Name That Tool

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480sparky

480sparky

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For lack of any other place to post this, I'll stick it in here since it's the most travelled path.

I was working on a job today and came in need of a special tool. One I carry all the time in the truck, but don't need all that often. But when I need it, it really saves my butt. As I was using it, I thought of that section of This Old House (Maybe it's Ask This Old House?) where Norm, Kevin, Tom, Richard and Roger pass around unusual tools and guess what it is.

tool.jpg

FYI, it's about the same thickness as the quarter shown for scale.

Anyone care to take a guess? I don't know if there's a real name for it, but I have my own. And if there is a real name, I'd like to know what it is.....
 
Looks like one of those wrenches that turn on the threaded ring that holds the shade onto the lampholder in some styles of fixtures.
 
mdshunk said:
Looks like one of those wrenches that turn on the threaded ring that holds the shade onto the lampholder in some styles of fixtures.
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I kinda guessed Marc would know......

You got it. It turns those big 'nuts' that thread onto bulb sockets that hold glass shades on (bathroom lights are a common use). My hand is far too small to get into many glass shades, so when I found this, it was a Godsend.
 
I recently got one that's like a "tube" that puts those nuts on. It's easier to use. Reminds me of the Allen-Bradley tool that puts the trim nuts on their oiltight Bulletin 800 pushbuttons.

Sometimes, if those nuts are really tight, you can unscrew the shade itself a bit and the nut will come along for the ride.
 
It's called a quarter in the old days you could use one to play a game of pinball, now all you get for it is a giant gum ball. :grin:
 
mdshunk said:
I recently got one that's like a "tube" that puts those nuts on. It's easier to use. Reminds me of the Allen-Bradley tool that puts the trim nuts on their oiltight Bulletin 800 pushbuttons.

Sometimes, if those nuts are really tight, you can unscrew the shade itself a bit and the nut will come along for the ride.
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Where did you get that, Marc? I've been wondering if anyone made something for those suckers.
 
wirebender said:
Where did you get that, Marc? I've been wondering if anyone made something for those suckers.
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If you asking about the tool for the oil tight switches AB sells them, I have one and it is handy. They are designed to miss the handles on some switches. They also sell a couple of tools for making the key way in the hole for the switch.
 
iwire said:
If you asking about the tool for the oil tight switches AB sells them, I have one and it is handy. They are designed to miss the handles on some switches. They also sell a couple of tools for making the key way in the hole for the switch.
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No, I was asking about the ones to put the glass shades on. I can't get my hand in most of them and it seems like they are the rage around here.
 
acrwc10 said:
It's called a quarter in the old days you could use one to play a game of pinball, now all you get for it is a giant gum ball. :grin:
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Thanks for the laugh
 
acrwc10 said:
It's called a quarter in the old days you could use one to play a game of pinball, now all you get for it is a giant gum ball. :grin:
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Heck I thought the giant gumballs were fifty cents nowadays. A quarter isnt much good for anything anymore.
 
wirebender said:
No, I was asking about the ones to put the glass shades on. I can't get my hand in most of them and it seems like they are the rage around here.
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If you buy an expensive enough fixture, they throw the tool in for free... notice my collection in post #8.
 
stickboy1375 said:
If you buy an expensive enough fixture, they throw the tool in for free... notice my collection in post #8.
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I remember installing some of the cheap vanity lights from "BIG ORANGE" awhile back that included the tubular tool mentioned earlier.
 
wirebender said:
No, I was asking about the ones to put the glass shades on. I can't get my hand in most of them and it seems like they are the rage around here.
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Comes with the fixture.
 
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