"My "Not So" tools" Topic

Anyone have any "not so" tools?

I mean like my warped carpenter's square.
It is off sqaure by an 1/8" over the 18" run. so, it is my "Not so Square" which is "workable" for me, but especially troublesome when I have help working on a project:

"Hand me your square!"
"Um. OK, but I have to warn you…"

I have a 4' level with various thicknesses of quickset on one side (having used it to help line up tile jobs). Again, for me, I know how to use it, but for others "Not So" much…

Finally, one of the rails on my wet was is a but warped, so the "square end" of the slide drawer, "Not so" much…

Anyone else have tools like this in their quiver?

No, we either fix them, clean them up, or toss 'em and buy new, non-warped versions. We like quality tools, and working with something crappy that's "not so", as you put it, is more hassle than it's worth.

I agree with Jana on this, quality tools speed up the job and make it much easier to do quality work. I'd suggest you either clean up or discard those tools and get new good ones. It will make your life a lot easier.

I 3d Jana. Good tools made a huge difference in speed, safety, and quality of the finished product.

I've found that some "not so" tools are actually very useful, not in the purpose they were designed for but can be almost the perfect thing for something else.

You can bridge some gaps, but a square that isn't?

I am a Union carpenter of 34 years and I can guarentee you that every carpenter in the world has something in his box that's a "not so" tool.

A level with (only) one bubble missing, the trusty old hammer that will no longer pull finish nails, the square that is almost too rusty to see the marks and numbers, the wire cutters that won't cut wire if placed all the way back in the jaw.

I could go on and on. So please don't give me that "No, we either fix them, clean them up, or toss 'em and buy new…" speach. Every Carpenter I've ever met has them… pphalen is not the exception.

The "Not so" square is out of Carpentry, only used as a guide for cutting magnetic sheeting. Although, sometimes it gets used when I can't find the "square" square.

And the level works, as long as I use the "good" side.

And what Skipper John said…

the wire cutters that won't cut wire if placed all the way back in the jaw.

Or won't cut where you all ready "Blew out" the cutter (i.e., Despite any precautions, the wire ended up being "live")

Gee John thats nice that you know so much about the other people here that you can say they aren't quite telling the truth when they say THEY fix, clean or discard tools that don't do what they should.

what about the chisel that used to be a flat head screwdriver, or the plumbers wrench that moonlights as a hammer, or the nail set that used to be an ice pick?

I agree with UltraOrk. My favorite "about-the-house" tools are my not-so-chisel, my not-so-screwdrivers and my not-so-hammer. Precision tools are for precision jobs, but there's no replacement to a chisel that I don't have to worry about busting up.

We all use not-so-brushes for the tough jobs. I use my not so utility knives to lay putty and scrape things on my miniature bases.

I generally buy the cheap version of an unfamiliar tool the first time. Years later something convinces me to buy a replacement of reasonable quality: it breaks, its cutting edge is notched, it warped in my unventillated garage. I take better care of the new tool.

So yes, I have a level I got at the dollar store, that is only 21", not 48". I have screwdrivers with heads that are deteriorating. Etc.

or the plumbers wrench that moonlights as a hammer,

More a question of which tool *hasn't* been used as a hammer!

I have a nail set that became my all in one hole punch for the plastic anchors in drywall. Beat the heck out of dragging the drill and bits and stuff out. A quick tap with the hammer pop in the wall anchor a few turns of the screw and TADA! Picture, shelf, decoration is hung. I also had a tape mesure that I had to remove the first three inches off and replaced the tab. It is great but remember to subtract three.

Tabletop

You need to move that tape to your gaming table…to lend to your opponents :-)

I had a tape measure with the little tab had a +/- 1/8" variance, depending on whether it was anchored and I was "pulling" on it, or agains a solid surface, and I was "pushing" on it.

Guilty. I tend to use whatever is at hand. This is rarely the 'proper' tool for the job.

Everything becomes a hammer when it no longer can do it's intended job well.