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Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/06/2013 11:37 AM

Many of us have a drawer, shelf, or garage full of stuff that we just had to have but never use. Or maybe some of the stuff is obsolete but we can't bear to part with it.

I've got a laptop with a non-working screen that I need to get around to cleaning out and selling. That electronic Italian dictionary my mother bought? Still in the drawer - it didn't go to Italy with us. My grandfather has about 20 pairs of work gloves stacked up in his workshop because he likes the pair he wears all of the time.

What's a gadget or tool that you bought thinking it was great but that you never use? Or something that is no longer useful but you hang onto it anyway?

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#1

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/06/2013 12:19 PM

The temptation to hang on to stuff is great. If you do, then there isn't any room for new stuff. Of course, that might be useful in making sure the credit cards don't become over used. And then there is my brother who seems to have figured out how to stack stuff ever higher. It won't be long before he has to put up some kind of warning sign about entering an enclosed area because there won't be enough room for more than a few minutes of air.

If you have trouble parting with stuff, I recommend a simple test in the form of a question. It makes parting with stuff much easier. Simply ask yourself if you have used this or that "thing" in the last couple of years. If the answer is "No" then you are not likely to need it again. Of course, there are always exceptions!

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#2

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/06/2013 12:45 PM

My answer to this question is cooking utensils and gadgets. I never get rid of them but rarely use them. I have an electronic meat thermometer for a barbeque that has been used only one time. It was a gift I got about 8 years ago and I mean to use it. I don't even have a barbeque or a patio to put it on. I do have the thermometer still though. Ha ha

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#3

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/06/2013 12:46 PM

Does anyone want a 3.5hp outboard motor? Two seasons' light use in inland waterways? Thought not.

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#13
In reply to #3

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 8:07 AM

Sailboat motor..... YUP... There's a use for it.

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#35
In reply to #3

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/12/2013 9:06 PM

I have a 1984~85 Seagull Ultralight 40 outboard I could trade you. It is cluttering up my garage even now. I bought it to use on a small sail boat. Do you need a Galilee 15 sail boat? It only needs a little work. That one is cluttering up the yard.

Have FUN!
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#4

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/06/2013 2:01 PM

I ain't givin' up nothin'......I have a rented garage full of tools, and scattered about in cars and here and there, admittedly some I have never used, but some day, who knows.....With my tools I am omnipotent, without them powerless, at least that's how I feel....I even have tools loaned out in other peoples garages.....I have just about every tool known to man, and 2 or 3 of many, I love them, and with them can do or build or repair anything, it's a kind of freedom that only someone who has worked hard their whole life would understand, because it takes a long time to learn how to use all those tools and a lot of time and effort to accumulate them as well....some are custom made, some are altered to do more than intended, some are handed down or gifts, but all are cherished....

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#7
In reply to #4

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/06/2013 11:54 PM

I could not have said it better. I agree 100% with Solar Eagle

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#10
In reply to #4

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 7:37 AM

I couldn't agree more. I have lots of tools that do not get used often. I also hate paying someone to do something I can do. In order to DO those things tools are an absolute requirement. Wish I had more.

You all know about keeping stuff, fighting (with the spouse) to keep it and then the fateful day comes when that seldom use treasure comes out and fixes some unrepairable device. Your are then the hero.

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#5

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/06/2013 4:10 PM

I am just now retiring (laid off) from 50 years in the tool and die trade. When I left my former company, I could not let go of the tools of my trade that I had accumulated over the course of my career, many of which I made myself. Even though I may never have the opportunity or need to use them again, there is just too much emotion and memories contained in these tool boxes to just let them go to someone who would never appreciate them or take pride in them the way I do.

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#6

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/06/2013 6:45 PM

I have a saw set that I bought at a yard sale years ago. The proprietor thought it was a wierd set of pliars.

I don't even own a hand saw.

But I ain't gettin rid of it

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#8

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 4:24 AM

+1 about tools

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#9

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 6:44 AM

Combination rebate/plough/block plane: the rebate facility never gets used and the ploughing facility is a bit fierce. It's easier to pick up a no.5 jack plane and use that most of the time.

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#11

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 7:54 AM

If you have to ask me WHY I need all of those tools, you will not understand the answer...

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#12

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 8:05 AM

You should have seen what the "Great Depression" generation could store. I helped to clean out my Grandfathers and my Great Uncles place when they died. If they had one of a tool, they had two more still in the box. My Grandfather had hand tools this way and shoes. My Great Uncle had a second and third set of drafting tools still in their original boxes. I still have some of the drafting tools un-opened. I have managed to use most of the hand tools.

Now to myself:

1. Punch cards for an IBM 360 running on Fortran

2. An Apple IIGS and peripherals, as well as software

3. Many drawers full of old TTL logic

4. Nearly every book I used in college, althought they are now more than 40 years old.

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#17
In reply to #12

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 9:50 AM

I have been helping my grandparents (in their early 80s) go through things from my great grandmother's house and now their own house. As the family "eBay expert" my services have been appreciated!

But yes, they have everything from every washed popsicle stick from snacks consumed by the grandchildren to stove parts from the 50s. My grandfather rarely has to go to the hardware store for parts!

We were going through a stash of cigar boxes and discovered all of the receipts from when they built their house in the early 70s. All I can say is that prices have gone up!

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#33
In reply to #17

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/08/2013 5:15 PM

Hardware store ?

Blimey, I doubt there's one within 50 miles of here in the East Midlands UK.

In Spain we still had them but were vanishing slowly last time I was there.

The wife barely tolerates the tools and bits and one of the sons is good at loaning out my stuff, but I still manage to hold on to some of grandad's equipment, though the forge and lead plumbing kit went when my father sold up.

