What are/(were) your most USELESS tools?

[GarageWarrior]

I would kill for a mill or lathe. I can think of tons of stuff I'd use one for. Then again, I want to get into more fab work.

When I bought mill/lathe I was thinking of a lot of uses. For me the novelty worn off after I found myself spending 5 hours making $20 worth of parts. Fixing trivial things that can be easily replaced.

The guy that bought my mill had THREE lathes. I asked him what was the most practical thing he's done with them and he said he made his own CLUTCH TOOL ...you can buy clutch tool for less than $10!

Another guy bought a lot of lathe tooling from me and said he was retired and simply wanted to learn machining as a hobby. No practical reason.

If you think you have real use for mill/lathe, why not bring your work to machine shop?

Or send your blueprints out for 3d printing?

Mill/lathe/grinder/metal stock/tooling take so much space - I think you'd have to have volume in thousands of dollars in machine work each month to really justify keeping your own tool room, buying machines, buying tooling, buying metal stock, and learning the trade.

 

[chamoisfive]

Small and inexpensive, but annoying as hell and completely worthless: 11mm wrenches and sockets. I've never seen an 11mm fastener (although they will work on 7/16" in a pinch.)

I would have agreed with you about six months ago when I had to replace the hydraulic pipe on the CDS clutch line, mazda mx5. 11mm!! Totally bizarre. How many decades before I get to use that again?

 

[Regnar]

Craftsman ratcheting wrenches.... I hate these things I finally taped them all together and put them in the back of the drawer so I wouldn't keep grabbing one

So useless I couldn't let another human be tortured the way I was an threw them away. Nothing but aggravation and stripped hardware.

 

[thoraudio]

I'm glad you guys mentioned this. I can't count the number of times I almost bought one at Lowes.

I did home theater installs for a while, and used a cheap HF rotary tool with a cutting bit on it to great effect. When it finally wore out, I spent the money on a Rotozip.

I think I've used it twice, since. Way overpowered/torqued for simply drywall.

 

[rodm1]

My 3/4 to 5/8 socket adapter. I only have 1 socket with a 5/8 drive and I have it in a standard drive size.

 

[JasonMcElroy]

Open ended crow's foot adaptor for torque wrench.

Jaws just spread and round off (or slip off) the fastener before anywhere near the desired torque. Not talking big numbers here either.

Truthfully, I can find few uses for open end wrenches. Boxed or sockets every time, preferably six-point.

Jason

 

[benjamintmiller]

Again, what are you guys doing with your RotoZips that make you hate them so much?

You put an mark on the floor where all your outlet boxes are, then hang your drywall with a few screws in the corner. Measure up from all your floor marks, hit the edge and jump it, zip around counterclockwise. Perfect cutouts around all your outlets with no measuring marking, and cutting.

Of course, you need the hard plastic outlet boxes for this, but it's easily worth it. I just hung 45 sheets of drywall and didn't scrap a single one due to a misplaced outlet box.

 

[Den69rs96]

There is definitely a learning curve for using the rotozip to cut drywall. Once you figure it out it is an awesome too. When I bought mine 12 years ago it came with the 90 angle attachment so I could use cut off wheels. Used it a ton cutting off rusty parts on my camaro.

I bought a HF transmission jack adapter that fits on a normal jack. As someone else mentioned your car needs to be 3 ft off the ground. Still haven't used it.

 

[Banjorear]

Wagner paint sprayer and the power roller. Never got the sprayer to work. Spent more time cleaning the roller than it normally takes to paint a large room.

This. What a POS. Plus, if you didn't get the lint out of the rollers that you had to use with the junk, it left the painted surfaces a friggin' mess.

Agree 100%. Used it once and threw it out. What a waste of $150.

 

[teal95]

The Japanese use 17 and 19 mm. Americans and Europeans use 18 mm. Most of the suspension under the fox Mustangs is 18 mm.

 

[sberry]

When I bought mill/lathe I was thinking of a lot of uses. For me the novelty worn off after I found myself spending 5 hours making $20 worth of parts. Fixing trivial things that can be easily replaced.

