Your Biggest Fantasy Tool (That Doesnt Exist)

[oldschoolcraft]

My biggest tool fantasy is a high quality set of sockets and combination wrenches from 6mm to 19mm that come in 0.25mm increments. You wouldn't need any SAE tools, because you would be able to get at worst within 0.13mm of the actual SAE size which is about the thickness of one sheet of paper, and close enough. For 1/2" (which is 12.7mm) you'd use 12.75mm. 9/16" is 14.29mm, you'd use 14.25mm.

You'd be able to use the x.25mm and x.50mm sizes on off spec or damaged metric fasteners.

The integer sized ones are anodized specific colors so they stand out. For example the 8mm sockets (whether they be 1/4" or 3/8" drive size) and the 8mm combination wrench is yellow. That lets the actual sized ones stand out from the fractional ones, and by having unique colors, you can easily find the specific size you want.

Any SAE sizes would be laser engraved into the tool. So on the 12.75mm tools, it would actually say 12.75mm -- 1/2" and the SAE sizes would have some small color banding on them to signify them and call them out visually from the group.

What's your fantasy tool (or tool set) that doesnt exist? Also feel free to critique eachothers ideas.

 

[GeoBruin]

Ha! Nice try OP, but all of my patent worthy ideas are staying in my head!

 

[rlitman]

...You'd be able to use the x.25mm and x.50mm sizes on off spec or damaged metric fasteners...

Damaged fasteners have issues that aren't limited by being too large or small a hex. A burr, asymmetry, and all other sorts of issues would foil this plan. Plus you'd now have maybe four times as many sockets as you do now, 3/4 of which you'll never use. I think I'd go for one of those gator grip universal pin sockets before I bought a set like this.

 

[bwringer]

Huh, that's an interesting idea.

That would also cover Whitworth and any other weird systems out there.

There was a Star Trek story once where some aspect of the plot revolved around Spock figuring out some unknown alien system for threaded fasteners just in time to save the universe.



Anyhoo, I've said it before and I'll say it again: I want a selectable load tester for 12VDC work.

I envision a box with a knob on the front, two wires sticking out (or banana plugs), and a window with an incandescent 12V light bulb inside.

I want to turn the knob to select different amounts of load; say, 1/2amp, 1 amp, 2.5 amps, 5 amps, and 10 amps.

A voltage readout, perhaps, if we want to be fancy. I'd also like some sort of audio feedback, in case I can't watch the magic box from where I'm working. Maybe a squeaker that squeaks louder the more current it's seeing.

Many of us have a collection of salvaged light bulbs of various wattages we use for load-testing automotive electrical circuits, and as far as I'm aware, a commercial substitute for the messy collection of wires and bulbs does not yet exist. I've brought this up several times here on GJ, and no one in the GJ Hive Mind has ever heard of such a thing, although all acknowledge how useful it could be.

And honestly, someone needs to start making this ASAP before all the incandescent bulbs are gone. I have a salvaged LED headlight bulb that pulls almost exactly one amp. My incandescent version pulls about five, and is quite useful even though it gets very hot.

The light inside the box, of course, is so that I can see the results even if the box is not in my hand. And the color of the light is informative as well; a nice strong glow vs. a sickly yellow can tell you a lot, so using an incandescent bulb is important (something common like an 1156, perhaps.)

Too many times I've been fooled by strong voltage readings on a circuit that fails under load because all but one strand of wire are broken. And I'd love to be able to find intermittents by hooking up my test load and wiggling and pulling wires until the glow or squeaker tells me I've located an issue.

Somebody in China, or maybe Poughkeepsie, needs to start making my magic load tester box ASAP and PDQ. Every mechanic on the planet will want one. Holler if you need details on where to send the massive royalty checks.

(Yes, I know what a Power Probe is and does. This isn't the same thing. Yes, I know some Power Probes do have a simple load test function. That's a good start, but the variable load function is missing.)

 

[VolvoRyan]

A remote controlled neighbor mower. Not for the lawn. For the neighbor. No serial numbers.

