Ever had a tool you just couldnt kill?

[toplessHO]

This may surprise a few...
Bought this as a factory refurbished unit for $45 at least 30 yrs ago.
New ones in the same Black and Decker store(remember them?) were
selling for about 2x that much.
When my garage slab was poured the storm of the century blew thru(look it up) and I swear every leaf from the 3 surrounding counties blew into the finish while power troweling. We picked out what we could but finally had to call a truce and finish in spite of it.
Result was leaf prints in about 1500sq ft. To fix it I bought a couple gallons of DOT approved epoxy used for concrete bridge patching.
Mixing with clean sand I got about 10Kpsi compound.
I first tried to trowel it in,but the mixture sank a little and had to be filled again,so finally I just mixed paper cups full and poured it on,letting it dome up.
So doing about a 5x5 area at a time,I poured then ground with a masons stone on the little B&D. There was times it got so hot I had to wear a double leather welders glove. I did the entire slab on my hands and knees with the little grinder.
Many years went by and the rubber cords outer insulation started just falling off. Ole B&D got a new cord,a couple ft longer,with a proper molded 2 wire plug.Today I was using it to cut fence PVC,had to stop and brush it off,it was pure white.
This ones kinda like the old Timex commercial...takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

Oh and I did replace the brushes once,bought them from the same B&D store. Most likely all that concrete dust did them in.

Yes its made in USA ,gasp,and has no nanny safety switch

 

[Gladiator]

Nice tool. I bought one from HF. It lasted for one job and died.

 

[gearhead1]

A guy I know has an automotive machine shop and has used a HF cheap 4” angle grinder for years! I get the lemons so unless it’s free, I usually stick to more name brand stuff myself.

I have a DeWalt one for 15 years, still running strong!

 

[txvwnut]

I’ve got a B&D grinder that I bought in 1980 something that still runs today.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Got a BD drill and a BD sawzall that have both lived long passed their expected shelf life. Abused the hell out of both of them over the decades. Like you, nothing but a pair of brushes in each.

 

[blazemaster83]

Ha, this is funny. I opened this thread and my black and decker grinder came to mind when I read the title. Then I saw you were talking about the exact same grinder I was thinking of.

I have used mine for about 10 years, I mostly use a wire wheel on it and have removed paint and rust on a lot of machines, probably around 20, and all the jobs in between. I bought it from my neighbor at his garage sale and was already well used.

I've wondered to myself how long it is going to last, I haven't babied it. I've replaced the cord with a 25ft cord from an old vacuum cleaner, and it just keeps grinding. I wish I could go buy another one at home depot, I've kept my eye out for another. If it ever dies, I will try to rebuild it. Best grinder ever made in my opinion. I love that it has a threaded hole on the back as well as the sides for a handle, I use that most often.

 

[toplessHO]

Once you said wire wheel,it reminded me.
Bought a 40 ft high cube conex for scrap price($300) because it had a rusty roof.
I wore out several cup and twisted wire wheels on the roof patching with ,guess what?
After it was all patched using black jack and galvanized sheet metal,I put new sheet roofing left over from a new steel building.Nice and dry and cool too because it has a void area between two roofs.

I too had thought to buy a replacement just in case,but dont want to give up on her yet.

 

[dscheidt]

A guy I know has an automotive machine shop and has used a HF cheap 4” angle grinder for years! I get the lemons so unless it’s free, I usually stick to more name brand stuff myself.

I bought three HF 4 1/2 grinders, about 15 years ago. they were like $10 each. Bought them all at the same time, needed to have different wheels ready to go. one of them was ****, and lasted about two days of work (maybe three hours of actual use) before it died. The second one screamed like the bearings were dry, straight out of the box, but it kept going for a long time. I got sick of it, and gave it away to someone who needed a grinder. The third I still have, and still use. (not much these days, I don't weld any more, but I've cut up a lot of plaster and tile walls with it and a diamond blade.) Probably should replace the cord, it's got more electrical tape on it than I'd like...

 

[Xcursion88]

Any tool?

Hands down a pickle fork.

That tie rod, ball joint separator has been bloodied and bashed for years. Matter of fact that thing has seen more improper action than any other tool.

It has helped some weird tasks over the years. The end is ugly as hell....but still doing its thing.

