Goodfellow (I think it was Goodfellow) featured some crossforce wrenches in another post I had originally thought they were gimicky until I read the post and realized maybe they did solve a problem.
Mainly I think of gimmicks as stuff that gets bought for holidays for the tool lover by people who mean well but believe the advertising.
But one such thing is the ratcheting open end or sometimes called speed wrench. Most of the tool companies sold a variation at one time or another and they do have a bit of a learning curve but once you're set they really do fill a need. Mainly in places where only an OE will fit or you have a long threaded section of rod with adjustment nuts. Sure beats putting the open end on, turning a little pulling it off and repeat. Snap-on had (has?) a version for fittings and that is very handy on them.
These I really like because they're small and easy to use. Craftsman had some that were a longer pattern and to me they were a little too large these being short fit the bill.
The chrome ones are the RS series the black oxide is for fittings and has a wider jaw. There was a version that had a fitting opening on one side and the ratcheting opening on the other as well as other varieties.
Who else has something that fits the is it a gimmick or not category?
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Still have my SO set as well JAFE, but you had to practice with these things to really get good at using them. I tried my old set a few years ago and it took quite some time to get back into the rhythm. Cool little pieces of tool history, but mostly forgotten these days -- except for a few old die-hards like us. LOL
I have a set of the old Craftsman pattern length SAE and used them a few times but never used them enough to develop a good feel for them.
Quote from: Uncle Buck on Apr 16, 2025, 08:19 PMI have a set of the old Craftsman pattern length SAE and used them a few times but never used them enough to develop a good feel for them.
I got to borrow one, just once. Not enough practice or use to find practical. The Crossforce wrenches however, I bought for a portable kit (Craftsman), and wish they would have had the full size range, they were more comfortable then two wrenches together, IMHE.
Then someone (think it was an Xmas gift from mom) gave me a "tool time" multiblade utility knife. I wish not so much plastic, but good to be able to quickly swap blades for dealing with boxes.
I did a bunch of stuff with some wiring years ago, where I used what I would consider gimmicky wire strippers. They were exactly for that size wire, and I frequently used them to strip the end and then tin it.
One more that I think was better years ago, and now seems more like a gimmick, Saltus wrenches.
I always wanted Saltus wrenches. They are a bit gimmicky but work well with recessed fasteners and on the old RWD manual transmissions where the case parts joined they were often handy.
The ratcheting OE do have a learning curve. Mostly just used the 7/16 and 1/2 sizes once in a while the 9/16 so for my needs limited but sometimes it fell into the Goldilocks zone.
Quote from: j.a.f.e. on Apr 16, 2025, 10:19 PMI always wanted Saltus wrenches. They are a bit gimmicky but work well with recessed fasteners and on the old RWD manual transmissions where the case parts joined they were often handy.
The ratcheting OE do have a learning curve. Mostly just used the 7/16 and 1/2 sizes once in a while the 9/16 so for my needs limited but sometimes it fell into the Goldilocks zone.
I bought a NOS set of Challenger/Proto out of a hock shop about 30 years back, SEA of course. I never used them much, but never regretted buying them. If that isn't bad enough, I bought a fairly large set of Owatonna double socket end wrenches going up to 7/8" around a year ago. Nope, can't tell you why, nope, not sure I'll ever use them. Nope, I don't regret buying them and just think they are cool as Hell. Unless I stop adding stuff like this it will make one heck of a sale after I auger it in! That is if the wife doesn't just open the garage door and stick a free sign in the yard after I cash it in! :o
I bought sets of Craftsman and Gearwrench cross force wrenches going up to around 7/8" if memory serves. I liked them when purchased and still do. I use them now and then and find them pleasing in use. Someone earlier commented large sizes in these were not offered. That is not true. A large set going up north of 1" to something like 1& 1/4" were offered through Sears, they were spendy though and beyond my available fun money or need and I never considered adding them.
Quote from: Uncle Buck on Apr 17, 2025, 07:44 PMI bought sets of Craftsman and Gearwrench cross force wrenches going up to around 7/8" if memory serves. I liked them when purchased and still do. I use them now and then and find them pleasing in use. Someone earlier commented large sizes in these were not offered. That is not true. A large set going up north of 1" to something like 1& 1/4" were offered through Sears, they were spendy though and beyond my available fun money or need and I never considered adding them.
Actually, I said full size range. The metric didn't offer either an 11mm or more importantly a 16mm. I was trying to make a metric portable box at the time.
Oh, I see. Ya, Sears was guilty of that on multiple occasions throughout the years.
The clench wrench is a gimmick tool, but they do work better than a lot of gimmick tools that kids would buy their dad.
The biggest one for me that a lot of people may still consider gimmicks would be multipliers.
