Why oh why do people recommend these tools???

[R.Anderson]

Who had made a dogbone in the USA in the last 50 years?

My Craftsman dog bone, Don't know if its 50 years old tho. I use it when I need two of the same size wrench out in the field and I only carry one set of wrenches in my tool bag.

To the peeps that don't like em there is a niche for em so, I RECOMMEND one!

 

[ez-duzit]

I am amazed by the number of people on here who keep recommending certain tools to someone just starting out...

Vise grip, Crescent (adjustable) wrench...can literally do more damage than good...
they should never be the first thing on a tool list.…

First, don't take someone else's tool list and impose some unintended chronological buying order or level of importance on its order. It's just a list. Just as it popped into his head when he typed it into his keyboard. In no special order.

A Vise Grip is such a handy tool when you are working alone and need an extra set of hands. Installing some machinery on a boat you might have to run a machine screw in, from outside. Then go inside, slip on a backing block, washer and self-locking nut, from inside, clamping a Vise Grip onto the nut in such a way that it will prevent the nut from turning when you go outside to drive the screw. Holding an electrical terminal while you re-drill it for a special application. Gripping a damaged screw head for removal. Pulling staples. Mending a fence. Straightening a bracket. Holding a component while you solder, grind, sand,...

For working from a mast or your rooftop, a highly portable tool kit might contain just a couple adjustable wrenches, a Vise Grip, cutting pliers, needle-nosed pliers, a 6-way screwdriver, pocket knife, ...

There are many reasons to include these very most basic of tools in a list for a beginner. And there is an awful lot of work that a good hand can accomplish with just these tools.

 

[justanengineer]

The sad part is that folks keep insulting defenseless tools not realizing that the "issues" with them are their own.

Ive been using vise-grips and adjustables on everything from small cars to machine tools to household plumbing since I was a kid, cant say I ever had an issue with either bc I was taught how to use them properly. Cant say Ive ever used one, but I do have several of the "dog-bone" style tools in my collection since dam near everybody made them at one point.

 

[64Trvlr]

Craftsman did offer a dogbone wrench for a while in 50's.

My Craftsman dog bone, Don't know if its 50 years old tho. I use it when I need two of the same size wrench out in the field and I only carry one set of wrenches in my tool bag.

To the peeps that don't like em there is a niche for em so, I RECOMMEND one!

I've had one on my Willys for a lot of years. It comes in handy every once in a while.

I don't know if mine is 50 years old either. Anyone know how to date one?

 

[rick carpenter]

Sorry, but I believe Vise grips are a very necessary tool. I don't use mine on good fasteners that can be removed with a wrench or socket but for a lot of other things they are good to have. Same goes for crescent wrenches. Personally I hate crescent wrenches with a passion but they do come in handy on the occasion.

And sometimes you have to be a "ducttape and bailing wire" mechanic to get field repairs done so you can make it back to the tools and parts. Knowing how to improvise, adapt, and overcome when you don't have that well equipped toolbox available is an utterly necessary skill. You shouldn't rig stuff together out of laziness/ignorance but you should know how to get your MacGyver on when you need to.

Now utter **** like dogbones and other gimmicky ****, that **** ain't allowed in my house or vehicle.

Uhhh, where's the "Like" button on this?

 

[1950mercury]

If you use a crescent style wrench correctly you will not screw up most nuts and bolts..most people dont know they are directional. So are channel locks..

I have a diamond crescent wrench from the 20's and the same style wrench is still made today if they were as bad as the op says there are there ate a lot of idiots who bought them.

I cant see a crescent wrench screwing up bolts on bike that a kid is working on..nothing is high torque

 

[ez-duzit]

One of my favorites is the Ford wrench. These have an incredible range for their size/weight. So are useful for emergency repair kits on boat, motorcycle..., where it might not be practical to carry a separate wrench for each large size fastener (axle or prop nut...). I have a large and a small one by Diamond.

 

[nicksnothereman]

I am amazed by the number of people on here who keep recommending certain tools to someone just starting out.

I am not talking about brand. A cheap "vise grip" type tool can ruin just as many fasteners as SO vise grips.

