Most useless thing in your shop?

[Guest]

The quadrennial shop reorganization in nearing completion. Before putting everything back I noticed a few places where I could add more shelving to keep things off the floor. The most useful thing in the shop may be storage shelving, including half depth shelving under the benches, tucked back far enough to leave leg room while seated.

Most useless thing? Those stupid little plastic cabinets with pull out drawers of tiny screws and parts. Like these:

https://www.uline.com/Product/Detai...gclid=CIeehcuC29ACFUtWDQodRT4CHg&gclsrc=aw.ds

What a PITA! Can’t tell what’s in them, pull out 10 drawers before I find the right tiny screw or washer, can’t find the right drawer to put things back so just toss it in a random drawer.

I’ve had three of those, all different sizes and shapes, for 20 years and even I am not anal enough to pick through 50 dust laden drawers to sort out what’s what. At least not yet.

 

[Alan Gage]

These two are a tie for most useless:
20151122_001 by Alan, on Flickr

Alan

 

[dave0]

Oh dang, I can't beat that Alan, I am still chortling like heck!!!! Thanks.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Me

 

[latremorej]

Me

Glen, you beat me to it! Hahaha

 

[Grandpa Paddler]

A large variety of power tools. I haven't done a project in quite a while, can't remember the last time I used the table saw, 12" planer, scroll saw, drill press, jointer, router and numerous hand held power tools. My wife complains they take up toooo much space. Almost forgot I have a Shop Smith stashed in the corner of the garage and all the attchments stored on high shelves.

 

[lowangle al]

I have a box of misc. string labeled " string too short to save"

 

[sweeper]

I may be the most useless thing in my shop but it's a great place to be.

Mike I like these tray boxes, one box for one size of hardware in all its lengths. I was fortunate to find the blue storage boxes from an old hardware store to put them in. The bins next to them work well for all my light building parts.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Mike, I know what you mean about those little drawers. I had one for years that I inherited from Dad. Worse - most of the stuff in those drawers was left there by him and a great deal of it had become so obsolete as to be completely useless. I just recently cleaned that out.

I tend to avoid useless tools, but I have a weakness for antiques. I have several that are actually still in regular use, but also a few that I just like to look at - such as the old wood bodied plane that belonged to a good friend's grandfather, and the adjustable wrench that was hand made by my own grandfather.

 

[Rippy]

Glenn beat me to it.

 

[Canotrouge]

A large variety of power tools. I haven't done a project in quite a while, can't remember the last time I used the table saw, 12" planer, scroll saw, drill press, jointer, router and numerous hand held power tools. My wife complains they take up toooo much space. Almost forgot I have a Shop Smith stashed in the corner of the garage and all the attchments stored on high shelves.

A Shopsmith, they go for a lot of money these days... Interesting tool, I don't know how good they are, but interesting!!

 

[Steve in Idaho]

The current Shopsmith tools are quite good, but they are time killers, compared to having separate tools.

 

[Guest]

Mike I like these tray boxes, one box for one size of hardware in all its lengths. I was fortunate to find the blue storage boxes from an old hardware store to put them in.

I like the functionality of those tray boxes, bring able to look down into a tray and actually see the little bins of segregated parts.

I use something DIY’ed similar in my shop, reinforced Xerox box tops filled with rectangular bins (plastic pipet tip boxes from my lab days). I reinforce the Xerox lids with a sheet of scrap lauan on the bottom and a labeled wrap of duct tape around the perimeter. Reinforced those lids are sturdy enough that I can pull the tray off the shelf and stick it on the bench to find what I need.



Sometimes the solution is obvious. . . . . after 20 year of hating those little box cabinets. . . . take the bins out of housing. . . . put them in a Xerox box top. . . . . throw away the stupid and ineffectual plastic cabinets.

dang, I wish I had thought of that 20 years ago.

 

[BWCA66]

I may be the most useless thing in my shop but it's a great place to be.

Mike I like these tray boxes, one box for one size of hardware in all its lengths. I was fortunate to find the blue storage boxes from an old hardware store to put them in. The bins next to them work well for all my light building parts.

Are those barrel bands I see? If so what do you do with them? I have a bunch laying around I was going to get rid of.

 

[Chip]

I've got a lathe I've never used. It came to me from a friend. Originally, I was storing it for him, but I guess he realized he'd never use it and a few years ago said "it's yours." It's been here at least ten years, I've never touched it except to move it further out of the way., so at this point I'd say it is the most useless thing in the shop. I need to sell that thing, if anybody is looking for a lathe. Previously, I'd have said it was the Stanley no. 59 doweling jig, but after holding onto it for 40 years solely because it looked neat, I used it this year, which thrilled me so much I think I may have posted about it to a paddling site. Who knows, today's useless item might be just what you need tomorrow.

 

[Boatman53]

For me I have several lathes, wood and metal, and use them all the time. But my jointer heads the list as useless in my shop. Just got rid of the 6" one and still have the 8" one to find a new home for. I got it from a friend of mine when I helped him close his shop due to failing health, that must be 15 years ago and I've used it once last year for the first time. That was only to make sure it worked before I put it on Craigslist. Didn't sell that time I guess I should list it again.
Jim

 

[sweeper]

Are those barrel bands I see? If so what do you do with them? I have a bunch laying around I was going to get rid of.

Mostly this: The one on the right has solar lights




This one sold for $250


I sold 15 orbs last weekend, I'm spending this week making and delivering them.

 

[yellowcanoe]

I am going to say the Screw and Bolt Collection.
They always fail to supply the currently needed size.. They do occupy a whole four foot long shelf.

 

[Mihun09]

Any plastic clamp. Plastic spring clamps? Really? It is getting tougher to find good iron C-Clamps. We have 32 and need to double that amount still.

 

[sweeper]

Just did an eBay search and saw lots of sets of old C-Clamps, cheap.