Very common tools I / You never use

[back2class]

I don't know if it is habbits on how I use tools, or I have been sold a bill of goods on tool use. Seems I have some very common tools that I almost never use. Curious to know others feelings on this topic.

Some tools that are typicaly in every well tooled person's box I never use.

Dikes/sidecutters. I never use the common sizes (4-10"). I use a large linesmans plier for better leverage cutting that kind of stuff and a mini sidecutter for fine stuff. I must have 3 or 4 pairs of side cutters in the box and I NEVER use them. Rarely I will grap an end nipper for these type tasks. Even when doing home wiring, I use the sidecutters in linesmans/combination pliers to strip wire and all the duties of a plain sidecutter. 10 years doing res construction and thousands of hours at home wrenching on you name it and never found a need.


1/2 ratchets. Anything that heavy I use an impact. I use my 3/4" drive stuff much more and truth is I only use my 3/4 drive ratchets a few times a year. I use my 1/2 breaker bar a fair amount.



12pt sockets. I know there are times when only one will work, but I have yet to find that situation where the 12pt on a wrench won't work.


Speeder handles. Nope, never used one. Though I own 4.

Seriously, I know for some application somewhere these items must be perfect. I have tons of stuff I almost never use, but it is stuff that is beyond the very basic items I listed above that every basic tool set has. Just seems odd, that I work on almost anything and everything in my man cave and never use these very basics that supposedly everyone should have/needs.

I remember reading here some never use basic slip joint pliers. I use them all the time for gripping odd things and hot items.

What's your never use?

 

[knotheads]

i have to defend the speeder handles.when i build an engine i dont use an impact wrench.i do use the speed handle to run the bolts down prior to torquing them.

 

[RLRRLRLL]

i have a set of crowfoots i havent used yet. bought them after i could of realllly used one one day. now i just look at them once in a while haha.

 

[astrodoggie3000]

Sidecutters- I'm an electrician and i can go a year or so without ever using them.

1/2- I only use 1/2 and 1/4 sizes... so i use it quite a bit. Guess it depends on how you equip yourself.

Speeder bar- worthless in my opinion.

 

[fflintstone]

I seldom use my speeders as well, but a friend who works on stuff with me does. I will use a ratchet (any size) if it is just one or two bolts, other than that I use the impact as well.

I do use standard dykes all the time.
I never use slip joint pliers.

 

[JASTECH]

+1 Running bolts on engine rebuild.

I have 1 crow foot (I hobble around) that I got off the SO truck to tighten the dist. hold down in my 54' Chevy 402 RAT with tunnel ram.

Thanks, JASTECH

 

[Skin]

The crow's foot wrenches definetly dont get used much.

I do use diagonal cut pliers daily. Tin snips dont get used.

8 pt. sockets dont get used unless i encounter a 4 pt fastener.

Stubby ratchets dont get used.

12"+ extensions dont come out much, same with swivel adapters or sockets. I never have good luck with swivels.

i do prefer 1/2" over 3/8" simply for the added leverage. Being in the rust belt i find the combination of heat and constant persuasion from hand tools give you the best chance of not snapping the head off a bolt.

 

[drivethechevy]

90 degree angle snap ring pliers, i bought a master set of snap ring pliers from mac a couple years back, and i have never touched one of the 90 degree ones, ive used all the stright and 45 degrees though

1/2 hammer drill, im not even sure where i got the thing anymore but ive had it for close to 10 years and ive never even pluged it in

air Hammer .680 Round (CP4123-3R if you wanna see one) i got it at an auction several years ago in a box full of air tools and pits for air hammers, there mainly use in the building and demolition of bridges, trains, ships and other large riveted construction
my old compressor could hardly power the thing

 

[tank4114]

air Hammer .680 Round (CP4123-3R if you wanna see one) i got it at an auction several years ago in a box full of air tools and pits for air hammers, there mainly use in the building and demolition of bridges, trains, ships and other large riveted construction
my old compressor could hardly power the thing

says it requires 26cfm im not surprised

 

[larry_g]

I have a racheting adaptor that came with my first set of Proto tools 40 years ago. I may have used it once. Also have a couple of /32 wrenches and sockets like new.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[TAMPAGT07]

Geez, it's probably easier to name the stuff that I do use. Sometimes I will use stuff just to justify the money I spent for it. I could probably fit everything that I do use in two drawers of my box. Sad but true.