The guy that bought my mill had THREE lathes. I asked him what was the most practical thing he's done with them and he said he made his own CLUTCH TOOL ...you can buy clutch tool for less than $10!

Yes, this is probably true for 4 out of 5 or more.

 

[Lhorn]

Good question. I try not to buy stuff that I likely won't use, but even being selective there are still some that I've bought due to a Hot Deal but not even touched yet.

I haven't used my Max Access socket set. I have no idea why. I know they would really shine if I needed to run a nut down a long threaded rod, but can also be used as just a regular deep well socket set. My regular run of the mill sockets sets just plain work well so I haven't felt the need to change it up.

I also really don't use my Gearwrench stuff much. Another I don't know why. I don't have much of the flex head stuff just the cheap non reversible basics. They seem like they might bend if you had to really torque on them at an odd angle so I just stick with sockets for some things and CM RP wrenches for everything else.

 

[Fixnfly]

Any craftsman ratchet with the plastic internal parts and a push button release for the socket.
I don't even bother to return them because they just give you another ************* ratchet.
Craftsman seems to have many gimmick tools that are useless. "Robogrip" pliers and those stupid wrenches that imitate the gear wrench without any moving parts.

 

[starquestMM]

pneumatic palm nailer.

years owned - 10
use - 0

 

[Mitheral]

18mm wrench, never used it

Weirdly 18mm isn't included in most mid range wrench sets and I've had to buy several because that is a fairly common size on Dodges. Sometimes I wonder if it isn't a low bar anti tamper thing. Dodge Engineer: I know how we can discourage the home mechanic from futzing with this ABS accumulator; hold it on with an 18mm nut.

 

[Cadillac fan]

Shallow impact sockets. I bought them because they were the only size i could get and needed some normal sockets but decided I was going to get an impact gun.

Everything I needed them for seems to require a deep socket.

 

[hchinaski]

Mine might leave a few scratching their heads but really, how many of you really use yours? I didn't have one for 30 years and RARELY did I need one. I'm talking about an upright press. The VERY FEW times I did need to press something (trailing arm bushings in my Galaxie), I took it somewhere and got it done for $20 bucks - or less. But like anything, it was on-sale at the Shrine (Princess Auto) so I bought one. I STILL HAVEN'T used the ******* thing - LOL!!

I bought a 12 ton press from HF last year so I could press new bearings into the motor for a 60s DeWalt radial saw (none of the motor places around me were willing to work on it). Figured I'd sell it on Craigslist, but then needed it for rebuilding the front suspension on my BMW, then needed it to press new races for the rear wheel bearings, then needed it to press in new control arm bushings on my project car... its one of those things that I thought I'd only use once that has actually come in handy enough for me to keep. My shop is small so real estate is at a premium, I just keep it tucked behind the drill press until I need it for something.

 

[Joe69]

I've tried to talk myself into a press several times. I have access to a 20 ton press at work, If I go to our main shop, which is only 13 miles from my house, I have access to a pneumatic 50 ton press. No more than I use one, I just can't justify it.

I have been thinking about a press brake for one, that might change my mind.


Joe

 

[Ruger_556]

If you have heavy equipment a lathe will pay for itself asap but otherwise just a hobby.

 

[JerryB]

Hard to answer this challenge / question:

I have a lot of tools & equipment from many, many, many years (I'm 72 YO) of shop work on all fronts. Lots of the items I have were originally purchased and used by my father who died in 1958! I would not consider parting with any of those, even if they are never used.

As to more 'modern' tools (including some of those cited above), being that I was raised to recognize both the value of tools and to be able to tell the wheat from the chaff, I am very slow to try the 'this is new and will solve all your problems' stuff (read "garbage") that is introduced in today's market.

Old fashion hand and power tools got us American shop workers to a dominate position. Some (mostly foreign) magic solution to shop tasks is not really in my interest area. Give me a good set of wrenches and screwdrivers and I can usually get the job done!