Vise grip, Crescent (adjustable) wrench, dog bone or any other fit all type tools can literally do more damage than good. I do think some of them need to be in a tool box, but they should never be the first thing on a tool list. If a person has the proper wrench or socket then a fit-all is not necessary. Nobody likes to remove a fastener after some knuckle head screwed it up with pliers or rounded it off with an adjustable wrench. Please teach new garage kids to use the proper tools and not to screw things up for the rest of us. If you are a duct tape and baling wire mechanic... please don’t pass it on to another generation.
Am I alone on this???

Rant over…

6 point dog bone really shouldn't do any damage to bolt heads. If you're lazy it might be an option. Actually, not a horrible thing to keep one in your car so you don't need to carry around a whole set of wrenches (assuming you aren't personally cataloging the bolt sizes in your car).

Meh on the "screw up" part. They screw up stuff from the factory all the time. There typically aren't any work-arounds except completely necessary disassembly. It's "poor engineering" but it is what it is (typical with a global "parts bin"). Actually, improvisation is a mechanics bread and butter, there's literally no way to have all the tools that might be necessary for all cars on hand at any time.

 

[nicksnothereman]

If you use a crescent style wrench correctly you will not screw up most nuts and bolts..most people dont know they are directional. So are channel locks..

I have a diamond crescent wrench from the 20's and the same style wrench is still made today if they were as bad as the op says there are there ate a lot of idiots who bought them.

I cant see a crescent wrench screwing up bolts on bike that a kid is working on..nothing is high torque

If it hasn't moved in 10 years you might have another opinion.

 

[Chris_L]

I agree with what the others are saying. There's a place for them.

The long arms on my jeep have a 46mm jam nut. I'm NOT buying a 46mm combo wrench. $$$$.

 

[Skin]

I've heard about lube guys who like the dog bone wrench for oil drain plugs.

For fighting rust/corrosion and just plain old age vise-grips should definitely be high up on the need list.

 

[MN4x4]

When I was a wee lad, I changed oil for a living to put myself through school. Dogbones are amazing for lube techs. Anyone who says otherwise has no idea what they're talking about.

Keeping one of each on your drain pan saves you a trip to your box on 99/100 cars. On 99/100, there's plenty of room for it to fit and the plug isn't torqued to high heaven and needing a real wrench.

Those things saved me so much time...

Now THAT^^^ is a highly useful comment, and a great idea!

 

[creativecars]

Wow, has this gone askew. Since I am the OP I will quote myself and highlight some key words.

"I am amazed by the number of people on here who keep recommending certain tools to someone just starting out.

I am not talking about brand. A cheap "vise grip" type tool can ruin just as many fasteners as SO vise grips.

Vise grip, Crescent (adjustable) wrench, dog bone or any other fit all type tools can literally do more damage than good. I do think some of them need to be in a tool box, but they should never be the first thing on a tool list. If a person has the proper wrench or socket then a fit-all is not necessary. Nobody likes to remove a fastener after some knuckle head screwed it up with pliers or rounded it off with an adjustable wrench. Please teach new garage kids to use the proper tools and not to screw things up for the rest of us. If you are a duct tape and baling wire mechanic... please don’t pass it on to another generation.
Am I alone on this???"


I did not say these tools were not useful or bad, just not the go-to on everything. Stooge, Plinker, 3baygarage and 955point9cummins got my point. Thanks.

 

[Davefr]

It boils down to choosing the right tool for the task.

There are many, many tasks where vise grips are the tool of last resort. If a vise grip mangles the head of the fastener then replace the fastener. Much easier and efficient then the alternatives

 

[creativecars]

It boils down to choosing the right tool for the task.

There are many, many tasks where vise grips are the tool of last resort. If a vise grip mangles the head of the fastener then replace the fastener. Much easier and efficient then the alternatives

Yes, and teach the young that once you get it out and replace the fastener... Put the vise grips away and choose the proper wrench to install the new fastener.

 

[Hop2it]

The last crescent wrench I owned I threw in the field behind my mother in laws house.I now have knipex plierwrench which I use often Doug

 

[whyNick?]

