DIY tools that are actually good.
Discussion
Lots of people inventing tools that are fixing a problem that does not exist, like ratcheting wrenches/spanners.
This tool is awesome, and a thing of beauty, but only really good on motorcycles or bolts/nuts that use a small amount of force, say up to 12mm or so. Gearless right angle adapter.
This tool is awesome, and a thing of beauty, but only really good on motorcycles or bolts/nuts that use a small amount of force, say up to 12mm or so. Gearless right angle adapter.
You don't think ratcheting spanners are useful but are singing the praises of a right angle adapter for tools that are already available in right angle? 
Joking aside, how much force can it take before it binds up? I'm assuming it's intended for fasteners you'd do with a screwdriver grip?
Joking aside, how much force can it take before it binds up? I'm assuming it's intended for fasteners you'd do with a screwdriver grip?
Interesting. I would like to see a loading spec per drive size. E.g. 1/4” drive max. torque 30Nm, for example.
For each angular movement, one or two particular angled pins must be delivering most of the load - the other pins are just moving into position, ready to take their turn in transmitting the load.
I can’t say that I can envisage a use for me. The other question would be, where were Service Engineering in the design sign-off for that vehicle?
For each angular movement, one or two particular angled pins must be delivering most of the load - the other pins are just moving into position, ready to take their turn in transmitting the load.
I can’t say that I can envisage a use for me. The other question would be, where were Service Engineering in the design sign-off for that vehicle?
Edited by Pica-Pica on Friday 1st November 19:25
kambites said:
I'm guessing the OP has never worked in a really cramped engine bay. Ratchet spanners can take the job of removing some really awkward bolts from ten minutes to about 20 seconds.
But ratchet wrenches need a minimum angular movement to turn in an arc perpendicular to the axis of the bolt/nut. The device mentioned, moves that angular ratchet movement to another location and another plane, which be suitable for a particular fixing. As I said, I can’t find an application where it would be useful to me, and, as also said, a Service Feasibility Engineer should have had a say in that design layout.
Pica-Pica said:
But ratchet wrenches need a minimum angular movement to turn in an arc perpendicular to the axis of the bolt/nut. The device mentioned, moves that angular ratchet movement to another location and another plane, which be suitable for a particular fixing.
You said that ratchets are 'fixing a problem which does not exist'. They fix a very tangible and important problem. It isn't quite the same problem this wierd tool addresses, but there is a very definite and important use for them.The conventional alternative to this wierd contraption would be either a flexible head spanner, or a 90 degree angled drive on a socket - and quite likely with a ratchet on the end.
Edited by GreenV8S on Saturday 2nd November 00:43
OP, can you show us where you found this useful? Maybe there's a scenario we can't picture, or perhaps there's another solution you hadn't considered.
I have to say I am still struggling to think of a scenario where that would fit through whatever access to the fastener exists, where another solution wouldn't... Such as a traditional ratchet or (if swing space is really constricted) a gearless ratchet. It's clearly not a high-torque tool so a cheapy Chinese 90 degree drill driver adapter will do without binding up.
Stubby ratchets are awesome for tight spaces, as are the ratcheting spanners that OP can't see a use case for (they've saved my bacon on a few occasions). Then there's the old faithful of "find a different route even if it means stacking a load of extensions". Crowsfoot plus extension is good for translating spanner action where a traditional spanner cannot be used.
I have to say I am still struggling to think of a scenario where that would fit through whatever access to the fastener exists, where another solution wouldn't... Such as a traditional ratchet or (if swing space is really constricted) a gearless ratchet. It's clearly not a high-torque tool so a cheapy Chinese 90 degree drill driver adapter will do without binding up.
Stubby ratchets are awesome for tight spaces, as are the ratcheting spanners that OP can't see a use case for (they've saved my bacon on a few occasions). Then there's the old faithful of "find a different route even if it means stacking a load of extensions". Crowsfoot plus extension is good for translating spanner action where a traditional spanner cannot be used.
Edited by donkmeister on Saturday 2nd November 00:40
Pica-Pica said:
But ratchet wrenches need a minimum angular movement to turn in an arc perpendicular to the axis of the bolt/nut..
They do, but it's usually only around 5 degrees and the place they're invaluable is where a nut/bolt head is so close to something else that you can't get a socket onto it at all. It would be a weird situation where you could get that thing in the OP onto a bolt, but not a socket with enough movement for a click of the ratchet. GreenV8S said:
Pica-Pica said:
But ratchet wrenches need a minimum angular movement to turn in an arc perpendicular to the axis of the bolt/nut. The device mentioned, moves that angular ratchet movement to another location and another plane, which be suitable for a particular fixing.
You said that ratchets are 'fixing a problem which does not exist'. They fix a very tangible and important problem. It isn't quite the same problem this wierd tool addresses, but there is a very definite and important use for them.The conventional alternative to this wierd contraption would be either a flexible head spanner, or a 90 degree angled drive on a socket - and quite likely with a ratchet on the end.
Edited by GreenV8S on Saturday 2nd November 00:43
wouldn't a topic like this fall under the tools you wish you bought sooner thread?
nismocat said:
Lots of people inventing tools that are fixing a problem that does not exist, like ratcheting wrenches/spanners.
Ratchet spanners are awesome.Recent jobs on my car, bucket seat mounts transmision tunnel side, cant get a socket in & absolute slow slow nightmare with an open spanner, very tight & get such a small turn, flex head ratchet spanner a 1 min job.
Coolant reroute thermostat housing bolts back of the head, cant see it, touch only, no socket room, ratchet spanner flex head, job done.
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