Tools that seem redundant

[Klutch9]

In my line of work, I deal with low-voltage narrow gauge cable every day. Usually 16-24 gauge wire, solid and stranded. I've come to notice that some people in my trade, including myself, NEVER use wire strippers to strip the insulation off of wires. I just use slight pressure on the inner cutting blades of my needle nose pliers, and it always does the trick. It honestly always works, sometimes even better than an actual wire stripper when dealing with extremely thin wires. So for me, the wire stripper tool is useless, and one less thing I have to carry in my hip pouch (though I still keep one in my van just in case). How about you all? Any tools in your toolbox or work bag that you never use, or just avoided buying because another non-intended tool works just as well for the job?

 

[yonyon]

Hmm.... I have several 9mm sockets. I only ever used one of them once (wheel alignment on an Audi) so I guess that makes all the others redundant. I guess you could also count the Ford parts bags full of 7/16" 12 point sockets.

 

[Klutch9]

Originally Posted By: yonyon
Hmm.... I have several 9mm sockets. I only ever used one of them once (wheel alignment on an Audi) so I guess that makes all the others redundant.


It's funny you mention the 9mm... in all my years of working on cars, foreign and domestic, I can't ever remember using a 9mm anything. 7mm, all the time. 8mm, sure. 10mm, always a go-to. But never a 9mm.

 

[yonyon]

Unlike 9mm sockets, 9mm open end wrenches can come in handy. To make them useful you can: close them up; spread them open; bend them upways,downways, sideways, and anywhichways; grind them; twist them; sell them as scrap; weld them; throw them at people and do all sorts of other things!

 

[Nick1994]

I never use wire strippers when doing wiring, always a good pair of wire cutters.

My grandfather owned an autobody/ frame straightening shop for 45 years. It's always been interesting going through his tool box, he always bought nice tools but he made many many tools, a piece of scrap metal welded to a socket and bent "just right" to fit in a tight spot, it's hilarious that he remembers what kind of car he had to use which type on, and where he had to use it. Lots of bent wrenches as well.

 

[Merkava_4]

I'm the opposite, I gotta have tools for everything. The thought of stripping wires with side cutters or scissors makes me cringe. I never liked that show Macgyver. The word improvise is my enemy.

 

[EA82]

I usually use diagonal cutters ( dikes ) to strip 18 gauge thermostat wire in HVAC , in a few instances I've noticed that the wire just breaks off when I wire nut them together because I put too much pressure I guess and nicked the wire. In a few cases the wire had been broken inside the wire nut and I had to go back and trace the problem.
I made it a rule to only use wire strippers for small gauge wire, even though I don't always follow it.

 

[eljefino]

9mm sockets work perfect on Mercedes w123 brake bleeders and presumably anything else with their (Girling?) brakes.

I used to use my two front teeth in a pinch for wire strippers until I realized it would make me look like Eager Beaver.

 

[eljefino]

Also the dumb ignition wrenches and allen wrenches that round out a "168 pc kit" are pretty useless. Already have more than I need.

 

[Silk]

I have the special hose clip crimping tool, the perfect tool for the job. A couple of weeks ago I did inner CV boots on a Volvo, we got genuine boots and they came with crimping hose clips. The boss said you close them up with sidecutters...Nah, I said, I've got the right tool for the job. I did the boots with the joints in the car, couldn't fit my pliers in there and crimped them up with sidecutters.

 

[morris]

YEP you are right my channel locks work fine as a hammer. and dont fore get the electrons DOE know the color of the insulation. LOL LOL

 

[supton]

I hate paying for good tools, but generally curse less when I have the right tool to use. I make do though if I only need the tool just one time.

As far as stripping wires: dikes work ok for PVC but I'd rather use a good stripping tool. Forget about stripping Teflon wire with dikes, annoying. And I generally prefer to use Teflon wire anyhow for various projects. PVC is annoying when soldering.

Although I have to admit to stripping wirewrap wire with just the soldering iron while doing board rework, just a hair faster and easier.

 

[ccs v2.0]

My hammer must be redundant. I just had to remove 6 twist nails with a pair of needle nose pliers because either my wife or kids can't return it to my toolbox...

 

[Kestas]

All the 12-pt sockets in my 300-pc Craftsman tool set are redundant. I only use 6-pt sockets on jobs. Once in a blue moon I run into a 12-pt bolt in automotive work.

When I was involved with aircraft I saw lots of 12-pt bolts.