Dumb things you own, and never use

[MrWhoopee]

I find that my surface plate is excellent for staging photos on. I also do some layout on it, once in a great while use it for "inspection". I ordered a tube coping tool, the job was done by the time it arrived. Starrett small rule set I bought when an apprentice 40 years ago, actually used it for the first time recently.

 

[Eyerelief]

Always working on my own vehicles, I tried to justify buying any tool I needed to do the job right by saying "It's still cheaper and as good or better than paying someone else to do it, and I get a tool". I tried that with my machining tools, and..................not so much. Having trouble getting a good finish on a 1.125" hole in really hard steel, I bought a used Precise Jig Grinder:

Slow process, but it worked flawlessly, putting me within a .0005" of the target. Haven't touched it since. Well, stubbed my toe on the metal case a half dozen times if that counts. It was in near new condition and I bought it right ($575) because the variable power supply was not operable. Turned out to be a wire not attached to the on off switch. I'm guessing the wire came off early in its life. Don't know why I don't get rid of it, but it never seems to make my short list. "Some day I'm gonna have a use for this thing I just know it...."

 

[homebrewed]

10MM sockets

Oho!
You don't own a VW. I think 90% of the fasteners in my WV Golf need either a 10 or 13 mm socket.

 

[John O]

Oho!
You don't own a VW. I think 90% of the fasteners in my WV Golf need either a 10 or 13 mm socket.

Only Corvairs...9/16 for most

 

[benmychree]

Interesting... I use gauge blocks and pin gauges often. They are handy for setups. My vote for useless tools is for layout calipers. I have a complete set of Brown & Sharpe layout calipers in beautiful condition. I like to look at them. Then I put them back in their cigar box for another year.

I don't find "layout calipers" in any B&S catalog: to what are you referring?

 

[WobblyHand]

I'm going to add a Harbor Freight xy drill press vise to this list. One of the worst pieces of junk I have ever owned. Terrible backlash, worse screws, non parallel jaws, axes are not square, just an utter waste of material. I have had it for several years now and just can't make myself use it at all. It takes up a lot of precious shelf space.

I was so fed up with it I tossed it in the trash four days ago. Just today I thought of a possible use of some of the material in the vise. Tomorrow I will fish it out of the trash and cut up some of the cast iron. I do not have high hopes for the quality of the cast iron, but if it works, then the vise was not a total waste of money. If it doesn't work out, I will still cut it up then toss the rest.

 

[JPMacG]

I don't find "layout calipers" in any B&S catalog: to what are you referring?

These:

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

B&S might call them something else, or maybe they no longer carry them. Mine are at least 20 years old.

 

[Eyerelief]

I'm going to add a Harbor Freight xy drill press vise to this list.

I'm right there with you. Never could get mine to work correctly. Finally did find a good use for it tho. With its wide base, I can set it on the work bench and hold parts I am heating or welding, normally without even clamping it down. Yes, I am abusing it somewhat, but it is convenient

 

[wachuko]

I'm going to add a Harbor Freight xy drill press vise to this list. One of the worst pieces of junk I have ever owned. Terrible backlash, worse screws, non parallel jaws, axes are not square, just an utter waste of material. I have had it for several years now and just can't make myself use it at all. It takes up a lot of precious shelf space.

I was so fed up with it I tossed it in the trash four days ago. Just today I thought of a possible use of some of the material in the vise. Tomorrow I will fish it out of the trash and cut up some of the cast iron. I do not have high hopes for the quality of the cast iron, but if it works, then the vise was not a total waste of money. If it doesn't work out, I will still cut it up then toss the rest.

Like this one? After years stashed in a corner… made it work for the Walker-Turner DP… At one time I thought about getting rid of it…

 

[ChazzC]

10MM sockets

Use them all the time on 6mm nuts.