 

[oldwino]

Funny, I also have the same grinder. Bought sometime mid 80’s and have used the heck out of it. 2-3 sets brushes and a couple of cords. Still my go-to for grinding

 

[Professional Tool User]

Black and Decker back in the day was industrial quality, not the garbage it is now. I'm not surprised.

 

[CR888]

Adjustable wrench made by SNAIL Brand England, about 50y/o.

 

[MarvinBerry]

Craftsman industrial sawzall I bought new in 95 or 96 when I worked there. Made by dewalt.

Can't say the same about the corded drill I bought at the same time. It might still be going but I started smelling the motor burn and threw it in a box of tools that got donated to Habitat.

 

[fordgasm]

USA made Craftsman 1/2 inch long handle flex head ratchet. Beaten the snot out of it and used it for a breaker bar with and without a cheater pipe on it. Has held up great. I even used it to chase out a "good" friend from my garage after my gf at the time told me he had tried to make a move on her the night before, the scumbag.

It's hands down my favorite tool in my toolbox.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Williams 1/2 dr S53 ratchet.
I Have had it for 25 years and used it to break head bolts loose on industrial refrigeration compressors. It never broke and they have since changed the design of the head.
I finally found some rebuild kits on eBay .

I have started buying the B52's and the m52's when I find them.

 

[KnurledNut]

At a previous job we used a B&D Wildcat 7&9" grinder. That thing was unstoppable. The gearbox was incredibly stout.

 

[Boilerhouse]

I have lots of tools from the early to mid 1980's. This is when I built up most of my tool collection. So the question is, which one has been the most beat on, and the answer is, easily, the diminutive giant 4 inch Makita grinder. Cutting, grinding, polishing, sanding...it continues to do it all.

 

[JiminAZ]

I have this goofy little digital air pressure gauge that my brother gave me at least 15 years ago. It sits in my glove box in Arizona, getting cooked all summer. Has a little LCD screen, which is slightly wavy from the heat.

Never replaced a battery, not even sure it can be opened up. Use it at least a couple times a week on multiple cars, boat trailers, etc. Obviously designed and intended to be a disposable item. Just won't quit. Calibration is spot on within 1 psi of known good gauges.

I couldn't even tell you the brand, the logo wore off years ago.

 

[bobemmerich]

I have a 3/8 drill that I got when I was a kid. One way, no reverse. I believe it belonged to my grandfather (not sure, my Mom had it b-4 me). Only sticker on it said " Thor Thermo-weld motor Won't burn out". I've had it 30+ years. I use it on occasion now, but I can tell it's getting tired.
I also have a orange colored B&D jig saw I got brand new for Christmas when I was 8 or 9. I'm 50 now. Still works fabulous!
My "newest" one is an HF 4-1/2 angle grinder I've had for about 15+ years. Cracked case, broken switch, taped cord, dropped, kicked, dragged and beat up but still works great.

 

[ichabod]

I have one that I wish would die every time I start it up. it an 1991, 33 gallon craftsman oil less air compressor. that I bought new. the damn noisy thing keeps running. the day it dies I will be one happy man on my way to get a new, quality, quite unit..............hopefully soon.....

 

[crewchief888]

a couple HF $10 orange grinders.

ive gotten them so hot i couldnt hold onto them with gloves.

still plugging away...

 

[Old Man Roger]

a couple HF $10 orange grinders.

ive gotten them so hot i couldnt hold onto them with gloves.

still plugging away...

That's their trick! It gets so hot you have to put it down for a while, that way you don't use it as much.

 

[Kev442]

My unstoppable B&D is a circular saw bought in '84. Used it to remodel my circa 1949 first house (meaning old hard true 2 x 4's and pine outside wall sheathing), masonry blades, metal cutting blades, and to top it off: I bought a table that you bolted your circular saw onto the bottom to use as a table saw.

That table saw contraption came in handy when I was given 2 pickup loads of scrap wood to cut up for my woodburner. I would run that saw for 1-2 hours straight cutting up all that janky stuff.

It doesn't see much use anymore, but it still answers the call when needed! Not bad for the $29.99 homeowners special.

 

[woody 73]

Sorry for the whole post but it is the drill in the picture that I want you to look at...

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=269013&highlight=millers+falls

Even after a nuclear bomb drop it still keeps going and going...