Off topic, but I think a prime example: I needed to drill 16 x 1/2" holes in concrete to install new risers on my septic tank last fall. I didn't have a hammer drill, as this is the first time I ever needed one. My generous neighbor offered the use of his DeWalt hammer drill. I refused.

The way I saw it, the hammer drill is a vulnerable tool. Even though my neighbor's drill was a relatively late model which had not been abused, I would have felt responsible for a nearly $400 tool, which if broken on my watch, I would have been obligated to pay for.

Instead, I bought a $40 1/2" hammer drill from Harbor Freight. It did the job, and if it had failed (every one has their HF disaster story), I could have taken it back to HF and gotten a replacement.

As it turned out, it did a great job, and I now have a hammer drill for the next (probably distant) project. Since I never before needed a hammer drill, it is probably useless to me, but it got the job done, and I will not hesitate to loan it out.

There a numerous tools in my shop that I rarely use, but when I need them, . . .

Jerry

 

[terryl74]

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

After reviewing 8 pages of this thread it would appear that my usual luck has prevailed. I obviously got a bad one!!! However I am glad that it works for most folks. I bought mine when I started a restoration and it set in the box for a couple of years. Needless to say lost the receipt for a return. But.... I still use the vinyl tubing for bleeding my brakes in a plastic water bottle.

 

[lessersivad]

This thread reminded me of something possibly a bit off topic.

One of my instructors at the local VoTech also had his own repair shop.

One day I visited his shop and noticed he had 2 pretty good sized tool boxes so I asked about them.

He said one was for his normal tools and the other was for "one time" tools.

He told me if you're into repairs long enough there's going to be time when only a special tool made for the job will work. Then you put it away possibly never to be used again.

He had aquired so many "one timers" over the years he bought another tool box to keep them in. Said he didn't want to get rid of any because there MIGHT be a time one of them could be used twice....LOL.

 

[TheClaw]

Craftsman ratcheting wrenches.... I hate these things I finally taped them all together and put them in the back of the drawer so I wouldn't keep grabbing one

Same here, can't hardly give them away.

 

[TheClaw]

There's one more.....that's the tool you just sold for a dollar at your last garage sale. Never used it in twenty years. Then, the week after I get rid of it, I need it.

 

[VC455]

This was the biggest pos I ever bought. Not only that, but I bought one for my FIL. Luckily for me, I've been married to his oldest daughter for 20+ years when I gave it to him or it could have ruined our wedding plans!

Ray

Cold Heat solder tool

+1 on this useless POS

 

[HemiRambler]

I wouldn't exactly say a mill and lathe are useless. In your scenario it never made any sense to have them. But for some people the lathe and mill are the basis around everything that they do.

Amen! I have each (actually two lathes - one mill) - I've used the **** out of them. I just put Power Steering on my '47 Ford - would have been 10 times more difficult without them.

 

[Bob Heine]

There's one more.....that's the tool you just sold for a dollar at your last garage sale. Never used it in twenty years. Then, the week after I get rid of it, I need it.

That's why I haven't thrown out or sold my Ice Tongs. The week after I sell it I'm going to need to move a block of ice here in South Florida....

It goes nicely with the rebar tie-off tool that I last used in 1984.

I'm guessing the third item is a good start on a wall of shame or a dumpster. It was a gift from my son-in-law, What's-His-Name...

 

[Lhorn]

It was a gift from my son-in-law, What's-His-Name...

Ouch!

 

[bwringer]

Let's get some controversy up in here:

Inch size tools are almost (not quite completely) useless to me.

The motorcycles and cars I work on are Japanese. There have been a few 'merkin cars belonging to friends here and there, but US brand cars have at least been metric for decades. A friend brought his Buell by for some maintenance one day, and let me tell you, that bike's fasteners were a bizarre mix.

The only things in my garage that I need a few inch tools for have Briggs & Stratton engines.

There is one small drawer in the bottom of my old tool cabinet where the inch tools are banished. They come out just a few times a year when my wife jams up the wood shipper or I need to sharpen the lawn mower blade.

 

[slowzuki]

Attention 11mm haters, please send me your 3/8" deep socket. Mine left on a 1998 F150's frame rail after changing a starter in the fall and I don't have one in 1/2" drive.

