Cheap throw away tool you can't live with out?

[gdocktor3]

I thought maybe I'd start a thread to help educate others on the cheap, throw away tool you bought while in a pinch that totally surprised you and now can't live with out. Nothing should be bought with the intent of throwing it away, but you understand what I mean. I was cleaning up my garage yesterday and came upon my gas powered Ryobi multi tool weed whacker and started thinking about how good it has treated me. I own a small landscaping company and on job one day my expensive Husqvarna hedge trimmers were accidentally run over. I needed to finish the job so I ran to Home Depot and bought the gas powered Ryobi weed whacker with the hedge trimmer attachment. It has worked flawlessly since 2008 and I still use it regularly as one of my main weed whackers. On top of that, I never even bought another extended reach hedge trimmer.

 

[bcradio]

nitrile gloves

 

[never enuf time]

Dollar store 5 in one painting tool. I thought it would be a spare to have around. I use it all the time without regard to what happens to it.

 

[Bluedodge]

nitrile gloves

^^^ Agreed.

Nitrile gloves and the $1 Menards 6 in 1 screwdriver.

 

[vartz04]

^^^ Agreed.



Nitrile gloves and the $1 Menards 6 in 1 screwdriver.

+1. I have like 5 scattered about the house

 

[Larryjones]

My 6 in 1 came from Big Lots. I have a six dollar angle grinder from Homier's traveling tool show.

 

[Fedwrench]

The Alexander made pocket screwdriver with an 1/8 inch flat tip on one end and a pretty strong magnet that often sticks to car doors as I exit a vehicle on the other end

So cheap, they're free swag from your friendly tool dealer. From opening parts boxes, undoing connectors, removing a small trim panel, retrieving a dropped fastener, cleaning fingernails, to actually tightening a small screw, it's my most used tool next to an ink pen.

Someone should make a Garage Journal version for those of you without truck dealers

 

[Professur]

Dollar store 5 in one painting tool. I thought it would be a spare to have around. I use it all the time without regard to what happens to it.

You mean this thing?http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hyde-5-in-1-Painter-s-Tool-02977/100031311 I agree totally. Unbelievable how often it gets the job done. Never used it for anything paint related, oddly enough

 

[Big Pete]

4 prong red handled grabber tool, 99p from a cheap market stall, it's absolutely saved my *** (and a few of my tools ) on lots of occasions.

 

[Nick Danger]

4 prong red handled grabber tool, 99p from a cheap market stall, it's absolutely saved my *** (and a few of my tools ) on lots of occasions.

Oh yeah. I bought my grabber tool thirty years ago from one of those tool shows that used to set up in hotel convention centers. It gets a lot of use.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Utility knife and a cheap tape measure.

 

[Tdo]

I been using the hdx 6in1s from Home Depot! 3 dollars for the set, I mean, you can't get replacement bits for that cheap!

 

[Robinson1]

Bought what was basically the contents of someone's junk drawer and ended up with one of these cheapo 4-in-1 pocket screwdrivers. It eventually made its way into my tool bag and now I'm using it all the time on service calls. Looks out of place in there with all the Channel Lock, and Klein but dang if its not handy!

 

[youngunn2008]

The Alexander made pocket screwdriver with an 1/8 inch flat tip on one end and a pretty strong magnet that often sticks to car doors as I exit a vehicle on the other end

So cheap, they're free swag from your friendly tool dealer. From opening parts boxes, undoing connectors, removing a small trim panel, retrieving a dropped fastener, cleaning fingernails, to actually tightening a small screw, it's my most used tool next to an ink pen.[emoji481]
Someone should make a Garage Journal version for those of you without truck dealers

+1 pocket screwdriver is great cheap tool. But stupid thing is always sticking to the underside of a truck for me. Have lost a few that way

 

[never enuf time]

Yes Profesur those are it. Jamb sharp end in & can manipulate with bigger end.
That link had a 5 pack of Hyde 5 in 1 for 15.99. thats a good deal.

