What Was Your Worst Power Tool You Ever Owned??????

[Akita]

:mad: I once owned a DeWalt Dw-160 Right Angle drill. Ran hot,had no reverse and even worse no variable speed. Had it serviced at a Dewalt service center and it still ran ultra hot!!!!!A total piece of garbage. I gave it to my Father-in law. I replaced it w/ a Bosch 1132vsr Right Angle drill w/ reverse,variable speed,cool running motor, and a speed dial to preset speed. I love my liitle Bosch Angle drill!!!!!Please share your horror piece O'crap power tool stories!!!!

[Akita]

:confused: Bought when Hechingers went out of business before I knew alot about tools. I now know variable speed and reverse are important. Even though I paid only $60 for it on clearance;it was no buy!!!!!:o Hard to believe DeWalt still makes this model. If there are any redeeming qualities in this drill-Please please let me know!!!!!!:rolleyes:

[BadgerDave]

Years ago, when I first got married, I bought this no-name 1/2" electric drill for odd jobs around the house. At that time I wasn't doing a whole lot of odd jobs around the house so it wasn't used all that often. After a couple of years of very limited use it just up and died one day. I doubt if it had more than a total of 5 minutes of actual run time on it.

[oldslowchevy]

de walt saw dw537 brand new paid 160 for it took it to the job opened the box put on the blade pluged it in pulled the trigger ........... nothing?
de walt plam sander 3 weeks old pow wires or something but it smoked real good.
de walt drill with a keyed chuck(corded) tightend bit in chuck pulled the trigger watch chuck spin across room as drill is still in my hand.
to say that i have had bad luck with dewalt is an understatement, but i know others that have had nothing but good luck with them

[Josh]

My dad bought me a 14.4 volt craftsman drill about 6 years ago. Just found it when cleaning out the basement. I remember after about a month the battery last for about 15 screws. Absolute piece of crap (no insult to my dads gift.. it was just a lemon). I think I am just gonna throw the thing out instead of trying to find new batteries.

Josh

[BigThom]

Makita:

mini cordless circular saw. When new the battery would die after a 6" cut in 1/2" masonite. Used it once then tossed it.

reciprocating saw (sawzall type). collar broke on first use. Used it once then gave it away and bought a real tool.

angle grinder (three of them). switches would last for a dozen or so uses. years ago only mfr with a diamond blade. tossed them all. now we can get diamond blades for other grinders.

[smorris]

$69 POS Craftsman 18" scroll saw. That sucker vibrated so hard it would make a .... (oh, nevermind...)

No matter what I did to try and clamp it or balance it, it would vibrate the work piece all over the place. My fingers would go numb after just a couple of minutes. I sold it for $25 and was glad to be rid of it. I replaced it with a 200# Delta 24" scroll saw and have never been happier!

[TomP]

My dad bought me a 14.4 volt craftsman drill about 6 years ago. Just found it when cleaning out the basement. I remember after about a month the battery last for about 15 screws. Absolute piece of crap (no insult to my dads gift.. it was just a lemon). I think I am just gonna throw the thing out instead of trying to find new batteries.

Josh

I know Sears has made alot of different 14.4v formats, but if yours is the Ryobi version, the 16.8v batts can be made to fit and they work great.

[CheekyMonkeyWrench]

12V Black and Decker drill with the post style battery.

It's basically a glorified screwdriver, as it's limited to drilling and driving in styrofoam.

In addition, fitting the battery in the charger can take a half hour somethimes (have to open up the charger and fix contacts).

I tried drilling impregnated wood with it one time.....what a mistake.

Although I have found it's calling in life: piloting holes for stainless nails on clear, beveled cedar siding.

[American and Proud]

Out of all my tool choices over the years, i'd have to say it's the Ridgid Bandsaw, the vibration is HORRIBLE my Delta 16 inch variable speed scroll saw vibrates less.:(

[maverick17]

not so much a power tool, but i have one of those mini power screwdrivers made by kobalt. The drill performs as it should, but I have had to return 2 of them because the a/c adapter dies. And it doesnt have a compartment for the phillips and flathead bits.

[oldslowchevy]

rotozip!!!!!!!!!

[oldslowchevy]

crapsman
"twin cutter"

[oldslowchevy]

DeWait:rolleyes:
cordless
is
worthless!

[oldslowchevy]

i think that about covers it
:D

[PLUMBER RICK]

crapsman
"twin cutter"

i'll second and third that:eek:

rick.

[PLUMBER RICK]

[quote=BigThom]Makita:s

mini cordless circular saw. When new the battery would die after a 6" cut in 1/2" masonite. Used it once then tossed it.

i thought it would work good for a plunge cut in cabinets to clearance for pipes. wrong, too slow rpm and it would kick.

reciprocating saw (sawzall type). collar broke on first use. Used it once then gave it away and bought a real tool.

both the cordless mini and electric are junk. but back in the day they were the only co. that a had a decent cordless selection. the corded one is the one i would now take under a flooded house and leave it there when finished.


now for the big shocker,

the ridgid k-40 gpf snake. a $600. paper weight:eek: used it a few times and now it sits in the shop collecting dust. i would feel guilty selling it to anyone.

hate to think what the new auto spin will do. at $130. i don't think much.

rick.

