Sentimental tools you keep around but would normally toss

[Shoreline_]

We all have them. In a drawer. We will never use them but don't need them or don't even want them. For me it's the old poopy smelling handle screwdrivers I was given to by dear family. It's not even my first screwdriver set. I wore those out years ago and they were the Ace true value Stanley ones. The person isn't even alive anymore I should just toss them...

 

[dnschmidt]

I've got a GM distributor wrench which I will likely never use again unless points and condensers or HEI ignition system come back into favor. Used this to tune racing engines for a number of years but that was when I was in my twenties and now I'm in my 70's and I don't think these are coming back anytime soon.

 

[matthew]

Well…

I had a pair of wire strippers that were my grandfathers. He knew and appreciated good tools. They were marked ‘’made in USA.” And they were garbage - a reminder not to put the old days or brand names or COO on pedestals, and judge things for what they are.

I kept them for some time. At some point I realized I had an excellent socket set from him to be sentimental about, and tossed them.

 

[Fredartic]

This post makes me smile because I recognize myself. My first tools were given during one of my teenager Christmas. I received a set of red pipe wrench that I used occasionnally, a kit of Fuller screwdrivers and a yellow metal box kit of basis ratchet that few sockets missed now and that the box is rusty. I can't throw them away even I have many good tools to work with. Also, many years ago I won a bunch of Dewalt tools for $3000 value. There's a planner that I still didn't use yet. I can't convince myself to sell it because I still hope I will use it eventually because I would like to...

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I can't seem to part ways with an old 3 cell Mag Light my grandparents gave me for Christmas at least 25yrs ago. I haven't used it in probably 20yrs. I almost tossed it the other day, but couldn't do it. It's big, and taking up too much space in my toolbox.....just can't do it.

 

[ike]

I have a Rubbermaid tub with all of my old overflow tools in it that I have all of my old Craftsman screwdrivers in. Every time I open it, I nearly puke from the smell. The smell would gag a maggot. I don't know why I keep them, but I can't seem to throw them away.

 

[tarmy]

I have a couple old nice Craftsman vices…one my dad’s and one that was my grandfather’….use them both all the time. Also have a good amount of hand tools and various machine tools from both as well that get used a fair amount.

 

[paulsomlo]

An old, metal bodied Sawzall that my father bought right around my 1st Bday, 61 years ago.

 

[PugetDude]

I have an all-aluminum 1/4” drill my dad bought in ~1962-63. Non -reversible. 3 amp 1150 rpm.
Looks just like this one- (stock photo off the internet- mine is packed away somewhere)

 

[MR2FC]

I have an all-aluminum 3/8" drill my dad bought in ~1962-63. Non -reversible. 3 amp 1150 rpm.
Looks just like this one- (stock photo off the internet- mine is packed away somewhere)

I have something similar (not looked at it for a while) and some bits that turn it into a circular saw and a sander (iirc)

Looks dangerous as hell! Also, the drill makes you appreciate a variable speed trigger!

 

[PugetDude]

Also, the drill makes you appreciate a variable speed trigger!

...and a double insulated housing.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I have one of those drills in 5/8. I should probably throw it away before it electrocutes me or breaks my wrist, but none of the others mix a bucket of concrete half as fast.

 

[gleman]

How about an old, repaired c-clamp marked unbreakable? Grampa or dad did have a sense of humor!

 

[mike93lx]

I can't seem to part ways with an old 3 cell Mag Light my grandparents gave me for Christmas at least 25yrs ago. I haven't used it in probably 20yrs. I almost tossed it the other day, but couldn't do it. It's big, and taking up too much space in my toolbox.....just can't do it.

Throw in a LED conversion and you'll have a new found love for it

 

[dr_clyde]

I have quite a few of my grandfather’s tools from both my maternal and paternal grandfathers.

My paternal grandfather was a man’s man, worked as a millwright, a welder and machinist. I use quite a few of his tools every day in my shop. Lots of Snap-on, Starrett and other high quality industrial brands.

My maternal grandpa on the other hand was (is, he’s still alive) more of a bookish, intellectual man who happened to have needed tools occasionally. He didn’t buy **** but it wasn’t like he went out of his way to get the good stuff either. When they sold their house and went into the retirement home he gave me a lot of his tools. I have them in his toolbox at home in the garage. Probably will not use them but only once in a while. They’re not anything special to anyone other than me. They’re whatever they sold at the auto parts store and worked fine for assembling bird feeders or whatever else he needed a socket set, screwdriver and some wrenches for.