 

[nate379]

Bench grinder. Only use I'd have is cleaning an odd bolt once in a blue moon and can hardly justify buying one for that.

Air Ratchet. I find it's just as fast by hand and not as hard on the ears!

 

[wornoutoldman]

Sounds like you have some tools you should sell

 

[alamerang]

Air Ratchet. I find it's just as fast by hand and not as hard on the ears!

I used to think the same thing until I stared really using mine constantly after getting a decent compressor. Now I'd only use a hand ratchet if I absolutely had to. An added benefit to using the air ratchet that I found was that I have by far, fewer busted up knuckles, cuts and scrapes on my hands from swinging the ratchet back and forth in tight places. Plus I work way much faster .

 

[ulev1st]

Female Torx sockets...needed em like twice in the ten plus years I've had em..speed handles very rarely..If I have to run stuff down quick before torqueing I use my 3/8 DeWalt cordless. Crowsfeet...never used em...air ratchets rarely..I have three...go figure.

 

[fr0mastaj]

+1 on the air ratchet. I think i have used it once since i bought it.

My contribution is hook and pick set. I bought the cman pro's on sale...have yet to find a use for them.
________
W114

 

[mrholeshot]

I havent used a speeder handle in over 10 years. I use a cordless impact to run bolts down on engine builds.
I haven't used a standard set of pliers in over two years that I know of.

It's very very rare I use a 1/2 ratchet. I either use a 1/2 impact or a torque wrench. I will use one when turning engine when on a building stand. But it's rare I grab one

Air Drill. I have a Very Nice Snap-On but I don't think it's ever heen used in the 5 years I've owned it. Anytime I need a 1/2 drill I grab my Milwaukee Hole Shooter

3/8 standard Flex Ratches. I use Roto head ratchets so it's rare I ever grab a regular flex. The Roto head is just so much more user friendly

Short sockets. It's rare I grab them. I only use them in really tight clearance situations.

3/8 breaker bars and 1/4 breaker bars. I havent used either in 20 years but can't bare to part with them.

 

[Jeff]

• Torx Plus drivers
• Internal Torx drivers
• Speeder Bars
• Tin Snips
• Brass Hammer
• Fence Pliers
• 4-lb Shot Mallet
• Hydrokinetic Wrench
• Stubby Wrenches
• Pneumatic Drill

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

Funny to read all of this, it appears what we work on from guy to guy is really different.

For instance, Nate never used his grinder, Ive got two grinders, I run the snot of. One has brushes, the other stones,

I burn up a 3/8" air ratchet about every three years

I use 1/2" sockets daily, I rarely ever touch my 3/4" even though I have 2 sets !

And I loath 12pt sockets, and only use one if Ive misplaced my 6pt for the moment.

Ive got speed handles, and never use them, in my mind, that was the answer for speed prior to air tools.

I do have a 3/8" Snap On battery powered impact I bought new and never use. It does not have enough power to do much of anything, and I think it was spendy.

I use my pick set weekly if not daily..

 

[K5blazer83]

In the Navy I used the daylights out of a speeder handle...with an apex/phillips screwdriver tip, it's the easiest way to remove large numbers of screw for access panels, floorboards, etc.

 

[ovilla]

ball pein hammers - I seem to only use dead blows or rubber mallets now.

Vice grips - I hate the thought of stripping a nut and would rather use a socket or wrench.

1/4" Craftsman Extension Bar set - These NEVER hold a 1/4 socket in place. I even have the locking ones and they're ****. I finally bought a nice 7 piece Wobble Plus set from Snap on and they're awesome.

 

[matthew]

For me the speeder is the other way around - it's becoming uncommon these days, but I like to use it. For a non-professional mechanic, it can be easier to spin nuts using a speeder than to set up the impact. They're also the best thing around for those plastic covers that GM puts over lug nuts.

I'd say slip-joint pliers are one I don't care for, although I sometimes use them there is usually a better pliers for the job. Also stubby wrenches.

