Worthless Tools Gallery. What Tools do you regret buying?

[ogberi]

Most useless tool I ever bought.....

I'd have to say a needle scaler from Horrible Freight. I went through 3 (three) of them before I got one that worked. On the third trip, I drug along a pony tank in the VW bus and made the manager come outside so I could hook up the tool and make sure it wasn't DOA as the first two were. It worked, so I assumed all was good.

I don't needle scale anything, but I did intend to weld a ratchet extension onto the needle plate and use it for ramming greensand foundry molds. I'd been using an air chisel with a similar modification, but the off-center impact (it forces your hand backwards, much like a pistol) was murder on my wrists. The needle scaler was much better ergonomically, did the same job.

Took it home, tested it again, no problems. Took it apart, welded in the cheap-o 3/8 extension, slapped on the ramming head, and started ramming a mold with it. Got about 3 minutes of usage out of it, and it simply stopped. I cursed, chucked it across the garage, and manually rammed up the mold. :angry:

Later I took it apart to find that the moving metal parts had galled themselves into a solid chunk, despite being well oiled. Since I'd been welding on it, I couldn't return it. Shoulda spent the $40 on scrap metal for other projects.

 

[EmilioG]

What is a "universal center punch" ? Sound interesting I may need one. Photo please.

fixit

It's hard to hold the tension evenly so the punch marks come out off center. I prefer individual punches from a set.

 

[CluelessNewB]

The first stationary power tool I ever purchased was a Craftsman 10" Radial Arm saw. It was purchased new around 1987. The frame and arm were so flimsy that a nudge with your hand would knock it out of alignment. I quickly sold it an found a well used 1960s Dewalt that I still have. I have used some decent Craftsman tools but that model saw was not one of them!

 

[Fabrickator]

When I was doing a lot of wood working I bought the new tool on the block, a Porter Cable Moulding/Contour sander. It doesn't work worth a hoot and you have to change the paper every few minutes.

One Xmas I got a fancy Crapsman Laser guided jig saw. Used it once, maybe twice because you never know when it will actually turn on and run. Most of the times I've got it out, it didn't run. Tried to return it, and it worked. Go figure...

 

[fixit]

View attachment 88084

It's hard to hold the tension evenly so the punch marks come out off center. I prefer individual punches from a set.

Fixit says
Thank you, never seen one now I've seen it all ! )

 

[jim18655]

I usually don't regret buying any tool. Receiving tools as gifts is another story altogether.

 

[nickmckinney]

.....Horrible Freight......

I would say 10-20% of the tools from HF are worthless after a single use if you can get that far with them.

 

[george wilson]

I have found my contour sander quite useful. You have to expect to change a SMALL piece of sand paper pretty often. It's SMALL. I have found mine useful for polishing knife blades I am making,with wet or dry paper. saves my old fingers!!

 

[Ulma Doctor]

i regretted the purchase of an early HF drill with a keyless chuck.
after a couple jobs....
i became so enraged with it's lack of holding power that i smashed the whole drill to pieces when i spiked it like a football on the concrete floor.
i did that so i would not be tempted to try and salvage it, and i got some anger issues it would appear:jester:

i would not recommend them to anyone for drilling anything harder than room temperature butter.:angry:

 

[chips&more]

About half my eBay tool purchases are heartburn. I’m buying name brand stuff, but the sellers are misrepresenting it in some clever way. So I’m either fixing it or sending it back.