Tools that you can't stand?

[Geoff Simpson]

In every shop there's a tool...No, not the person working in the shop, the actual tool itself.....and that tool, in that shop...is a hated tool. 

 

You see, It doesn't matter how expensive or new that tool is, or how shiny or sharp you keep it.  It doesn't even matter what colour or what brand it is.  You simply just...hate it.

 

For me, it's the Jig Saw.  And not just "A" jigsaw...THE jigsaw.  I've owned several.  From cheapy little black and decker toss-away's to mid-line Ridgid's and Dewalts, to higher end Bosch barrel grips and what have you.  I've spent countless dollars, on countless tools, making countless cuts for countless hours....and i've come to a conclusion.......

 

I hate Jig saws.

[Jason Spring]

I would have say my least favorite tool or machine would have to be the radial arm saw. For some reason they scare the crap out of me. I always get the feeling the blade is going to catch or grab and come flying forward at me doing horrible things in the process. Don't really care for shapers either. Seeing that big cutter attatched to a giant motor with not much of a guard makes me think of fingers flying across the room...

[Ron Boehm]

The Classic hated tool is the "MIGRATING" pair of slip pliers.  You think you have opened them in the correct slot and sure enough they migrated north or south on you.  So then you grab the vise grips that grab like a cow chewing it's cud. Ehmmmmahh, oooouh I hate that.   Yes, the vice grips get that way from abuse, but the pliers are destined to prove their quality. 

 Geoff Simpson you said:

   " And not just "A" jigsaw...THE jigsaw.  "  My father was pretty good with that thing, and when it wasn't good to him ... a little swearing seemed to straighten things out.

 

Mr. Miller,  My hand hurts just thinking about it.  But now you own the marks of validity and wisdom.  A new power tool to convince the young and the arrogant that safety and is worth the small cost to work it through to the end.  Like a soldier your decorated.

[John Schaben]

You and me both.. They definitely will chase you, especially if there has been an agressive blade installed. Hook angle is very important here, recommended is less than 5* positive hook, preferably 0* to -5*.  Same goes for sliding miter saws.

Jason Spring said:

I would have say my least favorite tool or machine would have to be the radial arm saw. For some reason they scare the crap out of me. I always get the feeling the blade is going to catch or grab and come flying forward at me doing horrible things in the process. Don't really care for shapers either. Seeing that big cutter attatched to a giant motor with not much of a guard makes me think of fingers flying across the room...

[Leo Saenz]

I need a jig saw   :D

 

lol

[Geoff Simpson]

Send a note to Steve Kidd, he found one in his shop...he can hook you up ;)

Leo Saenz said:

I need a jig saw   :D

 

lol

[Jay Boutwell]

I would have to say that the most hated tool in my shop is the loose handled hammer, or as Geoff Simpson pointed out in one of his recent posts, "the knock o meter".  Although a hammer is a very handy and needed item it is also the most hated by myself.  I have had the opportunity to use one on most of my projects and have learned to respect and hate the thing at the same time.  This thing, although you think at the time of its use that you are using it correctly, something goes wrong and you smack the intended object to hard or hit it a glancing blow and bang "o" you got yourself a nice dent to add to your frustration.    Of course it will be the most prized feature of the project that you customize with the whack.  Then there comes the time when you intend to hit the nail and it is the wrong nail(s) that gets the wrath of the hammer.  You dance about and as the nail swells up leaving you  a black and blue nail,  you either say or think a few naughty words (under your breath of course) and lay fault on the hammer for being inaccurate.  After several of these experiences I have found the cause often to be from a loose handle.  The hammer, if you are lucky, will remain on the handle but then there is the saying of, "flying off the handle" so  I guess that means it is the operator that flies off the handle.  None the less it is still a love and hate thing with the hammer, depending on the out come of its application to an intended object.  You got to be careful and apply the hammer only as needed, not too hard and only as many times as needed.  I guess that is what Geoff Simpson means when he refers to it as a "knock-o-meter",  you got to meter the knock "o" you apply.

[Geoff Simpson]

On the upside of the hammer (knockometer) I find the aerodynamic properties surprisingly good.  Just last night I was able to throw my hammer through the open garage door, down my driveway and lodge it 3 feet deep in my neighbors snowbank!  Trying the same thing with my old black 'n duffer sander only managed to go through the garage door and bounce off the pavement, whilst whipping me in the head with the power cord on the way by.

 

It's a love hate thing....whoops...gotta go, anger management meeting in 15 minutes

[John Davis]

 

     I hate these new Carpenter Pencils you buy now at lumber yards, Home improvements stores!!!  Ive been a carpenter since 1966 and sharpened a bunch of carpenter pencils but the ones you get now days; it seems like the lead is Pre-broken!!!  You sharpen it and first mark, the lead breaks off!!!!!                                                             One other thing I hate is the new Carpenter pencil sharpener that sharpens the pencil point like a "Drafting Pencil"!!!!!   I'm down to to my old stand-by #2 school pencil!!! SORRY; just had to vent!!!!

[Jay Boutwell]

Geoff, what scares me about throwing the thing is that it would be my luck that it would have some of them built in automatic boom-e rang tendencies and return to me when I was not looking.   Hope the anger management  went well, so far today I have not had any problems but then again I have stayed away from the knockometer.  lol.

[Geoff Simpson]

LOL.  Good point....next time i'll shut the garage door imediately after the throw.  Turns out the Black 'n Duffer sander got me back anyhow.  Now, when i throw the power switch, i get a "zap".....looks like a new sander in my future ;)
Jay Boutwell said:

Geoff, what scares me about throwing the thing is that it would be my luck that it would have some of them built in automatic boom-e rang tendencies and return to me when I was not looking.   Hope the anger management  went well, so far today I have not had any problems but then again I have stayed away from the knockometer.  lol.

[William Steinfeldt]

John Davis said:

 

     I hate these new Carpenter Pencils you buy now at lumber yards, Home improvements stores!!!  Ive been a carpenter since 1966 and sharpened a bunch of carpenter pencils but the ones you get now days; it seems like the lead is Pre-broken!!!  You sharpen it and first mark, the lead breaks off!!!!!                                                             One other thing I hate is the new Carpenter pencil sharpener that sharpens the pencil point like a "Drafting Pencil"!!!!!   I'm down to to my old stand-by #2 school pencil!!! SORRY; just had to vent!!!!

[William Steinfeldt]

I FOUND THE KESON SHARPENER AT MENARDS, IT IS A SMALL BOX SHAPE WITH TWO SETS OF BLADES AND GUIDES THAT HOLD THE PENCIL. PLACE A PENCIL IN THE GUIDE AND SLIDE IT BACK AND FORTH, REPEAT USING THE SECOND GUIDE AND THE PENCIL IS SHARPENED ON ALL FOUR SIDES LEAVING A WIDE STRONG LEAD. ACE HARDWARE ALSO SELLS THREE HARDNESSES OF cARPENTER PENCILS. I HOPE YOU FIND ONE IT REALY SAVES ON SHARPENING AND REDUCES BREAKAGE ALMOST TO NONE. I LIKE IT ALOT.