That’s not to say he wasn’t handy, he was. He could fix quite a bit and had a nice hobby wood shop in the basement. He just didn’t own tradesman’s tools because most of his career he was a politician and diplomat and he could just have his sons and grandsons help out if needed.

 

[bdbecker]

A wrench my Dad made for installing fog lights on a 1992 Nissan Maxima. It came in handy a few years ago when I couldn't access the top mounting bolt on a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee transfer case.

 

[Southernbuild]

I've got one of those non reversible 1/4" single speed metal housing drills too! I was my Grandfathers, so I guess I'll keep hanging onto it. Kinda makes you appreaciate the slew of nice cordless drills now available at price points where everyone can buy them.

I imagine his buying that drill in the 50's probably was a big financial decision... Or, later in life he couldn't pass it at an estate sale for $1.00 lol , Ill never know which it was .....

 

[PugetDude]

I remember the cost of the drill being an issue, especially when he loaned it to a neighbor and it came back with half the bits broken..,

 

[LeeG]

I can't seem to part ways with an old 3 cell Mag Light my grandparents gave me for Christmas at least 25yrs ago. I haven't used it in probably 20yrs. I almost tossed it the other day, but couldn't do it. It's big, and taking up too much space in my toolbox.....just can't do it.

I added a Malkoff drop in to my 3D Mag lights. It makes them useful again.

 

[ecotec]

.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Throw in a LED conversion and you'll have a new found love for it

I put an LED bulb in it probably 15yrs ago and it made it less bright; almost useless. I can't recall what brand/type, but LED flashlights were still in their infancy at the time.

I added a Malkoff drop in to my 3D Mag lights. It makes them useful again.

Lee, does this make it a "good" flashlight, or am I better off parting ways for the $55 and buying a more modern flashlight? I don't really need another flashlight, and I've got some quality ones, but it would be nice to keep this if it makes for a good light on modern standards.

 

[DAustin]

My Whitworth / British Standard tools. I still have a toolbox with wrenches and sockets and haven't owned an older British car or bike that has needed them for years. I keep think maybe one of these days.

 

[Wrench97]

I have lots of specialty stuff that I'll probably never use again and some large stuff I'll never use again, but as far as Sentimental tools go It has to be my dads/grandads hand me down Brace and Bit set and a couple old Stanley planes.

​

 

[ecotec]

I have tools that I have not used in ages… points files, distributor wrenches, AF sockets, Whitworth sockets, clutch screwdrivers (never used)… but I do not keep them for sentimental reasons. I do not have any tools that I am sentimental about.

 

[isb cornbinder]

My Dad attracted screwdrivers. I don't mean 40-50 screwdrivers, I had hundreds of them. After the estate was settled, I boxed up all of Dad's screwdrivers, except the Craftsman and donated them all to Habitat. The Craftsman screwdrivers went to a local church maintenance person. I have sets of SK and HAZET for my own use.
The one item I kept is a cutting torch carrier Dad made from Lancaster aircraft parts. The railcar style wheels travel on 4" channel. The carrier is reversable and infinitely adjustable for speed. I have never used this torch carrier, BUT, is is nostalgia.
After the WW2 was over, there 100 plus Lancaster Bombers stored at the Medicine Hat Airport.
Local farmers were allowed to buy a Lancaster. Dad had one.
There was one stipulation. A gun-sight had to be removed and returned to Ottawa in a supplied wood box. Failure to return the gun-site guarantied a visit from the Police. I thin the namE on the gun site was NORDON ????
I have a 4000# Ruston Hornsby single cylinder engine that I will never use. I have finally decided to sell it.

 

[AreBeeBee]

..... Local farmers were allowed to buy a Lancaster. Dad had one.
There was one stipulation. A gun-sight had to be removed and returned to Ottawa in a supplied wood box. Failure to return the gun-site guarantied a visit from the Police. I thin the namE on the gun site was NORDON ????