Well said.
Sometimes you gotta do stuff like this:

Wow, and I thought I was the only one whose projects got to that point!

Necessity is truly the mother of invention.

 

[pauls_workshop]

Vice Grips are the best tool ever and sometimes the only ones to remove and pull out a stuck nail that just won't come out or you can't get out with a nail puller or hammer without damaging wood around it you just can't damage! Why would someone use these on fasteners?! They are for pulling out nails! And for that, they are essential. Nothing else comes close for this purpose! - Paul

 

[Norjase]

Beware of snap on. They are making more and more Chinese tools every year with out even decreasing their prices. Mac will surpass SO soon enough.
78&group_ID=675351&store=canada&dir=catalog

 

[nicksnothereman]

Wow, has this gone askew. Since I am the OP I will quote myself and highlight some key words.

"I am amazed by the number of people on here who keep recommending certain tools to someone just starting out.

I am not talking about brand. A cheap "vise grip" type tool can ruin just as many fasteners as SO vise grips.

Vise grip, Crescent (adjustable) wrench, dog bone or any other fit all type tools can literally do more damage than good. I do think some of them need to be in a tool box, but they should never be the first thing on a tool list. If a person has the proper wrench or socket then a fit-all is not necessary. Nobody likes to remove a fastener after some knuckle head screwed it up with pliers or rounded it off with an adjustable wrench. Please teach new garage kids to use the proper tools and not to screw things up for the rest of us. If you are a duct tape and baling wire mechanic... please don’t pass it on to another generation.
Am I alone on this???"


I did not say these tools were not useful or bad, just not the go-to on everything. Stooge, Plinker, 3baygarage and 955point9cummins got my point. Thanks.

I'm just not seeing where a dogbone will do damage (have you ever damaged a hex bolt with 6 point sockets or 6 point box wrenches? Nah). It's a socketed wrench. If it's 6 point there's very little change it's going to round a hex bolt. I'd even say that dog bones would be pretty good for learning hex sizes (even range) by sight; that's very useful for a new mechanic. You start out with a 3 socket range, down to 2, eventually to 1 (you know...with metric; can't do it with sae because it's so rare).

But I don't own a dogbone. It's lazy but a good learning tool or emergency tool in my opinion.

 

[creativecars]

I'm just not seeing where a dogbone will do damage (have you ever damaged a hex bolt with 6 point sockets or 6 point box wrenches? Nah). It's a socketed wrench. If it's 6 point there's very little change it's going to round a hex bolt. I'd even say that dog bones would be pretty good for learning hex sizes (even range) by sight; that's very useful for a new mechanic. You start out with a 3 socket range, down to 2, eventually to 1 (you know...with metric; can't do it with sae because it's so rare).

But I don't own a dogbone. It's lazy but a good learning tool or emergency tool in my opinion.

The problem with the dogbone is that it's so bulky it is hardly useable and people listen to the advertisements and get the idea they are the one and only tool you need. It does contribute to the lazy, easy, and no need to id a fastener by sight (a great skill to learn). A young friend wanted me to use his on his truck. I looked around the engine compartment and for the life of me there was no fastener it would fit squarely on. Thus rounding bolts off or being completely useless. I handed it back to him, smiled, and said "we can use my tools". There are apparently uses, just very limited. He is new and listened to the claims of being the only tool he would need.
The 4th trip back to the tool box for the correct wrench helps a person look at fasteners with a little more intensity next time (learning).

 

[Kracin]

The problem with the dogbone is that it's so bulky it is hardly useable and people listen to the advertisements and get the idea they are the one and only tool you need. It does contribute to the lazy, easy, and no need to id a fastener by sight (a great skill to learn). A young friend wanted me to use his on his truck. I looked around the engine compartment and for the life of me there was no fastener it would fit squarely on. Thus rounding bolts off or being completely useless. I handed it back to him, smiled, and said "we can use my tools". There are apparently uses, just very limited. He is new and listened to the claims of being the only tool he would need.
The 4th trip back to the tool box for the correct wrench helps a person look at fasteners with a little more intensity next time (learning).

people listen to all kinds of advertisements, not just the dogbones "only tool youll ever need" babble.... sounds like you just have something against any tool that you personally don't consider worthwhile.

