mklotz
Well-Known Member
What's the most useless metalworking tool you've ever bought for yourself?
I don't mean a tool that was unfit for its purpose, like a square that wasn't square, but rather a tool that looked like something you would find useful but turned out to be something that, for whatever reason, you don't utilize.
I'll start off with an example...
I love direct reading micrometers - the type that have a mechanical digital readout operated by gears from the spindle. Easy to read and no batteries to replace. Most of these read to 0.001" so, when I saw a Fowler import...
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=307-3239&PMPXNO=7549584&PARTPG=INLMK32
that read directly to 0.0001" I had to have one. Well, it never occurred to me what that extra digit of precision would cost me in extra turns of the spindle to move from A to B. It takes so long to adjust it that I almost never use it.
I've got some other examples but, before getting into those, let's hear from some of you about the tools you regret buying.
I don't mean a tool that was unfit for its purpose, like a square that wasn't square, but rather a tool that looked like something you would find useful but turned out to be something that, for whatever reason, you don't utilize.
I'll start off with an example...
I love direct reading micrometers - the type that have a mechanical digital readout operated by gears from the spindle. Easy to read and no batteries to replace. Most of these read to 0.001" so, when I saw a Fowler import...
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=307-3239&PMPXNO=7549584&PARTPG=INLMK32
that read directly to 0.0001" I had to have one. Well, it never occurred to me what that extra digit of precision would cost me in extra turns of the spindle to move from A to B. It takes so long to adjust it that I almost never use it.
I've got some other examples but, before getting into those, let's hear from some of you about the tools you regret buying.