"broken" stuff you keep using....

kinda reminds me....

"be careful with that axe. its a family heirloom. its on its second head and its third handle"

 

I have a heavy extension cord, have to tie the female end in a knot for it to stay "on". But it doesn't trip the breaker if I want to weld outside, so...

I actually bought a replacement end today at HF. It's not american made, but then again neither are many extension cords.

 

The plastic "collar lock" broke on mine, so I use a hoseclamp to keep it set to the correct torque while using it. My big old ballpein hammer, handle broke, welded 3/4" pipe to head for handle. I've picked tools out of trash because I thought I could make it useful again.

 

I have a Williams Super ratchet That has taken the same route as Mr. Beaners.
Got it as a gift from my neighbor when I started wrenchin. Ittl NEVER leave.

 

yea. like all of my three eighths drive ratchets that i could get replaced for free, but havnt done it.

 

We had one of those at a place I worked at It would shoot a 2" spark .

 

To tell the truth ,other than a few well used impact sockets showing wear ,all my tools are in good shape.So when I fuck up I can't blame it on the tools

 

Does my body count?

Actually have one of those that I bought in 1962...pointer type indicator still works but the plastic handle broke off years ago. Been going to make a metal handle for years, but haven't got there yet. Also have a variable speed Dremel tool that only has one speed, but still works so I can't throw it away.

 

My list is much the same as has been mentioned. I make my living with tools so I try too keep them in good condition.

One pair of Channellocks that don't always lock right.

A few flat blade screw drivers.

I finally threw away 4 lawn mowers that needed constant repairs and bought a new one which is a POS. Shoulda just fixed a couple of the old ones.

Two 4 HP Craftsman compressors that need new pumps.
One 1/2 HP Sanborn compressor that needs a new pump. I would have pitched it but it has a new motor.
A 5HP vertical tank compressor with a rust hole in the tank.

I think I finally threw away most of my aviation snips with broken springs. Might have a pair or two left to get rid of.

When a tool breaks down on the job I usually don't take the time to fix it on the jobsite. I just replace it and put the broken tool in the repair pile. Air nailers and staplers are the worst culprit. I have 25-30 of them now. I think all but three are in good working order. Every couple of years I go through and fix a bunch of stuff or pitch it if its beyond help.

I have a Lincoln welder/generator that needs ignition work. I don't need it for the welder and I've got two other generators so fixing it is pretty low on the priority list.

Craftsman roller cabinet with several broken spring clips on the drawer slides.

 

The worst part of using old, rusty, broken and just plain shitty tools is they are DANGEROUS!!! Yet we just keep on using them until someone gets hurt. Read this collection of wisdom, went home took all the screwdrivers out of my tool box inspected them and threw 20 away, kept two. Off to Canadian tire tomorrow to replace the ones I chucked. Sockets and ratchets are next!

 

The problem with keeping worn or repaired items for too long is that if you ever HAVE to repair them, you can't get parts. Perhaps we should all have a "Wall of Honor" some place for stuff that we managed to wring every last bit of work out of? Gary

 

"wall of honor" I like that, when ever we hurt or injure ourselves with a tool that should have been thrown away we can put it on the "wall of honor" that way we always have the opportunity to do it one more time. That is absolutely brilliant and hillarious

 

My bank account...

 

I've a portable no-name air compressor that is missing a good inch of insulation on the wires by the plug (pulled it too far, once), so every time I plug it in, I have to grip the plug real careful, 'cause it sparks right behind it. Every single time.

Otherwise, works fine and apparently I can't be bothered to spend 15 seconds wrapping the wires up or fixing the cord.

 

I have a 20 year old Matco air angle die grinder. I keep patching it up, it keeps soldiering on. I threw it out last month.

It stayed in the trash 2 days. I dug it out and reworked the head. It's back in use again.

 

I have an ancient tap and die set that I bought when I was young, dumb and poor. I still reach for it when I can't get the new stuff to work.

