What is your favorite tool that you also hate?

[jmiller_2308]

I just got done with a 2 hour stint of using the wire wheel (brush) to finish cleaning up some 70 year old grease gobs from a pedal assembly off my 1936 Buick and I realized that as much as I hate getting my fingers munched, eating **** off the wheel, and having stuff fly around the shop even though I have a catcher just for that reason, the wheel remains my number 1 go to tool for cleaning stuff up.

What are others favorite tools to hate?

Jeff

 

[3baygarage]

My extendable magnet with the flex head comes to mind. I guess it is a love-hate relationship. I'd have been lost without it at times but I can't stand how it gets stuck to everything along the way. Forget it when something falls next to a metal appliance. Plus it picks up every sliver of metal under the work bench too.

 

[xyster101]

Oscillating tool. When you need it nothing else will work, but they are loud as hell. Which brings me to my next one, hearing protection. The big over ear ones are great, but they get in the way when your not using them. The little ones on a plastic arch look like bits of poop after a few uses and I hate putting them in my ears, but so worth not hearing the oscillator.

 

[hayhauler71]

My 4 inch grinder. It is loud as hell and every time I turn it on I ask myself how long is this job going to take.

 

[carcajou]

When i hit a fingernail hard enough a 1/16 drill bit is my favorite tool which i hate for the same reason.

 

[tomsmith]

Reciprocating saw. I love it because it's cuts through steel very nicely and leaves a nice edge. I hate it because I haven't quite mastered the art of keeping it cutting straight on square/rectangle tube. On the odd occasion where I've started cutting straight, it invariably goes off at an angle.

I've learned to measure 0.5" more than I need to and then clean it up with a flap disc.

 

[AndrewV]

Not really a specific tool. But my torx bits. Always need them, when there not near.

 

[jkwilson]

Adjustable wrenches. Can't get by without them on the farm, but they never fit in the space or turn far enough.

 

[Mr.3-5-7]

My snap-on 7volt 3/8" cordless impact. with a variable trigger and up to 70ft-lbs maximum, i use it on almost everything. But the damn bushing around the anvil keeps falling out and no amount of locktite will keep it in.

this is the gun in question

 

[hiker guy]

I second the angle grinder. it'll cut through exhaust like butter, but its never quite deep enough.

 

[teamextreme]

High Lift jack. One of the most indispensible tools while off-roading, and one of the most likely ways to kill or maim yourself.

 

[zkling]

For the common 4.5" angle grinder. Extremely handy but makes such a mess.

 

[Ruger_556]

My snap-on 7volt 3/8" cordless impact. with a variable trigger and up to 70ft-lbs maximum, i use it on almost everything. But the damn bushing around the anvil keeps falling out and no amount of locktite will keep it in.

this is the gun in question

I have one of those coming but it's back ordered until the February 16 or some such thing

 

[justin1795]

i think a grinder is one of my most usefull. can use to cut clean grind polish.. but they can be very dangerous. we were cutting some rivets at work for the building steel. my partner threw the grind and hand was all ****** i thought he cut it. it caught and smashed his hand into a beam almost shearing a finger off.

 

[C96]

My pressure washer… I love using it because it does such a great job of cleaning things, but I also hate using it because it always breaks down. Not the engine, but the pump itself. I think it’s a design flaw since I have to replace the pop-it valves almost every time I use it.

 

[Kaasdief]

Small angle grinder wit a wire wheel, so handy...but man, man it will damage you so badly!

 

[countryroad82]

Any of my buffers. One nanosecond of not paying attention around the edge of a hood, door..... Just any edge....... And whammo!! No paint!! But I'm pretty good with one so it's a rare occasion that it happens. But OMG when it happens, the day *****!!!

 

[scab]

Recip saw. Can be a pain to control in some applications and I hate that vibrating/numbing feeling you get in your hands after you use it for awhile. My Bosch has that vibration dampening feature but it only does so much.

 

[JakeKohl]

I have one of those coming but it's back ordered until the February 16 or some such thing

...Because they're probably trying to fix the bushing problem.

