most useless tool

[Mr.Nutcase]

Whats the most useless tool you ever got/bought?

 

[mkdive]

With out a doubt mine was a cheap POS HF tap&die set. Used once and they got deposited in the trash.

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

I would have to say one of those automated center punches that you press down on, took more effort on my part to put my hole body weight into pressing it then just getting a hammer.

 

[snapmom]

Hubby, unless I tell him that "maybe you are to old to do that"

 

[Ray-CA]

Not needing to solder often, I bought one of those "Coldfire" cordless soldering guns. What a big piece of junk that thing was.

Ray

 

[Ray-CA]

I would have to say one of those automated center punches that you press down on, took more effort on my part to put my hole body weight into pressing it then just getting a hammer.

We all carried those automatic center punches in our gear bags. Heck they were even issued to the EMT's. Nothing better for removing automotive glass. One push and the side window just disappears. Had more then one person who decided to lock themselves in to avoid arrest.

It even works great as a center punch on metal also. Especially when you are working under a car and there is no room to swing a hammer.

Ray

 

[fatfillup]

I actually like the autocenter punch.

Several chinese ratchets, a cheap slide hammer/puller, and actually probably many more but I erase them from my memory.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

ex-wife.......

 

[mkdive]

I would have to say one of those automated center punches that you press down on, took more effort on my part to put my hole body weight into pressing it then just getting a hammer.

I have one, use it all the time....mine is adjustable. You can vary the amount of pressure to actuate it and adjust the force it strikes with. Works great for me.

 

[mkdive]

Not needing to solder often, I bought one of those "Coldfire" cordless soldering guns. What a big piece of junk that thing was.

Ray

Yes I agree. Had one also. Looked like a cool idea. I solder quite a bit, thought that it would be handy. Worked like ****!!!

 

[rsanter]

Not needing to solder often, I bought one of those "Coldfire" cordless soldering guns. What a big piece of junk that thing was.

Ray

total piece of junk

bob

 

[mrpowderkeg]

A cord reel I purchased from Checker auto parts. That thing was $70, and didn't last a month. I just threw it away... oh and most tools I end up using at my buddy's shop, they're cheap, and have plenty of cheap tools to go around. *sigh*

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Whats the most useless tool you ever got/bought?

Bost waterpump pliers. Absolute ****.

 

[krehmkej]

Wagner paint sprayer. Tried once. Directly into the dumpster.

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

Ok, in the defense of the automated center punch. Maybe if i spent more then 1$ on it at Princess auto it might be good. I just got turned off after using it so i never put the money into a good one.

 

[jdcompman]

I have a couple of those automated center punches as well and use them all the time. I think it may be more at the top of my most USEFUL tools rather than in this thread.

 

[Northstar9126]

A spark plug boot removal tool from Checker. The absolute worst made thing that I have ever bought.

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

This was the style i had, It was really hard to press.

Any one mind shareing what brands they have that work well for them?
Also sorry about the thread hijacking.

 

[chevelle67]

Cold-heat Soldering Iron, absolute garbage, oh and those bearing packers that look like funnels, I still perfer doing them buy hand. They do work I just like "knowing" that its done right.

 

[slack]

Yes, good spring loaded center punches are adjustable (and often have carbide tips). Of course, the less hard you have to push, the less hard it strikes and marks the surface.

I have old ones from Starrett and Blue Point that are real tools and work well for their intended use.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Bought, either one of those Rotator ratchets (wanted to weld a nut on the end and use as a 90 degree extension), or my Mac Gearless ratchet (used twice).

Received, a VersaWrench, off of Woot. It makes the above tools, seem like an investment!

 

[Weedwaka]

coldfire here too. Also robogrip pliers and cheep itc extensions that snap off on the first use.

 

[Stuey]

Imported picks and tweezers that bent like wet noodles.

 

[Gary S]

Craftsman Automatic Self Sizing Locking pliers. They never did work for anything.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00945309000P?vName=Tools&cName=Mechanics+Tools&sName=Pliers

 

[ToolGlutton]

Any brand Combo- 1/4" and 3/8" ratchets.

 

[Rubes]

This caliper, 7 feet long!!!...although it was the most useless (because it needed three people to use it...LOL) it was also the coolest!!! I also got the Granite surface plate it is sitting on.

