Unique Tools and Equipment: How Rarely Used Items Can Find a Place in Our Lives

Have you ever purchased a unique tool or piece of equipment that you rarely use? In my personal experience, I have acquired several items that, despite their initial purpose, have found new uses in my life. One such item is my air-powered impact wrench, which I occasionally come across in a household emergency.

The Air-Powered Impact Wrench: A Rarely Used Gem

Back in 2007, I purchased an air-powered impact wrench with the intention of using it for its primary purpose. Over the years, I stored it in my basement, only retrieving it a few times for special occasions. However, six years later, a family visit in another province required the use of an impact wrench. I checked Home Depot to see if they rented them, only to find out they were hosting a sale on lithium-ion battery impact wrenches. Prompted by convenience, I bought one. Since then, I have used the new impact wrench eight times, thanks to its ease of use and portability compared to setting up the air compressor and running an air hose.

A TV Repair Course and Forgotten Tools

Another interesting experience comes from my past. In 1977, I took a tech school course in TV repair. While at school, I packed a set of TV tuning tools, which I never used in the classic sense. However, I carried them in my toolbox for decades. During the 1960s, color TVs were a luxury item, costing as much as a car and requiring regular tuning. I had aspirations of becoming a TV repairman, but by the time I finished my course, television technology had advanced, making repair less necessary. Instead, I pursued a career as a Computer Mainframe Engineer, and much to my surprise, that job saw a decrease in demand. My TV tuning tools never came into play again in a career setting.

A Timeless Gift: The Crow Bar from My Father's Shop

One of the oldest items I inherited is a crow bar, a small, yet out-of-place item in my modern toolbox. This crow bar was a gift from my father's coworkers when he left his machine shop job in Akron, Ohio, for Rome, Georgia. It was well crafted and balanced and, although not the exact one I inherited, it represents the sentiment behind such a gift. My father kept the crow bar for many years, and I later used it to help a friend dismantle an old house near Albuquerque, NM. It was during this process that the crow bar went missing and has not been seen since. Today, I may not find much use for a crow bar, but the memory it represents and the rare opportunity it provides for practical use is invaluable.

Key Takeaways:

Rarely Used Tools: Even items that we do not use frequently can find new purposes in unexpected circumstances. Unique Equipment: Legacy tools and equipment can be reminders of past experiences and can sometimes be repurposed with a creative outlook. Uncommon Hardware: These items can serve as nostalgic reminders or functional tools in modern settings.

In conclusion, the story of these rarely used tools teaches us the value of keeping our collection of unique items, even if we do not use them daily. These pieces carry stories and can find new uses in our lives when we least expect it, enriching our experience and providing a bridge to our past.