-Ryan

 

[speed bump]

I would love a decent plasma torch circle cutting setup that does holes in the sub 1" range. It exists in bigger hole sizes but nothing for little stuff which would be super handy for flat head cap screws in AR plate.

 

[bwringer]

There was a Star Trek story once where some aspect of the plot revolved around Spock figuring out some unknown alien system for threaded fasteners just in time to save the universe.

On a related note, here's a second idea, free of charge. Just send me a sample:


I'd like to have a system for dealing with stupid weird oddball fasteners; basically making or casting your own tool quickly when Ford's engineers feel like inventing yet another all-new dipshit type of fastener or "security" feature for dealer revenue enhancement.

Step one would be a molding clay of some sort you could use to get a good impression of the offender, whether it's female, male, or some of each.

The next steps are admittedly a little fuzzier... but I think maybe we can get there with today's technology.

You'd then use this impression to make a mold, or perhaps you somehow 3D scan the impression, and then a tool can be quickly cast, molded in some sort of ridiculously strong epoxy, or perhaps even 3D printed. One end would be the dingus that fits your mystery widget perfectly, and the other would fit in a standard bit holder or socket, or just have a hex you can turn with conventional tools.

This is a pocket-size system from LockPickingLawyer for casting a replica key; get your mitts on a key for a minute or so and you can make an impression in special clay. Then you use a special low-melting point metal to create a working replica. The metal is not very strong, so it wouldn't work for making tools, but some interesting ideas are there:

Replicant

The Replicant is the best cast and mold key duplication system ever created. The entire system is self contained and can fit comfortably in your pocket. This powerful piece of tradecraft equipment can clone all but the highest security keys on the market today. The duplicated key can be measured...

covertinstruments.com

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

And people thought we were crazy for making a full set of 0.5mm size sockets
78311

Amazon.com

 

[oldschoolcraft]

And people thought we were crazy for making a full set of 0.5mm size sockets
78311

Amazon.com

Chris, how are those selling? I considered buying them but I'd want them in chrome if they are 3/8" drive. At the moment I only do 1/2" drive in impacts. I'm a home gamer so obviously my desires dont match the market as a whole you're going after.

 

[PCMusicGuy]

Huh, that's an interesting idea.

That would also cover Whitworth and any other weird systems out there.

There was a Star Trek story once where some aspect of the plot revolved around Spock figuring out some unknown alien system for threaded fasteners just in time to save the universe.



Anyhoo, I've said it before and I'll say it again: I want a selectable load tester for 12VDC work.

I envision a box with a knob on the front, two wires sticking out (or banana plugs), and a window with an incandescent 12V light bulb inside.

I want to turn the knob to select different amounts of load; say, 1/2amp, 1 amp, 2.5 amps, 5 amps, and 10 amps.

A voltage readout, perhaps, if we want to be fancy. I'd also like some sort of audio feedback, in case I can't watch the magic box from where I'm working. Maybe a squeaker that squeaks louder the more current it's seeing.

Many of us have a collection of salvaged light bulbs of various wattages we use for load-testing automotive electrical circuits, and as far as I'm aware, a commercial substitute for the messy collection of wires and bulbs does not yet exist. I've brought this up several times here on GJ, and no one in the GJ Hive Mind has ever heard of such a thing, although all acknowledge how useful it could be.

And honestly, someone needs to start making this ASAP before all the incandescent bulbs are gone. I have a salvaged LED headlight bulb that pulls almost exactly one amp. My incandescent version pulls about five, and is quite useful even though it gets very hot.

The light inside the box, of course, is so that I can see the results even if the box is not in my hand. And the color of the light is informative as well; a nice strong glow vs. a sickly yellow can tell you a lot, so using an incandescent bulb is important (something common like an 1156, perhaps.)

Too many times I've been fooled by strong voltage readings on a circuit that fails under load because all but one strand of wire are broken. And I'd love to be able to find intermittents by hooking up my test load and wiggling and pulling wires until the glow or squeaker tells me I've located an issue.

Somebody in China, or maybe Poughkeepsie, needs to start making my magic load tester box ASAP and PDQ. Every mechanic on the planet will want one. Holler if you need details on where to send the massive royalty checks.

