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What's the biggest waste of money (tool) you have bought?

4K views 35 replies 32 participants last post by  DrDirt 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Just for fun I thought it would be fun to see what items people buy but never use. Only interested in the highest cost items in the below catagories.

We are all guilty of buying that shinny thing on the shelf, needing something for that 1 project, or buying something that didn't live up to our expectations. I Have listed mine, what are yours?

3 criteria
Bought but never used:
Bought and used once:
Bought and it failed:

For me it was these things,

Bought but never used: Dremel Drill press attachment
Bought and used once: Jet Mortiser
Bought and it failed(junk award): Irwin quick clamps
 
#2 ·
I weld and cut a lot of metal with 4" grinders. I burned through a makita and a millwauke in a year each. The gear heads burn out. I decided to order three of those $10 ones from Harbor freight. Each cut metal for 20 minutes before it began smoking. So, Bought but failed, three times.

On another note.. I was at Sears and bought a Craftsman because they had a 100% three year replacement guarantee for $7. I got it thinking I'll just keep replacing it each year when it burns out. I'll never have to buy another one again. Five years later it's plenty beat up but still running… go figure.
 
#4 ·
Trend Router Lathe, these are as rare as rocking horse sh*t, (so had to buy it used off ebay $250) to make barley twist legs for a table. In the end my client changed his mind about the table so it's just been stuck in a cupboard.

SIP Biscuit Jointer, used it once, demanded a refund, bought a Dewalt.

Jet benchtop edge bander. It kinda works, but I'm quicker with an iron.
 
#6 ·
Hitachi Table saw : height crank and blade angle crank broke. Crappy thin blade insert.

Hitachi M12V Router : Bits slipped in collet. Cheap handles.

Ryobi cordless drill kit : no variable speed on the drill! It was either on or off. I owned that tool about 1 day.
 
#9 ·
#3. (About 15 years ago) Craftsman biscuit joint cutter that you bolted to bottom of a router. - Scary to use.

#2. (About 20 years ago)Hirsch (sp?) miter cutter that you bolted a circular saw to. - Very inaccurate, un-repeatable miters.

And the Grand prize Winner ……..

#1. (About 20 years ago) Black and Decker plastic router table. Was a piece of crap from day one but, got thrown out about an hour after one of the router mounting brackets broke while I was using it. There is no panic like a running router bouncing loose around under a table at about waist level
 
#11 ·
Bought but never used: Craftsman dovetailing jig
Bought and used once: Craftsman radial arm saw (bought used) sat for over 10 years,recently took advantage of recall
Bought and it failed: Bosch chorded drill, about $160.00 20 years ago, worked for about a week. Had it repaired a couple times. Circuit board inside keeps failing. Spent more time in the drawer than useable. Don't know why I keep it. It still needs fixed, looks new, nice drill when it works.
 
#12 ·
Bought but never used: Harbor Freight half blind dovetail jig. knew I wanted to do dovetails, wasn't aware this would only do half blinds as I wanted to do through dovetails. This got sold quickly.

Bought and used once: MLCS mitered door frame bit set. I used it to build a prototype, and have been too lazy to build the real doors…. Am actually planning on doing this though. So not a total waste…

Bought and it failed: Toss up. Makita quarter sheet sander, or Harbor Freight hole saws.
 
#13 ·
I did a topic (or one close to it) about the same thing you're talking about now…..It was 452 days ago, and virtually asked the same question….so I won't get into this one, cause I still got all the same crap now that I had then.
 
#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have a JET JET AFS-1000b Air Filtration unit that is still sitting in the box. I do plan on hooking it up, but just haven't gotten around to it. My shop is in shambles and may be rearranged soon, plus I'm trying to figure out the best place to put it for maximum effectiveness since my shop is a small portion of our open, unfinished basement. I'm sure that once I do get it hooked up, I'll be asking myself why I didn't do it sooner. It'll definitely get used though!

Right now I'm just using my dust collector or shop vac either hooked up to the tool being used, or placing the open hose next to where I'm sanding, in addition to using a dust mask. I know the basement will be cleaner once the JET AFS-1000b is hooked up, and I bet the rest of the house will also have a little less dust as well.
 
#17 ·
Where do I start ?

Anything and everything Ryobi

Anything and everything bought at Princess Auto with regards to compressed air including but limited to air regulators, compression fittings, hose clamps, hose, air tools……..

