Worst tool you've ever bought?

What's the worst tool you've ever bought?

l bought a hammer from a pound shop once, it was a make that l thought l recognised but the first time l swung it in anger the head flew off and went right over the roof of our bungalow.

I never found it.

M “brought me” although she has not seen the full benefit of said decision yet
So far I am a good tool.
But I can be a real ****ty investment sometimes.

I have had a few crap adjustable spanner’s in my time, hang I will get a pic so nobody else falls into the same trap.









These are crap adjustable spanner’s..

J

Too many to mention but don’t buy any cheap mole grips no matter how good value they seem, they usually end up making the job a lot worse!

14mm prop shaft spanner

A cheap breaker bar which the joint failed on.

Is there not a golden rule, a gentleman never skimps on his tools? Always buy best quality for life long service [I exclude over priced Snap-on from this rule].

v8250 said:

Is there not a golden rule, a gentleman never skimps on his tools? Always buy best quality for life long service [I exclude over priced Snap-on from this rule].

Click to expand...

I use a Halfords tool box.you get a lifetime garentee (except wrenches) on the tools.
I do get the odd free to abuse sample from a tool manufacture.(also lifetime warranty)

v8250 said:

Is there not a golden rule, a gentleman never skimps on his tools? Always buy best quality for life long service [I exclude over priced Snap-on from this rule].

Click to expand...

I generally try and keep to this but there has been the odd occasion when I've needed something for one specific job and was pretty sure I'd never use it again. In those cases I object to paying top dollar.

Anything from Alibaba! For example: Interior trim removal tool that was incapable of removing interior trim.

Knappster said:

A cheap breaker bar which the joint failed on.

Click to expand...

Bought what I thought was a reasonable quality bar from machine Mart

The joint snapped (Pug hub nut) so I took it back, unfortunately the joint wasn't guaranteed

Bought a leak down tester once.. cheap rubbish.. better off not having one

Water pump pliers that constantly slip to widest setting, grrrrr

Hicap phill said:

I use a Halfords tool box.you get a lifetime garentee (except wrenches) on the tools.
I do get the odd free to abuse sample from a tool manufacture.(also lifetime warranty)

Click to expand...

Halfords Advanced Pro sets are brilliantly hard working tools. Here, guilty of owning three sets

kermit_rr said:

Bought a leak down tester once.. cheap rubbish.. better off not having one

Click to expand...

Did it leak...

kevstar said:

Did it leak...

Click to expand...

Worse

Tricky to be sure what the actual worst tool is, they all have their moments when the job is going wrong. Any B&Q own brand tool is pretty dire though.

A current hate is laser plastic 6 wheeled creepers. I seem to break them rapidly, I can see I’ll end up making my own soon.

I hate those hammers that seem to hit the wrong nail.

J

marjon said:

I hate those hammers that seem to hit the wrong nail.

J

Click to expand...

That happens if you buy a left handed one by mistake

Any oil filter pliers that are not channellock, I was so convinced the cheapies would do the job I ended up with at least half a dozen pairs of useless pliers, then bought the channellocks, the same chanenllocks I still use 10 years later at work with zero issues, their parrot nose/nut buster pliers are also very good.

kermit_rr said:

That happens if you buy a left handed one by mistake

Click to expand...

But I am left handed, maybe I have been buying the wrong ones.

J