(Yes, I know what a Power Probe is and does. This isn't the same thing. Yes, I know some Power Probes do have a simple load test function. That's a good start, but the variable load function is missing.)

This really doesn't sound like it would be all that difficult to build, and I feel like if there were a large enough market for it, it would exist already.

 

[bwringer]

This really doesn't sound like it would be all that difficult to build, and I feel like if there were a large enough market for it, it would exist already.

I've brought up this idea several times over the years, and that's what someone always says. Yet as far as anyone can tell, it's not a thing that exists and is for sale anywhere. (But please provide a link if you've seen one.)

I'd think the market would be pretty large, a lot larger than a lot of other very obscure tools that already exist.

Dang near everyone who works on cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors, boats, etc. has at least one salvaged turn signal bulb they use for load testing, and many of us have a small collection of different bulbs so we can apply different loads. It's messy, and they get hot. I can't be the only one who wants a faster, neater, more versatile version.

 

[richfinn]

Huh, that's an interesting idea.

That would also cover Whitworth and any other weird systems out there.

There was a Star Trek story once where some aspect of the plot revolved around Spock figuring out some unknown alien system for threaded fasteners just in time to save the universe.



Anyhoo, I've said it before and I'll say it again: I want a selectable load tester for 12VDC work.

I envision a box with a knob on the front, two wires sticking out (or banana plugs), and a window with an incandescent 12V light bulb inside.

I want to turn the knob to select different amounts of load; say, 1/2amp, 1 amp, 2.5 amps, 5 amps, and 10 amps.

A voltage readout, perhaps, if we want to be fancy. I'd also like some sort of audio feedback, in case I can't watch the magic box from where I'm working. Maybe a squeaker that squeaks louder the more current it's seeing.

Many of us have a collection of salvaged light bulbs of various wattages we use for load-testing automotive electrical circuits, and as far as I'm aware, a commercial substitute for the messy collection of wires and bulbs does not yet exist. I've brought this up several times here on GJ, and no one in the GJ Hive Mind has ever heard of such a thing, although all acknowledge how useful it could be.

And honestly, someone needs to start making this ASAP before all the incandescent bulbs are gone. I have a salvaged LED headlight bulb that pulls almost exactly one amp. My incandescent version pulls about five, and is quite useful even though it gets very hot.

The light inside the box, of course, is so that I can see the results even if the box is not in my hand. And the color of the light is informative as well; a nice strong glow vs. a sickly yellow can tell you a lot, so using an incandescent bulb is important (something common like an 1156, perhaps.)

Too many times I've been fooled by strong voltage readings on a circuit that fails under load because all but one strand of wire are broken. And I'd love to be able to find intermittents by hooking up my test load and wiggling and pulling wires until the glow or squeaker tells me I've located an issue.

Somebody in China, or maybe Poughkeepsie, needs to start making my magic load tester box ASAP and PDQ. Every mechanic on the planet will want one. Holler if you need details on where to send the massive royalty checks.

(Yes, I know what a Power Probe is and does. This isn't the same thing. Yes, I know some Power Probes do have a simple load test function. That's a good start, but the variable load function is missing.)

Dream no longer it exists

 

[bwringer]

Dream no longer it exists

I WANNIT I WANNIT I WANNIT!

Shut up and take my money!

.... and of course literally at the last minute he explains why he's not making these for sale.

Feh.

As noted, it's pretty simple overall, and it's not hard to think of some cool enhancements. No clue why these things aren't on the shelf somewhere.

 

[dscheidt]

Huh, that's an interesting idea.

That would also cover Whitworth and any other weird systems out there.

Somewhere, I have a set of wrenches that covers small (1/8, maybe?) to 1/2" by 32nds. Ithey're all very short wrenches, and quite thin, and made from the finest cheese available in the US. It's from the late 50s or early 60s, and was probably intended for people that were unaware of the existence of metric fasteners, which were common on imported radios and other such things.

