Tools you bought but don’t use?

[zendriver]

I sold my wire welder and purchased the HF Vulcan mig 215 to fool with and maybe do some small projects.

Two years ago and I have yet to open the box it came in.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

so many to list, but i know it's there when i need it

 

[HazetMatt]

Handheld saws: ain't nobody got time fo that! I bought a handheld hack saw and small wood saw each for individual small projects, and after that I never touched them again. It sucked using them so much that the next time I had a sawing need I just bought a powered one - now I go straight to the power tools for any and all sawing or cutting needs.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Lisle spark plug remover for a Ford Triton 3 valve (yes, THAT motor), fortunately, however, that "fine automotive engineering example" has moved on from my stable.

Figure someday, however, it just might pay for itself. At least it won't pay for itself on my vehicle.

 

[platypus20]

I have a complete set of speciality tools for a Mack Thermadyne, never opened the box. I bought a defunct Buick’s garage’s complete Kent-Moore specialty tool set, never used any of them. Somewhere I have a British Whitworth tap and die set.

 

[yrly]

Too many to list. Story goes like this...

New gimmick tool comes out, it’s a hit, then popularity of gimmick tool fades. Gimmick tool gets clearanced or sent to Ollie’s. I spot gimmick tool. Gimmick tool is cheap. Gimmick tool finds new home in my toolbox instead of languishing on a store shelf. I don’t end up using the gimmick tool.

Some of it is beyond weird, like wrenches with a knob that adjusts teeth to bite into the sidewall, I mean who dreams up these things? Why do I buy them?

Of course how else do you get things like the Magnum Ultra Socket?

 

[Ton ton]

26mm 1/2" socket. I very seldom use it.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Somewhere I have a British Whitworth tap and die set.

If you ever decide to get rid of it, please PM me. I've had a set when I used to work on british bikes, and thought I'd never need them again... until I did. Oops!!!

 

[bwringer]

I've got this beautiful, very high quality, relatively expensive 90 degree gear drive long screwdriver contraption from Motion Pro for adjusting motorcycle carburetors.

Thus far, it has been entirely useless. Most of the time, it's still too big to fit from the side. On the rare occasions I've been able to get in in position, it's completely impossible to tell whether it's actually engaged with the screw or has slipped off.

Just thinking about it makes me mad as hell...

Speaking of useless, I have a Stop-n-Go motorcycle tire plugging kit. It's a little squeezy contraption for inserting mushroom-shaped rubber tire plugs into punctures in tubeless motorcycle tires.

The concept sounds good, and looks good, and it's a high quality tool, but in the end it's completely useless. The plugs almost invariably pop out or fall apart in about 10 or 12 miles. I once had a flat about 50 miles from home and finally arrived a few hours later with four plugs bouncing around inside the tire, and the last plug leaking badly.

It's been on the shelf for years, and I can't morally bring myself to sell the pile of **** to anyone else. Stop-n-Go *****. Guess I should just throw the thing out.


FWIW "Sticky string" style tire plugs work great in tubeless motorcycle tires. Just about any will work fine, but the best I've found are Nealey; they're a little different and installed slightly differently such that there's a knot inside the tire and four thicknesses of cord in the puncture, so they adapt to odd punctures better than anything else. Plus, you don't need added glue.
https://www.nealeytirerepairkit.com/


And since I'm on the subject, the little CO2 cartridge tire inflators are another completely useless tool. Sure, this might seem like a great idea, but they're pointless for motorcycle tires (or anything except maybe bicycle tires) -- you need a LOT of cartridges to even get a tire rideable at slow speed, let alone to full pressure. And once you're out of cartridges, you're out. So if you have a slow leak, or the repair is a little leaky, you'll stuck. I now carry a small electric "Slime" brand pump that plugs into the battery charging lead.

Again, I have one of these CO2 inflator setups on the shelf... useless, and I suppose I should just toss it out.

 

[PhantomEB]

If the tool has a spot in the garage, then it’s a tool that’s been used or will be used.

Always adding in storage.

The tools I don’t buy are the ones I see more beneficial just renting them as I need to.

 

[Ton ton]

My SAE Tools.

Good one, I couldn't agree more with you.

 

[yrly]

Good one, I couldn't agree more with you.

