Tools you know you’ll never use

[pi_guy]

I have piles of Kent Moore tools, my first check when I have to create a tool.
Pullers are not something that I would toss, I have a two bank SO box filled with pullers and related items. I have used different combinations of them more times than I can count.

It is more professional to devise a method of disassembly than use a 6 lb sledge to determine it is not repairable.

 

[MarlynOC]

Not a tool but a set of snow tire chains in the original old green bag. Complete with the rubber spreaders and a pair of chain pliers.

 

[klassenl]

I have a 1/2 drive socket set in my garage that I picked up at a garage sale down my street. It's almost new. It may remain in that condition for the rest of my life.

 

[coljar]

I have several specialty tools for working on flat head Fords and I haven't used one in 30 years, but I'm not getting rid of any of them. The second I do, I'll need it, or a friend will.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I have a 2 1/4 " 3/4 dr socket and I don't own a D-8 Cat, just a Honda push lawn mower .

 

[Wrench97]

Bionic Wrench, I can see no situation I would grab this to use...................

 

[m6z]

Engine lift plate for a SBC, timing light, dwell meter. I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting. I've also good one of these windshield removal tools. LOL, the windshield I planned to use it on wasn't the glued-in type. I was able to just cut it out with a box knife.

https://www.harborfreight.com/windshield-removing-tool-60298.html

I also bought a nice Craftsman USA hammer and dolly set that I doubt I ever use again.

With current shipping costs it just doesn't make much sense to get rid of it though. You end up damn near paying the buyers after shipping.

 

[TuxThePenguin]

Bionic Wrench, I can see no situation I would grab this to use...................

Christmas present?

 

[engineer2]

My dad's old Kennedy box of machinist's tools. Mostly old lathe bits and other odds and ends.
A box full of Kent-Moore tools, I'd have to look up every single number to see what they are for.
I bought a new adjustable advance timing light 18 years ago. I no longer have a DD that has a distributor.

 

[username2]

Absolutely right. I recently came to that realization and pulled out all my SAE stuff from my toolbox. Saved a ton of space and I haven't had to go look at them in weeks.

I wonder sometimes what would happen if everyone threw all their hand tools into Rubbermaid totes and pulled out tools as needed and put them back into the tool box.

I'll bet most people could get by with darned small tool boxes.

 

[username2]

Bionic Wrench, I can see no situation I would grab this to use...................

Only if I needed to interrogate a secret out of someone.

 

[Wrench97]

Christmas present?

I believe it was..................

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I wonder sometimes what would happen if everyone threw all their hand tools into Rubbermaid totes and pulled out tools as needed and put them back into the tool box.

I'll bet most people could get by with darned small tool boxes.

As a millwright, when I got a call about a break down, I would wander over there to see the problem with just a 8" crescent wrench in my pocket .It was surprising how many times that was the only tool I needed. The mill was spread out and the machines were size wise in the 1/2" dr class.

 

[hoffman912]

Not too long ago I tossed the mag puller and case splitting tools from my 1973 Husqvarna... Clutch holder from my 1976(?) YZ-125 Monoshock too.

Still have the dial indicator, plug adapter, and points checker for timing them should they ever reappear in my life.

Not mine but representative pic.

isnt that just a dwell meter?

 

[hoffman912]

SAE tools LOL. I just rarely ever use them.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

You guys with the Kent-Moore tools....those things fetch a pretty penny on eBay.

 

[metaldad]

a set of bearing scrapers i acquired years ago. and last used 15ish years ago. probably never use again

 

[Kaervak]

Astro Subaru ball joint removal tool. I bought it because Subaru ball joints are a bit of a nightmare.
When I replaced them on my 03 Forester, I wish that tool existed. It would have made that job so much easier. So, when I needed to replace the ball joints on my 09 Forester I bought the tool to make my life easier. The ball joints came out so easily I was absolutely shocked. Less than an hour for the pair, which blows my mind. I don't have any other Subarus (I am looking for a Legacy GT Spec B though..........) so I highly doubt I'll ever use it again. For anyone thinking about buying it, absolutely do it. It's a damn good quality tool and will make the job so much simpler.

 

[engineer2]

I also have a mag timing tester.
Also an analog 3-phase meter for volts and current. One clamp amp though.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I look at tools the same way as I do guns. My belief is the only reason to sell them is to feed your family.

I'll admit, I have a few tools that were junk over the years, they went in the scrap bucket.

 

[richfinn]

yea SAE is about the only thing i havent used in some time. most everything is metric now

I gave away all my non metric tools about 20 years ago!!

I very occasionally get called out to classic British cars broken down at the roadside so I carry a couple of old wrenches so I can replace a fanbelt or ignition parts!!

 

[Hack Fabrication]

I've probably got three tool chest full of items that will never see the light of day again.


But I'm not getting rid of a single one...

 

[CJM8515]

I gave away all my non metric tools about 20 years ago!!

I very occasionally get called out to classic British cars broken down at the roadside so I carry a couple of old wrenches so I can replace a fanbelt or ignition parts!!

I don’t think I’ve used my sae stuff in eons really. Everything I work on is newer so it’s all metric really. I keep it cause you never know when it comes in handy

 

[Radio Flyer]

Yes!

I know a guy thats into the square body trucks. I just keep sending stuff his way.

 

[unknownroad]

The HF ball joint tool works surprisingly well on ball joints.

Full set of SAE tools here, that get plenty of use between the hot rod and the rusty Dakota. The Dakota is mostly metric, but rust has reduced the fasteners to “whatever you can get to fit or hammer on” size.

Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

Those Dakota parts may well have been SAE to start with... I pulled a shock absorber on my 2004 that had an SAE bolt on one end and metric on the other (mine since new, so I know it was original). DaimlerChrysler in particular just grabbed whatever hardware was the absolute cheapest for the application, and I haven't found any rhyme or reason to it.

I work on pretty much everything, so I don't think there's any such thing as a tool I KNOW I'll never use again. I may not use it for its intended purpose again, but you never know what you'll end up reaching for when the alternative is spending an hour and a half driving to the hardware store and back

 

[dalepres]

I bought one of these because it was on clearance at Lowes for 5.00. I had to look it up when I got it home to see if it did what I thought it did - and I was right.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EAO7UF0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[dalepres]

I'm continually selling tools that I don't need. My thought is if there's any doubt, sell it. Here's the rationale:

Most of us store 95 things for every 5 that we use. Most of them could be sold for 20% of their value to replace them easily.

So, sell all of them for 20% of value, and rebuy the few that you need for 5% of the total lot value. You're money ahead, and didn't have to store them all.

Everything I've thrown or given away from my shop or tools I regretted. My wife and kids think I'm a hoarder but I buy and keep tools and supplies so I have them when I need them without, usually, having to wait for a trip to Lowe's or an Amazon delivery.

For instance, I had a Rivnut set I used a lot in one phase of life. After it sat for years I gave it to my rancher son-in-law; it seemed like a rancher must always be fixing something. Now I need one and am looking at buying another... I could tell the same story about a few dozen, at least, tools or parts I've given away or tossed.

 

[sparky 1971]

I have a 16 pound sledge hammer that I hope I will never use. Does that count?

 

[richfinn]

I don’t think I’ve used my sae stuff in eons really. Everything I work on is newer so it’s all metric really. I keep it cause you never know when it comes in handy

There was still a fair bit of British Leyland stuff knocking about when I first started in the 80s unfortunately

Even Morris Minors were fairly common (old GPO vans mainly)

I remember working on the Audi 80 range of the time (it just seemed so advanced) and I knew the game was almost up!!!!

 

[CJM8515]

There was still a fair bit of British Leyland stuff knocking about when I first started in the 80s unfortunately

Even Morris Minors were fairly common (old GPO vans mainly)

I remember working on the Audi 80 range of the time (it just seemed so advanced) and I knew the game was almost up!!!!

I can’t recall the last time I worked on or let alone saw a British made vehicle where I am. Here is the land of trucks and Japanese imports. Not many even drive American brand vehicles..well cars that is. Plenty of trucks

 

[richfinn]

I can’t recall the last time I worked on or let alone saw a British made vehicle where I am. Here is the land of trucks and Japanese imports. Not many even drive American brand vehicles..well cars that is. Plenty of trucks

Yep, I drive a British built Honda Civic

We actually build quite a lot of vehicles in the UK compared with many other European countries
Honda/Toyota/Nissan all built big plants here due to tax-breaks in the early 80s

Jaguar/Land Rover PSA and Mini are also built here

Then you get the supercars McLaren/Aston Martin and the new Gordon Murray T50

We have most of the F1 teams here too including Mercedes and Red Buĺl

Then a whole load of specialist cars

Fairly Healthy industry really!!!

 

[NUTTSGT]

I bought one of these because it was on clearance at Lowes for 5.00. I had to look it up when I got it home to see if it did what I thought it did - and I was right.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EAO7UF0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Look like crimpers for duct work ? I bought a similar pair for a job in the basement. Probably never use them again, but I'm holding on to them just in case.

 

[dogdog]

never say never, only never ever until now.

 

[dalepres]

Look like crimpers for duct work ? I bought a similar pair for a job in the basement. Probably never use them again, but I'm holding on to them just in case.

Yep; that's what they are. For serious duct work, it seems that would be a ton of hand crimping but I thought it would help with a difficult dryer vent install. Now all I have to do is tackle that job but the existing, though ugly, is working so I will likely never touch it.

 

[Pleiades]

What do you do with a tool you’ll know you’ll never use, or never use again?
Keep storing it, moving it around the garage? Or sell it?

Sell it, maybe you can gain some money from it.

 

[finn]

Stijl 460 Magnum chainsaw.

I have probably a good half dozen other fully functioning but smaller saws that are perfectly adequate, and lighter to cut what needs cutting, and the big Stihl scares the heck out of me.

The row boat and bicycle are other examples, and probably the pipe threading tools.

 

[Plumber4]

I have a Ridgid k-7500 that's been gathering dust for over a year. I switched to a k-60 and my back could not be happier. One machine weighs about 300 lbs. and the other I can take in pieces at about 70 lbs. each.
I doubt I'll be using the heavy machine as I get older but I can't bring myself to sell it.

 

[MarkM]

There is a tool lending library near me. Useful as a free rental place when they have something I don't have and they do. And if I have something I don't want to keep I can give it to them with the concept of borrowing it back if I need it again in the future.

 

[Sierra977]

Barbed wire stretcher. Unused in decades and like my last pair of leather cotton field knee pads hopefully never be used again, at least not while I'm alive. Knee pads hang on a wall in the old house I was raised in just to remind me that, no matter how bad I think life is, it can be exponentially worse. Wire stretcher resides in an old ranch tool box along with some chuck wagon cooking utensils, whippletree mule hitch and cotton sack weighing scale.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I repurpose a lot of “specialty tools” for other applications so there isn’t much in my box that never gets used.