All job site light fixtures, towers, (halogen type) bought at all big box stores, missing parts, bent parts, cheap plastic, broken, waste of time, waste of gas, waste of money cheap crap

Reasonably recent purchase of Ridgid Hammer drill, first day, smell of burning electrical wires, acrid smoke, super heated stench of a big waste of hard earned cash. Was on SALE, impulse purchase for 100 bucks, not even worth returning as my time by the hour is more then price of the tool.

Canadian Tire piece of #@% auto welding helmet in a cardboard box, missing the electronic gizmo that flips the visor, return it to watch the lady "Google it"……………super irritating, galactically super stupid return policy of an "in-store credit"

On line purchase of space age safety boots made from space age carbon fibres only to receive two "lefts".

two Dremel carving devices……….at least a grenade comes with a "pin"……….both blew up

A few thousand cheap pencils where the leads come pre-broken at 1/8" intervals

Cant say that I have ever made a major purchase of a major tool that was a poor choice. Always had the good fortune to have an employer doing the "Opps" before it was my turn : ))
 
#18 ·
baseboard heater for shop. Never even felt it get warm - the heater itself that is, let along the air around it.
hearing protection - I think they work great, just got to remember to use them
gallon bottle of glue - bought it thinking it wood be cheaper in the long run, probably would have been if I hadn't left it in the shop to freeze.
 
#19 ·
Funny pattern I see here - most of the "crap" was purchases on impulse - We all need to practice restraint in that regards it appears.

I have a few items that have gained "dust catcher" fame - Dremel jig saw - I bought it for a project - used it once now I just spend time putting rust inhibitor on the cast iron top. I retired my bisquit jointer as the Festool Domino I purchased is so much better/easier to use.

At least I have cut way back on any impulse buying…especially for "time saving" knick knacks - they usually end up costing more time then they will ever save (set them up…they break…return to store = time wasted). I have to also agree with the sentiments about Ryobi….I have puchased one or two of their "toys" err Tools for throw away purposes - emergency jobsite work where I did not have time to order a real tool and had to rely on what the Borg had on hand. Another one of the items to stay away from is the Sears "Crapsman" tools….they are really falling off in quality - A friend gave me his "Crapsman" welder to see if I could fix it for him - I opened the case and saw that the amp setting wheel was fused to the case…and at the lowest setting…ooops…I told him to get a Hobart or Miller - at least their electronics seem to last a while.

So far on most items I have been satisfied with the results. The best way to put it is that if any of my current "go too" tools failed I would immediately purchase the same ones to replace - they are working that good. So far I do not regret any of those purchases - I only wish I had more room to fit a few more of the ones I really want.
 
#20 ·
Bought but never used: Worx Angle Grinder… (though I do have a job for it soon) It was on special when I bought it. Withthe knowledge I have job… I just don't want to do the job… it involves roofing iron and guttering and ladders…

Bought and used once: ummmm… nothing yet…

Bought and it failed: Black & Decker chorded drill motor died after a week. (and it was nothing heavy and even the chordless could handle it… werid)

Bought and it failed: I bought x4 2way quick clamps. 2 of them are buggered… all my other quick clamps are fine.
 
#22 ·
Forgot one;

Harbor Freight Ratchet Bar Clamp/Spreader.

Font Auto part Metal Recreation


Most of the ones I bought break upon putting any real pressure on them. Even though they have a lifetime warranty it is still a PIA to drive back to the HF store every time one breaks. The Pittsburg F-style clamps are a deal and work well.

Auto part Electric blue Metal Symbol Titanium
 

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#23 · (Edited by Moderator)
WOW! I would think that Jet mortiser would be a great tool! And I am a big fan of the Irwin clamps…

Anyway, here's my list:

Bought but never used: A craftsman drill bit sharpening jig for a bench grinder.
Bought and used once: An electric hand plane from HF
Bought and failed: Swanson TV dinner. I still have the squirts.

(The greatest woodworking show mankind has ever known is now online!)
 
#25 ·
I have several contenders for this designation. I'm going to single out my scroll saw. There is nothing wrong with the saw (and I will not identify the brand). I choose this tool because it was relatively expensive (over $600) and I never use it. It's just that I don't like to scroll. Because of what it costs, this is the most expensive tool that I do not use and, hence, my "biggest waste or money".
 
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