I am surprised how many people don’t use SAE. Even an imported patio set I got this summer had SAE bolts.

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

I am surprised how many people don’t use SAE. Even an imported patio set I got this summer had SAE bolts.

A couple of years ago, I bought a new walk behind mower. I was sitting out in the garage one day and the thought occurred to me to check a few fasteners to see if they were metric or SAE. Every bolt I checked could have been either! Some were 5/16 OR 8mm. Others were 1/2 OR 13mm. The fit was not perfect for either, but just good enough that you could use either the metric or SAE wrench. Was this by design or just crappy low quality fasteners? Who knows. Your imported patio set may be the same! I know that 5/16 and 8mm are very, very close to the same but I can usually tell the difference between 1/2 and 13mm. Not on that mower. They seemed to be a new standard..."Universal Sloppy".

 

[DGersic]

I've got this beautiful, very high quality, relatively expensive 90 degree gear drive long screwdriver contraption from Motion Pro for adjusting motorcycle carburetors.

Thus far, it has been entirely useless. Most of the time, it's still too big to fit from the side. On the rare occasions I've been able to get in in position, it's completely impossible to tell whether it's actually engaged with the screw or has slipped off.

Just thinking about it makes me mad as hell...

Speaking of useless, I have a Stop-n-Go motorcycle tire plugging kit. It's a little squeezy contraption for inserting mushroom-shaped rubber tire plugs into punctures in tubeless motorcycle tires.

The concept sounds good, and looks good, and it's a high quality tool, but in the end it's completely useless. The plugs almost invariably pop out or fall apart in about 10 or 12 miles. I once had a flat about 50 miles from home and finally arrived a few hours later with four plugs bouncing around inside the tire, and the last plug leaking badly.

It's been on the shelf for years, and I can't morally bring myself to sell the pile of **** to anyone else. Stop-n-Go *****. Guess I should just throw the thing out.


FWIW "Sticky string" style tire plugs work great in tubeless motorcycle tires. Just about any will work fine, but the best I've found are Nealey; they're a little different and installed slightly differently such that there's a knot inside the tire and four thicknesses of cord in the puncture, so they adapt to odd punctures better than anything else. Plus, you don't need added glue.
https://www.nealeytirerepairkit.com/


And since I'm on the subject, the little CO2 cartridge tire inflators are another completely useless tool. Sure, this might seem like a great idea, but they're pointless for motorcycle tires (or anything except maybe bicycle tires) -- you need a LOT of cartridges to even get a tire rideable at slow speed, let alone to full pressure. And once you're out of cartridges, you're out. So if you have a slow leak, or the repair is a little leaky, you'll stuck. I now carry a small electric "Slime" brand pump that plugs into the battery charging lead.

Again, I have one of these CO2 inflator setups on the shelf... useless, and I suppose I should just toss it out.

That screwdriver tool thing looks amazing, but I can’t imagine it actually working. How is it supposed to be used?

CO2 cartridges work great on skinny road bike tires. I wouldn’t think to even try them on a motorcycle.



Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[DGersic]

A couple of years ago, I bought a new walk behind mower. I was sitting out in the garage one day and the thought occurred to me to check a few fasteners to see if they were metric or SAE. Every bolt I checked could have been either! Some were 5/16 OR 8mm. Others were 1/2 OR 13mm. The fit was not perfect for either, but just good enough that you could use either the metric or SAE wrench. Was this by design or just crappy low quality fasteners? Who knows. Your imported patio set may be the same! I know that 5/16 and 8mm are very, very close to the same but I can usually tell the difference between 1/2 and 13mm. Not on that mower. They seemed to be a new standard..."Universal Sloppy".

Yep, it’s a new standard. Cheap and sloppy. Your Gator Grip socket is the only thing that fits it correctly.



Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[tutti57]

Fuel Injector tester.

Nissan Technician

 

[protegeV]

Knipex snap ring pliers.
Coil spring compressor

 

[kudakev615]

snap on spring loaded adjustable extension sets in 1/4 and 3/8. bought them years ago and they collect dust in my tool box

 

[lardy1]

Porter-Cable profile sander. I wanted that thing so bad I could taste it. Hasn't been out of its' case in 15 years or so.

