Buying tools ..you'll rarely use

[RedneckWelder]

Got a couple of tools that I only use once every few months...but damn am I glad I have them when I need them.

I just got a tyco crimper for wire harness splices that was 295 showed it to my snap on guy and said this makes your tools seem cheap. The connectors are 2.10 for 22ga and 4.75 for 16ga in quantity. But this method is the approved British Aircraft way

I hope to god it's better than the Lucas way when it comes to British electrical stuff...

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I bought one years ago and used it once and a friend used it once. Some cheap item that I bought for $19 but as you know, it is the only way!

2 years ago I spotted a name brand kit with a case and set up for many different pulleys...$10...I bought it.
Bruce

I bought a Kastar (USA) set from the get go........the HF one I previously used (not mine) was a huge ************* and stripped out the first time it was used on the same pump.

 

[Exceller8]

I'm guilty too! I love tools and I sometimes buy tools that I know I'll rarely use. I buy a lot of my stuff used so I don't feel too bad about it. I figure I can always sell the stuff down the road.

I'm also guilty of looking up stuff that people post here. A diesel mechanic will post some obscure tool with a link and I'll say "Hey, maybe I can use that". I don't own or work on any diesel vehicles.

 

[pi_guy]

Got a couple of tools that I only use once every few months...but damn am I glad I have them when I need them.



I hope to god it's better than the Lucas way when it comes to British electrical stuff...

The certs were for a few other organizations can not find them now. But I checked the Lucas UK web site and they are not into aircraft just cars and batteries.

The company that provides tyco and other areospace wiring components has a office in Indy but they are based in the UK. So tat is often reflected in paperwork received from them.
We can all be thankful that they stayed away from aircraft and boat products.

 

[Ncognito]

I thought this was going to be a thread about buying dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, etc.

 

[jerseykat1]

I thought this was going to be a thread about buying dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, etc.

Lol..

I have many tools in my tool box that I rarely use. I purchased a cam locking tool set for doing cam seals on a p2 platform volvo 5 cylinder turbo, I knew when I got it that I would probably only need it ounce. But it made the job so much easier. It actually would have been near impossible to get timing perfect without it.

Valve spring compressors for a Mitsubishi 4g63 engine only used one time. It would work on other engines but i dont rebuild engines very often.

Compression release sockets for the custom Harley I'm building.

Man the list goes on and on.

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[Frank Dukes]

I'd say we all do this in one form or another... i had a few projects last summer that i needed a SDS drill for. my friend loaned me his when i mentioned i was going to buy one to do said project. I did my jobs, returned the drill and didn't think much of it. then in October when i got a gift card for Lowes i bought a Bosch bulldog and have absolutely no immediate use for it. but there it sits, collecting dust until i may or may not ever need that kind of power again.

 

[scooterGA]

I have several tools that I rarely use but as others have said when you need it it is there. This past week I had a timing belt in a Ford 2.0 from 1998. It requires a specific cam and crank lock tool to do the job properly so I bought the tool online and used it to do the job. Will I use it again? not sure. But if I ever get another one I will have the tool to do the job. Several tools are job specific and makes you wonder if you really need it. In the end I would rather have it than not and I am not one to borrow tools. I don't buy tools just to have them but I would say but I am like other tool junkies as sometimes I see something I just can't live without whether I use it or not. Guess we are all guilty of that notion.

 

[pepgj]

Guilty as charged bought a 1 inch drive breaker bar and don't own a single 1 inch drive socket. So I d,ont think I will use it often.

Just buy a 1" to 1/4" adapter and put it on those tough, really small, bolts.

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My 'rarely use', but own too many, tool is pliers. I made it for decades with about 5 Craftsman pliers, ran into the internet/eBay/GJ, and bought anything that was a smoking deal or was really cool looking.

It's easy to end up with a pile of Swiss Wiha, Knipex, NWS, Channellock and still just grab the nearest one to grab something.

 

[joel63]

Guilty too.
I wish I knew why I'm always succumbing to this foolishness.

I buy new and used.


3/4 drive socket set

Extra ratchets

Extra wrenches s- types, c- types. Heck! any type will do.

And then the vintage stuff, geeezzz. I know I will never use that stuff.

Oh well.

It's there if I ever need it.