Bet that was a Norden bombsight: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norden_bombsight

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I use my grandfather's PSW bit brace (model 102, 10-inch sweep) made in the 1880s (he bought it second-hand), but it's not a retired-from-service item. In fact I used it two days ago to drive about 30 #2 Robertson (square) drive screws. I have other old tools, but that's one that came down to me in a direct line of succession, so to speak.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Bet that was a Norden bombsight: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norden_bombsight

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I use my grandfather's PSW bit brace (model 102, 10-inch sweep) made in the 1880s (he bought it second-hand), but it's not a retired-from-service item. In fact I used it two days ago to drive about 30 #2 Robertson (square) drive screws. I have other old tools, but that's one that came down to me in a direct line of succession, so to speak.

My daughter gave me a very old Brace (hand-drill) She called it "Cordless".

 

[dchawk81]

We don't all have them.

 

[Straightgrain]

I have an old timing light that was given to me by a neighbor who lived a few doors down, he died in 1980 so I've had it over 40 years. I had a newer Sun timing light, so I never used it, but I wouldn't get rid of it. The attached photo isn't of mine, but of one that looks just like it.

 

[LeeG]

I put an LED bulb in it probably 15yrs ago and it made it less bright; almost useless. I can't recall what brand/type, but LED flashlights were still in their infancy at the time.



Lee, does this make it a "good" flashlight, or am I better off parting ways for the $55 and buying a more modern flashlight? I don't really need another flashlight, and I've got some quality ones, but it would be nice to keep this if it makes for a good light on modern standards.

It makes it a brighter, more durable, longer lasting Maglight. If you like the Mag bodies (I do), and want to make it useful, then these are the ticket. My Malkoff drop ins are over 15 years old, so I'll be ordering a new one. I just pulled a 3D mag from my wife's car before we sold it (its been in there 20 years). I'll upgrade it with the new drop in and see.

One of the things I really liked about the D cell maglights was you could carry them in places where most other "self defense" items were frowned upon - "this, it's just a flashlight, sir".

Lee

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

I don’t throw away tools. I use them to make specialty tools or give them away when someone needs some tools. I have some tools I will likely never use but i like to work on old stuff and help out on old stuff if and when i can so i don’t throw any tool away. Quiet frankly I can’t throw away anything that’s still good but I will give it away

 

[Garcky]

My Whitworth / British Standard tools. I still have a toolbox with wrenches and sockets and haven't owned an older British car or bike that has needed them for years. I keep think maybe one of these days.

I'm with you on that. Mine are in one drawer of an old toolbox I never open any more.

 

[RTM]

I have a plane and 3 chisels from Dad. Remember when he got them, and a vise, in a sales contest from the Pontiac car sales group. Late 70s vintage, so not their best stuff, but set aside as a memory.

I also have Grampa's WWII box, and a handful of his tools, but not many. His flex head Plugmaster was my go to ratchet for many decades, along with the plug socket, fingertip spinner, and extension.

 

[dr_clyde]

In a screwed up twist of fate, my great uncle passed this morning. I have a lot of his tools that I will hang on to for as long as I'm lucid.

***** when the old guard passes the torch, even when it's time.

 

[housewolf]

My caulking irons for caulking lead & oakum joints. I hung the ladle up on a wall with a bunch of other old stuff in my garage the other day but no way to display the irons. I’m pretty sure I’ll never have a need for them again

 

[cavalry]

I'm not really a sentimental type, but I dont get rid of tools really either. My craftsman set that I bought when I was 14 has been banished to box#3 which is the "just in case I ever run into that again box". I will grab the craftsman tools out of that box if I need to go into the back 40 or out in the weather or need to abuse something. If I lost a piece or it got beat on, whatever.
The only tool I really have that is just for decoration is a King **** AF spanner..because I am.

 

[elmer]

Got these for a Christmas gift one year. Never used them or even opened them because I wanted the snap on set.

 

[PopcornSutton]

Back in my Dad's day he worked construction as a carpenter. There were not many power tools then especially out in the field coming out of the ground. He carried a hand made tool box with the tools he needed. Brace and a set of bits for holes, two or three hand saws of different tpi, a hatchet, framing square and others. When the work was in the finish stages, when doors were bought, they were "blanks". Hinge inletting was done with chisels, lock cuts were by brace and bit unless it was a mortised lock, then it was drilled and finished with chisels. He used a "Yankee" screw driver for hardware. I had all those tools, but I have turned them over to one of my nephews to keep in the family. They will never be used again, but kept.