 

[M635_Guy]

Mine would be my router. I saw a great sale in the store adn got the top-of-the-line Craftsman router with the fixed and plunge bases/etc. Of course, that meant investing in a box of bits... I did use it to round the edge of my workbench, but mainly it has sat in a cabinet.

Coil spring compressor

I have one, and while it isn't used often I'm so grateful for it when I do use it. I'm not a great auto-wrench, and that spring scares the **** out of me -those screw-clamp things you get from AutoZone/etc. are super-dangerous... It was $130 on eBay, and it's saved me (easily) 10X that much. Also, it's been a good loaner for my buddies.

 

[theundermount]

Interesting thread.

thanks for letting us know

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[xavier296]

Lisle spark plug remover for a Ford Triton 3 valve (yes, THAT motor), fortunately, however, that "fine automotive engineering example" has moved on from my stable.

Figure someday, however, it just might pay for itself. At least it won't pay for itself on my vehicle.

I bought one of these because I had already broken two. It works beautifully. Wish it wasn't necessary though!!!

 

[The_Geologist]

I have way too many woodworking tools that I have purchased over the years, but have never used...yet.

Dewalt planer, Rockwell jointer, Craftsman belt/disc sander, Craftsman scroll saw...the list goes on.

But...like others have said, at least I have them if/when I need them.

 

[lakelandcat]

My dad's motto is "Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it." He's got a few of just about everything

+1 I know if I pass on a tool, I will need it next week. The man thats says I have enough tools never fixes or loses anything.

 

[freudianfloyd]

Bought a multi-tool because everybody was saying how useful they are. I have had it about 2 years now, and the only use it has gotten was when I brought it home and wanted to see how good it worked. Made a few cuts in a scrap of wood, and it has been in it's case ever since. I also own a dremel that has never been used. I got it as a gift about 20 years ago, and have yet to find a use for it.

I would like to update this. I have since used my multi-tool several times on a recent bathroom remodel, and it was literally the only tool for certain jobs. It will still be a tool that doesnt get used often, but it isnt completely useless to me like it used to be.

 

[Robbie B]

I’ve got a couple sets of snap on flank drive sockets and a set of metric wrenches that I for some reason never use. They work great I just always go to for my craftsman’s for some reason. I’ve been thinking about selling them but honestly hate having to deal with people to sell them. I’ve got a pile of multiples of sockets now because of tools I inherited from my dad and brother, but a lot of them are poorer quality tools that I’m probably gonna either make car sets out of or scrap. I’ve got a set of the long Pittsburgh combo wrenches that are probably the worst thing I’ve bought. Sizes are way off on the ones I needed.

I was in the process of going though tools and sorting, organizing and removing stuff that I don’t need when the charity we help with needed to use the space to store toys temporarily. Those will be gone Thursday so I’ll be able to get back at it this coming weekend I hope.


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[geartow]

One inch drive breaker bar. I do not own any 1"sockets.

 

[unslow1]

One inch drive breaker bar. I do not own any 1"sockets.

Perfect for a reducer and a lot of leverage. I owned a 1 inch breaker for years before I picked up any 1 inch sockets.

 

[jives]

Handheld saws: ain't nobody got time fo that! I bought a handheld hack saw and small wood saw each for individual small projects, and after that I never touched them again. It sucked using them so much that the next time I had a sawing need I just bought a powered one - now I go straight to the power tools for any and all sawing or cutting needs.

Not to hijack, but my Japanese two-sided flexible pull saw is working on almost every job. And yup, the rest of the wood saws are fading away.

 

[bwringer]

I'm fixin' to do some wall painting to brighten up the kitchen and laundry room, and for the very first time ever I remembered to inventory my painting supplies BEFORE heading to Menards for paint. Turns out I already have about a zillion roller covers and a couple miles of masking tape...

Anyway, I have this completely useless edge painting contraption that's basically a small roller with a flip-down metal shield on one side. For one, the shield mechanism gets in the way, so you can't use it up against a ceiling or wall. So that makes it about 99.9% useless. And for another, the metal shield inevitably gets paint on the other side in about two seconds.

Still, the damn thing is in my box of painting stuff. I don't really know why.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Porter-Cable profile sander. I wanted that thing so bad I could taste it. Hasn't been out of its' case in 15 years or so.

It's pi$$ poor sander, but I made up profiles and did a huge amount of work on the interior of my cedar strip canoe with it.