The Useless Tools Thread

I recently purchased a radiator fin rake and radiator pliers from Eastwood and found them to be completely useless for radiator repair. I ended up carefully using a fine blade screwdriver to align the bent fins, so the fin rake and pliers are now consigned to the 'Useless Tools' stockpile. What have you guys bought that have turned out to be completely useless - not just easily broken (and I have a few of those too) - but absolutely useless for the purpose for which they were intended?

 

left handed screw drivers...???

 

'Shrinking Hammer'?

 

Metric sockets.

 

"ratcheting" open end wrenches. The box end works pretty well and since the open end is worthless I didn't mind cutting the wrench off so that it would fit!

 

screw extractors/ez-outs come to mind.

 

I used to install/service residential and small commercial furnaces and air conditioners. Those "fin combs" actually worked pretty good on the fins on condensing units -- the outdoor AC unit.
I can see how they wouldn't work good at all on automotive radiators.

Funny



Malcolm

 

I bought a mityvac once and messed with it for an hour before I just grabbed somebody and used the old "pump em up" method.

 

Boy, the title of this thread threw me. I thought I was going to see a picture of someone I know.

 

I never bought one but I tried one and it was sh*t. I said so in a magazine article and a restoration supply place that sells them here in the UK now has a load of testimonials (since I wrote the article) from 'experts' about how good they are - so I guess I was wrong.

David

 

all these new tools for working on our old drum brakes.i had good brake spring pliers, adjusting spoons etc. but they some how walked , on their own right out of my box and right out the door.so i buy new ones they arent worth shit...i have yet been able to use them to put on and adjust drum brakes.

 

HEY!!!! I'm left handed! I'm still looking for a left handed chain saw....

 

Mmmm, I've used metric sockets to remove nuts that have shrunk from rusting more than once !

 

Don't mention those around Ron Covell...

I bought a stud puller that lost its grip after 5 studs...

 

Battery powered tape measure my sister bought me I never had trouble pulling the tape out on my own. Just a heavy awkward tape measure now that the battery died.

 

A sand blaster from Harbor Freights. But then I half expected it to not work.

 

I'll second that, waste of money, at least for me trying to get a broken bolt out of the engine block.

 

Cordless extension cords.

 

black and decker self adjusting wrench, gator grip socket.

 

I still have my old Sears brake pliers and brake spoon. They can't be beat. I use the old trusty KD hold down spring tool.

Bob

 

Right on... then you need a broken-EZ-out extractor... nobody makes one! Unless you count the "blue wrench".

Bob

 

A pair of Harbor Frieght safety wire pliers that wouldn't grip the wire for twisting.

 

Small screwdriver bits that fit a 1/4" socket on a 1/4" drive ratchet.
Useless as is...if you buy 1 may as well buy 4 because 3 will fall out of the socket and get lost.
Not so useless tool.....Epoxy mentioned above bits in 1/4" sockets and they work miracles.

 

the 19/32 and 25/32 combo wrench I got in a Craftsman tool kit for Christmas in 1974. I still can use it or loose it.

 

19/32 socket is perfect for VW head nuts. (it's 15 mm.)

 

The assorted bit set I got for Christmas last year......The fasteners are harder than the bits. Just look at them wrong and they round off ,strip or twist. Looked impressive though!

 

Absolutely yes,........and no..

If you buy ones like this you will hate yourself,





But these ones if you have anything between your ears work great, they will twist a little before they break, and you can quit before you have big problems. Anyone that has worked on late model fords has delt with broken off exaust bolts, these really do work good.

 

hand held exhaust pipe cutters...pure junk.

 

yeah, so's polio. i'll take the vaccine, thanks.

 

i have found these to be quite usefull. just takes time, and have to keep them oiled.