Useless tool gifts

[mulepackin]

What are some of the more bizarre, strange or generally useless tool gifts any of you have gotten? You know, the Ronco type stuff. I got one of those claw hammers that stores nails in the handle, is supposed to automatically eject and then magnetically hold a nail so you can start one handed. I've not even thought about using it, but haven't tossed it yet either. Might have to beat on something and not care about the hammer breaking. Also got a Gator grip ratchet and socket. Haven't use it yet either, trying to think of a reason. On the other hand I've gotten some very good stuff over the years too.

 

[-lecroix-]

I got a pair of RoboGrips. Useless waste of cheap metal.

 

[dink]

A toolchest....you ask why a toolchese would be useles?? well its big enough to hold a gift card hahahahaaa....I guess I can keep nuts in it

 

[wilbilt]

Metrinch. Someone gave me some Metrinch tools once.

 

[bmwpower]

I can't post any of mine, since several family members may be insulted (as they were all gifts).

 

[kartracer55]

+1 for robo grips

 

[eschoendorff]

Robogrips here too. Fking useless.

 

[kartracer55]

hahaha robo grips with the Worst tool in history award.

Its funny, because theres nothing robo about them...

 

[dink]

hahaha robo grips with the Worst tool in history award.

Its funny, because theres nothing robo about them...

I disagree....Gatorgrip sockets are the worse

 

[ImportTuner]

How about a small hammer with progressively smaller screwdrivers inside ... anybody want ..

 

[wilbilt]

Robogrips here too. Fking useless.

Did you tell the gift-giver "Domo arigato"?

 

[kartracer55]

I disagree....Gatorgrip sockets are the worse

Haha Actually, my dad was telling me all of his tech's carry gator grip sockets because they encounter alot of thumb screws and wingnuts. I dont own one, but If I find one for 1$ some where Im going to pick it up lol

 

[MXtras]

Last year I wanted a coffee grinder. I got 5 of them!

Ok, not exactly the kind of 'tool' you were asking about.....

I think I would rather get 5 coffee grinders than robo grips!

Scott

 

[dink]

How about a small hammer with progressively smaller screwdrivers inside ... anybody want ..

Hahaaa That was my very first tool....brass...not the stupid girly flower one

 

[ImportTuner]

Hahaaa That was my very first tool....brass...not the stupid girly flower one

Yep, that's the one ... u want?

 

[dink]

Nope...its a white elephant gift

 

[kartracer55]

Last year I wanted a coffee grinder. I got 5 of them!

Ok, not exactly the kind of 'tool' you were asking about.....

I think I would rather get 5 coffee grinders than robo grips!

Scott

hahahhaha thats some funny ****. But how do you wind up with 5???? lol

 

[TNToy]

A 520-piece craftsman tool set.

I mean, seriously, Craftsman? What were they thinking? I threw that in the trash, and spent the same amount of money on 2 Snap-On sockets. How awesome am I?

 

[TNToy]

Oh, and if they made some sort of swiss-army tool with a raised-panel craftsman ratchet on one end, and a robogrip whose jaws were clamped tightly around a gator-grip socket at the other end...

Well, that might just be the crappiest tool humanly possible.

 

[MXtras]

Only if it had an auto-retract measuring tape and a motorized adjustable wrench (single chrome plated, of course) - then you would have the ultimate tool!

 

[eschoendorff]

Only if it had an auto-retract measuring tape and a motorized adjustable wrench (single chrome plated, of course) - then you would have the ultimate tool!

Don't forget the motorized C-clamp. How lazy does someone have to be to want a motorized C-clamp?????

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Don't forget the motorized C-clamp. How lazy does someone have to be to want a motorized C-clamp?????

They would tell ya, but they need a motorized keyboard to type it for them.

For me, probably that Homier bench grinder, that they didn't check. (Christmas present, bought at black friday tent sale). I turned it on, and it wouldn't spin the wheels up to speed.

 

[goodfellow]

Here you go -- received both metric and SAE sizes for Christmas

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=34137

What an absolutely useless tool. The ratchet mechanisms are so loose and sloppy that it's quicker to turn the fastener by hand.

Don't get me wrong, I like some HF stuff. Bought their 20 Ton press on sale and with a coupon. Great value on the press, but these things wound up being exchanged for some Goodyear airhose.

 

[ImportTuner]

Here you go -- received both metric and SAE sizes for Christmas

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=34137

What an absolutely useless tool. The ratchet mechanisms are so loose and sloppy that it's quicker to turn the fastener by hand.

Don't get me wrong, I like some HF stuff. Bought their 20 Ton press on sale and with a coupon. Great value on the press, but these things wound up being exchanged for some Goodyear airhose.

At least you were able to return them for something else you wanted ..

