I am going broke buying duplicates of tools

[reader2580]

I was planning to get the lighting in my RV under way today, but the used rental lift I bought this winter has a leak. It isn't a big leak, but it will leave stains all over my new garage if I don't figure it out. I have not yet figured out if it is a hose or the motor that is leaking. It didn't appear to be leaking in the shop at the rental place when I inspected it.

I ordered replacement tools from Cripe Distributing for about $25 with shipping. They had a single Armstrong 3/8" ratcheting wrench made in the USA plus a set of Kobalt USA 1/4" SAE sockets. They will be here tomorrow. My portable box with my sockets had flipped over in the back of my minivan yet I can't find some of my sockets. I suspect they rolled out when I opened one of the side doors and I missed them rolling out.

 

[crashmtb]

Stop buying stuff you already have but are too chaotic to find.

 

[Model A Fan]

Only own 3 hammers? Rookie.

Yeah, I kinda laughed at that comment as well. I have two drawers dedicated to hammers and then still have them scattered around my barn, garage, and house.

What I'd recommend is some form of organization system. Most people have tool cabinets. Some people have organization in those cabinets like Kaizen foam, 3D printed grids, cases, or little dividers.

I'd recommend picking a cabinet, an organization structure, and then put your tools in a coherent organized manner so you know where things are and what's missing by looking at it.

 

[signcrafter]

Not until he decides to fix the problem instead of buying new tools to "replace" lost ones. IMO

Organizing is between free and cash flow positive.... Something I imagine the OP would want

I don't know if I would agree with "organization is free." I guess the basics of setting something in a specific place after using it is free. But really organizing things can get expensive real quick, I know I've been dealing with it for a while now setting up a new shop. A place for everything and everything in it's place. Just setting tools in a specific spot is a start and helps but until you have every tool in a specific home you can't see when something is missing and when you go to find it and it's not in it's place you have to find it. Also all depends on how much stuff you have, tools and materials and everything else. I've spent thousands on shelving to be able to try and organize and fit materials and tools trying to fit a ton of stuff in a 4 car garage. Then add in tool boxes and cabinets for storing tools. Lots of shelves I've built from unistrut for a specific purpose and to fit a specific area. Built things like battery tool storage cabinets, air tool storage, the list goes on and on. Trying to find used cabinets with drawers for things like wheel weights, valve stems, panel clips, etc. I have a ton of ridgid pack out style boxes that I don't use much anymore because I don't do contractor stuff everyday anymore. Have a ton of organizer tray boxes for common used hardware and anchors and stuff like that from when I did more of that work. Wall mounts for things like M18 yard equipment. The list goes on and on and to be truly organized costs a fortune but it sure makes working nice.

I try not to just because there is a long list of tools I don't have and want before buying duplicates but there are many times I have just bought new tools because I needed it to get something done and couldn't find mine. Time is money and sometimes I just want to get something done so I can move on.