Most used ‘rubbish’ tool

[jaCK HobsonParticipant @jackhobson50760]

I’m not talking about any cheap tool(my £3 flush cutters are great and I love them). Not old tools like my king dick adjustable that have been replaced with ‘better designs’.  Not tools I don’t like using – like the electric router. Even minimally engineerd things like pressed steel openended spanners are OK in use when needed.

I’m talikng about the tool that is all of the above, and worse, but I still find myself using often:
I’ve had this combined crimper, cutter, stripper, bolt cutter tool for many years. It is not nice to use at all for any purpose. The joint it tight, the leverage is bad, the handle is uncomfortable. But I still keep using it for wire stripping which it does well. I’ve searched for,  tried, and own many wire strippers but still I often use these. Yuk

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

“Bolt Cutter”?

That’s a combined wire-cutter, stripper and crimper.

I have one, by a different maker but essentially identical, and though it can be awkward to handle it seems to function perfectly well.

It lacks that recoil mechanism some other types of wire-stripper use by which if you don’t complete their operating cycle fully the moving side springs back and bends the wire everywhere.

 

My sample’s joint is not tight. They need be close to be efficient but yours may be over-tight by a slight manufacturing defect.

 

The “rubbish tools” in my clutter tend to be pressed-steel spanners that don’t seem to fit anything, and were likely made for some specific purpose.

Worst though was a small, plastic vice with a lever-action suction-cup, so it leaps off the work-top on which it has left a neat circular mark. It was a “stocking-filler” Christmas present from a well-meaning relative! I think I’ve now given it to a charity-shop.

[MacolmParticipant @macolm]

My version of the crimp tool is subtly different, being able to crimp spade type connectors, first the wire connection then the insulation anchor in turn. It is many years old, was made in Japan, and is still my preferred tool for such crimps despite the fact that I have a “proper” ratchet tool. It is much easier to use in a confined space with little free wire length, and results are just as good. I regard the operating mode as preferable as it applies a constant force, rather than the proper crimper achieving a fixed size irrespective of the actual uncompressed volume of the individual crimp. (apologies for poor image focus)

The screw cropper feature also works very well on mild steel and brass, even up to M5. It may appear to be cheaply made, but it is correctly heat-treated, and I do not regard it as a rubbish tool!

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

Just when I have been looking in vain for my one, the thread starts. They are very useful, Mine is in its original plastic box and won’t come out of hiding until the job I want it for is finished. Very good for cutting small metric screws as long as you fit the screw from the threaded side first, then unscrewing it restores the cut end.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

That kind of wire strip, crimp etc ARE good for cropping screws and bolts 2Ba – 6Ba, small metric etc.  Screw the bolt in from the threaded side and the bit you throw away in the plain hole side.  In spite of different thread forms, the do make a rough and ready screw cropper – not precision… But …

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

I have one of those, I also have a proper crimper, night and day is a good description of the difference.

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

I would like to offer the nail clippers you get in Christmas crackers, still good.

 

There are £1.50 flush cutters out there that are best simply looked at.

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