 

[boiler7904]

Between seasonal promos, the lure of free shipping (who wouldn't want to spend an extra $25 on tools to save $15 on shipping?), and the want to just have something new and cool I've bought a few things knowing there may not be a lot of use for them in the future but the price was right and worth the gamble.

I installed a paver patio and seating wall at my last house in 2008. Started pricing rental of cutoff saws. Daily rental was around $60 + blade in my area. Then I happened to get an email about a tool sale at Home Depot. 14" Milwaukee electric cutoff saw was $219 online down from $569. Paid for itself in first 4 days I used it and let me take my time. Did my cuts at night after work over the course of a couple of weeks instead of rushing the job - it's been sitting on a shelf since then but I will eventually install a patio at my current house.

SDS plus hammer drill was on sale, had a rebate, and I had a gift card burning a hole in my pocket. No use for it at the time but I've used it a couple of times.

Gearwrench stubby combo wrench set purchase was inspired by a thread on this site. At an average of $2 a wrench, they were hard to pass up but I can't remember using one after buying them 18 months ago.

During one of the seasonal DeWalt promos I got a little trigger happy buying T-Stak storage cases and the 4 wheel dolly for them. Initially had 3 extra but have found uses for 2 of them. Dolly hasn't really been used at all in 2 years and just sits on top of a shelving unit.

Had a perfectly good set of Bosch 12 volt cordless tools sitting in the garage but bought into the Milwaukee M12 line about a year ago (like I should have done originally when I got the Bosch) and have slowly expanded the lineup. The Bosch stuff now sits about 360 days a year. It's nice to be able to have multiple drill and driver bits each set up simultaneously though to help speed work along.

I'm sure I could come up with more examples if I looked around the garage enough.

 

[dodge610]

Ahhhh yes i am guilty buy them just in case they are needed. Are you not suppose to do it that way. I mean they look so cool sitting in my box. And if you get into a pissin match with another tool lover you can say oh ya well i have one of those too so there. And the holly grail of I got one of these do you have one.

 

[L.Cheapo]

I bought all the basics a long time ago. These days, if I'm buying a new tool, its for a reason. I bought a Snap On puller set last year to do one particular job. The cost of the puller was break even with paying a shop to do it. Then I actually needed the tool twice more since. That's a free tool in my book!

 

[sberry]

Can anyone say Pinto head bolt tool and Northstar water pump socket? Ha. I have bought all kinds of tools I shouldn't have, the first welder I bought foe example. Bought another later to replace it, I have a few boogers, some I eventually used but today am cautious about getting extra no matter how good a deal.
The more I make do and less I buy the less the mistakes,,, hahah But I outright remove stuff from my shop I am not using. My goal every day is to remove something. I have a couple spots with space on the shelves now.

 

[Kent_B]

for the most part, I have what I need. However, I don't have an oxygen sensor socket. One is on order from Amazon along with the A/F sensor for my car. I may only use it once, but it will still save me around $50 doing it myself rather than taking it to the local shop

 

[countryroad82]

I buy my tools on as needed bases or if I find something that will make a job go by faster. I have quite a few tools that are vehicle specific but due to my business it's best to have it and not need it than it is to need it and not have it. Nothing ***** worse than lost profits due to waiting on a specialized tool to come in.

 

[Desertskyy]

Can anyone say Pinto head bolt tool

I think I may still have one of those floating around my tool box somewhere. Now I have to go out and look for it. Brings back memories.

If I remember right it was like a Torx driver but with many flutes on it. Prone to stripping if I remember.

Thanks for the memories

 

[Ipassgas]

I do this, especially when it gets me to free shipping for something I had to buy anyway.

Spend $20 to get free ($15) shipping? Absolutely.

Sometimes I even end up using those "free" tools. Most recent was a spring wound socket extension. I didn't expect much when I put it in my cart. I expected even less when I opened the package. But it saved me hours when I had a low clearance hole with a stuck bolt requiring 2 bends from a normal extension. I still expect it to break every time I look at it, but since it held that one time, I'm ecstatic!

 

[pi_guy]

I think I may still have one of those floating around my tool box somewhere. Now I have to go out and look for it. Brings back memories.

If I remember right it was like a Torx driver but with many flutes on it. Prone to stripping if I remember.

