Non-motoring > Keeping redundant tools and stuff Miscellaneous
Thread Author: martin aston Replies: 20

 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - martin aston
I see Kevin has mentioned (on the dishwasher thread) a tool he has kept past it’s need. I thought it might be worth a thread on the topic of redundant stuff?

Among a host of crxp I can add a Honda step-through flywheel puller and a pristine bike roof carrier for a 1999 Astra estate.

I am sure there is an Aladdin’s cave of stuff out there.
 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - bathtub tom
Just got rid of my Austin Princess tow bar to a guy who wanted it for an Austin Princess!

I've donated my brake adjusting spanner (two different sized square holes) for rounding off the shoulders of square brake adjusters, a big flat spanner with impact points for mini and land crab front suspension ball joints and an early exhaust gas analyser.
 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - John Boy
It's possible to donate tools:

www.twam.uk/
 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - R.P.
13,000 Allen keys :-( (not really but you know what I mean)

Also a set of locking wheel nuts for a mark 3 Cavalier.

 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - Bromptonaut
I have several proper sets of both metric and imperial Allen keys plus at least two other boxes full in the garage and the 'Harry Potter cupboard' at home.

Also a dog guard for a mark 2 Berlingo, a pack of sump plugs for XUD engines, various bulb/fuse kits and at least two sets of roof bars that fit neither current vehicle.

A full width Bradcot Awning for an Xplore 304 caravan we're never likely to use again as the Khyam Porch Awning is perfectly adequate and takes minutes not hours to erect.
 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - VxFan
Left handed screwdriver. Only used it the once. Made my left arm ache, so went back to using my right handed ones instead ;)
 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - R.P.
New house has significantly more space. Great to finally sort tools out. I have a screwdriver from a wartime bomber, not much use now as the slotted end has twisted somewhat - I like it and may promote it from the toolshed, also found an RAF issue penknife (stamped 1943), waiting to be cleaned up, which I might even do tomorrow.
 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - neiltoo
>> brake adjusting spanner (two different sized square holes) for rounding off the shoulders of square brake adjusters

Made me laugh out loud!

8o)
 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - Dog
I've still got a King Dick. Just saying.
 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - martin aston
Only one?
 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - Robin O'Reliant
Somewhere up in the garage loft I have a U shaped spanner for adjusting the valve clearances on a Mk1 Facelift Capri. An ordinary spanner would not fit under the camshaft.

And like RP, countless Allen keys.
 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - Fullchat
I have a 19mm spanner which has been heated and the end bent sat in my metric spanner drawer. Have I been prompted as to why I did it many years ago having had a couple of Pinto Capris and a couple of Pinto Escorts?
 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - Dog
Why would I want, or indeed need more than one king dick?

www.flickr.com/photos/43576259@N04/24261926198/in/datetaken-public/

:o}
 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - No FM2R
I have a 10mm open-ended spanner which I ground thin and square so that it would fit into the gap to adjust tappets.

Even more useless than you might think since I have no idea what car I did it for. Might have been a bike now I think about it.
 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - VxFan
Just remembered, I still have a hydraulic valve lifter removal tool for an 8 valve Mk1 Astra engine (or any Vauxhall 8 valve engine of that era). Saves having to remove the head to change them.
 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - R.P.
Just spent some time going through one of those giant Stanley screw boxes. It's been around for at least 15 years, full of screws and everything else small. Consequently I have more than enough fasteners and Rawlplugs of every type to last another lifetime, I also found 10 more 10mm Allen keys. Boxes of cables beckon now...
 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - No FM2R
>>Boxes of cables beckon now...

Impossible to work out which are needed and which not.

The only way to find out is to irrevocably dispose of two of them. A week later you'll find it was one of those two and the remaining ones can be thrown away without worrying.
 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - Zero

>> The only way to find out is to irrevocably dispose of two of them. A
>> week later you'll find it was one of those two and the remaining ones can
>> be thrown away without worrying.

Groundhog day beckons..........
 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - Zero
And yet

Just fitted some more reading lamps into the Crossover Camping Vehicle. For which I needed 7mm long woodscrews. Did I have any? no. Did Screwfix have any? No

So there was me with the dremel, cutting the ends off some 10mm screws and grinding points back on them.

The screws I needed will of course appear magically in the garage drawers tomorrow.

(Edit, it was an hours search before I found the dremel)
Last edited by: Zero on Thu 15 Jul 21 at 20:32
 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - No FM2R
When one approaches drawers one has to remove any thought of what you're actually looking for and replace it with something you don't care about.

Then approach as if you're going to open a nearby cupboard and then at the last minute swerve to one side and open the drawer least likely to contain the screws you need.

Tricky b******s, spare screws.

They bear grudges and hate you for ever thinking that they were spare.
Last edited by: No FM2R on Thu 15 Jul 21 at 20:38
 Keeping redundant tools and stuff - R.P.

They bear grudges and hate you for ever thinking that they were spare.


I believe they're a quite positive as and when they reach their potential and finally end up securing something to a wall. I've separated mine into a proper old school Quality Street tin (metal not plastic) - after the stresses of the last twelve months it was a really pleasant and therapeutic hour or so yesterday.
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