BAD influence.....

[oleblu]

That would be YOU GUYS! LOL

After reading usmc_noma's post about how to find his next "score", I thought "I could have written that". I think it's a disease called "Toolitis", no known cure.

Since finding this board I've bought a few things from the classifieds here, hit a pawn shop next to where I work, and watched e-bay closely. (Of course SK is my weakness.)

I'm wondering when is it ever enough? As an example, I stopped and counted (from memory) the number of ratchets I currently have. If I haven't missed any , it's 30. Broken down by size, it's 1 - 3/4", 10 - 1/2", 11 - 3/8", and 8 - 1/4". Now these are dispersed into 4 catagories, GARAGE - for working on personal vehicles, WOODSHOP - for maintaining and using the machines, PORTABLE boxes - for off site working on other folks vehicles, and the ROADBOX - stays in the pickup for emergency breakdowns. Some boxes have multiple ratchets in the same size drive for special aplications, std length, long handle, stubby, flex head, etc.

I've seen the pictures here of drawers FULL of ratchets that people collect.

My question is for the working guys, the "users". How many ratchets do you have?....and... Is that enough?

 

[Skin]

1 1/4"
2 3/8" [1 12" locking flex + an 9" soft handle]
1 1/2"
1 1/4 bit wrench

i have others from kits, and what not over the years but the above is what i'm using 100% of the time.

 

[jerryW]

Wait until you get over 150 total!


jerry

 

[usmc_noma]

i know in the post your ratchets thread there are several members that warrant being envied when it comes the numbers of ratchets they have. it's quite remarkable when you start to think about the money spent and time to procure them through the years.

 

[welderwink]

i have 3 3/8 ratchets, a craftsman, a craftsman fine tooth, and a easco.
2 1/4 ratchet, a flex head and a craftsman.
1 3/8 micro torque wrench
1 1/2 torque wrench.

 

[Packard V8]

Economists say "Bad money drives out good."

I say, "Good ratchets drive out bad." Once you become accustomed to using the best ratchets, those you thought were OK for the basement or the truck or the pick-n-pull box become a frustration. Last trip to the wrecking yard, I was cussin' the like-new Craftsman 3/8" VV ratchet. Sell them down the river and use my best tools on everything. Having three sets of tools is no benefit if you hate to use two of them.

thnx, jack vines.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

My question is for the working guys, the "users". How many ratchets do you have?....and... Is that enough?

45+

It's not enough. It will never be enough.

 

[Rickster]

You have 30 ratchets? Around here I believe that's whats called a "starter set". You shouldn't start to worry until you have a dedicated toolbox drawer for 1/2 dr and one for 3/8 drive and they're full. Then it's time to start looking for a bigger toolbox.

 

[crewchief888]

my working ratchets
1/4 dr std length MAC
long flex head USA made
3/8 dr 2 std length Matco, kobalt
long flex head MAC ( a POS )
1/2 dr std length SK
long handle SO
3/4 dr std length Proto
detachable ratchet head SO

home stuff is a mixture of SO, SK, williams, kobalt and great neck

 

[oleblu]

45+

It's not enough. It will never be enough.


Does this opinion really count when he claims " brink of insanity"?? LOL

 

[arkangel06]

you can never have enough.

 

[Fedwrench]

Enough? Yeah, it's possible to have too many. What I do each year is to visit my various boxes and try to remember the last time I used a certain ratchet or other tool. If I can't remember the last time I used it, I probably list it on Ebay. You really can't keep everything forever and you know deep inside that you don't need 20 or so 3/8 drive ratchets when 5 will do fine ( stubby, standard, flex head, long flex head, and compact head) for example.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Enough? Yeah, it's possible to have too many. What I do each year is to visit my various boxes and try to remember the last time I used a certain ratchet or other tool. If I can't remember the last time I used it, I probably list it on Ebay. You really can't keep everything forever and you know deep inside that you don't need 20 or so 3/8 drive ratchets when 5 will do fine ( stubby, standard, flex head, long flex head, and compact head) for example.

I don't understand.