Gimmick Tools That Aren't Always Gimmick Tools

[j.a.f.e.]

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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[goodfellow]

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 

[Uncle Buck]

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.

[AbiggerGarage]

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.

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.

[j.a.f.e.]

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.

[Uncle Buck]

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.

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! 

[Uncle Buck]

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.

[AbiggerGarage]

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.

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.

[Uncle Buck]

Oh, I see. Ya, Sears was guilty of that on multiple occasions throughout the years.

[Hickory n Steel]

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.

[j.a.f.e.]

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.

[AbiggerGarage]

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.

[Hickory n Steel]

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.

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.

[j.a.f.e.]

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.

[Hickory n Steel]

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.

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.