Pic of my favorite or underrated tools
 

The beautiful tools thread got me thinking of all the good and bad tools I’ve owned over the years. But I didn’t want to get that thread off subject.
Some of my favorites are ones I bought surprisingly cheap! And some are far from pretty.

My swivel head Snap-On 3/8 drive ratchet would have to be one of them as it is my go to ratchet 90% of the time. I bought it back in the 80’s and I think I’ve only replaced the guts once.

Another is this Buffalo brand impact screw remover tool. I swear I paid $7 for this back in the 80’s at 7 mile fair south of Milwaukee. A huge outdoor flea market. Buffalo brand was bargain basement quality K-mart type tools, but I’ve used this hundreds of times over the years. The tips have held up surprisingly well, but you can see a little twist to them! I love this cheap tool, and haven’t killed it yet!

That creep Buffalo tool is probably made better then the good ones today.

My favorite tool at the moment is our new BEND PAC lift. :D kind of a tool! My other favorite tool is my Hubby Mike :oogle: :pound:

I've had the same ratchet for almost 40 years, but with a bend at the handle so it can also be used as a speed handle. It was replaced for free about 3 years ago by Snap-on, as it was too worn out to rebuild. Original price was about $38, the new one listed for $144. I agree....I go to it 90% of the time. The other one? My 40 year old Snap on 3/8 drive short ratchet that is the same body as the 1/4" drive ratchet, but with a 3/8 head. Perfect for tight places, and work on carbs, trans pans, oil pans, valve covers, and 100's of other situations. The other go-to is a 70+ year old Plomb 1/2--9/16 short double box end wrench. It's the perfect size, fits into tight places, and fits my hand like a glove. Flea market find for $1.

Favorite go to is a MAC 1/4 drive set, that I bought in 1979. Still have all the original sockets, extensions, ratchet had been replaced once, and needs it again. Can't seem to hook up with a MAC man.

This!
"Another is this Buffalo brand impact screw remover tool. "

I just recently bought this at a garage sale. I used it to adjust the carb on 79 Chevy truck and worked well. I have never seen a tool like this before it is about 18”. I like buying odd tools that I have not seen before

Old Blue Point tool. I have one just like it.

Agree- a cheap tool cult classic.. bought mine about 1978, loosened stuff nothing else would touch.

I'm somewhat upset because your post made me go look for it and I couldn't find it. I may have lost or tossed it in my recent move. :(

So I just bought one off eBay to make myself feel better. :biggerGri

I have that one also....it is starting to get serious when I break out the Buffalo Impact Screw Driver!!!!! Bought it in the 70's at a Surplus store.

I've had one of those since 1982....I THINK I may have used it once. I need to dig it out. After reading this thread I think I must be missing something.

You A-Holes ... you talked it up so much I just bought one off ebay too. From the bits it appears to have been used once. Don't know what brand my old impact driver is .. but it's always been a bit sloppy and has a broke bit.

My Beverly shear. Watched eBay for a long time before I found this lightly used one at a great price. Cuts metal like butter.

Don

I dont suppose they made different tips that interchange on this tool did they? I like how this keeps me from leaning over the fan blade

Lol
It works great as a regular screw driver too, even on just tight screws. The body of the tool is about twice the diameter of a regular screwdriver, so it fits my hand better. That’s why I use it so much.

TA I still have the little slide hammer for pulling the plug out to access the adjuster screw!

If you like that ratchet try the newer style hundred tooth that swivels right in the middle. Best ratchet Ive ever owned.

ive had the same Snap On simple ratcheting screwdriver for 20 years. I love that thing.

I have one of those Buffalo impact tools, but it has a 3/8ths end for sockets.... only. I picked it up at a local flea market a couple of weeks ago.

I'll post a photo of it and my new 40mm metric crescent wrench tomorrow.

I use that same blue metal box Buffalo impact screwdriver too. Had it since the late 70's early 80's. Finally killed the original phillips bits. Found Kobalt replacements at Lowes. Use it almost every week to remove the rotor screws from brake rotors on all kinds of cars and trucks. One blast and they are out. No muss, no fuss.

This little tool bailed my butt out when I had to remove the upper control arm from my 64. Hydraulic ball joint separator. Separated the ball joint from the spindle without damaging the boot. Highly recommended.

I have a Blue Point one I've had since 1980. It comes with 3 or 4 tips---the ones I still have are slot screwdriver for carb mixture, 1/4 inch socket for other carb screws, and a ball-head allen tip for adjusting points on GM distributors. That one is handy as hell, because I run points on all my GM cars. I used mine in industry for decades, and just used it last weekend on my old Corvette. Great tool!

Love it!
 

I've always wanted one of those. Very useful and takes up little space. :)

Wow... I have that exact tool, bought in 1981 when I got my first mechanic's apprentice job at age 23. Still have it in the case just like yours.
I'll bet I haven't used it 5 times.

This is my MAC Carb adjusting tool.
40+ yrs. old.Love MAC Tools.
https://i.postimg.cc/8fzd7PvX/3452996596.jpg
https://toolswapper.com/shop/Mac-Too...0-8-p529546574

My memory is shot. Didn't realize that I had posted the same thing 4 years apart. 8"o

Dam, i have one of these as well, but can't remember the last time I used it, LOL. I'm sure it pretty dusty. will have to get it out and dust it.

I have used a flrexable head 3/8 rachet since i was 15, it was in a Chraftsman tune up kit I got for christmas in 1981
I have a Chraftsman imact driver like the buffalo one mentioned as well.
I have the carb tools and about 4-5 other versions of them
The best thing I like about the flexable head rachet is, most people cant seem to use it with out busting there nuckels!!!

It's not vintage or particularly cool, but I love my Klein precision screwdriver set.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-To...2717/313832918

I've had a lot of them over the years and these hold up very nice.

I have one of these shorty flex head ratchets, with 3/8" on one side and 1/4" on the other. It's one of those offshore tools that are sold under various brands, I got mine from a tool vendor at a swap meet decades ago. I have a full set of Snap-On tools but this ratchet is often the first one I reach for - because of the short handle it's not good for high torque applications but it's good for working in tight areas, and being able to work with either 3/8" or 1/4" sockets means one less tool I have to put in my tool bag when I go somewhere. Even though it was cheap, it seems to be good quality and it just works.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1704716307

I have one of those too Stuart. Doesn't have the pivot head but I love that thick rubber grip and the fine tooth count resolution.

I would find that ratchet super useful when I ask my wife to bring me a 7/16" socket and she without fail will bring whatever drive size I'm not using :)

I’m still using the same Craftsman Professional Line 3/8” 15” tear drop ratchet I purchased nearly thirty years ago, in spite of owning numerous Snap-On, Cornwall, Proto and Mac 3/8” ratchets. It just feels better in my hands.

I've had this 3/8'' SK offset ratchet for 55yrs. still works great.
https://sktools.com/cdn/shop/product...g?v=1667852758
https://sktools.com/products/10-8-3-...02abda40&_ss=r