Sears has started to market a series of "whiz bang" tools designed for
idiots that don't know any better. The worst of the lot is a gem called
the Robo-Grip pliers. These essentially are a locking adjustable plier
with serrated, parallel jaws. Locking pliers have been around for years
and are great for holding parts, gripping round or square stock, etc.,
but they were NOT designed to loosen and tighten bolts. The Robo-Grip
pliers are marketed specifically for servicing bolts, which goes against
all the proper rules of tool usage. In the slick TV ads, a smiling Bob
Vila demonstrates the tool's use on a bicycle axle nut. You can
actually see the tool mangling the poor fastener! Vila goes on to brag
that this tool can replace a whole set of combination wrenches! Can you
imagine an MG that someone has attacked the head bolts with this little
gem?
Some of Sears' other "miracle tools" might have some use in an emergency
toolkit, like their adjustable box end wrench and their compound
leverage cutters, but the Robo-Grip pliers make me nauseous just
thinking about them.
Cheers, Paul Kile
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