Thanks for the memories

Looking to add one of those to my set, I have a bit somewhere. But there are a couple of nice versions floating about. Also the ford 1600 head used a special socket also with out removing valve train, but could be done with regular socket.
The bolts striped when you did not clean out enough gunk to get a good seat.

 

[theoldwizard1]

½" drive, 1½" socket.

 

[OCD]

I thought this was going to be a thread about buying dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, etc.

I use mine a lot!!

 

[Mastermind]

I really want one of those pinto head bolt bits now. Its something I don't have! I'm a bit and socket guy. I like having the socket no one else has. Finally used my five lobe torx bits the other day. Made my day. They have day in my box for years lol.
Edit: I have a couple different sets of those pinto tools after I googled it lmao.

 

[ADSR]

I try and buy used or borrow if I'm only going to need it one time. Had to borrow a 2 3/4 wrench the other day. I'll never need it again and it worked out great for me.

 

[Mastermind]

I generally say if I borrow it three times I need my own.

 

[bobcatdan]

I have a lot of specialty tools I don't use much, but it's handy to have when I need them. My brake line flaring kit probably wasn't touched for 10+ years. Last winter I did brake lines on six plow trucks. It's nice just walking over to the tool box and grabbing it instead of running to town. For actually hand tools, my ratchet assortment is really bloated. I have four or five I use the **** out and 30 more that just sit there.

 

[HCNDM]

I generally say if I borrow it three times I need my own.

this and if i have to drive more than half an hour to borrow one, or if rental fees / gas are more than 50% of acquisition cost. In which case it makes sense to buy my own.

 

[CoogarXR]

I really want one of those pinto head bolt bits now. Its something I don't have! I'm a bit and socket guy. I like having the socket no one else has. Finally used my five lobe torx bits the other day. Made my day. They have day in my box for years lol.
Edit: I have a couple different sets of those pinto tools after I googled it lmao.

I just did a head gasket on a 79 2.3 Fairmont (same engine as the Pinto), and if I recall correctly, I used a 12pt socket. I don't remember needing a special tool.

 

[CoogarXR]

I bought a conduit bender at a garage sale for $1. I haven't needed a bender in 20+ years, but by golly when I do, I'll have it.

 

[PhantomEB]

After my garage got broken into, my thoughts are now don't need 2-3 of all hand tools, except wrenches. One of anything else is fine.

That being said I see my next impulse buy being a Miller TIG machine.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

I really want one of those pinto head bolt bits now. Its something I don't have! I'm a bit and socket guy. I like having the socket no one else has. Finally used my five lobe torx bits the other day. Made my day. They have day in my box for years lol.
Edit: I have a couple different sets of those pinto tools after I googled it lmao.

I'll be picking one up at some point, we have a couple of Kohler Generators with Pinto engines in them we take care of. If one lets go of a headgasket (most likely in the dead of winter surrounded by 3 feet of snow, because that's when everything dies) I'd rather not take the chance of having to wait if it turns out to be an internal spline.

At least that's my reasoning that I just came up with.

 

[PSYKO_Inc]

½" drive, 1½" socket.

I've got one of those, use it every time I have to mount a trailer hitch ball. Although I kinda wish I had bought impact instead of chrome. Just last week I bought a Sunex 33mm impact socket to change the front wheel bearings on my SUV. Probably never going to use it again, but it's there if I need it. Also have a Snap On 3/8 drive 23mm 12 point socket that I used for the output shaft nut on my Saturn. Again probably never going to find another use for it.

 

[burnedonice]

I'd say we all do this in one form or another... i had a few projects last summer that i needed a SDS drill for. my friend loaned me his when i mentioned i was going to buy one to do said project. I did my jobs, returned the drill and didn't think much of it. then in October when i got a gift card for Lowes i bought a Bosch bulldog and have absolutely no immediate use for it. but there it sits, collecting dust until i may or may not ever need that kind of power again.

But doesn't it feel good to be the one that can loan it out now? It seems like I've got 2 of every tool, and someone is always needing a tool. It feels good to give back (by fueling the addiction)


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[CobraRed]

Specialty tools are what make the man IMO.

I'll go over to someone's place or shop and they'll have a nice rolling SO cart with 1,000 tooth truck brand ratchets and shiny deep sockets. That's all well and good, but if I open their other drawers and don't see some worn specialty kits then I get the impression they either blew their whole wad on expensive hand tools and can't afford the rest, barrow a lot of tools, or are just not that serious.

