what do you do with really bad tools?

[Turaj]

I keep them around, hoping to someday do something with them. This is why I have so much junk.....

Now that you mentioned it, I have the same problem

[Wood_workur]

Putting on the member classifieds is almost a sin! Epically with a tool that bad.

[BobSch]

I was looking for a "Give to neighbor" choice. I had a neighbor who wouldn't buy a tool for any reason — he'd rather borrow (and not return) everyone else's. He ended up with a lot of my junk.

[just4funsies]

Bob, that's kinda the answer I gave, except I use my son to dispose of my junk tools, rather than the neighbors, who not only return my tools, but CLEAN them as well.

[kwgeorge]

Well I could not vote honestly as you neglected my answer to this problem. I seem to just end up storing them forever. I won’t give them away as I would not wish them on anyone and I certainly would not want anyone to get injured with this crap! I think also you should have requested a list of everyone’s junk.

So I will list the ones that I can think of that are currently in storage;

1) Delta Shaper (Biggest POS Delta ever put there name on)
2) Craftsmen 12” Lathe (Bad bearing just did not know it till a year later)
3) Craftsmen 3 wheel Bandsaw (Good luck cutting a strait line with this)
4) Craftsmen Router (Vibrates like a Jackhammer)
5) Skill Jig Saw (Wont hold a blade, they pop out when cutting)
6) Ryobi Circular Saw (Bearings Died on second use now blade wobbles)
7) Porter Cable 690 Plunge Router (Will plunge if you stand on it!)
8) Misc. Chinese tools that just did not work out so well.

Well that is a partial list of “Storage Items” that I currently have.

[Russianwolf]

My answer isn't there

I make them stand in the corner until they learn to behave themselves.



I'm pretty picky with tools. The couple that I have that I consider "bad" were gifts. I keep meaning to sell them on ebay/craig's and the reason being is that they aren't "bad", I just never use them.

My short list is:

Delta VS Scroll Saw - I learned can't cut thick hardwoods the way I wanted to. Need to sell.

Delta 9" Band Saw - it's okay for small projects but I got the 12" Hitachi. Need to sell.

Ryobi Router that came apart - I'm working on salvaging the motor for a 100% fixed router station for a roundover/champher bit.

[mdutch]

Yep, like Just4Funsies, those tools are my "loaners".

It discourages repeat offenders!

[Deadhead]

I go all office space on them.

They probably don't bust up as nicely as that printer, though.

This is timely - just this weekend, I finally took my old, chrome, non-working Craftsman deathsaw, er, I mean jigsaw with an on/off switch (no trigger) to the dump with the intention of setting it next to the 'Metals' bin knowing full well that it would find a home before the day was over.
Someone was stalking it before I could even back up to the bin. I told him it probably just needed brushes, but it was a good enough excuse for me to justify a Bosch barrell grip.

[JimD]

I forgot one use for my "useless or worse" tool pile. I enjoy dreaming up a job I would not use a good tool on just so I can dig out one of the useless. For instance, when I put a new zone on my sprinkler system, the best idea I could come up with for the control wire was to route a dado into a wooden divider in the driveway and then cover it up with aother thin board. I had to take off about 1/4 inch all the way across and then make the groove for the wire. I knew I would hit concrete and I did. My junk Sears Craftsman router was just the tool for this and a 1/2 inch wide 1/4 shank bit (liked to slip in the Craftsman collet) was just the bit. When it hit the concrete I was almost happy.

I did feel a little bad when I used my old Wen circular saw (remember that brand?) to cut a hole in a concrete block wall. It required a nudge to get spinning last time I turned it on. It made the hole, however. I also had a Wen chain saw that would cut when it wanted to. A long extension cord (maybe 200 feet of 16 gauge) finally did it in. It always smoked some when it was working but it really did not like the voltage at the end of this over-long undersized extension cord. I decided I did not like the chain saw enough to care. I had to do the last little bit with a bow saw but I don't have to use that silly Wen electric saw anymore.

Jim

[ted van halen]

I "loan" mine to somebody that will not return them. I can then justify new purchase w/ added sympathy $ multiplier as a bonus because "that dang (insert offending parties name here) didn't return my "favorite tool".... sigh. I guess I'lll have to see if I can find another one I as good as that one. It'll be tough though."

[kshoemaker]

I do what I've always done since I was a kid: I take it apart. What the heck, its busted anyway. And with my years of experience I'm usually able to squeeze another 5 minutes of play outta those garbage RC toys the kids can't live without .

I've been able to keep a heartbeat (minus the reverse) in my very first Craftsman drill that I bought in high school. Going on 20-some years now, which I know isn't long compared w/a "good" tool, but tossing it would just hurt too much.

[scorrpio]

I can't really answer that question as I heavily research every tool I buy, and make sure to buy only good tools. I educated my friends and family long ago that since they don't know what's in my toolbox, and most have no knowledge of tools, they should just give me Lowe's or HD gift cards.

When a tool breaks and cannot be repaired with less effort and expense than buying new, it gets trashed. Can't recall though when was last time I trashed a tool - as I said, I only buy good ones, and they tend to last.

[BobSch]

I can't really answer that question as I heavily research every tool I buy, and make sure to buy only good tools. I educated my friends and family long ago that since they don't know what's in my toolbox, and most have no knowledge of tools, they should just give me Lowe's or HD gift cards.

When a tool breaks and cannot be repaired with less effort and expense than buying new, it gets trashed. Can't recall though when was last time I trashed a tool - as I said, I only buy good ones, and they tend to last.

And what guage shotgun do you use to keep people from borrowing those tools?

[leehljp]

And what guage shotgun do you use to keep people from borrowing those tools?

He could paint them pink. No one would want to steal a pink tool!

[Bruce Cohen]

Giving them to my BIL solves at least two functions, getting them out of my garage and a sadistic pleasure of unloading them on a relative ("you can pick you friends, but not your relatives").

Bruce