andywander
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2012
- Messages
- 359
or these. Battery powered adjustable wrench. Black and decker.
Jori
HJE
2 or 3 others have already mentioned them.
Worst tool ever produced?
- Thread starter srmofo
- Start date
2 or 3 others have already mentioned them.
kythri
Well-known member
Is there something that makes the Craftsman ones uniquely ****, or does this extend to other manufacturers? Just curious - I've got a partial set of them, didn't find them particularly useful, but they did seem to work.
I've seen the same thing (or same idea, slightly different implementation) by Snap-on, Armstrong and a few other manufacturers.
Just curious if I'd find another style of implementation useful enough to actually use, rather than get thrown in the "spare" tools box.
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Armstrong1720
Well-known member
Hey what was that crapsman gadget they had in the late 90's ? They had several different sizes with a thumb adjuster with red handles. ? I cant remember what their called but biggest pos made It had a long handle the head was inclosed and the adjustment made a deal go up and down for any size nut or bolt
byoungblood
Well-known member
It was the way the cut out is made, and the opposing jaw is beveled slightly. I tried the "ratcheting" feature a couple of times and it required a rather large arc to really work, which really made it useless as a time saver, and completely useless if you needed to use the open end of the wrench to back up another wrench or socket.
byoungblood
Well-known member
Quick wrenches. I was given a couple of them for Christmas sometime back in the 90s. I tried them a couple of times, they were good for slipping off of, and consequently, rounding off whatever fastener you tried to use it on.
cburnscrx
Well-known member
Wally World has a whole end cap full of those Ultrasteel stubby hammers for $4.49 each.
Do people actually buy those?
Yep, sure do. I have one at the office...no room in the desk for a real hammer and I am not bringing one from home to help the new hires hang pictures. They have their place, but not in what we consider a shop environment (even the DIY environment).
hofferwood
Well-known member
toolmiser
Well-known member
It's probably more woodworking, but the Porter Cable "detail" sander makes you say "did they ever try this out before putting it on the market"? The paper wears out very quickly, if by chance you get it to stay on in the first place. Just total garbage.
Polski-Chevy
Well-known member
It was such a bad tool you can still find plenty of them unused on eBay.
I've never heard a good thing about them. Wall hanger tool
I've never heard a good thing about them. Wall hanger tool
cburnscrx
Well-known member
I know this is about the worst tool, but I have to say the Black and Decker 4 1/2 angle grinder is one of the best values out on the market, and I have a lithium ion (LI4000) cordless screwdriver that I've used way beyond what it was intended for. Heck, I even bought hex shank drill bits just to use with the screwdriver after about a year.
bora492
Well-known member
I disagree with the Nail-Puller. My father-in-law used to demo buildings and save the lumber for re-use. He'd use that nail-puller all day long. Even if not widely used, it's got to get some points for being durable.
padronanniversary
Well-known member
jsackin
Well-known member
https://sphotos-a.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/398502_10150729246429046_1449187945_n.jpg
Who doesn't have one of these?
Jori
HJE
Who doesn't have one of these?
Jori
HJE
woody 73
Well-known member
Jori wish I had that tool for a display on a man-cave Wall
Not sure about worst tool ever because some guys like the following tool, but some time ago I bought a metal square tube that held a cotton strap. The tool would attach to your 1/2 ratchet and you could remove the oil canister from you car.
After two dozen oil changes (glutton for punishment) the oil canister would be cut in half even using a little pressure; I had to give that sucker away.
Not sure about worst tool ever because some guys like the following tool, but some time ago I bought a metal square tube that held a cotton strap. The tool would attach to your 1/2 ratchet and you could remove the oil canister from you car.
After two dozen oil changes (glutton for punishment) the oil canister would be cut in half even using a little pressure; I had to give that sucker away.
Polski-Chevy
Well-known member
Okay maybe not the worst, but have you used one?
Once you do, you'll grab the superbar or a nail pry, and give the puller away
My belief, screws were invented to avoid using the nail puller
fflintstone
Well-known member
I am the odd man out here, I like the dogbone for one use only, and I have no problem with the robogrip.
I bought dog bone wrenches for one propose only, oil drain plugs. Every time I crawl under a car I would have the wrong size. Every car we had was different. They work great for all but one vehicle, the drain plug is in a poor location and the dog bone won’t work. I like the magnet for the drain plug on the dogbone.
While not the worst tool ever produced, this is one I “had to have” and it doesn’t work worth a Fduck.
It works ok if you are putting romex clamps in a load center or the center of the side of a large box, but on a normal size box you can’t use them.
I bought dog bone wrenches for one propose only, oil drain plugs. Every time I crawl under a car I would have the wrong size. Every car we had was different. They work great for all but one vehicle, the drain plug is in a poor location and the dog bone won’t work. I like the magnet for the drain plug on the dogbone.
While not the worst tool ever produced, this is one I “had to have” and it doesn’t work worth a Fduck.
It works ok if you are putting romex clamps in a load center or the center of the side of a large box, but on a normal size box you can’t use them.
Attachments
neophyte
Well-known member
It was such a bad tool you can still find plenty of them unused on eBay.
