What Tool(s) Do You Regret Buying

[Knottscott]

There are a lot more that regret "not" buying, but I was bitterly disappointed with my Oldham 60T finishing blade....it performed like a $5 blade and lasted about as long as one.

My B&D jigsaw and belt sander were both real pigs...it wouldn't have cost much more to buy a real version of each tool, had I waited for a good sale or looked into refurbs.

[toolguy1000]

just my now sold 18" jet band saw. very, very average tool but the company's tech support was absolutely inadequate. oddly, every tool i own, a lot of which i didn't need when i got them, have helped me out of a jam at some point. so as long as i an get something for pennies on the dollar and i think i might need it sometime, i get it when the opportunity presents itself.

[cabinetman]

Big mistake buying HF nail set kit (3). Too soft, they got 86'd.

.

[dbhost]

Thanks for the reminder!

Arrow electric finish nailer. Doesn't drive the nail but 3/4 of the way in...

Electric stapler. Usually doesn't have the power to drive the staple all the way in.
Blade stabilizer. Waste of money, on the BT3 at least. Reduces cut depth and doesn't really improve anything.

[phrog]

Thanks for the reminder!

Arrow electric finish nailer. Doesn't drive the nail but 3/4 of the way in...

Buy shorter nails.

[cabinetman]

Thanks for the reminder!

Arrow electric finish nailer. Doesn't drive the nail but 3/4 of the way in...

It does work good for installing ceiling tiles (the T&G type).

.

[pelligrini]

Another one I still have is a Slick Plane. Just don't think it is too slick. In my hands, it tends to tear the wood. Maybe, it's just me.

Yea I have a slick plane too, I hate it. Glad I got it on a special.

I have an inexpensive Ryobi biscuit jointer, I would have really regretted getting a high dollar one.

The cheapo craftsman handheld belt sander I bought is a dud. Every once in a while I'll try to use it for some odd task. I regret it every time I try to use it.

I regretted buying the electric power washer I used to have, especially when the rotating jet head started to not work. I hope whoever stole it hates it worse than I did.

[LCHIEN]

Buy shorter nails.

one-legged staples perhaps.

[BigguyZ]

Makita Biscuit Joiner- I think I got it from CL. Never use it.
Any screw extractor set other than the grabbit- they never worked.
Cable stapler- used to attach Romex cable to studs and joists. The staples are flimsy, and it's not much faster than using a standard staple.
An old Montgomery Wards benchtop jointer- Got it while picking up a CL buy.
HF carving chisels- Never use them, and they're absolute junk.
HF sand paper- not a tool, but I never thought sand paper could work so poorly.
Any electrical non-contact voltage tester that covers multiple ranges- they are always WAY too sensitive, even when you try to adjust it. You would have it a foot away from two wires, and it'd be set off. Useless in trying to find the hot wire in a circuit.

I'm sure there's more. Pretty much mostly impulse buys. However- I have more tools that I'm glad I bought, sat on, then had readily available when I suddenly needed it.

[phrog]

HF sand paper- not a tool, but I never thought sand paper could work so poorly.

You can use it in your outhouse.

[gsmittle]

Ryobi three-base router kit. I've used only the plunge base for years now. Skil jigsaw that I bought at a garage sale for $5.00. Some no-name Forstner bits—just threw them out yesterday. Some REALLY cheap chisels I bought at Builder's Square before they were eaten by HD. (They're my loaners now.) Tiny little Kunz rabbet plane that I spend more time fiddling with than using.

g.

[Bruce Cohen]

All those tools taking up room and gathering dust that I either used once,and then threw it across the shop or never used at all.
Think they could bury them with me. Or maybe I'll will them to some one I don't like.
Actually, that's not a bad idea to get rid of the "dopey stuff" we've all bought. Will them to that neighbor who constantly trys to borrow tools, those are the ones I'll ever lend.

Bruce

[sailor55330]

For me:

A Roto-Zip (was a gift) that I rarely use because it's scary hard to control. I have had some luck with it for cutting large circles in 1/2" or less MDF, but that doesn't really happen to often.

HF countersink bit set. None of the bits are straight. It works great as long as you don't mind the fact that the coutnersinks are oval. Then again, it was $4.99 on sale, so I can't really complain.

Belt Sander---I'm sure someday I'll find a reason I can't live without it.

One of those plastic miter boxes. I needed to cut one angle and didn't have my CMS with me. It was $9.99 including the backsaw. Oh Yeah, it was awesome! But on the bright side, I now have a great pruning saw

[jseklund]

I love tools. All tools. Even if I don't use them, I just love having them. When there comes a time to use it (after 10 years on a shelf), people say "I can't believe you have one of those" or "I've never known about that" and I get the job done in 2 minutes that they thought would be great. It's the ultimate.

Harbor Freight has finally come to Cape Cod and I realized I have a problem...

[LinuxRandal]

I would have to admit the Gorilla Gripper was worthless for what I bought it for (aluminum diamondplate sheets). There are other tools that I have bought and used less then I thought, and then sold off. Others I have bought cheaply enough, that I don't mind using them infrequently. When I do, they will go into a garage sale. It isn't just about the tool, it is also about the learning skills and what works for me.
I bought a Rotozip from a friend who used it for a few remodels (it is basically a drywall tool). I gave $10 for it, found out about the recall (which was on the part that was broken) and they sent me a brand new one and had me send in the old motor. I've kept it for two jobs that instead of doing it ourselves, got hired out. I think that $10 has saved my back a lot more.