The other day I was looking at it and discovered that there are no original taps in it, I guess that they have all been broken and replaced in the last hundred years or so.

 

HF heavy duty chop saw that someone gave me after it fell off a table. I ran it "plug and pray" for a couple years before fabbing a new handle and putting the switch back on...STUPID!

Kalamazoo 2X48 belt sander that will electrocute you when sanding aluminum (but only aluminum...). You can pull a 1" spark back from the belt. I've grounded it 3 ways from Sunday and it makes no difference. So I use heavy gloves...unless I forget.

The wife's Jeep daily has had a pinion oil seal leak for a year and a half... I'm not proud of this; but if I pull the nut, I'm gonna go through the whole setup process again. Easier to dump some oil in it once in awhile. You can literally SMELL it coming.

 

I've got a hand-me-down Coleman air compressor that someone lopped the ground electrode & filed the polarized plug down to fit in older outlets. Oh, and the pressure regulator is bad, so its basically only good for certain projects. I need to scrap it...but it still works for now.

I also have a 20 inch Ariens "frankenmower" that I rebuilt piece by piece. Its the best of three garbage-picked lawnmowers all pieced together with a new blade. The wheels aren't adjustable, the bagger leaks, and the handles have been broken & welded back together a few times. It cuts better than any new mower out there and its tough as nails. I've loaned it to neighbors when their new ones break down And I'm 100% serious.

 

A sawsall with no guard what a pain in the ass. It will shake your teeth out of your head if it gets caught1

 

most of em.my garage door is falling apart,i really need to spend a day on it.

 

I have some tools like that,Torque wrench 5 lbs off,Over torque by the 5 lbs,A couple of screwdrivers .No broken wrenches though ,Or sockets ,My plug on my welding cord 220 ,Im gonna retape it before I weld again ,Plastic has been broken on the backside since the day I started using it ,Its an extension cord made out of 6 guage wire ...I have it unplugged right now ,Only danger is plugging it in or unplugging it.....

 

x-2!!!!!!!!

 

A snapon ratchet that the ball has fallen out of the square drive so the socket falls off when I pick it up. So I retrieve the socket from the floor and think, next time I see a snapon truck,,,

 

well I have a few but the one i can think of right now. One of our dewalt angle grinders finally went out.So went to lowes about two months ago and bought a new one with the extended warranty. After one day of use it started throwing oil out of the top and would get all over everything. used it like that for a few weeks, then said well i have the warranty so i will go exchange it for a new one WRONG. They dont exchange them anymore. they send them off back to dewalt for repair and they only pick up on thursdays. As it was a monday i said well i bring it back. Still have yet to do it.

 

my snow shovel. the plastic strip on the leading edge wore off so now its metal on concrete. its like a grinding stone, every year the shovel gets smaller. i even replaced the rivets that got ground off that keep it attatched to the handle. every year its the same thing. i look at the price of new shovels at the hardware store and think there is no way im paying that for a shovel.

 

Years ago I was helping a friend do some welding. His tig torch was just a piece of crap. After 5 minutes of the hi frequency biting me I grabbed the torch by the cable and slammed it on the table. Of course he said What the f--k I can't fix that and I said exactly....

 

My vice broke and I welded it. the jaws are worn out and the ratchet is bent and won't tighten all the way down. I still keep using it instead of buying anew one!

 

My 54 Ford.. it's all sorts of broken and I drive the piss out of it

 

Yes, the garage door is the major thing I need to get fixed. The coil spring broke a few years ago and it is a bitch to lift. I have a 8x8 wood block that I kick under it after getting it off the floor, that allows me to get two hands under it and lift it up then put a 2x4 under it to hold it up, you know the Buggs Bunny rabbit trap type deal. I remember when it still worked, it has Sears garage door opener.

 

My plasma has a broken ground clamp, its been that way for years. I've just been laying it on or under what ever I'm cutting. The sad thing is I have a replacement clamp, just haven't taken the 2 minutes to change it over....

Don't get me started on my Clark forklift from the '50s