 

[Old Man Roger]

My unstoppable B&D is a circular saw bought in '84. Used it to remodel my circa 1949 first house (meaning old hard true 2 x 4's and pine outside wall sheathing), masonry blades, metal cutting blades, and to top it off: I bought a table that you bolted your circular saw onto the bottom to use as a table saw.

That table saw contraption came in handy when I was given 2 pickup loads of scrap wood to cut up for my woodburner. I would run that saw for 1-2 hours straight cutting up all that janky stuff.

It doesn't see much use anymore, but it still answers the call when needed! Not bad for the $29.99 homeowners special.

Oh man, I forgot about my BD circular saw? 34 years old and still ticking. I was in construction for a few years so it's had some use.

 

[RedF]

We have a LeRoi diesel air compressor w/ Perkins diesel engine at the shop. I don't know how many hours it has on it, because the hour meter failed and was never replaced but it has been there longer than me, and it finally overheated when the water pump failed.

It still runs, but I think it cooked the rings pretty bad.

Sad because it was a reliable machine and used a fraction of the diesel than a newer turbocharged model does. We may attempt to repair it, but I think we will go electric.

 

[PAToyota]

Bought a Craftsmen 3/8" drill out of college - thirty years ago. I figured I'd wear it out in a few years and upgrade when I had more money, but it's still going.

 

[Pitalplace]

I have a 4 1/2" Craftsman angle grinder since the 80's. I has been used allot and never quit. I also have two 5" Dewalts for the last 20 yrs and just put brushes in one. They are very good grinders.

 

[hangfirew8]

1980's Craftsman shop vac. Wouldn't die, but the high pitched noise got so bad I couldn't operate it even with hearing protection! Ditched it just a few years ago. Genuine Shop Vac replacement already has a busted switch.

-HF

 

[dr_clyde]

I've got a DeWalt circular saw that my dad gave me. He had it accidentally fall on the ground and didn't see it and it got crushed into the ground under a crane outrigger. Bent the fence back and knocked the dirt out of the vent slots and it works fine.

My Makita 1/2" corded drill just won't die. The threads for the auxiliary handle broke off but the motor is still going strong. I tried to kill it with hole sawing stainless plates at my last job so the company would buy me a new one, but no dice. Still chugging along.

I also have a Stihl 041 farm boss from the mid 70's that still starts on the third pull or so. Cut thousands of pieces of firewood with that saw. Bought it from my old boss when I was in HS. Just needed a recoil spring on the cord.

 

[crewchief888]

That's their trick! It gets so hot you have to put it down for a while, that way you don't use it as much.

mine got used a LOT, and for extended periods of time.
ive had them so hot they were smoking and sparking, they just wont die.

 

[jives]

First powertool was a Skil corded drill, probably from 1977. Still use. Second was a Skilsaw, probably from 1983, still use it. Both, though, may be retired as I my Christmas present to myself was a cordless Makita system, and the circular saw cuts like a knife through butter.

 

[Bluedodge]

I have my first power tool, a B&D single speed hand drill from Christmas 1981. I've used it less and less over the years as I rotated several VSR Craftsman and Hitachi hand drills through the garage.

It still works, but boy is that thing loud when I use it! lol

 

[JiminAZ]

Have a Stihl 025 that has been used a lot. On it's third bar, lost count of how many chains I've worn out. It must be at least 15 years old.

Bought a new air cleaner and some fuel tubing about a year ago. I also bought a new drive bell/gear at one point. I don't recall ever doing it but I probably bought it a spark plug at some point. Everything else is original. Never even required a "tune up" at the shop.

Just keeps running.

 

[MushCreek]

I still have a cheap Skil circular saw I bought around 1972. It was about $20 brand new. Various parts are broken off, but it won't die. Last use was to cut the fiber cement trim when building my house. No way I was going to use a 'good' tool on that abrasive ****.

I still have the two Milwaukee corded drills I bought in the '70's, and they're still in good shape. Same goes for my Makita belt sander.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Craftsman 3/8" ratchet and sockets. Now over 50 years old.

 

[gda659]

4 1/2" Milwaukee grinder. Over 30 years old. Unprotected paddle switch. My favorite for the flap disk.

 

[Krokodil]

Mine is also an angle grinder!

Back when I started out 15+ years ago I bought a 4-piece Ryobi powertool set. Over time I have replace everything else as they broke/wore out with Fein and Bosch tools. The Ryobi angle grinder just keeps going.