As for your test light, at one point I built a test light that had a 1157 socket (the two filament bulb used in combined brake/tail lights), and a 194 (? common license plate bulb, they came out of a wrecked car). i tied both the grounds together, and put banana plugs on the hots -- the double ended kind. depending on how you wired it, you had 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 A load, or could test two things that shared a ground. Frankly, though, I didn't use it much. Not many things fail in a way that they can have a 1a load but not 5a.

 

[seber]

Huh, that's an interesting idea.

That would also cover Whitworth and any other weird systems out there.

There was a Star Trek story once where some aspect of the plot revolved around Spock figuring out some unknown alien system for threaded fasteners just in time to save the universe.



Anyhoo, I've said it before and I'll say it again: I want a selectable load tester for 12VDC work.

I envision a box with a knob on the front, two wires sticking out (or banana plugs), and a window with an incandescent 12V light bulb inside.

I want to turn the knob to select different amounts of load; say, 1/2amp, 1 amp, 2.5 amps, 5 amps, and 10 amps.

A voltage readout, perhaps, if we want to be fancy. I'd also like some sort of audio feedback, in case I can't watch the magic box from where I'm working. Maybe a squeaker that squeaks louder the more current it's seeing.

Many of us have a collection of salvaged light bulbs of various wattages we use for load-testing automotive electrical circuits, and as far as I'm aware, a commercial substitute for the messy collection of wires and bulbs does not yet exist. I've brought this up several times here on GJ, and no one in the GJ Hive Mind has ever heard of such a thing, although all acknowledge how useful it could be.

And honestly, someone needs to start making this ASAP before all the incandescent bulbs are gone. I have a salvaged LED headlight bulb that pulls almost exactly one amp. My incandescent version pulls about five, and is quite useful even though it gets very hot.

The light inside the box, of course, is so that I can see the results even if the box is not in my hand. And the color of the light is informative as well; a nice strong glow vs. a sickly yellow can tell you a lot, so using an incandescent bulb is important (something common like an 1156, perhaps.)

Too many times I've been fooled by strong voltage readings on a circuit that fails under load because all but one strand of wire are broken. And I'd love to be able to find intermittents by hooking up my test load and wiggling and pulling wires until the glow or squeaker tells me I've located an issue.

Somebody in China, or maybe Poughkeepsie, needs to start making my magic load tester box ASAP and PDQ. Every mechanic on the planet will want one. Holler if you need details on where to send the massive royalty checks.

(Yes, I know what a Power Probe is and does. This isn't the same thing. Yes, I know some Power Probes do have a simple load test function. That's a good start, but the variable load function is missing.)

Pretty easy to build. A you need is a variable resistor, a voltmeter and an amp meter.

 

[Beerhippie]

Huh, that's an interesting idea.

That would also cover Whitworth and any other weird systems out there.

There was a Star Trek story once where some aspect of the plot revolved around Spock figuring out some unknown alien system for threaded fasteners just in time to save the universe.



Anyhoo, I've said it before and I'll say it again: I want a selectable load tester for 12VDC work.

I envision a box with a knob on the front, two wires sticking out (or banana plugs), and a window with an incandescent 12V light bulb inside.

I want to turn the knob to select different amounts of load; say, 1/2amp, 1 amp, 2.5 amps, 5 amps, and 10 amps.

A voltage readout, perhaps, if we want to be fancy. I'd also like some sort of audio feedback, in case I can't watch the magic box from where I'm working. Maybe a squeaker that squeaks louder the more current it's seeing.

Many of us have a collection of salvaged light bulbs of various wattages we use for load-testing automotive electrical circuits, and as far as I'm aware, a commercial substitute for the messy collection of wires and bulbs does not yet exist. I've brought this up several times here on GJ, and no one in the GJ Hive Mind has ever heard of such a thing, although all acknowledge how useful it could be.

And honestly, someone needs to start making this ASAP before all the incandescent bulbs are gone. I have a salvaged LED headlight bulb that pulls almost exactly one amp. My incandescent version pulls about five, and is quite useful even though it gets very hot.

The light inside the box, of course, is so that I can see the results even if the box is not in my hand. And the color of the light is informative as well; a nice strong glow vs. a sickly yellow can tell you a lot, so using an incandescent bulb is important (something common like an 1156, perhaps.)

