couple of the old farm trucks still have one behind the seat, but the two cordless impacts have pretty well retired the 4-ways.

 

[ttpete]

Been a long time since I used a 4-way lug wrench. A couple of the old farm trucks still have one behind the seat, but the two cordless impacts have pretty well retired the 4-ways.

I have one in the truck for use if I can't get someone out to change a tire on my AAA gold card. I'm done working on my daily driver after all these years, and am seldom in a hurry anymore.

 

[dreasoner]

For the HVAC guys: heat anticipator meter, stat cover keys, halide leak detector, swaging tool using a hammer. Use adjustable wrenches all the time.

 

[Tucko]

For me its got to be Vise Grips. I only own 3 pair, but I NEVER use them anymore.

A close second is the Traditional Adjustable wrench, I own a set of the Channellock brand with the black Phosphate coating, but ever since I purchased the Knipex Pliers wrench, my Adjustables haven't been moved.

Funny, I use Vise Grips almost every day....I NEVER use any wrenches, and rarely use a hack saw.

 

[Bottlecapdigger]

Here's 2 that I have never used. A Yankee screwdriver, they must of been quite popular at one time because I see lots around. Also these crank drills and brace and bit type. I had Mennonites rescrew our barn roof a few years ago and this is the drivers they used. They seen I had a few crank drills in the shop and we worked themin a deal on the roof job to bring the cost down. Been collecting crank drills since. I especially like the heavier 2 speed ones. I'll post a pic later of some. BCD

 

[Davefr]

How about a vacuum tube tester?

They're still used by the vintage electronic guys and some of the selling prices are 4 figure +.

 

[danski0224]

Common sense....

 

[davethorik]

Here's 2 that I have never used. A Yankee screwdriver, they must of been quite popular at one time because I see lots around. Also these crank drills and brace and bit type. I had Mennonites rescrew our barn roof a few years ago and this is the drivers they used. They seen I had a few crank drills in the shop and we worked themin a deal on the roof job to bring the cost down. Been collecting crank drills since. I especially like the heavier 2 speed ones. I'll post a pic later of some. BCD

That's funny, I was riding my motorcycle a few years ago out in the boonies where a lot of Amish live. On a gravel road, crested a hill and passed an old steam tractor going the opposite way, 3 Amish on it, followed by some horsedrawn carts.

 

[FullRaceMerc]

Water level. Pretty much replaced by laser levels.

 

[wvrailroader]

I keep one in my Ford Explorer to crank the spare tire down with. It gets used once a month when I let the spare down to check the pressure.

Sent from my SM-G930R4 using Tapatalk

 

[Plombob]

That thing looks like a fingertip blood blister waiting to happen.

LOL!! Once in a while I use that tool. You won't strip small screws like you can with a cordless.

I have a bunch of engine rebuild tools I don't use. Bought a biscuit joiner and a brad nailer never used them.

This thread reminds me - I have an ancient AC Delco spark plug cleaner that's about the size of a 5 gallon drum. Haven't used it in 30 years.

If anyone has a 1/4" speeder they want to part with, PM me.

 

[shop guy]

Claw/carpenter hammer. Somehow I ended up with three over the course of my lifetime but haven't ever bought one.

I do use slip joint pliers. For some reason it's the default plier in my mind so whenever someone says pass me the pliers...

 

[d.mcfarland]

I keep one in my Ford Explorer to crank the spare tire down with. It gets used once a month when I let the spare down to check the pressure.

Sent from my SM-G930R4 using Tapatalk

Who even uses spray tires anymore?

New cars don't even come with them.

 

[wvrailroader]

Who even uses spray tires anymore?

New cars don't even come with them.

It's a 2010 that I am keeping till it falls apart lol.

Sent from my SM-G930R4 using Tapatalk

 

[Cope]

Who even uses spray tires anymore?

New cars don't even come with them.

I bought the OEM spare tire kit for my wife's KIA Soul and my daughter's KIA Optima.

 

[Ditch]

I keep one in my Ford Explorer to crank the spare tire down with. It gets used once a month when I let the spare down to check the pressure.

Sent from my SM-G930R4 using Tapatalk

can't you turn the wheel over so the stem is pointing down?
I did that on my Ford.

 

[wvrailroader]

can't you turn the wheel over so the stem is pointing down?
I did that on my Ford.

Probably, but the rim would likely get more full of muck and mud than it does now. Also, using it monthly keeps the little winch operable.

Sent from my SM-G930R4 using Tapatalk

 

[cherrybomb]

I still have a socket for Ford oil pressure sending unit that has two different sizes built in.Must be 35-40 years old.I haven't had a Ford for 20 years.This GJ makes me feel normal.People that know me might think different.