# Interesting and useful tool **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 1, 2014, 2:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938 "2014-09-01T02:57:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ndemb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ndemb/32/2804_2.png) [@ndemb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ndemb)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 2:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/1 "2014-09-01T02:57:29Z")
I bought this wrench and another bigger one like it at Big Lots 30 years ago. It has been one of my favorite tools. It enables me to apply a lot of torque to a nut or bolt without the need to get out a socket set or find the box-end that is the size of the nut, which I might not have anyway because my biggest regular wrench is only 15mm. It gives a good feel to be able to lock it on cleanly so that the nut is protected from rounding. It adds a layer of stability, which helps leverage. I recently clamped it on brake line flare fittings and it was able to loosen the connections very easily. I use it most often on bicycles and I also particularly like using it on oil pan drain plugs. Stanley has a similar one now, and I plan to get it soon. If someone has that Stanley locking crescent-type wrench or another favorite tool, especially an unusual one, please post the picture if you can and describe how the tool has helped on projects. ---
**Author:** ![wesw](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wesw/32/2713_2.png) [@wesw](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wesw)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 4:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/2 "2014-09-01T04:17:25Z")
I had two offset box end wrenchs, craftsman, one end was 1/2 the other was 9/16. they were my favorite wrenches. my son lost both of them… ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 4:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/3 "2014-09-01T04:31:37Z")
I had a little stubby 1/4" ratchet with an articulating handle that I really liked that I loaned to my daughter some years ago… thinking I could replace it of she didn’t return it… and she didn’t and I was never able to find another like it. ---
**Author:** ![ndemb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ndemb/32/2804_2.png) [@ndemb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ndemb)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 4:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/4 "2014-09-01T04:40:30Z")
It seems those stories are how it always goes! ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 4:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/5 "2014-09-01T04:41:42Z")
I would take the time to find the correct 6 point socket. ---
**Author:** ![ndemb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ndemb/32/2804_2.png) [@ndemb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ndemb)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 5:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/6 "2014-09-01T05:00:07Z")
Many times that’d mean buying a new one since mine are lost so often. And they can still slip off a nut. And, a six point socket won’t fit on something that has no end nearby to slip it over. Not all of us on here do repair except on our own stuff, too. ---
**Author:** ![wesw](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wesw/32/2713_2.png) [@wesw](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wesw)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 5:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/7 "2014-09-01T05:08:42Z")
I haven t lost a tool since my son movedout ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 5:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/8 "2014-09-01T05:10:58Z")
It looks like a cool tool, logic and engineering collaborate! @wesw I seem to loose tools every time I go to look for one, no kids involved, oh yeah right where I left it, where was that I do not know, last place I found it I suppose ---
**Author:** ![nbpt100](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9f8e36/32.png) [@nbpt100](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nbpt100)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 5:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/9 "2014-09-01T05:12:46Z")
I had a teacher that would not let us use adjustable wrenches. He said they have no place in automotive. He was also a former Snap on sales man. ---
**Author:** ![ndemb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ndemb/32/2804_2.png) [@ndemb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ndemb)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 5:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/10 "2014-09-01T05:14:51Z")
Wesw, I could lose my head if it weren’t attached. Barkeydog, it was a step up from using visegrips on bicycle wheel nuts! ---
**Author:** ![ndemb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ndemb/32/2804_2.png) [@ndemb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ndemb)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 5:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/11 "2014-09-01T05:22:46Z")
Nbpt100 he probably never knew about that locking crescent. It’s taken thirty years, and something like it just finally came out again, I’ve been looking, unless I missed it somewhere. Maybe the patent on the original (patent # visible in the picture for the very curious types here on the forum) was holding it back. I fergit how long patents are for on something like that. ---