I carry a leatherman multitool at work, I'm not trying to replace a tool box but it's there for quick convenient use in a pinch.
If you have this mindset, the plier multitool will not seem like such a gimmick.
A lot of gimmicks in my mind might be good ideas but in the real world just don't work. Often because they're too big, too flimsy in construction or an existing tool does it just as well or better. Except laminated gripping tools those have no reason to exist. In particular ones sold by the company formerly known as Sears.
AKA robogrips?
Actually found two uses for them where they worked well. One involved changing CO2 tanks for kegs with someone with grip strength issues, the other a very specific piece of restaurant equipment with a left hand thread nut, that when they forgot to grease, would try to lock itself onto the blade shaft, so it couldn't properly be cleaned, disassembled and lubed.
Now I understand the grip strength issue, because his was neuropathy, which my chemo has caused me. But I am just as adapt at water pump sized pliers one handed, where he was not.
Quote from: AbiggerGarage on Apr 19, 2025, 01:51 AMAKA robogrips?
Actually found two uses for them where they worked well. One involved changing CO2 tanks for kegs with someone with grip strength issues, the other a very specific piece of restaurant equipment with a left hand thread nut, that when they forgot to grease, would try to lock itself onto the blade shaft, so it couldn't properly be cleaned, disassembled and lubed.
Now I understand the grip strength issue, because his was neuropathy, which my chemo has caused me. But I am just as adapt at water pump sized pliers one handed, where he was not.
Yeah I actually like the robogrips, I don't use them a lot but they work well when I do.
The clench wrenches my dad bought me ( they were these folding ones ) is not a tool I really like much, but they work better than I expected and I keep the larger one kn my bicycle tool kit simply because it functions and I don't want my dad to think I didn't appreciate the thought.
I kinda did have the robogrips in mind, yes. Maybe they were tainted in my mind by Bob Villa hawking them.
The gator grip socket has uses too it works on hookeyes and wing nuts pretty well.
But this is exactly the discussion I wanted to start - something one person finds as a gimmick makes a good tool for another.
Quote from: j.a.f.e. on Apr 19, 2025, 05:40 PMI kinda did have the robogrips in mind, yes. Maybe they were tainted in my mind by Bob Villa hawking them.
The gator grip socket has uses too it works on hookeyes and wing nuts pretty well.
But this is exactly the discussion I wanted to start - something one person finds as a gimmick makes a good tool for another.
On regular sockets the gator grip isn't very good for sure.
It's another tool I don't love but was gifted one so I put it in my bicycle tool kit,it's good enough in a pinch but I still hope to never need it.
Are 4in1 and 6in1 screwdrivers still thought of as gimmicks by anybody?
They seem to me like the most successful widely copied " gimmick tool " ever invented.
Never had a Gatorgrip socket, did know one person that used it for the radiator drain plug, until one of those plastic radiators wouldn't seal back up and he decided to follow shop protocol and drain via the bottom hose instead.
Did know someone else who drilled where a cracked socket stopped, cut a notch for those wing nuts and welded on the socket to fill the crack (low torque use).
I've never done enough wing nuts for one.
Two others, long ago "gifted" to me by an inlaw that thought they would be fine with a smaller toolbox and these would actually do the job (until they bought their kids a basketball goal and actually bought a cheap wrench set).
multi wrench (https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/UuwAAOSwSadflxXj/s-l1600.jpg)
universal dogbone wrench (https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/AnMAAeSwn71n4lOV/s-l960.jpg)
Both images are from ebay, because I LONG ago and quickly disposed of the gimmicks and that family member has borrowed proper tools from me.
I have a couple of those multi type wrenches around somewhere from my grandfather.
I don't know if he got them new or from the flea market but they're very rusty like he never used them.
Those dogbone wrenches are definitely a gimmick, but they're also one of the most persistent gimmicks because they've been introduced to the world so many times over the past 100 years.
Getting back to Cross-Force for a moment, I was a little late in getting in on the large jumbo sized US made versions of that set, and opted for the import lobster claw version that they were offering at the time. The fit/finish and the looks are not as good as the Danaher versions, but those big lobster claw wrenches have had some huge pipes attached to them to leverage off fasteners from farm machinery. Surprisingly they've held up very well. -- They still look awfully awkward though when compared to their more refined smaller Danaher produced brethren.
Years ago I bought at least one or possibly even two dog one wrenches, one a Craftsman and I think a Williams or Armstrong brand dirt cheap, perhaps a buck ot two each knowing full well I would never use them.Both were 60's vintage or so, well used, but not abused. I liked them, but saw small likelihood of ever using either. Each was cheap enough the extravagance was of no consequence.