Too many times I've been fooled by strong voltage readings on a circuit that fails under load because all but one strand of wire are broken. And I'd love to be able to find intermittents by hooking up my test load and wiggling and pulling wires until the glow or squeaker tells me I've located an issue.

Somebody in China, or maybe Poughkeepsie, needs to start making my magic load tester box ASAP and PDQ. Every mechanic on the planet will want one. Holler if you need details on where to send the massive royalty checks.

(Yes, I know what a Power Probe is and does. This isn't the same thing. Yes, I know some Power Probes do have a simple load test function. That's a good start, but the variable load function is missing.)

I swear I've seen this as a vintage tool.

A friend was showing off a new tool he got recently. It uses radio frequency to find weaknesses in wires and cables. Not only does it tell you if the wire/cable is compromised, but it tells you how far from the end the problem is!

I didn't get a brand off it.... It was a Bluetooth gadget that works with a smart phone, which kinda made my eyes glaze over and my attention drift off.

 

[bwringer]

Pretty easy to build. A you need is a variable resistor, a voltmeter and an amp meter.

So why won't anyone build and sell them?

 

[seber]

So why won't anyone build and sell them?

You need a market. How many do you think would sell?

 

[Beerhippie]

So why won't anyone build and sell them?

Does it have a smart phone app?

 

[Farmall450]

And people thought we were crazy for making a full set of 0.5mm size sockets
78311

Amazon.com

Mind blown.

 

[NoahG]

I’ve always wanted a set of hole saws perfectly matched to Sch 40 pipe sizes.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

So why won't anyone build and sell them?

Boomers too busy being old and grouchy. Millennials too busy eating avocado toast and complaining about the housing market. Gen Z too busy on Tik Tok and Roblox.

 

[ATC]

My biggest tool fantasy is a high quality set of sockets and combination wrenches from 6mm to 19mm that come in 0.25mm increments. You wouldn't need any SAE tools, because you would be able to get at worst within 0.13mm of the actual SAE size which is about the thickness of one sheet of paper, and close enough. For 1/2" (which is 12.7mm) you'd use 12.75mm. 9/16" is 14.29mm, you'd use 14.25mm.

You'd be able to use the x.25mm and x.50mm sizes on off spec or damaged metric fasteners.

That would be 52 sockets. 104 if you wanted shallow and deep

A traditional SAE and Metric set to cover all that would only be what?... 24-ish sockets

More that half would never get used...

 

[oldschoolcraft]

That would be 52 sockets. 104 if you wanted shallow and deep

A traditional SAE and Metric set to cover all that would only be what?... 24-ish sockets

More that half would never get used...

Since when does GJ have a problem with unused tools? It is better to have and not need 0.25mm increment tools than need and not have!

 

[richfinn]

I WANNIT I WANNIT I WANNIT!

Shut up and take my money!

.... and of course literally at the last minute he explains why he's not making these for sale.

Feh.

As noted, it's pretty simple overall, and it's not hard to think of some cool enhancements. No clue why these things aren't on the shelf somewhere.

Who Knows?, he makes some pretty interesting stuff. I started following for his Wireless Oscilloscope vlogs.

 

[bonneyman]

A universal remote that makes women instantly happy and pleasant!

 

[Beerhippie]

A universal remote that makes women instantly happy and pleasant!

I just want one where the MUTE button actually mutes people!

 

[bonneyman]

I just want one where the MUTE button actually mutes people!

Shoot! I'd wear that button out in a week!

 

[Retired dozer fixer]

How about a 3/4” flex head ratchet with about an 36” handle

 

[Beerhippie]

How about a 3/4” flex head ratchet with about an 36” handle

If I need to shear off bolts with a 3/8" ratchet, I use a piece of pipe.

 

[Walkers]

My biggest tool fantasy is a high quality set of sockets and combination wrenches from 6mm to 19mm that come in 0.25mm increments. You wouldn't need any SAE tools, because you would be able to get at worst within 0.13mm of the actual SAE size which is about the thickness of one sheet of paper, and close enough. For 1/2" (which is 12.7mm) you'd use 12.75mm. 9/16" is 14.29mm, you'd use 14.25mm.