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#14

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 8:10 AM

Laptop with a busted screen? Instant Desktop, just connect a monitor....

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#15
In reply to #14

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 9:04 AM

Screens are easy to get on Ebay, and fairly easy to install. The laptop may be so old as to be worthless, though.

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#18
In reply to #14

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 9:51 AM

I'm going to connect a monitor to wipe it. When I get around to it!

It's really too old to be of much use although I think it's a lot less noisy than my current laptop! (Which is also rapidly aging at five years old. Where does the time go?)

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#27
In reply to #18

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 9:42 PM

My old disk get wiped at about 2,800 Deg F. Can't retrieve from that.

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#16

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 9:09 AM

Why stop at tools and electronics?

It's a little messy now, but one day this is going to be a premier mancave/workshop. Really!!

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#19
In reply to #16

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 9:53 AM

Good point! The largest unused thing I have is a horse trailer. It's parked and being used as storage for a lot of my riding equipment. Hasn't driven anywhere in five years!

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#20
In reply to #16

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 10:41 AM

That's actually a pretty nice building.

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#30
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Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/08/2013 6:12 AM

Thanks.

Kind of a neat story behind it.

The house I bought had been foreclosed, and sat abandoned for over a year. The entire property had been overrun with kudzu. When I started clearing things out, I came a upon a big concrete pad out back, that I didn't know was there. It had troughs formed on all four sides, so I figured the pad was made for a particular type of building.

I got on the internet and found it! Pulled the necessary permits, ordered it, and it was delivered in pieces on a flatbed truck. Kind of a pain to build, but since I didn't have to pay for the concrete pad, my total cost for the building, (1200 sq ft), was about $6000, including the door. They had a layaway plan, where I had a year to pay for it. They deliver it at the final payment, which I gave to the guy that was driving the truck. I had my reservations, but I'd recommend them to anyone.

I put all of the sections together myself, and enlisted some help to put them together. It's all held together with nuts and bolts that come with it. The finished product will withstand 150 mph winds.

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#21
In reply to #16

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 10:52 AM

Izzat Joe's Garage?

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#22

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 1:00 PM

How about a Kaypro computer, Teac 10-1/2" reel-to-reel or a Superior tube tester. I have machine tools that go back 70 years, but are still used daily and are in great shape.

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#23

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 5:17 PM

Hard copy source code for CP/M 8bit BIOS. I just can't seem to let it go, there are just too many memories.

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#24

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 5:36 PM

What is an unused tool? I have never heard the term.

It must be something that city people or those without manly man DNA experience.

Personally I agree with SolarEagle. There is no such thing as too many tools and any tool that keeps me from having to pay someone else to fix something of mine is justified even it I only ever used it once the loaned it to someone else.

Same with having spare parts items.

Last week my wife decided that we need a TV in the bedroom being I really don't care for her choices in television programming. (I hate reality drama shows)

She wanted a good flat screen type and priced one out at around $450. I had a perfectly good 30" HD LCD one that was given to me last year that was a store display model that never sold because the power supply went out.

A old computer power supply donated the needed part to fix the TV power supply and part of my 200+ foot role of coaxial cable I got at a auction 10 ish years ago for $2 finally became a justified saved item as well.

I even had a brand new still in the wrapper compatible remote for it in a box of several dozen mystery remotes that someone gave me a few years ago when they worked at a electronics store and did a warehouse clean out one day.

To me this is just another $450 I saved because I didn't toss a bunch of "junk" out.

Whats your "cleanliness" costing you?

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#25

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 5:51 PM

if anyone have a extra metal lathe chuck he is not still using, then it would be appreciated for future save ceping, thanks.

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#26

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/07/2013 7:44 PM

Case-in-point...

My neighbor (More money than brains) wore out a Sears garage door opener. Rather than replace the cheap plastic gears (Planned obsolescence), he just bought a new one. Naturally, I could not see him just trashing the old one, and "Rescued" it.

Well long story short, the micro-switch on my garage door opener broke (Another story), so I went to my "Parts-bin". Low and behold, my neighbor's Sears unit used the exact same micro-switch as mine! Problem solved!

Yep, engineers and "Tinkerers" just need more "Stuff"...

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#31
In reply to #26

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/08/2013 6:50 AM

Glad to know I have company.

One of the items in my shop is a completely shot, Stihl chainsaw that I got 20 years out of. Couldn't throw it away.

One day I was doing a carb rebuild on an old Echo string trimmer, and the tiny spring for the metering jet went flying into a black hole. After two hours of looking, I remembered the old chainsaw. Bingo!!! It had the same size Walbro carb on it. I pulled the spring out of it and had the string trimmer running within an hour.

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#28

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/08/2013 4:38 AM

Hey Savvy...
Laptop with a busted screen
I have an app for that
Del

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#29

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/08/2013 5:25 AM

Computer parts going back to 8088 days.

There's no such thing as too many tool, or guns. The Collier Brothers are my heroes!

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#32

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/08/2013 12:01 PM

Normally I'm a pack rat, but when I decide to get rid of something I've had for many years, soon after, I find a need for it, but too late; it has already been tossed.

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#34

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/08/2013 10:50 PM

Well, it could be useful again...someday:

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#36

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/12/2013 11:59 PM

Recently, I gave somebody my one set of stereo speakers and after somedays one from my second pair went defective. I have found this many times that the item I dispose has an immediate need.

Now I have decided... no give-away or disposing.

Gajanan Phadte

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#37

Re: Tools or Electronics You Don't Use

03/21/2013 12:30 AM

I bought a pneumatic portable grinder just out of curiosity. It was a second but I don't even have a compressor.

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