Technical Do you know how many tools you have?

I've got at least 2 of everything except what I need right now.

 

Oh, singularly? Thousands. 5 rollaways, still need more drawers. 'Special tools' (hand made, or modified tools for special jobs?) Around 50, some I can't remember for the life of me what they were for! BUT- they were automotive related, most likely hot rod or Modified Sports.

As usual, here's a funny story:
I worked in a Porsche/VW shop in Sacramento in '69-'70. The boss's son was a 'sincere, gullible' type.
The smart assed service mgr was one of those 'sharpies' that was constantly 'hazing' poor slow Rick.
One early morning, Rick was looking in his top box for a screwdriver. "I can't believe it, I just bought another set of Mac screwdrivers and they're almost all gone. That's 4 sets that just...walked away!"

The service mgr had a hoist right under the newest addition to the shop. Ceiling was 16 feet high, tongue-and-groove 2 X 6's. This guy would go into Rick's screwdriver drawer during lunch, soon as Rick's VW pulled out of the drive... take a handful, and sling them, one at a time, to stick in the high ceiling!
It looked like he was working under a dioramic pin cushion!

I told Rick about when we were kids, we'd throw eggs at cars, the cops would come, we'd hide in the trees, 'cuz 'cops NEVER looked up!' "Don't be a cop," I finished.
Rick looked up, and jumped. "My screwdrivers!" he exclaimed... "That darned Dave!"
I mentioned 'turnabout' being fair play, and pointed to the 911 Targa on Dave's hoist.
We pushed a blue windshield towel into the crack between the hood and cowl, carefully pushing a large 16" blade screwdriver into it, like it had fallen out of the ceiling...
Dave came in after 8, walked up and stopped short. The panic was obvious. He snuck up on it, then realized he'd been had...
"Oh-ho-o-o,,,, we're playing now?" I shuddered.

Rick was adamant about his screwdrivers, and didn't sit still 'til Dave got the ladder and withdrew no less than 30 screwdrivers! (some of 'em were mine, Snap On!!!)
I felt like Dave had forgotten about it, 2 weeks or so. 'Til I opened my deep drawer and saw the snake moving... (Gopher snake, but snake nevertheless!)

Someone start a thread about mileage, I've got a great story!

 

Way more than I can count... a roll-around with two chests stacked on it, another chest on the bench and three boxes on the shelf under the bench. Inch, Metric and British Standard. Then there's the tool bag in my daily driver and the tools at work, and the stuff still in storage at my son's place...

 

No idea, some I have two or three or more of, some one or two. Always seems like the tool I need, I don't have or doesn't exist!

 

a whole lot, but still not enough!

 

Is this a test?
In which tool box, I have 6 ?
electrical - 1
body- 2
mechanical -3

 

I only have one 10 drawer top box, and an 8 drawer roller box. I have more tools hanging on the wall then there is in the box, and then there are drawers and shelves with more tools in and on them. That doesn't count the tools required for welding. Then, there are tools in the house for house stuff, tools in the car and truck, and tools in the storage garage.

I can usually find my specialty tools after I no longer need them. It also seems these days that I need 1/2 the tools in the box under a car with me when I'm working on it. Sometimes I think it takes longer to get the tools out, and put them away again then it does to do most jobs. Unfortunately, I doubt that situation will improve as I get older.

About 15 years ago, a storm came up and literately blew my 3 car home garage across most of the neighborhood, the complete garage roof was 150 feet from the garage, and the garage contents were spread over several blocks! I had replacement coverage on things in the garage, the coverage on the contents was worth more then the garage itself was worth.

My son wants to buy my place when I retire, and he tells me that should include all the tools as well, since I won't be needing them when I'm retired. I keep telling him the tools are worth more then the house & garage. Gene

 

If I was to do picture taking that would mean there is a place for everything and everything would be in its place..Thats funny..Although I am way more organised now than twenty years ago its still funny..I just found an 11/32 socket I have been missing for a couple years in a drawer that has containers of nails!!

 

I have no idea how many tools I have....I bought a used "extra" rolling tool box for the over-flow, but 1/2 the tools are still scattered across the floor most days! I bought my wife a nice little tool kit, and she is very neat and tidy with it...... knows each tool like the back of her hand;, unfortunately, I'm not allowed to 'dip' into it upon threat of strike in the kitchen department and my own cooking! I'd be more lucky to count beans in a pickle jar before I figured out how many tools I actually owned....might be nice someday to actually know, just for conversation points

 

Obvious answer is Not Enough.
Does a woman that can help you bleed the brakes or check the lights or hold that drop light in the right place count as a tool? Or would that count as 3 tools. I need a beer so I can sit back and ponder this.