 

[creativecars]

people listen to all kinds of advertisements, not just the dogbones "only tool youll ever need" babble.... sounds like you just have something against any tool that you personally don't consider worthwhile.

No, I have something against people not being helpful to new people starting out (new DIYers young and old). When they ask about tools and fixing things a good person will be responsible about what they recommend and how it can be accomplished. As an adult I try to teach someone the correct way and use the tools to do a quality job, and not trying to cut corners every step of the way. It's called craftsmanship and taking pride in doing something well.

 

[CNGsaves]

Never have owned a dog-bone wrench and don't plan on recommending to anyone !! Do agree for lube tech that it likely is best tool for the job since it's functional with drain plug being out in open; also, no hot oil on hands and quick to use. However, that issue could be eliminated altogether if manufacturers would standardize oil drain plugs in all vehicles !!

However, I'd never be without multiple vise-grips of various sizes and "noses" as they are just the cat's meow when you need them. Most of time vise-grips end up being portable VISE in the field to hold something so other proper wrench can do the job on the fastener. As other poster said, a vise-grips can act like 2nd set of hands.

As for Cresent wrench, it's probably the MOST universal and functional tool anyone can have, and should have! EXAMPLE: was at Joplin tornado victim's house and they had virtually no tools, not even a Cresent wrench to tighten wobbly legs on kitchen table!! Lucky I always have several tools in the car.

Channel-lock, Knipex, Robo-grip, or whatever slip-jaw tool you might have, they too are universal and functional tool EVERYONE should have. I've got one in every tool box and vehicle I own.

Compact sets of tools are also useful like the nested set of open-end wrenches that have little clasp that hold all the wrenches together. I've had Stanley set for 40 years and still my quick go-to set.

Lastly, blow-mold sets of 1/4 and 3/8 drive ratchet & sockets should be owned by everyone. For me, great memories of the sweet little green box SK set I used as a kid. Simply nothing better than those SK sets! - - Only improvement I can think of would be including breakover bar and thumb-drive ratchet in box as well !

 

[OccupantRJ]

i am 61 and still have the vise grips and SK socket set I bought as my first tools at 12 years old. They are in my truck right now.

 

[creativecars]

Never have owned a dog-bone wrench and don't plan on recommending to anyone !! Do agree for lube tech that it likely is best tool for the job since it's functional with drain plug being out in open; also, no hot oil on hands and quick to use. However, that issue could be eliminated altogether if manufacturers would standardize oil drain plugs in all vehicles !!

However, I'd never be without multiple vise-grips of various sizes and "noses" as they are just the cat's meow when you need them. Most of time vise-grips end up being portable VISE in the field to hold something so other proper wrench can do the job on the fastener. As other poster said, a vise-grips can act like 2nd set of hands.

As for Cresent wrench, it's probably the MOST universal and functional tool anyone can have, and should have! EXAMPLE: was at Joplin tornado victim's house and they had virtually no tools, not even a Cresent wrench to tighten wobbly legs on kitchen table!! Lucky I always have several tools in the car.

Channel-lock, Knipex, Robo-grip, or whatever slip-jaw tool you might have, they too are universal and functional tool EVERYONE should have. I've got one in every tool box and vehicle I own.

Compact sets of tools are also useful like the nested set of open-end wrenches that have little clasp that hold all the wrenches together. I've had Stanley set for 40 years and still my quick go-to set.

Lastly, blow-mold sets of 1/4 and 3/8 drive ratchet & sockets should be owned by everyone. For me, great memories of the sweet little green box SK set I used as a kid. Simply nothing better than those SK sets! - - Only improvement I can think of would be including breakover bar and thumb-drive ratchet in box as well !

I to went back to Joplin to help friends and family clean up. I had just left town 2 hours before it stuck.
I do think vise grips are good clamps (hand vise), but poor wrenches, which some tend to use them for. A second hand, great, I have done it many times. When I had to replace my truck tool set that some thief removed, I found one with a blow molded case. I can quickly see if something is missing and since it is labeled my 5 year old could put tools away.