Handfools

Ok crew what are your worst handfools that you have owned? 

Handfools- the worst tools you ever owned. 

Me an JMG we’re talking over in the chat room, an came up with this word. It came about cause my inproper spelling. 

In no particular order I listed the first ten I thought of. 

1. Black an decker battery powered adjustable wrench

2. Craftsman indexing head pry bar

3. Husky interchangble head tin snips 

4. kobalt locking pliers

5. Harbor freight Calipers 

6. Harbor freight wood chisel set 

7. Craftsman multi cutter 

8. Kobalt digital tourque wrench 

9. Tool shop tin snips

10. Masterforce 36″ folding bolt cutters 

Irwin Convertible snap ring pliers

Speed out damaged screw remover

JimboS1ice wrote:

Just now, JimboS1ice said:

Irwin Convertible snap ring pliers

Speed out damaged screw remover

x2 on the speed out. It hasn’t worked for me.

Also the Craftsman “Universal” sockets- They always seem to want to strip out the nut I am tightening/loosening.

DaveJr. wrote:

1 minute ago, DaveJr. said:

x2 on the speed out. It hasn’t worked for me.

 

Also the Craftsman “Universal” sockets- They always seem to want to strip out the nut I am tightening/loosening.

Ive had good luck with the Irwin Hanson fluted extractors

JimboS1ice wrote:

19 minutes ago, JimboS1ice said:

Irwin Convertible snap ring pliers

Speed out damaged screw remover

I have yet to find any convertible snap ring pliers I like.

Most or the time my Proto fixed style set work great. 

Fletcher94 wrote:

Just now, Fletcher94 said:

 

I have yet to find any convertible snap ring pliers I like.

 

Most or the time my Proto fixed style set work great. 

Channelocks are great!

I liked channelocks convertible pliers until I met some fellers named Timothy who met a feller named John Deere. When they get together it blows, not in a good way either. I destroyed those channelock snap ring pliers doing surgery on John after Tim tore him up inside. I also destroyed a pair of proto ones as well. I had to get some slightly heavier duty Protos to fix John. I hate John as well as Tim. My worst hand tool is a tie between some kobalt combination wrenches, Pittsburgh long hex sockets, Klein wire strippers, summit racing ratcheting crimpers, and of course 

+1 on speedouts, but you guys have already heard the details of my hatred.

HF ratchets are complete garbage.  One would lock up and you have to switch it back and forth to reverse and wiggle a bit to keep ratcheting.  Eventually the detent fell out.

[External image (www.homedepot.com), not copied]

This has just about the worst blade retention.  Wobbles everywhere and falls out if you get it dusty from the drywall it’s supposed to be used on.  Your forearm will also learn why a nice pull saw costs about 50x that sawzall.  One of these might change my mind though:

[External image (www.mytoolstore.com), not copied]

jeffmcmillan wrote:

18 minutes ago, jeffmcmillan said:

+1 on speedouts, but you guys have already heard the details of my hatred.

 

HF ratchets are complete garbage.  One would lock up and you have to switch it back and forth to reverse and wiggle a bit to keep ratcheting.  Eventually the detent fell out.

 

[External image (www.homedepot.com), not copied]

This has just about the worst blade retention.  Wobbles everywhere and falls out if you get it dusty from the drywall it’s supposed to be used on.  Your forearm will also learn why a nice pull saw costs about 50x that sawzall.  One of these might change my mind though:

[External image (www.mytoolstore.com), not copied]

 

I guess I’ve only used it to hack apart PVC and abs piping, not drywall, but the folding Lenox one seems to hold a blade fairly well, but the hinge mechanism is finicky at best.

I haven’t had a lot of bad experiences with hand tools because I A: VERY seldom buy cheap, B: Have conditioned my family to never buy me tools unless the verify it meets my approval, and C: avoid anything Sears offers within 3 months of a gift giving holiday. Even so, there have been a few slip through the cracks over the years.