 

[wesst]

I love having the HF Pittsburgh 4 piece pic set around the house. It's cheap and works great!

 

[Professur]

I used one to split the seam when replacing the rockers of my pickup after drilling out the spot welds.

 

[gdocktor3]

I love having the HF Pittsburgh 4 piece pic set around the house. It's cheap and works great!

The ones with orange handles? I think everyone on GJ has a set of those.

 

[shanny19]

My father in law bought me a HF angle grinder 22 years ago, when they were Makita blue. I have thousands of hours on the vibrating thjng, and i dont think it will ever die. Still have the spare brushes it came with.

 

[IUEC Medic]

Olfa 9mm painters knife. I have a half a dozen... Garage/house/truck/work van/ work tool box/ work EDC.

 

[brianpgriset]

Razor blades and flux brushes

 

[winlinmac]

Store drywall nails in this sack

 

[BDT/NWMN]

cheap paint brushes

 

[Kev442]

Buffalo tools universal oil filter wrench. Saved my bacon so many times, I bought two extra at a whopping $5 each.

 

[gdocktor3]

Bought these today from Ocean State Job Lot. I think they fit the criteria. The short one is a Craftsman that was like $9 or $12. These cost $7 for both and are 3 times as long. They are both tight and firm. Not all sloppy and wobbly. Plus the square one has led lights.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Paint sticks.
Good for stirring paint, shimming doors/windows and mixing & applying epoxy.

 

[cnc-me]

Shop towels

 

[Jbullfrog]

Toothbrushes

 

[skunkape1]

Razor blade scrapers and pocket led work light.

 

[mires]

Stainless pocket ruler. Use it every day.

 

[fastbike02]

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I bought this at walmart years ago and I love it, not only do I use it for tinting windows but when I'm wet sanding paint I will use it to see if I have got the imperfection out

 

[Granite80]

Coffee stirrers. Like a paint stirrer but in mini size. Apply grease, epoxy, whatever to hard to reach places

 

[DBendr]

HF portatrash band saw.Can't live without one. The final one is still grinding and whining along but I smell death(even stronger than day one) so I guess the new fancy one will get a chance.
The old Makita may have to get default position if I don't like the new HF clunker.

 

[gdocktor3]

I'm not just talking about tools you literally throw away after being used like paint stirrers and stuff. I really meant an item like the Harbor Freight code scanners for example. They are cheap and most people would never consider buying one from HF, but surprisingly work very well. I know from experience..

 

[gooseadrian]

God where to start?
I'm gonna have to say magnet and inspection mirror. I work on a lot of new over the road trucks with sleepers. Man those things can get tight

 

[BaMaDuDe87]

Cheap (actually free with purchase) set of HF screw drivers (use these if I need to hammer them into a screw to get a better bite or use a flat head as a screwdriver and pry bar all at the same time) and one of those 6-in-1 screw drivers (keep one inside to make life easy changing batteries on toys).

 

[bcradio]

I'm not just talking about tools you literally throw away after being used like paint stirrers and stuff. I really meant an item like the Harbor Freight code scanners for example. They are cheap and most people would never consider buying one from HF, but surprisingly work very well. I know from experience..

I would have just titled the thread "Cheap tools you can't live without" then because I don't throw away any tool that is still working and does the job ok.

 

[Bagherra]

Somebody here mentioned the 4 prong grabbers, where did u get it? Does HF sell them?

 

[Davefr]

These. I must have a couple dozen scattered everywhere. For about $3/ea they're excellent. (Sipik SK68)

 

[crerus75]

I have a $4 folding utility knife that I got on closeout at the local hardware store. I actually bought 2 for $4, but the first one fell on the ground and turned into spare parts on impact. I use it all the time, and I love the convenience of just replacing the blade when it gets dull. I actually spent more on a 5-pack of Irwin bimetal blades than I did on the knife.