 

[bb1970]

Roto Zip. I've tried to make detailed cuts and loose control every time. My nice clean cut looks like *** in a hurry.

 

[isr2kba]

Anything from Cummins (except the solid brass mallets)!!

... oh and those bearing packers that look like funnels, I still perfer doing them buy hand. They do work I just like "knowing" that its done right.

I have to disagree with you there. That packer (from OEM, if I recall correctly) is one of my absolute favorite timesavers when used with a pneumatic grease gun.

 

[mag99]

+1 on the Horrible Freight auto centerpunches! I don't think it would mark a piece of paper!

Guy I work with bought some 4" angle grinders on ebay (case lot). No english whatsoever on the box! The heads were packed with the thickest grease-like substance you ever saw! Plug em in, hit the switch-they BURN UP instantly! Great if your insurance is paid up and you wanna move, I guess

 

[BrokeEF]

This caliper, 7 feet long!!!...although it was the most useless (because it needed three people to use it...LOL) it was also the coolest!!! I also got the Granite surface plate it is sitting on.

That is the coolest thing Ive seen all day!! BTW noticed your in my neck of the woods

Sean

 

[Joe B.]

B&D Jigsaw. One use and in the trash it went. Last cheap tool I ever bought.

 

[tanda4]

Dremel. I can find any use for it that makes it worthwhile, it either can't do the job or doesn't do it well.

 

[babzog]

+1 on the ex-wife.

As for **** tools - anything that's Mastercraft branded (with the possible exception of their screwdrivers and wrenches, bits, sockets, etc). Mastercraft is Canadian Tire's in-house tool brand.

Strike 1. I had a 12" compound mitre saw that wouldn't hold a mitre setting as you turned the set-screw knob - kinda defeats the purpose, n'est pas?

Strike 2: I bought and promptly returned after getting a closer look, a set of their 3.5ton jack stands. The ratchet barely caught about 1/8" of the tooth. Not very confidence inspiring!

Strike 3: I just returned their 71pc air tool kit - impact gun would constantly stall... what's up with that? Wasn't powerful enough anyway.

Their drills and such might be fine (for home or weekend warrior use), as are their handtools and other small stuff that doesn't really require precision, safety or reliability, but I'll never again drop good money on a Mastercraft tool.

 

[fordracing200]

x2 on the wagner paint sprayer being a massive POS.

the wire strippers from HF, the plastic ones where the wire goes in straight on pointing at you and you pull them back, like jaws that open as if it were to eat the wire, 2 dollar gift I threw straight in the garbage.

-sears grinder, end stripped out where you put the disc on in less then one year, complete POS, still sitting in the case under the bench
-sears 19.2V drill/cordless screwdriver set with 2 batterys and 1hr charger, POFS. not real tons of power for 19v and on top of that, both batterys died with in a few years of moderate/light use..junk, 75 dollars later..
-skill jigsaw with the end you can unlock and spin the blade, once you unlock it once, it'll never ever ever ever cut a straight line again, POFS. I threw it in the corner and use my 29 yr old sears with worn out guides, it cuts a straighter line..
-cheap air couplers, always piss air and piss me off
I'm sure theres more..

 

[Elroy]

cheap air couplers, always piss air and piss me off

In this case, Elroy would recommend these words of wisdom:

When someone tells you that he's pissed off, remind him that it's better to be pissed off than pissed on.

 

[LoneGunman]

Dremel. I can find any use for it that makes it worthwhile, it either can't do the job or doesn't do it well.

Upgrade to a Foredom and you'll find all kinds of uses for it.

 

[KNS Autosport]

V8 camshaft bearing tool, used it once, its collecting dust on a shelf

 

[skeletonizer]

16mm socket. Never seen a bolt or nut that size, ever.

 

[duke5572]

Dremel. I can find any use for it that makes it worthwhile, it either can't do the job or doesn't do it well.

Installed car stereos for a while. Used a Dremel daily with a utility cutting bit on it to cut ABS plastic in dash kits. Worked well for that purpose unless you moved too quick, then it would gum up with melted ABS.

Also polished an entire three cylinder yamaha motorcycle engine with a B&D rotary tool (fake Dremel) to a high gloss. Took a long time, but there's no better tool for the job, assuming you're using the right bits/tips.

 

[joenero]

The snap on guy wonders how we keep breaking 16mm sockets at our shop.