1. Every pair of auto adjusting pliers I have ever tried without exception. Craftsman Robogrip comes to mind.

2. HF 2 lb. sledgehammer. Broke on the 3rd swing driving 24″ rebar stakes

3. GatorGrip socket. Worked great for wing nuts. Not worth a damn for anything else.

4. I too had a terrible experience with the speedout extractors.

5. HF locking pliers. Bought 4 pair to use as welding clamps and within 3 months they were all in the trash

6. Had a set of Indian made Gedore DBE wrenches when I was a kid. Dad dug them out of the trash at work. Thought they would be good for me and the neighborhood kids to tinker with our bikes back in the BMX days. Kept us from messing with his. Turns out they were better off in the trash. When a wrench fails to meet the working demands of a 13 year old kid maintaining a Red Line bicycle, it’s gotta be pretty shitty. I think there is one wrench left from the set somewhere at dad’s.

Definitely the speed,Irwin impact driver bits

Adjustable wrenches that aren’t Channellock (Irega).

iFixit tools

Speedout exxtractor

Gatorgrip (except wingnuts)

Oil filter pliers (except on PVC)

HF cutters(minus their micro lush cutter)

BMack37 wrote:

32 minutes ago, BMack37 said:

Adjustable wrenches that aren’t Channellock (Irega).

iFixit tools

Speedout exxtractor

Gatorgrip (except wingnuts)

Oil filter pliers (except on PVC)

HF cutters(minus their micro lush cutter)

Have you tried the Proto Clik-Stop adjustables? They are a Western Forge wrench, but the Clik-Stop eliminates any run out and the need to re-adjust. They’re pretty sweet 

Conductor562 wrote:

5 minutes ago, Conductor562 said:

 

Have you tried the Proto Clik-Stop adjustables? They are a Western Forge wrench, but the Clik-Stop eliminates any run out and the need to re-adjust. They’re pretty sweet 

I haven’t, I discovered the Channellocks then later the pliers wrenches and haven’t gone back. Though I have heard good things about the Clik-Stop.

DeWalt 4 piece screwdriver set. On sale usually around $10. Touted a diamond tough coat on the tip…. and yet it broke on first use tightening a screw on a DeWalt drill chuck that seized.

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Had a friend gift me a pair of Harbor Freight grinders one Christmas. The first one fell apart when I pulled the trigger switch the first time, and the second started up but then fried on the first use under load (less than five minutes or so). As it was a gift, all I could ever say to him was, yeah, they’re great buddy, usin the hell outa them…  They weren’t even worth the time it would have taken to return them to the store and went straight into the trash.

Stercorarius wrote:

I liked channelocks convertible pliers until I met some fellers named Timothy who met a feller named John Deere. When they get together it blows, not in a good way either. I destroyed those channelock snap ring pliers doing surgery on John after Tim tore him up inside. I also destroyed a pair of proto ones as well. I had to get some slightly heavier duty Protos to fix John. I hate John as well as Tim. My worst hand tool is a tie between some kobalt combination wrenches, Pittsburgh long hex sockets, Klein wire strippers, summit racing ratcheting crimpers, and of course 

jeffmcmillan wrote:

+1 on speedouts, but you guys have already heard the details of my hatred.

 

HF ratchets are complete garbage.  One would lock up and you have to switch it back and forth to reverse and wiggle a bit to keep ratcheting.  Eventually the detent fell out.

 

[External image (www.homedepot.com), not copied]

This has just about the worst blade retention.  Wobbles everywhere and falls out if you get it dusty from the drywall it’s supposed to be used on.  Your forearm will also learn why a nice pull saw costs about 50x that sawzall.  One of these might change my mind though:

[External image (www.mytoolstore.com), not copied]

 

Conductor562 wrote:

I haven’t had a lot of bad experiences with hand tools because I A: VERY seldom buy cheap, B: Have conditioned my family to never buy me tools unless the verify it meets my approval, and C: avoid anything Sears offers within 3 months of a gift giving holiday. Even so, there have been a few slip through the cracks over the years.

