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Discussion The Tool That Frustrated You Most – A Waste of Money?!

Stuart Little said:
Yes it is, I bought a similar one in red plastic, the handle had a mind of its own to twist out of line. The ONLY bit that could be useful (when/if I find a use for it), was the blade! The rest was (s)crapped.
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Yeah, blades worked great even in my so called tool.
 
I agree..exacto junk..I picked up the chopper 2 at a flea market. in FL .NIB for $5..including the angle pieces. I do have an electric , older mini chop saw ..works great but bloody dangerous. Today, I milled up some rock maple for decking on my next project.. Two old mitre boxes that sold for $1.79..sticker still on the bottom.. I did not want to stress my Byrnes saw, so I used my 1945 Dunlap mini table saw. A 50 pound belt driven cast iron lump. It had what appeared to be the original 1/3 hp motor that quit . I replaced it with a 1 hp , now it has some power. With a zero clearance tape, it cuts true.. I did not find any signifigant runout when I Byrnes thickness sanded the planks,, These machines come up for cheap , an alternative to the Byrnes.. I use a 7 1/2 blade and cuts rock maple easily..
 
BarrySR said:
I know X-acto handles are very common, but I gave up on them for the same reason the collet would loosen and the blades fell out.
I purchased knife handles from Excel. They are far superior. First they hav two slots at right angles in the collet unlike the X-acto handles that have a single slot. The double slot allows for a tighter grip on the blade. And to tighten the blade in the collet the handle has a knurled knob on the end of the handle, that makes it easier to tighten the blade The Excel knife handles are a pleasure to use and change blades. Check out the Excel website.
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They also loosen!
 
Namabiiru said:
Vevor 7x14 mini-lathe. I still shudder to think how much money I flushed on that piece of junk.
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I bought one several years ago. For under £400, it has been a very useful machine, it even has a set of reverse chuck jaws. First out of the box, it was not so good, but with a partial strip-down to clean out swarfe & smooth out machining marks, then a good lubrication & adjustment to the cross slides, re-aligning the tailstock, & adding a 'quick-change' tool post, it serves my needs. I've probably recovered the initial cost in what I've saved in DIY. I think these China tools are a bit of a lottery, & that I lucked onto a 'good 'un'.
 
Interesting... I have used X-Acto knives and saws for as long as I can remember and have never had a problem with any of them. I just dog down the blade receiver with a pair of pliers and off I go. I even have one with two slots that I have used as a drill bit holder. Blades are a different matter. I got some after-market ones recently and they are terrible! Very fragile.
 
I find razor saws to be essential model building tools, and good ones are not expensive. I my case, I use them for cutting square brass tubing. I prefer Zona brand saws. The blades of these are secured to the handle with small bolts avoiding the problems with the Xacto tools.

On the other hand, the miter boxes sometimes sold with these saws are junk. I have recently been making my own from hardwood; one for each tubing size.

Roger
 
I had seen someone who posted once in a Model Railroad site, he made a box and had multiple slots cut in 1"x1" base, each slot was for specific size tube or wood bar of that width, and he added sides from 1 1/2" tall brown 1/8' pressed board, (I forget brand name). He used a meter saw to establish initial angles.
 
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