 

[MarkH]

I might take one of the gator sockets people are alway trying to pawn off on me. It should work nice on wing nuts or at least it is worth a try.

As for the worst, I still hold the adjust - a - box wrench in low regard. For those old enough to remember them.

 

[wilbilt]

Pocket fisherman. The ultimate useless tool for the outdoorsman.

Except for maybe the Heatab stove.

 

[IntrstlarOvrdrve]

Hahaaa That was my very first tool....brass...not the stupid girly flower one

Hey now, I gave my girlfriend a flowery one for Christmas. It was more of a gag gift though, she hates my tools because they are "ugly"

 

[JohnZ]

Then there's the "Bionic Wrench" Well-meaning gift from my mother-in-law, who knows nothing about tools and saw them on TV. Clever concept (rotary cam-driven jaws that move inboard when you squeeze the handles), even Made in USA, but after deep thought I can't imagine what I'd ever use them for. Oh well, it's the thought that counts...

 

[wilbilt]

Then there's the "Bionic Wrench" Well-meaning gift from my mother-in-law, who knows nothing about tools and saw them on TV. Clever concept (rotary cam-driven jaws that move inboard when you squeeze the handles), even Made in USA, but after deep thought I can't imagine what I'd ever use them for. Oh well, it's the thought that counts...

It's pretty disheartening to see those are made by Channellock.

 

[kythri]

Anyone tried out those battery-operated adjustable wrenches yet?

I played with one at the store, but didn't buy it because it felt/seemed like infomercial ****, but apparently, stores are having a hard time keeping them in stock...

 

[ImportTuner]

Anyone tried out those battery-operated adjustable wrenches yet?

I played with one at the store, but didn't buy it because it felt/seemed like infomercial ****, but apparently, stores are having a hard time keeping them in stock...

That, I have not seen ...

 

[arkracing]

That, I have not seen ...

Now you have:

Yep got it for Christmas - So Cheesy looking I don't even want to open it.

 

[ImportTuner]

Now you have:

Yep got it for Christmas - So Cheesy looking I don't even want to open it.

Cool ... if I was at the hardware store, I'd probably give it a second look .. Thanks

 

[wilbilt]

Now you have:

Yep got it for Christmas - So Cheesy looking I don't even want to open it.

No problem, next year it will be Yellow and labeled "DeWalt". It will cause riots at Home Depot stores nationwide.

 

[krj]

I guess I am not as critical as you guys... Though I would never use any of these gadget/gimmick tools for real wrenching, they can be handy in the toolbox I leave in the house. I dont like that motorized adjustable wrench... but the bionic wrench is fine for the house...

 

[Uncle Buck]

Anyone tried out those battery-operated adjustable wrenches yet?

I played with one at the store, but didn't buy it because it felt/seemed like infomercial ****, but apparently, stores are having a hard time keeping them in stock...

A sucker born every minute!

 

[wrigh003]

A sucker born every minute!

http://toolmonger.com/2006/08/29/hands-on-black-deckers-autowrench/

These guys seemed to think it was OK, if just a gimmick. Yeah, they eventually broke it, but I think they had to put a pipe on the end to do so.

I was going to say my bucket boss was pretty useless, but then I guess I use it quite a bit to cart around stuff (caulk gun, drill, bullet level, hammer, nails, etc) when working on the house. Does have a pretty goofy name, though.

I dunno- I guess it's pretty hard for a tool to be totally useless- I seem to always find a way to use just about anything. Some have greater degrees of **** than others, but anyway...

I have a standing rule about hand tools from HF- no moving parts. My first and only attempt at working with some ratchets from there resulted in such dismal failure that I haven't been back for much besides wire ties, grinding wheels, or sandpaper since. That's my vote- Harbor Freight ratchets- worst tool ever.

 

[SteveU]

The Rotozip tool was right up there on one of the other forums I look at a couple of years ago

 

[IntrstlarOvrdrve]

The Rotozip tool was right up there on one of the other forums I look at a couple of years ago

You don't like your rotozip? I love mine..

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

How about a traditional one...the socketool! I think it was the Shelton socketool in most manifestations, but appeared in countless forms everywhere from the 1950's into the seventies at least. The sets came in various levels, but generally included a screwdriver type handle with crude reversing ratchet built in and a hex drive. There would be a set of hex drive small sockets made of mystery metal and a hatful of hex-stock screwdriver tips, pry bars, and mystery widgets apparently improvised by the guy turning the hex stock. Everything was the cheapest possible metal, unusable for anything...
They must have sold MILLIONS. They were pushed as Father's day gifts, handed out with advertising on the handle...you can't go to a garage sale without finding some little bits of vandalized 1/4' hex from one.

Here's one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Ratchet...042276578QQihZ015QQcategoryZ303QQcmdZViewItem

Tell me you haven't waded through pieces of that at fleamarkets...