 

1. Every pair of auto adjusting pliers I have ever tried without exception. Craftsman Robogrip comes to mind.

 

2. HF 2 lb. sledgehammer. Broke on the 3rd swing driving 24″ rebar stakes

 

3. GatorGrip socket. Worked great for wing nuts. Not worth a damn for anything else.

 

4. I too had a terrible experience with the speedout extractors.

 

5. HF locking pliers. Bought 4 pair to use as welding clamps and within 3 months they were all in the trash

 

6. Had a set of Indian made Gedore DBE wrenches when I was a kid. Dad dug them out of the trash at work. Thought they would be good for me and the neighborhood kids to tinker with our bikes back in the BMX days. Kept us from messing with his. Turns out they were better off in the trash. When a wrench fails to meet the working demands of a 13 year old kid maintaining a Red Line bicycle, it’s gotta be pretty shitty. I think there is one wrench left from the set somewhere at dad’s.

 

 

 

 

NicolasRamos wrote:

Is the gator grip socket that thing with the pins that slide back, so it’s a “multi size” deal?


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If you ever use wing nuts they work good on them, but anything else sucks

Klein NCV testers.

Amprobe NCV testers

Milwaukee NCV testers

Amprobe GFCI testers

Klein Heavy Duty wire stripper

Klein tradesman pro backpack
(That counts right?)

There’s about a thousand more that I can’t think of at the moment.


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JimboS1ice wrote:

That’s it, good thing for this post i was going to grab one to keep in the tool box


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NicolasRamos wrote:

I remember seeing one not long ago and almost bought it, but I thought to myself…”conductor would give me shit if he saw this in the new tool thread” [emoji23]


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NicolasRamos wrote:

3 hours ago, NicolasRamos said:

Klein NCV testers.

Amprobe NCV testers

Milwaukee NCV testers

Amprobe GFCI testers

Klein Heavy Duty wire stripper

Klein tradesman pro backpack
(That counts right?)

There’s about a thousand more that I can’t think of at the moment.


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Haha only real use for my Milwaukee ncv tester is a penlight! Got two for one deal and it has worked fine, but I mainly got it for the light lol!!

Well, if I die tonight I guess I’ve accomplished something ?

But seriously, life is too aggravating as it is. I try not to add to the frustration by buying shitty tools.

And yes, I’d have given you hell about buying a GatorGrip ?

JimboS1ice wrote:

4 hours ago, JimboS1ice said:

Ha ha well dude between bmack and conductor they keep my standards pretty high


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It all started with you posting a video with Craftsman ratchets in the shot, haha.

BMack37 wrote:

 

It all started with you posting a video with Craftsman ratchets in the shot, haha.

Fletcher94 wrote:

Ok crew what are your worst handfools that you have owned? 

 

Handfools- the worst tools you ever owned. 

 

Me an JMG we’re talking over in the chat room, an came up with this word. It came about cause my inproper spelling. 

 

In no particular order I listed the first ten I thought of. 

1. Black an decker battery powered adjustable wrench

2. Craftsman indexing head pry bar

3. Husky interchangble head tin snips 

4. kobalt locking pliers

5. Harbor freight Calipers 

6. Harbor freight wood chisel set 

7. Craftsman multi cutter 

8. Kobalt digital tourque wrench 

9. Tool shop tin snips

10. Masterforce 36″ folding bolt cutters 

 

Fletcher94 wrote:

Ok crew what are your worst handfools that you have owned? 

 

Handfools- the worst tools you ever owned. 

 

Me an JMG we’re talking over in the chat room, an came up with this word. It came about cause my inproper spelling. 

 

In no particular order I listed the first ten I thought of. 

1. Black an decker battery powered adjustable wrench

2. Craftsman indexing head pry bar

3. Husky interchangble head tin snips 

4. kobalt locking pliers

5. Harbor freight Calipers 

6. Harbor freight wood chisel set 

7. Craftsman multi cutter 

8. Kobalt digital tourque wrench 

9. Tool shop tin snips

10. Masterforce 36″ folding bolt cutters 

 

ikepete wrote:

21 minutes ago, ikepete said:

I received a black and decker battery powered adjustable wrench on year. I have to agree that it’s not very good. I still have it. But never use it. I have a hard time getting rid of a tool even if it is junk.


