Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2022 12:08:35 GMT 1
Once again I've had the misfortune to have to use one of these...  Is there a more useless tool? |
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curtis
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Charente Maritime
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Post by curtis on Jan 31, 2022 12:25:26 GMT 1
You never know when you might need it. Most of them are badly made and have lots of play.
But I have one "just in case" when my sets of AF,MM and whitworth don't work.
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Post by pcpa on Jan 31, 2022 12:56:52 GMT 1
Good quality (usually very old) ones are worth having, I have a large and a small in my workshop and both get used from time to time.
This week I had to free the brakes on an Ifor Williams trailer that had sat in a field for 14 years, I had to stop the cables from rotating while undoing the seized adjuster nuts, they had 6mm square section on them, after breaking a 6mm open ended spanner I used a Snap-On one but I could feel that it was going to round the flats, I used my larger Clé Anglaise for its larger jaw width and it gripped well enough to free the nuts, I had tried with Mole grips etc, I don't think anything else could have done the job.
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Post by pcpa on Jan 31, 2022 13:09:09 GMT 1
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2022 13:21:30 GMT 1
Good quality (usually very old) ones are worth having, I have a large and a small in my workshop and both get used from time to time. This week I had to free the brakes on an Ifor Williams trailer that had sat in a field for 14 years, I had to stop the cables from rotating while undoing the seized adjuster nuts, they had 6mm square section on them, after breaking a 6mm open ended spanner I used a Snap-On one but I could feel that it was going to round the flats, I used my larger Clé Anglaise for its larger jaw width and it gripped well enough to free the nuts, I had tried with Mole grips etc, I don't think anything else could have done the job. Original "Mole" grips for me every time when I don't have the correct spanner. I got caught out yesterday and the only thing to hand was one of those infernal things. I hope it burns away to nothing when it re-enters the earth's atmosphere. I was using a scissor jack in a confined space. Every ⅙ turn I had to readjust the bloody thing. |
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Post by annabellespapa on Jan 31, 2022 13:43:50 GMT 1
As has been said, a lot of the modern versions are useless but I have a very large adjustable spanner and a small version for under sinks etc, both were my Grandfather's who was an engineer and builder. I keep them in my tool box in my car boot along with mole grips, duct tape, superglue, that putty that is two colours but when rolled together will seal and stick almost anything and a rechargeable drill with all the fixing, most jobs can be bodged or damage halted with the above.
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Post by pcpa on Jan 31, 2022 14:05:30 GMT 1
I got caught out yesterday and the only thing to hand was one of those infernal things. But that is exactly their advantage, why we keep them where we keep them and why we use them, you are correct, their shortcoming is that once fitted to the nut you have to nip up the adjustment or risk the jaws slipping, this in turn makes it impossible to move to the next pair of flats. I'm sure that the scissor jack would not have been your first choice either but there are times that nothing else will do or the ideal is not to hand, I have modified the round eyeplate on all of mine so I can use a socket and extensions with a ratchet or speedbrace whatever is the best, the crank handles are useless. I used a genuine Alko 2 tonne one last week that was supplied with the twin axle caravan (Alko axles and chassis) that I bought, the T bar handle supplied did not have enough leverage to lift the caravan, it had to be done with a socket and ratchet once again. |
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Post by robertarthur on Jan 31, 2022 14:40:13 GMT 1
@ HVM, an even more useless tool is this auto adjusting wrench. Must have had a blackout when everywhere around me the sign SALES made me believe that one day it might be useful.Still waiting. First of all: an incredible amount of play. Not a bug, no, a feature: inside they've incorporated a clever auto discharge function: the battery is always empty....I should give it away, but I don't want to make enemies. The chisels and pointed pliers from the family toolbox (grandfather, father, uncle) are there to stay. |
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ibis
Banned Member
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Post by ibis on Jan 31, 2022 16:43:04 GMT 1
tools are only as good as the user...
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2022 16:55:49 GMT 1
@ HVM, an even more useless tool is this auto adjusting wrench. Must have had a blackout when everywhere around me the sign SALES made me believe that one day it might be useful.Still waiting. First of all: an incredible amount of play. Not a bug, no, a feature: inside they've incorporated a clever auto discharge function: the battery is always empty....I should give it away, but I don't want to make enemies. The chisels and pointed pliers from the family toolbox (grandfather, father, uncle) are there to stay. 🤣🤣🤣 I have one of those too. My excuse is that it was a well intentioned present and that is why I still have it.. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2022 17:02:40 GMT 1
The first pronouncement from the storeman in the engineering training centre where I did the first year of my apprenticeship was "Don't ever let me catch any of you using a shifting spanner on any of my machines."
His machines? Storemen, wot they loik? However I understand why.
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Post by hal on Jan 31, 2022 17:20:29 GMT 1
Everyone denouncing the humble shifter! But everyone seems to have one  |
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FFS
Member
As usual, in front of my laptop when I'm here
Posts: 2,797
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Post by FFS on Jan 31, 2022 17:23:13 GMT 1
Well, this thread has not gone at all in the direction I thought it would after the final sentence of the OP.  |
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Aardvark
Non-gamer
Living in soggy 22 and still wondering what's going on.
Posts: 1,442
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Post by Aardvark on Jan 31, 2022 17:26:18 GMT 1
I thought this thread was going to be about Boris Johnson.
I have four of those adjustables. Three different sizes and a fourth in stainless that I bought for my boat tool kit.
I do agree they can be a pain in the butt unless they work smoothly without excessive play.
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Aardvark
Non-gamer
Living in soggy 22 and still wondering what's going on.
Posts: 1,442
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Post by Aardvark on Jan 31, 2022 17:27:17 GMT 1
You never know when you might need it. Most of them are badly made and have lots of play. But I have one "just in case" when my sets of AF,MM and whitworth don't work. Don't get me started on Whitworth! I was having a rummage around looking for an extra thin open end last week and got to thinking, I still have a lot of tools that I acquired when I got my first car at (age 16). Bought cheap from the widow next door after her husband passed away. Wondering what will become of them when I'm gone. Must be worth thousands at today's prices but no one will want them. The newer generations wouldn't know what to do with most of them. |
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