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Tool Abuse

Started by Muddy, Aug 30, 2025, 07:23 PM

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Muddy

We all know them


don't use that screwdriver as a prybar....

Not for impact use....

Etc.

I'm sure we're all guilty in one way or another.

So what is it that your guilty of?

Me? I use anything with in reach as a hammer. Ratchets, pliers, wrenches if it's within reach an I need to hit something it's a hammer now. (Including my hand/fist).


From the twisted mind of the Mudman!

1965 Comet Caliente

Can't think of anything specifically, but I finally learned that taking a couple of minutes to get the right tool for the job can save you a lot of time and aggravation.  8)
Ran when parked

Rural53

Dad and I did grind down a couple of spanners to adjust the tappets on the little Continental N62 I was trying to get running on the Allis-Chalmers Model G I was restoring.

AbiggerGarage

One that I am guilty of, is when my late boss, best friend passed away, I was asked to move into his home (take care of the pet and help with the estate, during Covid).  Went to go do things like find out what paint was still good, what had good names or paint codes, etc.
I used the bent Craftsman screwdriver that he had used to open the paint cans and stir stuff, as it was left with the paint by the last painter he had hired.  Not sure if it was abuse at that point.

I have often wondered about chrome sockets on impact drivers, not impact wrenches.  They barely do inch pounds and it wasn't until later I saw 1/4" impact sockets (and by that time, I started buying the loose magnetic ones I could find).

Not having an impact rated or rear tipped screwdriver, yet pounding on the head to get a screw to start turning due to rust.  This was on an old piece of furniture where the sloted screw was rusted to the square nut, that I could just barely get a adjustable head on.

bmwrd0

I have used a chrome socket with an impact gun. Sometimes you just need to do it.

Highland512

Leverage amplification devices on ratchets. 

Hickory n Steel

The only thing for me is occasionally using a socket or extension as a drifting punch, but when I do this I'm only hitting with brass or plastic and never hammering  very hard.

For me make it a point to have enough hammers around that only my hammers are hammers,  and enough pry bars around that only my pry bars are pry bars.

I have more tools than I need so I rarely have to misuse tools.
I have a hammer addiction,  and a 1/4 ratchet addiction, and a pry bar addiction,  and a screwdriver addiction, and well I just have an addiction to hand tools in general.

Uncle Buck

Quote from: bmwrd0 on Sep 01, 2025, 10:34 AMI have used a chrome socket with an impact gun. Sometimes you just need to do it.

Guilty of the same years ago when I didn't have as .any tools. Not so much in the last twenty years.
Better hold onto something boys cause i'm fixin ta stand on it!

Uncle Buck

I have been guilty of hooking the ends of wrenches together to gain leverage. I was never a big fan of cheatering ratchets and in fact don't recall ever doing that.
Better hold onto something boys cause i'm fixin ta stand on it!

j.a.f.e.

Quote from: Uncle Buck on Sep 03, 2025, 07:29 PMI have been guilty of hooking the ends of wrenches together to gain leverage. I was never a big fan of cheatering ratchets and in fact don't recall ever doing that.

I, too, hook wrenches together. I can't think of a time I've cheated a ratchet. I either use a longer one or larger drive or breaker. 
Words my mother told me: Never trust anyone in a better mood than you are.

If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking - General George S. Patton

AbiggerGarage

I can think of twice I hooked ratchets together.  Although I believe one of the old timers I knew, would have told me it wasn't cheating in there day, as they hooked a boxed end wrench on the end of a DOE wrench, to get into one spot and change the angle of access.

My two times one was for leverage, the other, I used a pipe over a Snap on flank drive, as those wrenches were much thinner to the point of being uncomfortable to use and putting a pipe over it, gave me something that worked with my hand (didn't really extend it).  That was what me put off on a Snap on wrench set.

Muddy

Quote from: Hickory n Steel on Sep 02, 2025, 02:01 PMThe only thing for me is occasionally using a socket or extension as a drifting punch, but when I do this I'm only hitting with brass or plastic and never hammering  very hard.



I use my harbor freight impact sockets as bearing/bushing drivers all the time. I have an old cornwell 3/8 extension that got bent when trying to press a jeep hub bearing out. It has become extremely useful for knocking the steer link pins out of hyster forklifts due to its shape.
From the twisted mind of the Mudman!

Hickory n Steel

Quote from: Muddy on Sep 04, 2025, 06:24 PM
Quote from: Hickory n Steel on Sep 02, 2025, 02:01 PMThe only thing for me is occasionally using a socket or extension as a drifting punch, but when I do this I'm only hitting with brass or plastic and never hammering  very hard.



I use my harbor freight impact sockets as bearing/bushing drivers all the time. I have an old cornwell 3/8 extension that got bent when trying to press a jeep hub bearing out. It has become extremely useful for knocking the steer link pins out of hyster forklifts due to its shape.
Sockets definitely work well for this kind of thing.

I will say that I have thoroughly abused some random old crappy imports in this way, but I got rid of all the crap tools years ago and was only really thinking in regards to tools I still own and care about.
I have a hammer addiction,  and a 1/4 ratchet addiction, and a pry bar addiction,  and a screwdriver addiction, and well I just have an addiction to hand tools in general.

Heiny57

Quote from: Highland512 on Sep 02, 2025, 11:17 AMLeverage amplification devices on ratchets. 

I love that term, that almost makes it's use justified. Hahaha
MAGA

goodfellow

#14
Guilty on all counts. Whatever it takes to get the job done. I've used chrome sockets for years with my 3/8" impacts and beat on screwdrivers mercilessly. I regularly use 1/2" and 3/4" drive sockets as pressing dies in the 20T shop press.

I did break down recently and picked up a set of steel bolstered screw drivers from HF. Reasonably priced and they work well. Love 'em and I don't mind modifying them as needed.

https://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-bolstered-screwdriver-set-94899.html

Highly  recommend these things
Somebody hold my beer.....