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Tell me about it! I can’t either!

KnarlyCarl wrote:

Haha only real use for my Milwaukee ncv tester is a penlight! Got two for one deal and it has worked fine, but I mainly got it for the light lol!!

ikepete wrote:

4 hours ago, ikepete said:

I received a black and decker battery powered adjustable wrench on year. I have to agree that it’s not very good. I still have it. But never use it. I have a hard time getting rid of a tool even if it is junk.


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Same, I end up throwing it in a pile and never use it. I’ve taken some and tried to modify them.

Black and dicker adjustable wrench operated by a battery?? That just sounds horrid


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JimboS1ice wrote:

7 minutes ago, JimboS1ice said:

Black and dicker adjustable wrench operated by a battery?? That just sounds horrid


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It was. They called it an auto wrench or something. 

One of of those tools designed for people who have no business using tools

[External image (uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com), not copied]

That’s what mine looked like


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ikepete wrote:

10 minutes ago, ikepete said:

[External image (uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com), not copied]

That’s what mine looked like


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That’s them. As ugly as they were ridiculous ?

Ugh gag me


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JimboS1ice wrote:

1 hour ago, JimboS1ice said:

Ugh gag me


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Thats what I thought when I got it, but I just smiled an said thank you. My aunt gave me it along with a Best Buy gift card. She was just trying to be nice when I graduated.

I tried it once for laughs. It’s jaw was wobbly an handle was bulky. Not sure were it ended up but I no longer have it. Sure don’t miss it either. 

JimboS1ice wrote:

8 hours ago, JimboS1ice said:

Black and dicker adjustable wrench operated by a battery?? That just sounds horrid


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Ah yes, I recall that ad or YouTube video who knows when I saw that. The bulkiness of that wrench would make it largely unusable 

BD = Bad Design

BMack37 wrote:

BD = Bad Design

My pet name for BD is “Blackened Pecker“. My brother always used to buy their circular saws, because he considered them cheap throwaways. Never understood the logic, and I would rather have sex with an electrical outlet than ever use one of them again (hence the nickname). I still have the Milwaukee 7 1/4” saw I purchased the minute I could afford one, over thirty years ago. My brother could have bought at least three Milwaukee saws for all the ones he threw away in the early years.

I have Milwaukee and Ryobi tools. My favorite and most used tool is my 12v lithium B&D drill. Love that thing. 

I don’t get the hate for certain brands sometime.

Once I bought a pair of cheap laser levels that didn’t work at all.  Basically you had to set out a real level and align the laser line to it.  So what was the point?

Over the years I’ve received my share of gimmicky tools as gifts from well-meaning friends and relatives.  There’s a socket set that has a hole through the ratchet handle so you can turn nuts on long bolts.  Another one that has a worklight on the ratchet handle (and this was in the days before LEDs).  Interchangeable-bit screwdrivers made of cheap plastic with all the bits rattling around inside the handle.  A dry car wash brush (yeah right, like I’m gonna drag a dry brush across the dirt). 

I know I’m gonna take heat for this one, but I’m not impressed at all with FastCap tape measures.  Got a pair of them for christmas this year (I put them on my list because people here rave about them) and they’re going back to Amazon.  A 25′ tape that’s too flimsy to stay flat when you extend it across a flat surface is useless.  

Probably the most frustrating handfool was a Stanley combination square that wasn’t square.  I’d guess it was off about 1/16″ across an 11.5″ board. I used it for a stupidly long time, with cuts turning out just a little bit off, before I finally figured out that the problem was the tool and not me.

Speed Out extractor bits (as pretty much everyone else said)

Every single adjustable wrench ever. Seriously I get the concept but how is it helpful if every time you go to turn the bolt or nut it loosens itself and slips? I shouldn’t have to hold my thumb down hard on the screw to keep it right on the bolt.

