Spending Addiction?

[Stuey]

Background: Okay, so I first found out about Leatherman's Skeletool last fall. I wanted one. In December I redeemed some credit card reward points for a Sharper Image gift card since they were preordering the Leatherman CX. Come February soon before the CX's release, Sharper Image stopped accepting gift cards. So I turn to Amazon and spend cash on the plan LM Skeletool for $26 less than the cost of the CX.

For those of you that don't know, the Skeletool (http://www.leatherman.com/products/tools/skeletool-CX/default.asp)is Leatherman's new kickass "Multi"tool series. It has pliers, a knife, and a bit holder. The Skeletool is mostly stainless steel, with a 420C plain edge blade, and an aluminum handle scale. The Skeletool CX is stainless with a tungsten coating, a combination serrated/plain edge 154CM blade (supposedly harder and retains an edge better than 420C) and a carbon fiber scale. Regular = ~$60, CX ~$80.

So I bought the Skeletool and I like it a lot. This morning, under the influence of my allergies, I had random dreams. I'll spare you the details of my dream, but basically I gave my Skeletool to a buddy and then had none for myself, so I bought the Skeletool CX. I woke up, told my wife the story and that I just HAD to buy myself a CX now.

Since the availability is a bit limited, I strongly want to forego all other priority purchases (sheet metal hammer, Roper Whitney #5, milling table, cross sliding vise), and get myself a Skeletool CX.

What. The. Heck. I have two full size leathermans, and now the Skeletool, but I still want the Skeletool CX because it looks a bit cooler and has a slightly better blade? Ridiculous! Ah, I feel better now. Thanks Garage Journal for helping ease my frustration! I will be satisfied with my Skeletool, and I will not buy anymore tools that I do not need! Wait, scratch that, I will not buy any more tools that are roughly duplicates of tools that I don't need but wanted anyways.

Although I have gift cards to Sears and they supposedly offer the Skeletool CX for shipping, and I have a 10% coupon that came with my catalog, I can only trust that Sears will screw things up somehow.

Soooo... does this all mean that I'm a tool addict?

[eschoendorff]

Yes, it does. It also means you need to go to the Dr. and have your meds adjusted!

Seriously... I have had dreams where I need a tool and wake up to a driven desire to purchase that tool. Dreams are powerful things.


Never regretted a tools purchase though.

[JB740i]

Sell two of the others to buy the new one. Maybe your plain skeletool and one of the other lethermans.

[Stuey]

Sell? Sell? I wish I could, but I actively do use them. That's why I'm hesitant to get the CX, since I don't actually see myself using it too often.

This is not the first time I dreamt about buying tools either. =(

[PAToyota]

You bastard! :D

I've got a fullsize Leatherman and really hadn't thought about needing anything else. But followed your link to see what you were talking about. The Skeletool really doesn't look like something I'd use, but then I got to browsing and came across the Squirt P4... I've got a Black Classic Swiss Army Pocketknife on my keychain. The Squirt would add pliers, wirecutters, and screwdrivers...

Blissfully going along not needing to spend any money until you came along! :D

[Stuey]

Eh, I've never liked the pliers on keychain tools. Scissors on the other hand, are very useful. I have a Gerber shortcut and am waiting for it to break so that I can buy a Squirt with scissors. They're $25 a piece, so for a keychain tool, I'll wait till the Shortcut breaks. The damn thing has been useful for three years now. Why won't it break!!!

[ba614]

:lol_hitti

You guy's dream about tools? I had to laugh.

If you want something so much you dream about it, then go for it!

:beer:

[Stuey]

Last night/this morning I also dreamt about laundry, a house party, someone else's doctor's appointment, and cookies. It was during the laundry part where I gave my buddy my tool, and then on the way to someone else's doctor's appt that I really wish I had a similar tool to get out of a sticky situation.

Maybe I'm not eating enough vegetables.

[jay50]

Eh, I've never liked the pliers on keychain tools. Scissors on the other hand, are very useful. I have a Gerber shortcut and am waiting for it to break so that I can buy a Squirt with scissors. They're $25 a piece, so for a keychain tool, I'll wait till the Shortcut breaks. The damn thing has been useful for three years now. Why won't it break!!!