**Author:** ![nbpt100](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9f8e36/32.png) [@nbpt100](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nbpt100)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 5:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/12 "2014-09-01T05:27:14Z")
ndemb, I think he knew of almost every tool imaginable. Keep in mind he was a tool sales man for many years and was in 100 different shops every month. It was more ideological than anything else. ---
**Author:** ![ndemb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ndemb/32/2804_2.png) [@ndemb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ndemb)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 5:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/13 "2014-09-01T05:29:08Z")
Thanks Nbpt100 ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 6:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/14 "2014-09-01T06:41:34Z")
That locking crescent looks like a great toolbox addition, but I’ll take box ends, open ends, and six and twelve point sockets any day. IMHO nothing beats a full set of each along with good sets of deep sockets. Ratcheting box ends are invaluable too. I also have full sets of crow’s feet, but I confess that I have never used one. In truth, it’s good to have multiple sets of everything. When I drop that 11mm deep socket and it rolls under the car (and I occasionally do and it always does), it’s nice to have another handy. Besides, I’ve had to modify a tool on occasion, and it’s nice to have an extra one to modify. By the way, nbpt, I agree with your teacher; a crescent wrench has no place in a student’s tool box. Granted, it comes with the “standard tool kit” that every new automotive student must buy, but grabbing it is a terrible habit to get into and should be avoided. ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 6:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/15 "2014-09-01T06:51:07Z")
A few oddballs. (I added the 1/4" stubby to make TSM jealous.) ---
**Author:** ![ndemb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ndemb/32/2804_2.png) [@ndemb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ndemb)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 6:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/16 "2014-09-01T06:54:59Z")
TS Mountainbike, I seem to recall once pounding a one-size-too small socket onto a rusted nut that had rounded. Maybe one of those sockets that grips the flat surfaces of the head or nut would have helped then, or maybe the locking cresecent-type wrench, which I don’t think I had found yet back then at that time. I’ve heard people mention that one can never have too many tools, which seems like something I could have said, too. ---
**Author:** ![ndemb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ndemb/32/2804_2.png) [@ndemb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ndemb)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 7:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/17 "2014-09-01T07:01:04Z")
> A few oddballs. (I added the 1/4" stubby to make TSM jealous.) That helped me identify that last one. I wonder if that top one feels a bit neglected these days with the trend toward doing away of distributors. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 7:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/18 "2014-09-01T07:01:12Z")
LOL, d$%#, that’s the one! Ndemb, I’ve on occasion had to grind the end of a socket flat to get a bite on an old rounded nut. And pound it too. I would agree that there’s no such thing as too many tools. So, if I see something I don’t have, I buy it. Now if I could only remember that I have them and where they are when the need arrives… ---
**Author:** ![wesw](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wesw/32/2713_2.png) [@wesw](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wesw)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 7:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/19 "2014-09-01T07:06:27Z")
nothing annoys me like a tool not being where I can find it. when I fabricated steel I had a layout and fitting tool box I made with 8 inch castors and doors that swung open and a flat top and shelf under and it bristled with holders and racks that I custom made to hold all my tools and squares and clamps and markers and shields and everything I probably had about a hundred different things that were accessible when I opened the doors. I took about 5 minutes every morning to unlock and open it up right, after that I could close my eyes and have anyone pick a tool and I could put my hand on it without even thinking. I was good at my job… ---
**Author:** ![sgtrock21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/sgtrock21/32/246_2.png) [@sgtrock21](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sgtrock21)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938/20 "2014-09-02T00:22:23Z")
20 years ago I just had my original $50 craftsman carry around tool box it was filled with the original tools plus many additions. It was to stuffed and heavy so I added a small canvas tool bag. With TSM lamenting the loss of his 1/4" drive flexible stubby ratchet I dug my set of 3 that added 3/8" and 1/2" out of the closet so I could post a source of replacement. Guess which one was missing? On a whim I checked my old tool box and there it was! The set of 3 is Harbor Freight Pittsburg brand which in my limited experience with HF seems to be decent quality. The price sticker was still on the package. $12.99. In the past if I needed a tool and couldn’t find it I would buy another one. Now my next door neighbor is a master mechanic and has at least 2 of every tool you could think of. He even has a hydraulic lift. The best part is if I ask to borrow a tool he will usually volunteer to do the work. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interesting-and-useful-tool/86938.md?page=2)