Every tongue and groove plier I’ve tried other than Channellock, Irwin (with the push button), and the Gearwrench ones I currently have.

Lisle convertible internal/external snap ring pliers

More than likely these Southwire wire strippers I just got.


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justinkendall wrote:

12 hours ago, justinkendall said:

Speed Out extractor bits (as pretty much everyone else said)

Every single adjustable wrench ever. Seriously I get the concept but how is it helpful if every time you go to turn the bolt or nut it loosens itself and slips? I shouldn’t have to hold my thumb down hard on the screw to keep it right on the bolt.

Every tongue and groove plier I’ve tried other than Channellock, Irwin (with the push button), and the Gearwrench ones I currently have.

Lisle convertible internal/external pliers

More than likely these Southwire wire strippers I just got.


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That’s why I got the knipex pliers wrench… Wanted something like adjustable wrenches but better. Haven’t touched adjustable wrenches since. 

Got an older plumber here who keeps some real gems of adjustable wrenches…. stiff and rusty, I grabbed one and the screw wouldn’t turn with my thumb. This is a guy who could do anything with his eyes closed and do it perfectly… But you will go mad trying to use his poorly maintained hand tools. 

I simply shook my head and grabbed some dry to touch lube…. Should have just brought my own hands tools… Now I know better when I have to go with him on jobs.

KnarlyCarl wrote:

24 minutes ago, KnarlyCarl said:

That’s why I got the knipex pliers wrench… Wanted something like adjustable wrenches but better. Haven’t touched adjustable wrenches since. 

Got an older plumber here who keeps some real gems of adjustable wrenches…. stiff and rusty, I grabbed one and the screw wouldn’t turn with my thumb. This is a guy who could do anything with his eyes closed and do it perfectly… But you will go mad trying to use his poorly maintained hand tools. 

I simply shook my head and grabbed some dry to touch lube…. Should have just brought my own hands tools… Now I know better when I have to go with him on jobs.

Once I get my tool fund built up (2016 depleted it, thanks Milwaukee!) again I’m going to hit KC Tool hard picking up Knipex, Wera, and Wiha tools.

dwasifar wrote:

Once I bought a pair of cheap laser levels that didn’t work at all.  Basically you had to set out a real level and align the laser line to it.  So what was the point?

 

Over the years I’ve received my share of gimmicky tools as gifts from well-meaning friends and relatives.  There’s a socket set that has a hole through the ratchet handle so you can turn nuts on long bolts.  Another one that has a worklight on the ratchet handle (and this was in the days before LEDs).  Interchangeable-bit screwdrivers made of cheap plastic with all the bits rattling around inside the handle.  A dry car wash brush (yeah right, like I’m gonna drag a dry brush across the dirt). 

 

I know I’m gonna take heat for this one, but I’m not impressed at all with FastCap tape measures.  Got a pair of them for christmas this year (I put them on my list because people here rave about them) and they’re going back to Amazon.  A 25′ tape that’s too flimsy to stay flat when you extend it across a flat surface is useless.  

 

Probably the most frustrating handfool was a Stanley combination square that wasn’t square.  I’d guess it was off about 1/16″ across an 11.5″ board. I used it for a stupidly long time, with cuts turning out just a little bit off, before I finally figured out that the problem was the tool and not me.

justinkendall wrote:

13 hours ago, justinkendall said:

Speed Out extractor bits (as pretty much everyone else said)

Every single adjustable wrench ever. Seriously I get the concept but how is it helpful if every time you go to turn the bolt or nut it loosens itself and slips? I shouldn’t have to hold my thumb down hard on the screw to keep it right on the bolt.

Every tongue and groove plier I’ve tried other than Channellock, Irwin (with the push button), and the Gearwrench ones I currently have.

Lisle convertible internal/external snap ring pliers

More than likely these Southwire wire strippers I just got.


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For a true adjustable wrench, try Channellock. They are the only adjustable wrench that I’ve tried that works like you expect it, it doesn’t loosen until you make it loosen.

Alternatively, Knipex pliers wrench, they’re pricey but they’re worth every penny.