 

[back2class]

Yes, I see things like stubby wrenches, crowfoot sockets mentioned. To me those are less used tools by design. I am really looking for very common tools that are suposedly often used (hence most everyone will have) that we seldom use or see no real use for.

Actually another one for me is regular screwdrivers. 95% of the time I use a ratchiting multibit driver.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I don't really have anything i don't use, as far as i can remember.

I love speed braces! I use one almost daily; a 24" long Snap-on 3/8". I use it mostly for spark plugs but it sees other use too.

 

[quattrojon]

About 10 years ago i bought a Blue Point impact driver, i've never needed it.

 

[hammergodthor]

3/8" locking extensions. I have a Cornwell set, and the release ring is always in the way (too big), rendering them useless.

Putty knife. I use gasket scrapers all the time though.

Broken bolt extractors: I use them about once a year on average. (Not much rust here)

8oz. hammer; too small.

 

[Kev442]

Adjustable wrench, hate 'em.

 

[Farmrod]

Screwdrivers, nutdrivers, Allen wrenches, slip joint pliers

 

[nuclearlemon]

finally sold my air ratchet cause i never used it. too dang noisy. same with my 3/8" air gun. rarely use flat blade screwdrivers. occasionally use torx drivers, enough to keep them around. gave away my speedwrench.

 

[Chris_R/T]

Female Torx sockets...

X2 on those, finally had a use for one taking one stud out on a Chevy truck a couple weeks ago.

 

[mrholeshot]

I use my air tools to death. It would take forever to take engines apart without them. Cuts down on time by about 90%.

I don't use Crowsfeet. I use some of the Line wrench type but no open ends. I don't use double open end wrenches either.

 

[mrholeshot]

oops..........

 

[big red]

Adjustable wrench, hate 'em.

I agree i hate using adjustable wrenches , i only use them only if i have too.

 

[big red]

I use 1/2 dr. ratchets almost every day . But only a few sizes 3/4 , 15/16 , 1 , 1 1/4 . I 've never used a 5/8 , 13/16 wrench in my life but i a tool box full of them .

 

[2drx4]

Regular screwdrivers... Useless, IMHO. I have a big slotted one in my work box that gets used as a 'prybar, chisel, or punch', plus two stubbies and two micro-stubbies. I plan to get a ratcheting stubby to get rid of the two stubbies. Otherwise I just use my ratcheting screwdriver or drill. Phillips wear out way too fast, in my line of work at least, to buy an actual set of them. It's much easier just to have a handful of S-O bits and trade the handful in every now and then.

 

[babzog]

I really don't like adjustable wrenches either, but still use one every so often... sometimes, it's just the right tool. Ditto visegrips.

 

[woody 73]

Ok you are going to laugh, I never use the speeder,but the crazy thing is, I just love that cool shape and I can never pass them up. Go figure I own a lot of them and never use them!
They just call out my name...Woody, Woody, Woody buy me only $5.00 dollars and look at all the bends and curves in my handle. Don't bother asking if I have lost it,I have.

If a tools has some kind of crazy bend I just think they are the cats meow,wow they had better lock me up and soon...

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Ok you are going to laugh, I never use the speeder,but the crazy thing is, I just love that cool shape and I can never pass them up. Go figure I own a lot of them and never use them!
They just call out my name...Woody, Woody, Woody buy me only $5.00 dollars and look at all the bends and curves in my handle. Don't bother asking if I have lost it,I have.

If a tools has some kind of crazy bend I just think they are the cats meow,wow they had better lock me up and soon...

You should try using them, they're great.

 

[Igotta355z28]

Female Torx sockets...needed em like twice in the ten plus years I've had em...

I work on BMWs and Mercedes alot, they seem to love inverted torx....

I never use 1/2inch drive stuff, I use my MG325 3/8 impact like crazy so I have a complete set of 3/8 impact sockets. If i need more power i use my MG725 and an adapter usually, though i do have 1/2 impact sockets for it....

 

[knobby]

I like to use my speed wrenches on MC bodywork as anything with power tends to mar the fastener or strip threads. The ones with a ball style end (handle) are the more comfortable to use.