Nothing on my keychain except keys:shocking:
Those keychain novelty knives/pliers tend to get stuck inside the trouser pocket resulting in tears.

Keys for keychains; tools stay in tool box or car glove box or trunk.:beer:

[Stuey]

Given that it's barely larger than a matchbox, I'd classify it as a "keychain" rather than a tool.

[Chris Adams]

Tools on keychains equal ignition problems.
Or so I noticed in 30 years selling the parts, or fixing the damage.
Carry the tools in another pocket or something.

[hamburglar]

....................

[Stuey]

Tools on keychains equal ignition problems.
Or so I noticed in 30 years selling the parts, or fixing the damage.
Carry the tools in another pocket or something.
Can you elaborate upon that? I have 13 keys attached to different rings, but linked together. How could this damage the ignition - by applying too much downward stress?

[PAToyota]

Eh, I've never liked the pliers on keychain tools. Scissors on the other hand, are very useful.

I do admit that the scissors on the Swiss knife often come in more handy than the little knife blade. But I've also found myself wishing for a small pair of pliers or screwdrivers at times and scissors tend to be a more common implement and easily borrowed...

Tools on keychains equal ignition problems.
Or so I noticed in 30 years selling the parts, or fixing the damage.
Carry the tools in another pocket or something.


I agree with you wholeheartedly about the ignition problem - so I have one of these:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21XYuB6qW6L._SS400_.jpg

Vehicle keys on one end - house, shop, office keys and everything else on the other end. Disconnect ignition keys and the rest of the mess stays in my pocket while driving.

[Scottz5]

I have a problem also. I just buy way too much stuff. I am trying to help America out of the slump. Thats what i tell the wife anyway.

[Chris Adams]

Can you elaborate upon that? I have 13 keys attached to different rings, but linked together. How could this damage the ignition - by applying too much downward stress?

Hi, it’s not a reason not to have cool pocket gear, but you really do not want to be hanging weight on a key.

An ounce is a lot swinging back and forth on a 2 inch chain.

Pull a lock cylinder out sometime and look at where the wear is applied and how it works.

Primary reason to replace a lock cylinder is wear.
In normal use, that is, without out the extra junk, a lock cylinder should last longer than the car.

Stuff on key rings also cut the column up and mark up the doors and trunk if you don't use a remote.

Woman, many of whom seem addicted to big doodads on their key rings, go through a lot of lock cylinders.

On some models even light wear can cause key sticking, where it won't release or is sticky and you have to jiggle it to unlock it.

You may or may not notice it if you don’t deal with a lot of cars, and like any other thing you do your results may vary, but most car makers specifically recommend against it.

[jay50]

Hi, it’s not a reason not to have cool pocket gear, but you really do not want to be hanging weight on a key.

An ounce is a lot swinging back and forth on a 2 inch chain.

Pull a lock cylinder out sometime and look at where the wear is applied and how it works.

Primary reason to replace a lock cylinder is wear.
In normal use, that is, without out the extra junk, a lock cylinder should last longer than the car.

Stuff on key rings also cut the column up and mark up the doors and trunk if you don't use a remote.

Woman, many of whom seem addicted to big doodads on their key rings, go through a lot of lock cylinders.

On some models even light wear can cause key sticking, where it won't release or is sticky and you have to jiggle it to unlock it.

You may or may not notice it if you don’t deal with a lot of cars, and like any other thing you do your results may vary, but most car makers specifically recommend against it.

Yeah, when I get a car in the shop with ignition key problems; the key chain is usually loaded with all types of trinkets and crap which helps create the problem.

[Stuey]

Thanks for the explanation and reconfirming my assumptions. I guess I'll try to find a way to split my keys up without adding too much bulk to my pocket. I used a makeshift solution when I know my keys will be left with a valet; I might try using the same separation method all the time.

[Stuey]

Last night, I dreamt that I bought a *shudder* black and decker belt sander. Well, I didn't dream of buying one, but I dreamt that I was using one that presumably was mine.

[Danglerb]

Gerber shortcut lives in my pocket, kinda funny I bought the set with the small knife brand new at the swap meet for $5 because I wanted the knife, but its not what I keep in my pocket.