What are/(were) your most USELESS tools?

[Schurkey]

OK, I can play that game.

Again, I know what this is (Pretty sure, anyway.) Do you? Yes, it's a "useless" tool.

HINT: It probably came into Dear Old Dad's possession via government-surplus auction.

 

[jives]

My dad had one of those (post #361). Grommet-making hole punch thingy?

 

[6768rogues]

I was also thinking that it would punch a hole and then install a snap or grommet.

 

[Schurkey]

My dad had one of those (post #361). Grommet-making hole punch thingy?

I was also thinking that it would punch a hole and then install a snap or grommet.

Yep. Punches a hole, then crimps/installs a small "shoelace eyelet" grommet. I think it's for rejuvenating Army boots, but perhaps they also intend it for making canvas or leather lace-up articles.

 

[NinnyCTSV]

Something else I was reminded of when sorting through my tool box today is the right angle impact attachment. Got it for when I used to work in access control. Tried using it once and threw it in my bag to never be used again

 

[Mustang1167]

^^That dewalt angle drill saved my **** once and will always have a spot in my box. I look on it fondly when I open that drawer.

 

[DGersic]

You have to make an exception for those "as seen on TV" tools like that universal socket with the pins in it.Some of that junk just doesen't f*****g work.

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Sure it does. It does exactly what it was designed to do: separate suckers from money.



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[metalmagpie]

Shopsmith!

 

[metalmagpie]

Those dorkybutt right angle attachments for electric screwdrivers. Some kind of spark plug wrench where you turn a T-handle. Cheap 3-jaw puller set.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

Found this old interesting thread because I am wondering whether I “need” a 1/4” drive breaker bar. I saw a pic of a vintage plomb and realize they’re still being made and I love 1/4” drive so why not?

Then I realized ratchets have improved so much that I highly doubt any fastener of the 1/4” drive persuasion will actually need more torque than a quality ratchet can provide. Without shearing the head off the fastener. But maybe I’m wrong! Maybe I do need a 1/4” breaker bar!

 

[Bob Heine]

Found this old interesting thread because I am wondering whether I “need” a 1/4” drive breaker bar. I saw a pic of a vintage plomb and realize they’re still being made and I love 1/4” drive so why not?

Then I realized ratchets have improved so much that I highly doubt any fastener of the 1/4” drive persuasion will actually need more torque than a quality ratchet can provide. Without shearing the head off the fastener. But maybe I’m wrong! Maybe I do need a 1/4” breaker bar!

@oldschoolcraft, I don't do it often but a 1/4" breaker bar comes in handy as a speed wrench if there's room. I break the bolt free, raise the handle 90° and spin it in my fingers. A round shaft one works better than a rectangular one like Craftsman.

 

[ecotec]

Shopsmith. It was a pain in the *** to have to re-configure it for each operation (table saw, bandsaw, lathe, drill press, jointer, etc. It did each operation well, but it took forever to get anything done. Sold it within a year.

I hate Shopsmiths… but they have a pretty big following.

It seems like anything that does two or more things… does not work as well as having the separate tools.

 

[PugetDude]

Found this old interesting thread because I am wondering whether I “need” a 1/4” drive breaker bar. I saw a pic of a vintage plomb and realize they’re still being made and I love 1/4” drive so why not?

Then I realized ratchets have improved so much that I highly doubt any fastener of the 1/4” drive persuasion will actually need more torque than a quality ratchet can provide. Without shearing the head off the fastener. But maybe I’m wrong! Maybe I do need a 1/4” breaker bar!

I have a couple of vintage 1/4” Craftsman breaker bars. They match the 3/8” and 1/2” next to them in the toolbox. Don’t want to break up the family.

 

[inphx]

Harbor Freight manual tire changer.... good luck with that. Helps u burn calories and appreciating driving over to the tire shop.

 

[LeeG]

Found this old interesting thread because I am wondering whether I “need” a 1/4” drive breaker bar. I saw a pic of a vintage plomb and realize they’re still being made and I love 1/4” drive so why not?

I use one all the time. The HF Breman welding clamps have a 1/4" drive socket for tightening or loosening the clamp. I use the 1/4" sliding T handle often too for the same purpose.

 

[nbpt100]

With out a doubt the Mitytvac brake bleeding kit. Best part of it was the vinyl tubing that came with it.

Maybe, but it has other uses.

 

[nbpt100]

Funny how those wrenches are on just about every flea market and yard sale table in existence. They even look like trouble.



This made me laugh because I stopped in a Big Lots the other day and I kid you not, there was a whole peg hook full of 11mm combo wrenches and not one other size. I wanted to take a picture it I think they were on closeout for 1.49 or something like that.

They are used on some German brake fittings. Other than that I have never seen the need for one.

 

[mv213]

Harbor Freight manual tire changer.... good luck with that. Helps u burn calories and appreciating driving over to the tire shop.

One summer we had to call a mobile tire repair truck out to replace a ruined tire on our old F600 truck. The guy used an air impact gun to remove the wheel, but then he broke down and removed the old tire all hand tools. Broke the bead with a sledgehammer looking thing with a bead tool face, then used tire levers to remove it and put the new tire on. He was soaked in sweat by the time he was done in summer heat.

