Just because

[MacMcMacmac]

Did you ever buy a tool just because it was so cheap, even though you knew you'd probably never use it?

I bought a $10 Black and Decker circular saw off of Kijiji, just because it was $10, and a higher spec roller bearing model that was probably destined for the trash. It is pristine, and will probably get next to no use. It's better to have it and not need it etc.....

 

[subroc]

Yes. I am a bottom feeder. I see a rock bottom price of somethng I might use, I am buying. But, something I know I will never use I doubt I will buy.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I've done it many times at auctions. One of my best was 5 worm drive circular saws for $1. All of them worked.

 

[Madjik Man]

I just did this at a neighbor's moving/garage sale just so I can finally say I own Snap On. Will (hopefully) never use it.

This was part of a $5 purchase

 

[M635_Guy]

I try not to buy things I won't use/need...

 

[demarpaint]

I bought a lot of tools "just because" it was cheap. Some deals are tough to pass on. Recent good deals on pliers, and screw drivers found their way to me. Oh and a $69.99 deal on a SO 1/4" drive long handle QR ratchet from Ebay posted here. LOL One is on the way, which I didn't need.

 

[housewolf]

No I don’t buy things I don’t need and sometimes will (slightly) overpay for something I want if it’s hard to come by or in exceptionally good condition.

I’ve always defined value in a sense that if I passed on a $300 item I didn’t need selling for $50, I saved $50. If I paid $325 for an item worth $300, I paid a $25 fee to have what I wanted, then and now. I know it’s kind of an abstract view but it’s worked for me

 

[tool_scrounge]

I still pick up the occasion hand tool “just in case” if it is unique and a good deal. I previously posted here on the Stryker Cast Saw that surprisingly was useful. But I am trying to have better self control on bigger stuff. Though passing on a $500 2” Burr King belt grinder really hurt.

 

[Copymutt]

Nothing wrong with back up. Wish most insurance was so cheap.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Have you guys not seen the garage sale thread?

 

[woody 73]

Hell yes, all the time...

I bought a neat little craftsman palm sander from the 1960's for $5.00 dollars, still works but I don't think I will ever use it
Pictures upon request.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

Yeah, I saw a Weller palm sander a couple of years ago. It was shiny black and had the same cooling grille arrangement as their soldering guns with the Weller badge on the side. I wanted it just because it was something I never knew existed.

 

[ecotec]

Quite often… today even… zero need… couldn’t leave it…

Today I bought a Proto 1/2” drive 10”ish extension.

I already had 3x10” extensions. Two are regular, and one is HD. I, realistically, will never use the HD one.

Anyways… it was $.75… it was so cheap that I couldn’t leave it.

It is the one on top.

 

[Odd-job]

I bought a lot of tools "just because" it was cheap. Some deals are tough to pass on. Recent good deals on pliers, and screw drivers found their way to me. Oh and a $69.99 deal on a SO 1/4" drive long handle QR ratchet from Ebay posted here. LOL One is on the way, which I didn't need.

+1 that Snap On 1/4 ratchet deal got me too. Looking forward to having it in the rotation so I guess I am buying it with the intent of using it, but realistically it was more for tool vanity than anything else.

 

[demarpaint]

+1 that Snap On 1/4 ratchet deal got me too. Looking forward to having it in the rotation so I guess I am buying it with the intent of using it, but realistically it was more for tool vanity than anything else.

When I signed off last night the seller had 8 left. When I got up this morning it was down to one, I took that as a sign and grabbed it. LOL I didn't need it but........ I have a feeling most if not all of the remaining 8 went to GJ members.

 

[Firstram]

it was $10, and a higher spec roller bearing model that was probably destined for the trash. It is pristine, and will probably get next to no use. It's better to have it and not need it etc.....

If it's an old school B&D Sawcat, they rock. I'm still using the one I bought in 1990!

 

[ecotec]

When I signed off last night the seller had 8 left. When I got up this morning it was down to one, I took that as a sign and grabbed it. LOL I didn't need it but........ I have a feeling most if not all of the remaining 8 went to GJ members.

I am glad that you bought it. It was a really great deal. It stopped me from looking at a ratchet that I, absolutely, do not need…

 

[demarpaint]

I am glad that you bought it. It was a really great deal. It stopped me from looking at a ratchet that I, absolutely, do not need…

Trust me if you nailed the last one you would have been doing me a favor. I absolutely didn't need it either.

 

[jonesg]

Hoarders have one thing in common, fear.
If you open your garage door and stuff is piled up to the ceiling with no room for the car, thats hoarding.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Nope. Everything in my shop was bought for a purpose, and gets used. It's why I have a sort of eclectic tool collection. I've been known to buy a cheap tool for sacrificial purposes, like when I know I'm going to totally rearrange it to perform one job, or misuse the living **** out of it, so the magic smoke escapes. If that device survives, it wins a place of honor in my collection. Those things are few, but over 60 years are a significant fraction of the tool horde. Yes, I used the correct horde.

Now, sometimes, I acquire some things far in advance of a planned project, because they are so cheap. Which can lead to the current mess I'm in right now. But eventually they get used up. Which is currently happening, because I'm tired of looking at them, and have updated the job schedule to move those things I can to the head of the line.

 

[engineer2]

I bought a Makita 7-1/4" hypoid drive 36V circular saw with four 5.0 batteries and a dual charger at HD for $250.
Sold my Skil worm-drive for $150 and my Makita 6.5" for $60.
I use it about once or twice a year, but it's nice to have all the extra batteries.

Bought a Sun 400 distributor tester cheap decades ago. Finally got around to getting it fixed and running. Have yet to re-curve a distributor on it.

 

[NUTTSGT]

At the clearance pricing of the HF 44" boxes now as low as $250, I would buy 3 of them for future bench building.

 

[Beauregard]

I am a complete sucker for vintage American-made tools at garage sales.
Lots of duplicates, but they were saved and have a good home.
I know I'm not alone.

 

[RMERR]

I'm better at avoiding that then I used to be. As a Craigslist junkie (just a fact, not a cry for help), I had three 10 X 20 storage spaces packed with stuff, insane! Finally slapped myself silly and got rid of it all. Still do it occasionally, hey if I know it's an easy flip for a profit, what the hell. The last time it happened, was buying a lift table and seller had a mint 7" Baldor grinder on the Baldor shelved stand for $150. Sold the stand for $100, got a Baldor for $50. Ended up adding the Baldor to the grinding area, but with deburring wheels.

Just as difficult to say no to (maybe more) is materials. When I see great pieces of steel, Aluminum, wood, unusual industrial scrap for cheap, even though I have no current use for it, damn I just can't resist. I mean who knows what I'll need 6 mos from now.

 

[genog]

I am guilty of buying old classic power tools that I am most probably not going to use.
....or use much

They have to be in really nice condition to make the cut
Have to be low priced....then I don't feel guilty about buying them

 

[Shiftless]

A couple of weekends ago I bought a Buck 110 folding hunter knife with a worn out blade but nice ebony scales for $3 even though I already had another 110 and a 112. Today I’m sending it off to Buck for a new blade and spa treatment. That costs a whopping $10.00 including free shipping back to me. How do they do that for that price?
At the same estate sale, I bought a Morgan 10-A woodworker’s vise for $20. After a quick clean up and lubrication, I sold it to a wood turner craftsman neighbor for $50.