 

[ibedayank]

I just did that. Bought a nice brake caliper wind back set....then used a c-clamp like I've always done.

I wonder if your the ******* that stripped out the threads on the set of rear disk I did....

 

[2oolhound]

One problem I often have is that after I mentally justify a tool expenditure I don't know when to stop.

For example I read here on the virtues of having multiple grinders so you don't have to stop to change discs. I mean that's a no brainer but I just hadn't thought of it. I've been trying to only buy 4.5" grinders so I don't need too many expendables in different sizes. 3 or 4 grinders should cover most situations. I use a coarse and fine flap disc, cut off disc and grinding disc when welding and if I want a wire wheel or cup I can stop and change to that. Then someone gave me a 5" makita with loud bearings. Soon after a guy gave me a screaming deal on some S-O tools so I bought his 5" makita too in gratitude since I already was invested in the 5" size. The 5" have more power but now I need expendables in 5" too. Then I ran into a deal for a new in box 5" makita for $60 so yeah, I bought it. Did I mention I'd picked up an old 7" makita a year ago as the 4.5" zips didn't cut deep enough. It was $20 and it's paid for itself but it has the old gigantic body not the nice streamlined ones like today that get you in tight spots better. So a few weeks ago I find 2 ridgid 7" streamlined for $45, no brainer and last week I find a mint like new old 7" makita just like my other one for $25.

A couple weeks ago before buying the last 3 I made this hanger rack to hold 8 grinders. Now I need a second one like it but when I'm standing beside looking at it I'm thinking "what the F@%& are you doing man?"

 

[MushCreek]

...and to think that for all these years I've been getting by with ONE grinder- a 4-1/2". The thing is- I don't use it all the much. Don't worry though; I've got plenty of 'excess' in my chosen fields!

 

[Superbec]

how about going thru drawers and finding tools you forgot you even had ...

happens to me quite a lot lately , I moved a few months ago

for me... if the tool is the only way to finish that one job properly then I just buy it, no remorse , the thing now is I buy different variations of the same tool just to see what I like better, build never ending tool collections ....

 

[gdpolk]

Anybody who owns tools has some that don't get used often. For me this happens because of a few reasons:

• It's a specialty tool that can only be used for a certain function that doesn't happen often - for example I have a TPMS Trainer tool for our Toyota. I darn near never use it but I could buy the tool cheaper than the labor for that job on ONE tire. It was worth the investment from day one.
• It's a tool that's a part of a larger set, that simply isn't a frequently used size. For example I have a ~300pc socket set from Craftsman as my main big socket set. It was cost effective to get a broad range of decent sockets this way and I'm sure I won't use ALL of them but it was cheaper than piecing together several smaller sets to get what I actually would use.
• It's a tool that is 100% needed, but just not needed very often. Sometimes certain tools make specific tasks safer, possible, or more efficient and to take on the task you wouldn't be without said tool, even if it's not your go-to #2 Phillips screwdriver.
• Sometimes I buy the tool for a ONE TIME service job because buying the tool and doing it myself is cheaper than paying a pro. I've got several tools that I've used once because of this. Sure I could sell them but I may use them again in the future and by my accounting they paid for themselves and then some when I saved on labor making them a "free" tool in my mind.
• Sometimes I upgrade in tooling and keep the old tools as backups. Anything that goes to backup status automatically becomes infrequently used.

 

[jchaneng]

Originally Posted by Mastermind View Post
I generally say if I borrow it three times I need my own.
this and if i have to drive more than half an hour to borrow one, or if rental fees / gas are more than 50% of acquisition cost. In which case it makes sense to buy my own.

went with this thiery recently and brought a whole new set of sockets, i previously only had single hex 1/2 inch drive but suddenly needed a 19mm double hex to remove a calliper mount, this realy messed up my morning as it took me over an hour to drive (a borrowed car) to town to buy the tool, i brough a whole set even though i only needed the 19 for that job, next time i get a suprise 12 point fixing i will be prepared. i was anoyed i hadnt seen this coming and brought them already.

 

[Mastermind]

I love back up status. I'll buy a hf tool to get by or to try, like long needle nose, then once I find they get used often I'll buy good stuff and bring the others home. Or there's back ups in the toolbox and at home lol.