Tools you bought with no intention to use

[Ton ton]

It's a good thing sberry isn't around to see this thread - he might go ballistic.

I agree.

 

[lardy1]

I bought a scroll saw about 20 years ago used. I bought blades for it and put one in it. Turned t on. Turned it off. Moved it from one spot to another probably ten times since and never had it plugged in.

 

[six-point socket II]

Does it count when I bought it with intention of using it, but it turns out its more or less useless for the work I do?

For me it happened once, Snap-On CNSGDX60 6 pc Non-Conductive Composite Slim Tip Combination Screwdriver Set.

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

As I have posted elsewhere, I'm very fond of the Snap-On Instinct handle, and back in the day I thought I would do me a big favor if I bought this set, as I do a lot of electrical work around my house and backyard.

Turns out these screwdrivers are rather special. It's a 1/4" screw driving bit moulded into a tip of Snap-On's non-conductive material, which is then again glued/moulded into the non-conductive screwdriver shaft. This leads to quite a bit of flexing and they are additionally extremely lightweight.



Now I can see the use for these in automotive work on hybrid and electrical vehicles - as there is now way to create a short, no matter how far/deep you need to reach into someplace with these. Which brings me to another point, they are fairly long - something I didn't think about when going through the specs before buying.

And even as they are considered "slim tip", the tips are a lot wider than on most other VDE/ insulated slim tip drivers.

So for what I do pretty much useless, worst tool acquisition to date - but obviously because of my own mistake(s)!

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[isb cornbinder]

Snap on 100th anniversary ratchet. Bought it because it’s cool

I have one of the original of that model and s set of the next style.

 

[f121]

I have one of the original of that model and s set of the next style.

Nice set, one day I will find an original to match the reproduction

 

[rockinacummins]

A Snap-On green hard-handled pocket screwdriver. It was an impulse.

 

[Chevy-SS]

NONE.... ever...... not one.......

 

[h~moto]

I almost never buy a tool without intending to use it. Almost all of my tools I buy at yard sales, thrift stores, flea markets etc. and most are vintage. I have no plans on taking this out of the package. I bought it because I thought it was cool and unique.

 

[genog]

My old Milwaukee Super Sawzall has been one of the best tool purchases ever.
It was priceless and worth it's weight in gold when we bought our house in the early 90's.
To say our house was a Fixer Upper is putting it mildly

Anyway, I have no use for another Sawzall, but I couldn't resist buying this one


Check out the cool Red Lightning Bolt!


Anyway, I bought it for it's COOL factor
I use my tools and wouldn't, say, Doll-Up an old vise for display in the house (my wife would not be happy about that)
but I couldn't resist buying this Sawzall.
I have no intent on using it, but I sure am tempted to put the ole boy back to work on some demo work. Maybe when we cut down the old fence in the back....

 

[qqzj]

I almost never buy a tool without intending to use it. Almost all of my tools I buy at yard sales, thrift stores, flea markets etc. and most are vintage. I have no plans on taking this out of the package. I bought it because I thought it was cool and unique.

Cool. First time heard of this idea.

 

[ecotec]

I probably will never use my glittery handled small Snap-on screwdriver. I have so many other small screwdrivers, that I do not see the point. I did take the one, that was still in a bag, out of said bag.

 

[Farmall 1066]

Does buying tools for jobs you don’t want to have to do count?
Sort of like warding off evil spirits by being prepared?

 

[Handyandy23]

I bought a GM PS Pump Pulley remover because my pump was whining. Ended up checking the PS fluid level and just needed to add a quart, now I have the removal tool still new in the plastic in my toolbox. But I figure I might need it some day!

 

[isb cornbinder]

I bought a very ornate RICH tension wrench at a second hand store. The TW was in the original box and oiled paper. It was made in New Zealand. I have no intention to ever use it.
I was gifted a vintage dial torque wrench. I emailed the manufacturer. They replied in a few hours. Their records show that they made the TW for Pratt and Whitney in 1938.
The revolution counter has a spring powered clock/timer built in to it. The spring gets wound when the counter is used. There is an odometer that counts the revolutions. It is in an original fitted Bakelite box. Made in England.
I bought a small round belt driven drill press from a retired engraver. I do not know the name of the manufacturer. I did a full restoration which included making a new three stage drive pulley. I bought the electric motor on Craigslist for $20. Is is a 100 year old GE, made in New York. The motor was designed to run inverted and power a washing machine. I reconditioned the motor and changed the oiling cups to run 180* from the original design. The round belt came from a sewing machine repair shop.

 

[engineer2]

Due to Covid cancellations we ended up with some Groupon credit we had to use up by the end of October. If you haven't visited there in a while, they have been invaded by the Chinese merchants of ****. Bought an orbital car buffer but after I got it I found it was non-orbital. Groupon makes it about impossible to return items. Ended up selling it on CL for even money.
Had enough money left to buy a universal radiator pressure testing kit. I have yet to use it. It was the only tool I could find that I might use someday.

 

[M635_Guy]

I'm not a collector (which I think would be a fun/cool hobby, but one I'll probably never pick up). As result, any tool I've bought that isn't getting used just represents failure and waste on my part. I'll exclude from that backups or duplicate sets that have a particular purpose (e.g. my Hazet ratcheting wrench set lives in my tool roll and gets tossed in my old car for road trips/etc., but doesn't get used in my garage), but if it's a tool that has no purpose or likelihood of use, it's going to get donated/sold/gifted/whatever.

 

[CGarage]

Back when I was working and had money, I'd buy tools that were on sale. I'd bring them home, unwrap, stick them in the tool chest, in some cases, never to be seen again. For example, an SK spline drive socket set, and a GearWrench pass-thru socket set. Both are quality stuff, neither has seen the light of day, much less touched a fastener.

I buy tools pre-emptively as well. It’s the only smart way to build a tool collection. IF you have to buy it when you need it, you will pay through the nose generally and will end up with something of lesser quality. If you keep buying premium tools before you need them, at some point, you will end up ahead of the game.

 

[PassnThru]

I bought a Lisle broken plug remover for Ford 3V Triton engines in 2015 for $58 when I first did the plugs in my 2007 Explorer with the 4.6. The odds were high that a plug would break and I just wanted that insurance there if it did since it was my DD.
None of them broke - the tool was never used and I hope I don't ever need it but it still sits in my toolbox even though I've changed them again since then with still no broken plugs.
I guess that's not exactly in the spirit of the question, but in this case I bought a tool that I didn't have a real need for at the time and hoped I wouldn't need - didn't need - and still haven't needed.
And I have never regretted buying it.

​

 

[Indexmill]

I almost never buy a tool without intending to use it. Almost all of my tools I buy at yard sales, thrift stores, flea markets etc. and most are vintage. I have no plans on taking this out of the package. I bought it because I thought it was cool and unique.

Ok; you win.