I work on more agricultural stuff, need press all the time, no unit bearings on this stuff. Use it for toyota wheel bearings all the time too. My lathe is not big enough often and would love to have one with a 2"+ through hole that would fit common pto shaft sizes.

Most useless tools? I'll add 3/8" air rachet. I've used it a handful of times but always get it wedged or bust up my hands, or irritated at how slow it is. Grab the 3/8" impact instead or lately the cordless impact.

 

[RalphInCA]

Craftsman Clench Wrench. Never have been able to make it work properly.

 

[pauls_workshop]

All of the brake fittings on my Audi are 11mm. There are a couple of other places that they used 11mm bolts/nuts. Send yours to me.

A couple of years ago, my Father-in-Law gave me one of these for Christmas. I haven't thrown it out because I know that he will look to see if it's in my tool box when he comes over.

Actually, I have one of these B&D auto wrenches. Need a battery, but they are faster than doing the wrench adjusting by hand, and stiff enough to function as a crescent wrench most of the time. Not completely useless, although better crescent wrenches by far out there. Now Robowrench I would say pretty useless. - Paul

 

[pauls_workshop]

I'm glad you guys mentioned this. I can't count the number of times I almost bought one at Lowes.

What works really good on drywall instead of the rotozips is a simple oscillating multi tool from any brand. These cut straight, efficiently, and make very little drywall dust. I'd using them right now for a project. Rotozips though can work just fine as small mini routers or laminate trimmers and have a good place for those purposes. I would never use one on drywall though. - Paul

 

[senlow]

It was a gift from my son-in-law, What's-His-Name...

Hey, that's my father in law's name.

 

[Jlbc212]

Let's get some controversy up in here:

Inch size tools are almost (not quite completely) useless to me.

The motorcycles and cars I work on are Japanese. There have been a few 'merkin cars belonging to friends here and there, but US brand cars have at least been metric for decades. A friend brought his Buell by for some maintenance one day, and let me tell you, that bike's fasteners were a bizarre mix.

The only things in my garage that I need a few inch tools for have Briggs & Stratton engines.

There is one small drawer in the bottom of my old tool cabinet where the inch tools are banished. They come out just a few times a year when my wife jams up the wood shipper or I need to sharpen the lawn mower blade.

Occasionally a friend of mine will ask me to do some work on his Harley. It also has a mix of standard (inch size) and metric bolts & nuts. Maybe Buell is a subsidiary of Harley.

 

[Tejaas]

If you have heavy equipment a lathe will pay for itself asap but otherwise just a hobby.

Well, "RUGER 5.56"....

Don't you -DARE- tell that to a gunsmith who turns barrels!

Haha!




~Tejaas~

 

[Ruger_556]

Well, "RUGER 5.56"....

Don't you -DARE- tell that to a gunsmith who turns barrels!

Haha!




~Tejaas~

LOL... Good point.

 

[Bogdan M.]

E-torx sockets. Bought a set in 1988 for a job on a Dodge Omni. Haven't owned a vehicle since, that uses these fasteners. But after 26 years, I'll never get rid of them because you know that Murphy would take that opportunity to kick me square in the nuts.

There are a lot of uses for them on modern BMW cars.
For example, all gearboxes are fastened to the engine by e-torx.

Small and inexpensive, but annoying as hell and completely worthless: 11mm wrenches and sockets. I've never seen an 11mm fastener (although they will work on 7/16" in a pinch.)

Bigger and a bit more expensive: shop crane, AKA cherry picker. I bought one to replace a car engine, then got tired of all the floor space it took up in my crowded 2 car garage and released it back into the wild via CrackList. Not a bad deal -- I sold it quickly for only $50 less than I paid, so it was a lot cheaper than renting.

11 mm bolts are used to fasten intake manifolds on diesel engines.

 

[ozyborn]

Most useless tool? My boss. Wish I could sell him.

 

[the gypsy]

Hey guys I think the Roto zip has its place. Not in a furnished home but in new constuction.
The dust created can be cleaned easily when it settles.