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How Many Tools Do You Have...

Discussion in 'The Tool Shed' started by windyhill, Jul 8, 2020.

  1. Jul 8, 2020
    windyhill

    windyhill Sponsor

    PA
    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2006
    Messages:
    1,502
    . Anyone else have this issue..I was just thinking about all the tools I've acquired over the years and use regularly as I was reading threads. It got me thinking it would be fun to go through them all, lay them out and take pictures so I had a good inventory. Then I realized I don't think I actually could. Just woodworking tools alone...Almost 40 years now of buying what I need to do almost an job adds up. Woodworking/ cabinet shop, timber framing, construction, concrete work, plumbing, electric, automotive, welding, a little blacksmithing, excavation, a bit of farming, property maintenance ...About the only thing I don't mess with is Machining, and it's just because I never had the time. Then there's the Jeep parts, plumbing and electric parts, hardware...I'm beginning to see my sons are correct, I have issues. But hey, I almost never borrow anything...

    I like helping folks out, but over the years I've learned not to lend tools at all to anyone but the few closest and most respectful people I know. That being said I've still become "that guy" who has stuff if your in a pinch anyway.
    Going to be one hell of a sale when I'm gone...:sneak:.
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2020
  2. Jul 8, 2020
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,656
    I know how many end up on my bench after I complete what should've been a simple task...

    :mad:
     
  3. Jul 8, 2020
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Feb 9, 2018
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    I'm not sure I could lay all mine out either and I can still think of at least 50 more tools I'd like to get.
     
  4. Jul 8, 2020
    Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Châtillon en...
    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2012
    Messages:
    2,327
    Good subject : in fact it is geological.
    I have family tools, from grand-fathers, and before, very old. So Before 1900 to the first electric tools, around 1958
    The some tools from my parents time, hand tools, 1960 ies
    Then my first tools; a friend of mine, older, was working at the state rocket company, they had 50% discount and I bought a lot of hand tools 1st quality.
    Around 1970
    Then I entered my first house, beginning to build a life, 1974, electric tools.:)
    1995 : a bigger house to rebuild, I bought a lot of new tools, top quality. Also for work in our country house, an old farm...:D
    Then, retirement : some difficulties to make handwork. I buy these new wonderful tools small light and powerful, the new generation.:whistle:
    But this is the end, now I pay specialists to make work. I just make funny works, no more tool investment.
    I start to give tools away... :shock:
     
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  5. Jul 8, 2020
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2003
    Messages:
    9,754
    "More than I need, but not as many as I want."

    Way too many, but you just never know when something will be useful. Especially if you have three or four of them... :oops:

    My teenage daughter gave me this...

    Tool Chart.jpeg
     
  6. Jul 9, 2020
    teletech

    teletech Member

    Santa Cruz, CA
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2016
    Messages:
    236
    Yep, most of all that... No excavator but bought a crane truck, plus I AM a machinist, so two manual mills, two CNC mills, and some number of lathes around three or four, Oh, there's another mill, and... I had to buy a building just for the overflow tools and vehicles.
    When you have to buy a set of weatherhead sockets just because you want to buy some tools and all the usual stuff is already in the shop it's pretty sad.
     
  7. Jul 9, 2020
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2002
    Messages:
    12,529
    4 toolboxes. 2 top and bottom Mac, 1 SnapOn bottom(my first) with no name top box, all are around 32-42” wide. Another SnapOn 50” or so wide with a very old SnapOn top box (weighs at least 50 lbs) and next to it an old Craftsman top box that is red and gray on top of the SnapOn bottom box. Then an industrial shelving unit with at least 25 plus blow mold boxes full of specialty pullers, bearing drivers, etc. then two sheds full of household tools like pressure washers, weed eaters, etc. then a wall rack full of shovels, rakes, pitchforks, etc. Two welders, lathe, tabletop mill, tabletop drill press, tube bender, plasma cutter, 20 ton Press, floor jacks, jack stands, plus construction tools. The crazy thing is I’m always looking for that tool I don’t have or an upgrade to what I have. I still have the Craftsman tools I started out with in college. Far better than any Craftsman available today.
    This doesn’t include what I have at work.
     
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  8. Jul 9, 2020
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2003
    Messages:
    5,466
    Eh no - just NO... I will NOT give my wife the possible opportunity to try to figure out what I have spent in tools over the years. There would be no possible way to recover from that as I have multiple sets of 'some' tools and I'm always looking to upgrade or get the next thing when it's on sale.

    Moving in the next year will be hard enough. I'm going to build wood boxes to put stuff into so she won't see them as I have to move the shop, but the company is moving the house.
     
    FugginJim likes this.
  9. Jul 9, 2020
    Buildflycrash

    Buildflycrash More or Less in Line. 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Gulf Breeze FL...
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    Jun 5, 2007
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    3,559
    I bought a jeep and over the past couple years I have had to upgrade my tool box 3times. I somehow have like 6 different types of "pullers".
     
