c/garage-and-workshop

I bought a cheap socket set from a discount store and it cost me more than the money

I needed a metric socket set for a small job on my car and grabbed one for fifteen bucks from a place that mostly sells party supplies. The chrome started flaking off the 10mm on the first use, and the next day, the ratchet just gave up and spun free. I had to stop the job, drive to a real store, and buy a proper set for sixty dollars. The real loss was the three hours I wasted, plus the frustration of having a tool fail at the worst time. Now I have a box of shiny junk that I'm too annoyed to even throw out. It sits there as a reminder. What's the worst 'bargain' tool you've ever been burned by?

2 comments

ellis.charles•7d ago

Shoutout to the guy who told me my bench grinder was set up wrong

I was shaping a chisel at my bench grinder in the garage and a buddy stopped by. He watched for a minute and said, 'You're gonna burn that steel, your tool rest is way too far from the wheel.' I had it like three inches away because I thought it gave me more room. He showed me how to adjust it to an eighth of an inch gap, which keeps the metal cooler. I moved it right then and tried again. The difference was instant, no more blueing on the edge. Has anyone else had a basic tool setup they were doing wrong for years?

2 comments

barbara399•7d ago

Warning about those cheap magnetic tool holders

I bought a set of three from a discount site for $25, and they all failed within a month, dropping my good wrenches onto the concrete. The magnets were just glued on and the backing was too thin. Has anyone found a brand that actually holds up?

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spencer_johnson22•8d ago

Visited my uncle's old shop in Akron and noticed all his sockets were still on a pegboard

He hasn't worked there in 15 years, but everything is exactly where he left it. Makes me wonder if anyone still organizes their main tools that way or if it's all drawer systems now.

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sethc12•8d ago

Cleaning out my grandpa's old toolbox and found a weird fact about ball peen hammers

I was sorting through a bunch of his old tools in the garage yesterday, and I pulled out this really worn ball peen hammer. Just for fun, I looked up when they were first made on my phone. I was shocked to find out they've been around since the late 1700s, way before I thought. It's wild to think that basic tool design hasn't changed much in over 200 years. Has anyone else stumbled on a cool bit of tool history like that?

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parker_bell•10d ago

The 20 year old floor jack in my Tacoma finally gave out this morning.

The main seal blew while I was lifting the front end to check a brake line, dumping fluid all over the concrete. I'm looking at a new 3-ton low profile model, but part of me wants to rebuild the old one. What's the most reliable brand you've bought in the last five years?

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the_henry•13d ago

Ace Garage Storage vs Vevor for motorized overhead hoists?

I need a reliable motorized lift to get my heavy bins of car parts off the ground. Been looking at those cheap Vevor hoists online and the dedicated motorized platform lifts from Ace Garage Storage. Any pros or cons to either?

3 comments