You'd be able to use the x.25mm and x.50mm sizes on off spec or damaged metric fasteners.

The integer sized ones are anodized specific colors so they stand out. For example the 8mm sockets (whether they be 1/4" or 3/8" drive size) and the 8mm combination wrench is yellow. That lets the actual sized ones stand out from the fractional ones, and by having unique colors, you can easily find the specific size you want.

Any SAE sizes would be laser engraved into the tool. So on the 12.75mm tools, it would actually say 12.75mm -- 1/2" and the SAE sizes would have some small color banding on them to signify them and call them out visually from the group.

What's your fantasy tool (or tool set) that doesnt exist? Also feel free to critique eachothers ideas.

Your fantasies ****!

 

[oldschoolcraft]

A universal remote that makes women instantly happy and pleasant!

Let's please keep this discussion in the realm of actual tools that could exist. No time travel, Bigfoot, happy women, etc.

 

[Kurt4440]

Let's please keep this discussion in the realm of actual tools that could exist. No time travel, Bigfoot, happy women, etc.

Are you confirming that happy women are not in the realm of things that could exist?

 

[FigN⋅m]

 

[Old Man Roger]

A universal remote that makes women instantly happy and pleasant!

Let's please keep this discussion in the realm of actual tools that could exist. No time travel, Bigfoot, happy women, etc.

Theres a ******** joke there somewhere.lol

Which reminds me of the wheel ******** thread, I guess one of my fantasy tools would be a small portable wheel resurfacing mill.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Chris, how are those selling? I considered buying them but I'd want them in chrome if they are 3/8" drive. At the moment I only do 1/2" drive in impacts. I'm a home gamer so obviously my desires dont match the market as a whole you're going after.

They are selling very well, which was a surprise to me. I had originally set these to be chrome sockets, but it turned out with the cro-mo material and size specs we were using for forge tooling, we could make them impact sockets without changing anything much. A couple points hardness and a ring groove/through hole. So that doubled the application uses.
No real downside to having a black socket on your ratchet, plus now you dont feel bad hitting them with a hammer.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

They are selling very well, which was a surprise to me. I had originally set these to be chrome sockets, but it turned out with the cro-mo material and size specs we were using for forge tooling, we could make them impact sockets without changing anything much. A couple points hardness and a ring groove/through hole. So that doubled the application uses.
No real downside to having a black socket on your ratchet, plus now you dont feel bad hitting them with a hammer.

I think the downside is access. Usually impacts are larger than chrome and might not fit in the same spots. But it sounds like your tooling would be identical for either chrome or impact?

 

[rust in the eye]

I'll save my fantasy for something else.
Looking at two wrench rolls as I write this, one metric 8-19, 14 tools, the other fractional 1/4"- 3/4"by 16ths plus 11/32", 10 tools.
The 8mm and 5/16, 5/8" and 16mm can do each other's jobs as can the 19mm and 3/4". 9mm can be 11/32 if the fastener ain't too tight as well but lets call it 21 tools I'd need if I were to cull theduplicated sizes. Add two more, 6 & 7mm OP wants and I'm almost back to the original count of 23 tools needed.
6-19 by .25mm would be how many tools?
AND any talk of this assumes precisely made tools. A while back I measured a bunch(14) of 3/4" & 19mm wrenches for a similar discussion. I have 19mm wrenches with openings wider than my 3/4" ones which means 3/4" wrenches that fit tighter on 19mm than some of the actual 19mm.

 

[rust in the eye]

post # 76 https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/3-4-inch-vs-19-mm.148992/page-2#post-10167457

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

I think the downside is access. Usually impacts are larger than chrome and might not fit in the same spots. But it sounds like your tooling would be identical for either chrome or impact?

Correct. There's no ASME standard for a 16.5mm, so we make them how we want.
Plus the standard in dimensions between impact and chrome are not different, but your statement is still true on the "usually" front due to other factors.