There is such a thing as too many tools, especially when they're just in the way.

[Eddo Rogue]

I've hit a wall, come to point where I will struggle with adjustable wrench rather than dig for a 10mm....or maybe its a 3/8"....wait its neither....maybe its an 11mm? that don't fit either. now I'm perplexed.

For a minute I was on a kick collecting any and every tool that might make the job slightly easier or faster....

I have a vast collection of every dang type of ratchet, socket, wrench, plier, screwdriver, and the power versions to drive em, yet its so rare any of it fits. By the time I look for, assemble, power up, and fit the device to make life easier than turning the wrench, I just turn the wrench....and adjustable wrench....half a thread at a time, stripping it along the way.

Ever sell/give away tools you will never use to make rooms for useful stuff? I don't want any more rollaways.

Is there a trick to having tools that can reduce your need for more tools?

Did you ever get in over your head and had to narrow it down?

 

[ericbphoto]

Wow. You've got issues.

 

[Ranger850]

Is there a trick to having tools that can reduce your need for more tools?

 

[Roert42]

Is there a trick to having tools that can reduce your need for more tools?

Only buy tools you have an immediate use for. Not just because you think it might be useful at some point.

If you already have one, don’t buy a different one because it’s slightly different.

 

[DILLARD000]

Its easy to become an OCD Hoarder; working on vehicles (& many other things) can be like a Coke\Meth\Heroin addiction.
Can also be great if it provides stress relief, exercise, minimizes costs... & keeps you from driving wife crazy after retirement LOL.
If obsession is compromising family, responsibilities, finances, quality of life, health... time to make a change.
Up to you alone to decide when enough is enough;
too many grow old, go to their grave never shaking off serious addictions.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I bought my first mechanics tool set in 1979. I've been adding to it ever since. Add to that all the home owners tools and I even have many bigger tools (drill mill, drill press, press, bead blast cabinet, parts washer, tool carts and a Snap On cabinet full of air cooled VW machine shop tools) that never even made it to Illinois when I moved here 12 years ago. I even gave my oldest daughter a top middle and bottom Craftsman tool box pretty full of tools that I bought at a yard sale for an awesome deal.

I've been on tool overload for at least a couple decades... and I still buy tools.

I dream of the day I get moved and get a shop set up... I just hope I'm not to old by that time to still use the stuff.

 

[RobbieD]

I still struggle with balancing having a right tool for the job, yet not going too far in "collecting" tools.

It was just so much simpler back when I was first learning to wrench:

 

[19Walt93]

I don't "dig" for my tools, the drawers are laid out so I can reach in and grab what I want. The time spent organizing is nothing compared to the time wasted digging through a mess.

 

[Shran]

I don't dig either. I have a huge investment in tools, the last thing I want to see is a bunch of expensive stuff dumped into an unorganized box that I have to dig through. Everything has a place, or at least a drawer, everything gets wiped off or sprayed with brake cleaner or run through the parts washer before it gets put away.

As far as just buying random stuff goes - if I see some specialty thing for cheap at a yard sale/thrift store/pawn shop, it comes home with me. I will use them someday. For example I paid $10 for a Mac drum brake tool set. I would NEVER pay new price for those...I would never use them enough to pay off the $200 new cost but for $10 they can sit in my box forever! I bought a Blue Point sledge hammer yesterday for $10...$100 tool... did I need it, definitely not! But it was a great deal on a quality tool. So why not?

I'm just telling myself that it's OK to have a huge collection, basically a life insurance policy for my wife, if I die she can have a giant estate sale and sell all my crap. And I will enjoy it in the meantime.

 

[Blmpkn]

The only thing I'm ocd organized about is my toolbox lol.

Trucks a mess, room is a mess, when I have hair on my head it's a mess... tool box though.. gotta look like someone on too much Adderall organized it every day for a week or I'm not happy.


Any tools you don't want feel free to send my way eddo lol. I'll even pay half for shipping, just to help out.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Its easy to become an OCD Hoarder; working on vehicles (& many other things) can be like a Coke\Meth\Heroin addiction.
Can also be great if it provides stress relief, exercise, minimizes costs... & keeps you from driving wife crazy after retirement LOL.
If obsession is compromising family, responsibilities, finances, quality of life, health... time to make a change.
Up to you alone to decide when enough is enough;
too many grow old, go to their grave never shaking off serious addictions.

My addictions are pretty much the usual nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol.

I am in a little over my head in projects and it is affecting my social and personal life.

 

[Ranger850]

I have this "aircraft" tool ( pliers ?). Got it from my wife's grandfather. It twists wire, or something, for the safety, something about the nut backing off. Anyways, my Dad saw it and asked if he could borrow it. I have never used it, nor did I know how to use it, but he needed it for his "weed hopper". He still has it and I still want it back, because it's "my" tool. I could give it to him, which I probably already have, and never miss it. The fact that it's a tool in my tool box means I was prepared, just in case, I ever needed wire twisting pliers, I had them.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

I have this "aircraft" tool ( pliers ?). Got it from my wife's grandfather. It twists wire, or something, for the safety, something about the nut backing off. Anyways, my Dad saw it and asked if he could borrow it. I have never used it, nor did I know how to use it, but he needed it for his "weed hopper". He still has it and I still want it back, because it's "my" tool. I could give it to him, which I probably already have, and never miss it. The fact that it's a tool in my tool box means I was prepared, just in case, I ever needed wire twisting pliers, I had them.

Safety wire pliers. I have 3 pairs different sizes, and use them all often. Mostly on motorcycles. Its like duct tape on steroids. I also have 3 rolls of stainless wire .041", .032", .025" and use the middle one the most.

 

[Ranger850]

Safety wire pliers. I have 3 pairs different sizes, and use them all often. Mostly on motorcycles. Its like duct tape on steroids. I also have 3 rolls of stainless wire .041", .032", .025" and use the middle one the most.

He was a pilot in the Korean War, then flew for Boeing for a long time. He knew Mr. Boeing, personally. He quit flying before I was born, (1977) so those pliers are definitely older than I am, and work perfectly to this day.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

The only thing I'm ocd organized about is my toolbox lol.

Trucks a mess, room is a mess, when I have hair on my head it's a mess... tool box though.. gotta look like someone on too much Adderall organized it every day for a week or I'm not happy.


Any tools you don't want feel free to send my way eddo lol. I'll even pay half for shipping, just to help out.

I am like that with my tool box at work only, the drawers are even labeled! Not so much at home, although the garage is more organized than the house or yard (many sheds and junk piles).

I've started making a sell/donate pile. Got a buddy who just got into welding coming over this weekend to peruse some of the metal working tools I'd part with. I don't need 3 chop saws, 3 bench grinders and 4 vises.