I've never heard a good thing about them. Wall hanger tool
So many companies manufactured those back in the day, there had to be a use for them. My guess is that they were used by people in the shipping business to open crates that had been nailed shut. Screws seem to be more common now, but if you had to remove hundreds of nails and wanted to avoid multiple tools, one of which might get lost, that thing would probably be tool to reach for. Hultafors of Sweden still makes a smaller version, http://www.hultafors.com/products/striking/hammers/carpenters-hammers/nail-puller-atle/ and video
neophyte
Well-known member
Wouldn't be surprised if this was also used for packing crates. Plus aren't there still nailers for flooring that have to be hit with a mallet.
metaldad
Well-known member
How's about another Black And Decker item......... the snakelight
Was given as a Christmas present by wifey. Never used.
Was given as a Christmas present by wifey. Never used.
metaldad
Well-known member
General Geoff
Well-known member
+1 on the stubby hammer. WTF?? I guess if you are too week to push a thumbtack then a stubby hammer is just the tool.
I use a stubby hammer with punches for driving roll pins in and out of firearms. Works great and takes up less room on the bench when detail stripping a gun.
ilovevocs
Well-known member
How's about another Black And Decker item......... the snakelight
Was given as a Christmas present by wifey. Never used.
I had a snake light, and I too got it as a Christmas gift. Basically if you see a TV commercial for it you can be certain that its market to the masses and not for individuals that are mildly took savy. The snake light may have been more usable had it been longer. That thing was great in theory but very poor in application.
hofferwood
Well-known member
Unless you drop something on the open floor or down a plastic pipe = USELESS
The magnet is too strong, needs better "side shielding", sticks to stuff before you get close to the target (that is a spring, not a stiff adjustable)
The magnet is too strong, needs better "side shielding", sticks to stuff before you get close to the target (that is a spring, not a stiff adjustable)
How's about another Black And Decker item......... the snakelight
Was given as a Christmas present by wifey. Never used.
I just bought one of these at a garage sale for $3! It didn't work, but I've had one int he past, and knew how to take it apart and get it glowing.
I wrap it around my neck when climbing through an attic - keeps both hands free for crawling, and I can see ahead. Also good for pointing light into a furnace when there's no bulb in the room, and again letting both hands be free.
If it lasts a season I'll be happy!
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
Have not read the whole post, but everyone knows the worst tool is the grease gun.
ckadams00
Well-known member
I used a dog bone wrench in a hay baler tool box for years to replace shear bolts. Sold the baler, haven't needed wrench anymore. Oh well, I found it in the road anyway.
On the HF snap ring pliers, I've never seen a good pair. Made from soft metal.
KEH
On the HF snap ring pliers, I've never seen a good pair. Made from soft metal.
KEH
ilovevocs
Well-known member
I just bought one of these at a garage sale for $3! It didn't work, but I've had one int he past, and knew how to take it apart and get it glowing.
I wrap it around my neck when climbing through an attic - keeps both hands free for crawling, and I can see ahead. Also good for pointing light into a furnace when there's no bulb in the room, and again letting both hands be free.
If it lasts a season I'll be happy!
You need a head lamp. Granted your not going to get one for $3.00 but their so useful. Best value is coast IMHO.
fflintstone
Well-known member
sure you can. I see em all the time for that.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JGYS6W/?tag=atomicindus08-20
It was such a bad tool you can still find plenty of them unused on eBay.
I've never heard a good thing about them. Wall hanger tool
Been mentioned already, but try going through reclaimed wood for hours at a time with a clawhammer or a mini pry bar. Ain't happening. Mine was passed down to me from my great uncle who probably opened thousands of crates with his.
harleyhouser
Member
I bought an air hammer from HF that was not even tapped for a air fitting. POS
carcajou
Well-known member
Simply the worst tool ever invented must be the staight blade screwdriver. It enabled that guy to produce millions of slotted screws that have annoyed all of us over the years!
That POS gator socket made me so mad. For some reason I have kept it all these years even tho half the pins are stuck all the way up. Maybe its to remind me of how bad it was.
I bought a stubby hammer from HF for my 2yo and she loves it! I for one am glad they made them.
I bought a stubby hammer from HF for my 2yo and she loves it! I for one am glad they made them.
kythri
Well-known member
dhill001
Member
Got here late:
Responding to Davefr about the bevel geared ratchet at #31.
Useful tool in some special circumstances. In my case that is in dis/assembling gliders (aircraft type) when the designers put nut/bolt pairs in positions where there isn't enough room to swing a regular ratchet, box or open end. Breaking the fastener loose initially is the hard part because of no room to move the handle. By picking which tooth on the ratchet wheel the pawl is in with the t-handle, you can usually get a solid drive with very little handle clearance. Once loose, cranking the t-handle spins the nut off easily.
Clunky, but not bad.
Responding to Davefr about the bevel geared ratchet at #31.
Useful tool in some special circumstances. In my case that is in dis/assembling gliders (aircraft type) when the designers put nut/bolt pairs in positions where there isn't enough room to swing a regular ratchet, box or open end. Breaking the fastener loose initially is the hard part because of no room to move the handle. By picking which tooth on the ratchet wheel the pawl is in with the t-handle, you can usually get a solid drive with very little handle clearance. Once loose, cranking the t-handle spins the nut off easily.
Clunky, but not bad.