 

[firebirdparts]

^^^^ it works. Not fast, but it works. The harbor freight manual tire changer is NOTHING LIKE THAT but they do sell a manual bead breaker that looks like it would work.

You can still get copies of this one shown in the background here, but HF discontinued that exact style

 

[n8n]

They (11mm wrench) are used on some German brake fittings. Other than that I have never seen the need for one.

I just had occasion to mention the other day that the old DIN standard recognized a M7 bolt with 11mm hex head. One place I remember using them was to attach the ball joints to the front control arms on an A1 chassis VW (Rabbit/Jetta/Scirocco)

 

[slowtwitch73]

Craftsman Robogrips

 

[Glemon]

I am surprised to see a couple people mention Gearwrench, I have an SAE set and wish I had a Metric, one of my favorite tools. I also use my stubby wrenches a lot in areas with limited access.

I have one of those old battery testers with the floating balls. Thought it was a good idea at the time, never use it. Have a swivel head, 3/8" ratchet, it doesn't seem to be good for anything other than swiveling when I don't want it to.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I bought a duckbill mod for my HF manual tire machine and it is a game changer. Turns it into something that is easy to use.

 

[slowtwitch73]

I bought a duckbill mod for my HF manual tire machine and it is a game changer. Turns it into something that is easy to use.

Willys?

 

[Shadowdog500]

Willys?

Yes, 1953 CJ-3B. Last of the Willys Overland. Kaiser bought Willy’s later that year.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Yes, 1953 CJ-3B. Last of the Willys Overland. Kaiser bought Willy’s later that year.

Lol... here's our '53

 

[kbs2244]

when I rebuilt my Maytag washer I needed two custom wrenches
I still have them, they do not take up much room

I still have my dads 1/2 ans 3/8 speeders.
I use batteries now

I bought a 3/4 done band saw kit
it is still 3/4 done, but I did use the 1/2 HP motor than came with it

I went on my first solo date in my dads Willys 4 door sedan

 

[imagineer]

A Ryobi detail sander. It was a gift from the in-laws. Best I can tell, it's supposed to just make noise, because it doesn't do anything else.

 

[dchawk81]

It came as a "goodie" with line wrenches I bought on eBay.

I know what it's called but I have no idea how to use it or what it's for.

 

[jmdirk]

A Ryobi detail sander. It was a gift from the in-laws. Best I can tell, it's supposed to just make noise, because it doesn't do anything else.

I think I have the Dremel version sitting around somewhere. Maybe once or twice I tried to use it for something but it was absolutely useless. I see these as kind of the predecessor to oscillating tools.

For me it has to be one of those drill mounted sheet metal nibbler. Just useless. A decent set of aviation snips is way better

 

[imagineer]

It came as a "goodie" with line wrenches I bought on eBay.

I know what it's called but I have no idea how to use it or what it's for.

I have a slightly larger version of that type of wrench that's used for turning the spanner ring on motorcycle rear shocks.

 

[dchawk81]

I have a slightly larger version of that type of wrench that's used for turning the spanner ring on motorcycle rear shocks.

I gotcha. I don't have a motosickle so I never envisioned that.

 

[chris142]

I bought a Mac branded refrigerant leak detector. It didn't work. I could hold it in a stream of r134a and it wouldn't beep. Sent it in to be fixed 2x. Same thing .

Mac guy was zero help.

I couldn't stand seeing it and my hard earned money wasted on it sitting in my tool box so I smashed it and threw it away so I wouldn't be reminded of it .

Bought a matco code reader with the understanding that it was updatable. Matco never came out with any updates for it so it's useless.

 

[Meursault74]

It came as a "goodie" with line wrenches I bought on eBay.

I know what it's called but I have no idea how to use it or what it's for.

That can be used as a lock ring spanner for cup and cone bottom brackets on bicycles. I used one similar.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I know what it's called but I have no idea how to use it or what it's for.

I use one to tighten collet blocks. Most people have no use for that tool, but those who do really find it useful.

 

[Zeke]

A Ryobi detail sander. It was a gift from the in-laws. Best I can tell, it's supposed to just make noise, because it doesn't do anything else.

Agree. Something isn't right about those because a multitool with the same pad will work. It has to have bad motion to be that ineffective.

 

[rawen2]

I bought a duckbill mod for my HF manual tire machine and it is a game changer. Turns it into something that is easy to use.

Where did you find that? Seems like a good addition.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

I use one to tighten collet blocks. Most people have no use for that tool, but those who do really find it useful.

Nah, the one he has is too big for collet blocks.

It it were smaller Id ask if he wanted to part with it as I need a small one for my lathe....Two actually.

 

[Toxictom]

For me it was the ratcheting open ended craftsman wrenches. I thought it was an awesome idea at the time and snagged a metric and standard set when they went on sale.... only to sell them like 3 months later cause all they did was slip off the bolts or round them out. I see snap on and Cornwell have a wrench set with the same idea of being able to "ratchet" the open end... but after my experience with the cmans, I'll never know if those actually work

I received a set of these at Christmas one year probably 15 years ago. Still unopened in the original packaging.

 

[dchawk81]

Nah, the one he has is too big for collet blocks.

It it were smaller Id ask if he wanted to part with it as I need a small one for my lathe....Two actually.

It's the Blue Point AHS300B. I don't know if that makes it big or small, but I have small hands that make it look bigger than it is.