    Lockman likes this.
  10. Jul 9, 2020
    teletech

    teletech Member

    Santa Cruz, CA
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2016
    Messages:
    236
    Why build wood boxes when companies sell metal ones? I find the one they call "shipping container" to be the most convenient size for all but my largest tools. :)

    Plus, they stack neatly for those of us who need several.
     
    dozerjim likes this.
  11. Jul 9, 2020
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    6,193
    It's not about the tools I have. It's about the tools I used to have. Between downsizing, RV life, tools getting stolen, and a tool rollup left on a bumper by mistake...I moved into this house with basically a Swiss army knife...:cry:
     
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  12. Jul 9, 2020
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2002
    Messages:
    12,529
    I feel your pain. I moved about 6 years ago and it took me a month to pack and move the shop alone. I only moved about 5 miles. I don’t envy your move.
    A LOT of my tools have come from garage sales, estate sales, Craigslist, and other people downsizing. I still cannot stay off the tool truck though.
     
  13. Jul 9, 2020
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2003
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    5,466
    Believe me - I thought about it, but I would need a crane on both ends and a simi to haul it. I'm building the 32" square 24" tall wood boxes for parts and tools. Then I can load them on my 30' Goose neck and haul them to Salt Lake, but may need to store them while a house/shop is built. A buddy here has a fork lift attachment to his tractor, so worst case is I rent one on the other end to unload. Then a couple trips to get the rest of the Jeeps and Parts...

    Got my bunks of steel, racks for shelves in the shop and sheds, shipping totes I've been storing parts and tools in... and that's AFTER I weed the place down :banghead: that's what I get for thinking we would just retire here...
     
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  14. Jul 9, 2020
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
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    Dec 4, 2018
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    Remember my Motto : " He who dies with the most Tool 's...... Wins ! "
     
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  15. Jul 9, 2020
    dane71

    dane71 Member

    USA
    Joined:
    May 11, 2017
    Messages:
    195
    The title made me think "too many yet not enough"

    It sucks because i like the self sufficiency so i have a lot of stuff that only gets used once a year. Its a double edged sword.
     
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  16. Jul 9, 2020
    Jeepsterjim

    Jeepsterjim Member

    Lincoln, CA
    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2019
    Messages:
    401
    TO DAM MANY! but always room for one more. I am a retired mechanic so tools and I go together. Of late, I'm finding my tools are worn out only after 50 years!
     
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  17. Jul 10, 2020
    teletech

    teletech Member

    Santa Cruz, CA
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2016
    Messages:
    236
    What? A crane is a tool too, I have no idea how I ever managed without one.
    Get one of those big self-loading trucks or trailers and DIY. I'm sure you will wonder how you ever managed without one, er, I mean... use it then sell it after the job is done, "no, really dear".

    Get a few military surplus shelters and a shelter dolly set.

    M1022-A1 Dolly Sets - CDK Mobile
     
  18. Jul 10, 2020
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    I've got several tools like that. I don't use the framing nailer much, but if I had to pay somebody to do the work or if I hurt myself trying to do it with a hammer, the cost of the nailer is nothing.

    Buying some tools for a single project can be cheaper than the alternatives.
     
  19. Jul 10, 2020
    boopiejones

    boopiejones I can’t drive 55

    California east bay
    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2020
    Messages:
    545
    I don’t like lending tools out, but I do like helping people. I recently made a google spreadsheet so I can keep track of what has been borrowed and make sure it was returned.

    As for laying out all my tools for a picture, it would take me hours to gather everything. I’ve got tools in every vehicle, tools all over the house in rooms I use them most, a shed full of tools and of course the garage is full of tools as well.
     
  20. Jul 10, 2020
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    5,349
    I’ll play:
    A 10x50 milling machine
    3 mill vises
    2 boring heads, 4 drill chucks for mill
    Rotary table, collet set, strap set
    2 lathes, about 40 toolholder, 100’s of bits and carbide insert tools, collet set for lathes, 4 drill chucks for lathe, 3 jaw, 4 jaw chuck, drive plates, face plates. 2 belt sanders, cutter grinder, foredom machine, dumore grinder, 140 welder, oxy acetylene tanks. 10” vertical bandsaw, 12” horizontal saw. 100’s of drill bits and sets. Racks full of steel bar stock, CNC router, 3D printer, Gerstner toolbox full of machinist tools, 0-12” set of micrometers, about 10 indicators, spare micrometers, dozen of fixture tools for the lathe and mill for different functions. I have my grandfathers and a lot of my fathers machinist tools, some of these are still used a lot and date from the late 1930’s. Jacks of various styles, radial arm saw older than most of the guys on this board. Kobalt 8 drawer top chest full of wrenches and hand tools, Kennedy machinist chest full of tools with base. Craftsman toolbox full of hand tools, Proto toolbox full of nothing but ratchets and sockets. Edsel cart full of grinders and large hand tools. Cabinet full of power tools, plus a bag full of Makita cordless tools. 2 Kennedy floor cabinets full of random tools. Tools in truck, there are 2 roll arounds at work and both are full and weigh around 1000lbs a piece. I could easily fill 2 40’ containers with the crap I have collected over the years. My wife knows about pretty much everything.
    Now the one thing my wife does realize is that almost everything we have has been gained thru those tools, she was well aware of that when we married 33-1/2 years ago. She never bats an eye when I buy a tool as she knows it will bring way more than it cost in the end.
     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2020
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