[Newman]

12 volt ridgid drill - batteries suck a$$

[Velosapien]

Ryobi detail sander. I actually didn't buy it but sort of permanently borrowed it. I thought it looked like a great idea until i tried it. The sanding pad doesn't actually move. The whole tool just vibrates and thats supposed to do the sanding action. Uterly worthless tool. Its easier to turn it off and manually brush it back and forth to do the sanding. I found out why the owner never asked asked for it back.

[Velosapien]

oh and i almost forgot. Dremel moto tools. FOr such an incredibly handy and useful tool they are built like trash, almost puposely disposable. All plastic and cheap. I've burnt out or ground down three dremels. I would be willing to pay over twice as much for one if they were just better made.

[bretwalda]

I'll ditto the dremel. I've gone through three as well.

You'd think I'd learn after #2

Best tool value wise. The $14 air brad/staple nailer from Harbor Freight. As long as you use name brand brads like PC its a champ. HF brand brads are too soft and jam up.

[Orange Apron]

I dont know if theres a worst power tool that Ive bought, but working at Home Depot I see some crap.

This year Black and Decker came out with the automatic adjusting crescent wrench. Push a button on the side and the jaws tighten/ or loosen up. There still is a thumbscrew but Im sure people will think they can automatically adjust it and be fine, not round bolts off.

B & D also has another "clever" device for this years Christmas season. An automatically adjusting C-Clamp. Much the same and the above crescent wrench.

Now though, the marketing geniuses at B & D will begin advertising these things like crazy, maybe even get Bob Vila to promote it. Then all the (getting stereotypical here, my apoligies) women will think that it is the thing that their husband has always wanted. They will rush out to get it and be mad when we are out of them, because B&D didnt plan ahead and they are on backorder everywhere, (I wouldnt blame them for not producing enough with this chincy stuff). Then come January, the backlog will be filled and the stores will have them up to their ears, and not be able to give them away. Same thing has happened with the B&D Bullseye, the B&D autotape in previous years with Home Depot.

Im sorry, what was the original question?:D

[CWSmith]

Undoubtedly, the Craftsman 6.5 amp (315.17480) single-speed router that I purchases on a whim back in 1978. It was on sale as I recall and I picked it up for some future project. I put it away and after about a year or so, my Dad borrowed it and was the first to use it for some laminate trimming. He returned it after a couple of weeks saying it was a "b!tch" to use, because the collet would slip on anything heavier.

It had some nice features like handle mounted trigger, micrometer-type depth control and even a light to illuminated the cutting area. But the little 1/4-inch collet was simply nothing more that a split ring and nut that tightened down over the drilled out shaft. It wouldn't grip the bit shaft more than 1/4-inch (linear) and you simply couldn't get it tight enough to keep from slipping. I even replaced the collet assembly and the new one didn't do any better. I still have the router and it's practically like new, and maybe someday I'll find some secret to a more secure collet. But for now it's pretty worthless and a reminder to try these things out immediately so I can still return them when they don't work properly.

CWS

[cellardoor]

I dont know if theres a worst power tool that Ive bought, but working at Home Depot I see some crap.

This year Black and Decker came out with the automatic adjusting crescent wrench. Push a button on the side and the jaws tighten/ or loosen up. There still is a thumbscrew but Im sure people will think they can automatically adjust it and be fine, not round bolts off.

B & D also has another "clever" device for this years Christmas season. An automatically adjusting C-Clamp. Much the same and the above crescent wrench.

Now though, the marketing geniuses at B & D will begin advertising these things like crazy, maybe even get Bob Vila to promote it. Then all the (getting stereotypical here, my apoligies) women will think that it is the thing that their husband has always wanted. They will rush out to get it and be mad when we are out of them, because B&D didnt plan ahead and they are on backorder everywhere, (I wouldnt blame them for not producing enough with this chincy stuff). Then come January, the backlog will be filled and the stores will have them up to their ears, and not be able to give them away. Same thing has happened with the B&D Bullseye, the B&D autotape in previous years with Home Depot.

Im sorry, what was the original question?:D

some home depot associates think alike huh? that is the exact thing i thought when i saw that wingstack come in. I've played with the new autowrench and it is really a bad built tool. The slop in the adjustable jaw from side to side is huge. It's a worthless tool that is priced right in order to entice sales from grabbags and relatives who don't give a thought. For those who aren't in retail this won't make sense but it is for 2006 christmas what the B&D auto tape was for christmas 2005. My store will sell 1000 of them but i won't be proud of it.

[jpolicke@optonline.net]

Absolute mind-numbing piece of garbage. Yeah, this vac sucks, all right, just not in the way you buy a vacuum for. I've checked for blockages, replaced the filter, even opened up the blower housing, there's no visible reason it has such lousy suction. I held on to it for too long to take back to Horrid Depot so I'm dumping it for ten bucks. It was either that or use the drum for a planter. Replaced with a Craftsman that cost less and is vastly superior in every way.
Design is totally amateurish. You can't even pick it up without the (&^%! wheels falling off!
Last Ridgid electric product I ever intend to buy.