 

[HTGTS350]

My "widowmaker" a very short handled, 28lb sledgehammer. Very effective but my elbows, wrists and hands hurt for week after using it.

 

[Majordisorder]

My Spraytech ed655 airless sprayer. This is a diaphragm type airless sprayer with a hopper. It uses regular airless type gun and tips but isn't the piston type you see most painters use. Great for everything from lacquer and oil based stain to regular house paint. It has a hopper instead of a pickup tube and the diaphragm provides very even pressure. large jobs require filling the hopper frequently and cleanup is a major pain. It sure does a nice job though.

 

[90limited]

How about my wife...

I tell her, "I will always love you but don't necessarily always like you...." She just laughs and give me a peck on the cheek...

 

[TEXACMAN]

My Milwaukee Portaband for sure ! My 4-1/2 " angle grinder with cup brush but the wires that fly off stick in my gut!

 

[parnass]

I use an older, USA-made Milwaukee Super Sawzall reciprocating saw for all kinds of cutting. I cut an old gas stove up into small pieces so the trash company would take them away.

I've used it for cutting down trees, tree roots, bushes, cutting pipe, walls, etc.

But, the Super Sawzall is so darn heavy that my arms beg for relief. That's especially true when carrying it to the work site inside its steel case.

 

[Ruger_556]

My Milwaukee Portaband for sure ! My 4-1/2 " angle grinder with cup brush but the wires that fly off stick in my gut!

Buy the knotted wire wheels instead...

 

[wdrumheller]

The flexible claw pickup tool thing. Damn this thing to hell when I'm trying to use it but halleluiah when it works. Damn thing sticks, screws around, fails, drops things, kinks up, grabs my fingers, doesn't grab my fingers.... AAAAHHH I HATE THIS THING..... ooooooo I love this thing... THANK YOU!

 

[coffeebean]

Chainsaw. its great to get things done and fun. but then you have to clean the thing:-(
dave

 

[beatcad]

I wish I had a pic.
maybe 15 years ago I bought a cheap *** body hammer from maybe autozone.
the head got loose and I ran a body screw down the top of the handle.
its been my go to hammer for years. I don't usually use it for "body" work but I do use it for metal banging. hell, I use it for most everything.
finishing nails, roofing nails. yes I have the proper hammers for different jobs but this one just ends up in my hand more than any other.
and its a great backscratcher

 

[Ruger_556]

6lb engineer's hammer (10" handle)... It'll move almost anything but man does it do murder on your arm to swing it

 

[TEXACMAN]

I bought a cheap 3/8" x 2ft extension and it works great to reach that one nut you can't quite get to! Just a real pain to store so you can find it easy!

 

[Silver Heels]

My sandblaster- not the cabinet type. It can save so much time over a wire wheel, gets in to every nook and cranny and leaves a nice clean surface

But it plugs and no hood will keep all the grit out of the ears, hair, and nether regions, not to mention anything else within a 50 foot radius

 

[jkwilson]

6lb engineer's hammer (10" handle)... It'll move almost anything but man does it do murder on your arm to swing it

I have a 6lb and 3lb engineers hammers that I love. The 6lb will make a man out of you for sure, but it will get things moving.

The 3lb is one of my favorite tools. It has a hanger on the bench leg under my vice and I use it all the time.

Having all that weight with short handles lets you put a lot of force on something without swinging it hard. Easy to tap a stuck pin out of a hole.

 

[Nortonscustom]

High Lift jack. One of the most indispensible tools while off-roading, and one of the most likely ways to kill or maim yourself.

Truer words were never spoken!

 

[RRmech]

Phillips head screwdrivers:

Either the older screw heads are too hard, or the newer screwdrivers make their heads too soft?

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I really hate using my collection of tubing benders. I have a bunch of all different styles. I just struggle getting nice tight bends at varying angles in short spans. I typically use them when making brake or fuel lines. Simple single bends are fine. It's the creative stuff that kinks me up on occasion (literally). I guess it's just something I need to keep doing....while we are at it my welding isn't where I want it to be either. I use a mig without gas. Not using gas could be my issue, but I still don't have perfect beads like I want.