 

Nope. HRP

 

More than I need, Not as many as I want!
There is always something on my Christmas and Birthday list I could use.
KK

 

4 rollaways. 6 cabinets with parts and junk of all sorts.
I, in fact bought just today 3, 7/16th open end box because it took me too long to find one the other day.
Now I have more not to find.
Organization is not my strong point.

 

a shitload...

 

I would have to find them all first.

 

my job is security (consulting for systems, cameras) that's a good idea.


Member:
Rochester Street Rods - Est. 1970 http://www.rochesterstreetrods.org
CrossMembers Car Club - Hebrews 12:2 http://www.crossmemberscc.com

 

Hi My name is Larry and I am a tool aholic and have been for 45 years lol . more tools and equipment than any five men really need !

 

I have pretty much all that I need to do just about any normal vehicle repair job or hotrod fabbing task. One large rollaway, one cabinet and a few shelves. Anything oddball comes up, I either rent it or if it's something I might need down the road, I buy it. I'm pretty organised when it comes to storing them, but like a lot of us, I definitely have my "Where the fuck did I put that!" episodes which I write off as senior moments! Regards, Dave.

 

i have 40 9/16 boxends i have no idea where 39 of them are

 

If anyone has too many,send me a PM. I really dont think you can have too many,not enough space is a problem.

 

I have more than I can afford to replace if they go missing. mechanic for 40 years, aircraft, boats, light and heavy cars and trucks , heavy equipment. now retired. some special built tools , I haven't got a clue what I made them for, but I have them in case I remember. I need to do the camera thing. one thing though is most home owners policy will only cover up to a certain $ amount unless other wise specified and an additional rider is taken out.

 

yes I did....but seem to be missing a 9/16 - 1/2 open inch.....if any one sees it around....let me know.....cause I'm a wrench short.......

 

Hello,

We recently cleaned out the tool drawers in the garage. Sold a bunch of stuff at our yearly neighborhood garage sale and gave away the big stuff I haven't used in a year. (radial arm compound, slide saw, big table saw, drill press, sprayer, chain saw, etc. ) The motto at our house is "...not used for a year, out it goes..." The tools always go first to the guys that show up when you raise the garage door at 6 am. The rest we gave away to a relative who is a cool ex-drag racer, a mechanic and project guy. But, what we have left is mainly our Craftsman stuff from the 60's that we have carried around with our many house moves over the years. One small set of early 60's sockets, a small set of wrenches, screwdrivers, and a torque wrench. The rest are tools for household repairs that number no more than 20. So, overall, no more than 45 pieces in two drawers.

The rest of the garage drawers are usually filled with just a bunch of stuff for everyday use or future projects. I always hear "...clean that #$%^&%$ out so I can find something." Other than that, it is a simple garage set of tools for repairs, cars and the house.

Jnaki

 

That's funny! I can't seem to hang onto 9/16 wrenches either. Why 9/16?

I got a Tupperware storage tub full of cheap wrenches and sockets for free at a garage sale that was shutting down one Sunday evening. Any time one of my good tools go missing, I can substitute it quickly without having to stop the job.

Eventually, the good tool that I lost usually shows up again, usually when I'm cleaning up. That tub of tools has saved many hours of waisted time.


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I was always misplacing my 1/2" combination wrench until I bought an extra one just as back-up. Ever since they have both always been hanging on the same hook of the pegboard.

 

I know 1 thing I will be getting more tools now that Harbor Freight has moved to our town now{Sevierville T.N.} instead of Knoxville. I would have to drive over an hour each way to get to them when they were in Knoxville.Now its 10 minutes drive.I am a happy camper now.Bruce.

 

Lots and Not enough

I have what I categorize as a "Full Set" of metric and SAE at my brother's shop in a 5' Snap On box, a 2nd Full Set of metric and SAE in the garage in an upright stack box and a 3rd set of SAE in the trailer drawers. I also have an assortment of tools in the drawers if the cart I pull out for between round maintenance. Also add in the one-of stuff like pry bars, torq, oversize, breaker, flex plate, drivers, puller, bits, fixers, testers etc etc etc. Let's not forget power tools for auto and construction. Oh yah - the wife has a decent set of tools for the house.

So to use a Canadian term - I have about 3 boat loads - assuming a "boat load" is bigger than a "hockey sock" and roughly the same as "a wack of".

I agree - it's time to inventory

 

Taking pictures and video of all the tools is a great idea for insurance sake. I will have to do that. I have never counted my tools or heaven forbid added up how much I have spent. I was once told by my machinist instructor in college that " if you have to borrow a tool more than once, buy it" I have lived by those words. My favorite is when is when I buy a new tool my wife says " don't you have enough tools"? Of coarse there is no such thing as too many tools. I give here the same look as when she says "doesn't that car already have an engine, why does it need a new one"?

 

In 2014 I went through my basement and kitchen junk drawer and collected all of my wayward tools, it was quite a bit. Now they are all in my boxes in the garage.