[CheekyMonkeyWrench]

throwing it away....lol. not too bright, it has a lifetime warranty. wonder if you actually ever owned one.

[Akita]

Absolute mind-numbing piece of garbage. Yeah, this vac sucks, all right, just not in the way you buy a vacuum for. I've checked for blockages, replaced the filter, even opened up the blower housing, there's no visible reason it has such lousy suction. I held on to it for too long to take back to Horrid Depot so I'm dumping it for ten bucks. It was either that or use the drum for a planter. Replaced with a Craftsman that cost less and is vastly superior in every way.
Design is totally amateurish. You can't even pick it up without the (&^%! wheels falling off!
Last Ridgid electric product I ever intend to buy. I have the 2 in 1 16600. I have replaced the switch(free from ridgid). The switch was the only maintenance!!!!I use a cleanstream filter w/ it. Mine has excellent suction. I even vacuum the mulch out of the truck bed that we cannot get w/ a shovel and it does not clog. Granted I like my WAP 840A better but the big Ridgid has not let me down!!!!!

[Akita]

Craftsman vacs and Ridgid vacs are quite similar as they are both made by emerson(to the best of my knowledge).

[VASandy]

Had a router once that had all the screws loose on the inside...not a woodworking router, but a $3,000 high-end network router to use in a hosting company....You'd think these guys could use a screwdriver!!! Immediately voided the warranty and screwed the boards down properly, then called the company to let them know cr*p doesn't go. :p

For woodworking tools, the worst I've had so far is a Bosch powered plane. It's uncomfortable to use, unweildy, and made of rice-cake plastic. It's lost somewhere in the shop now and I don't care to find it. I've since figured out how to sharpen my hand planer blades. I'd rather use a hand plane than that thing any day!!!

[westlife007]

in my eyes,B & D,Bosch all get praise from users,but today I saw they are not always have good performance,I think this is resulted in the OEM business in China,which they have the price down a little but has a bigger reduction in quality.
More and more tools are being made by China,as far as I learn a chop saw made by China-Ken will supply to Milwaukee as Grabberman told me.

But at the same time,it means the Chinese made tools quality has big improvement.In my understanding,the highest quality Chinese tools are near 80% of brand tools like Bosch,Dewalt,etc.They still have a long way to catch up with Bosch,Dewalt in quality and service.There are over 1000 companies in China who produce power tools but only few companies that have the capability to catch up with Bosch,Dewalt,the ratio would be 0.3%,China-ken is the one among them.

Christmas is coming,you guys who have good ideas of buying my new friend in MD a right gift?

By the way,I am in Shanghai,welcome any of you visit Shanghai.
Enclosed is the thrid highest building in Shanghai and the highest building is being built(so far 70thfloor is finished).

[papadan]

Worst tool ever was a Skil tablesaw. 8 months of light use and up in smoke. Trashed it and bought my TS2400 Never regretted buying the 2400, use it daily. Yo OrangeApron, My wife hates B.V. worse than I do. She says he doesn't know anything, just walks around talking to the people that do. LMAO

[Disaster]

Circa 1970's. Bought a bright yellow plastic bodied Rockwell circular saw to replace a trusty old Sears Craftsman that had developed a nasty bearing whine. Was the middle of the summer...working hard on the deck of a new house. After maybe 15 minutes of use, in the middle of a long rip cut, the saw starts pulling to the left...I'm fighting it when I notice the chips seem strangely "brighter." The saw literally melts in my hand and begins to saw through it's own chassis.

[Directorate]

Black and Decker Jigsaw. I STILL HAVE IT!! (to remind me what not to do).

Get this folks;

Bought it new. First shot out of ther box, I am cutting 3/4 inch particleboard (to help the boy with his speaker project). I have had several Jigsaws over the years and picked this one up because I was out of town visiting and it was needed to cut 2 nine inch holes. 1/2 way into the second hole, the trigger was getting mighty warm so I let it rest. I was not pushing it either..letting the teeth do the cutting. After it cooled, it was LOCKED solid. I used a coping saw (rough work there) to finish it and boxed the saw back up. I inadvertantly 'forgot' to take it back to the store that it was purchased from and decided to take it apart and see what caused the problem. The dog on the shaft broke off causing the gears to bind.

Ruined.

Send it to B/D to get it repaired...Sorry, it was abused and dissassembled, NO WARRANTEE.

Worst 65 dollars I have spent.

Black & Decker = BD = "Bad deal"

Secondly,

Skil Circular saw. Side play with the main shaft (lots) after a few cuts. Send back for repair. Repair good. 20 or so cuts later, side play. Not just a little..I am talking blade binding side play with cuts more than 2 inches.

RUINED.

Say NO to cheap tools.

Third,

Cheap drill bits. Not worth the powder it would take to blow them up.

About 10 years ago..I went premium with the tools. This is the first time I have really looked back at the memories.

I will admit that the cheaper harbor freight 18 volt power drills are really a great deal for the home hobbiest. Pros know what to really buy to get the job done.