Anyone Else Binge On A Certain Tool Type?

[Jim C.]

I went on a little Channellock binge about six months ago. That resulted in a cable cutter, a couple V jaw channel pliers, a nipper, and a pair of wire cutting pliers. I was real close to buying a pair of needle nose pliers, but then I snapped out of my "blue handled" stupor and came back to my senses. It all started with the cable cutters. I actually did need those. Everything else was just temporary insanity. Occasionally I'll go on a wrench binge or a socket binge, but not too often. The Channellock binge was probably my worst so far.

Jim C.

This thread got me going again!!!!! Damn!!!!! I was in Lowes this morning and walked out with a pair Channellock lineman's pliers. I don't need them at all!!!! I looked at the needle nose pliers too!!! I don't need those either!!! I feel another binge coming on.......

Jim C.

 

[back2class]

For me it is sets. I sometimes buy complete tool boxes and sell off the expensive stuff. I get left with perfectly functional but low value tools. This is why my 2 year old has a loaded Cornwell 7 drawer rollcart. I see what is a mostly complete mechanics starter set and need to complete it. Plus it gives me an excuse to go to the flea market! I often will give smaller sets away. So far I have given three sets to kids. Thses would be toolboxes full of decent stuff that weigh about 80lbs.
I think it comes from never having anything but some stray tools as younger fella and recalling the hassle of never having the right size wrench, screwdriver and so on.
I guess if it it was one tool, that would be quality screwdrivers. I just have to buy them at the flea for $1. Seems like every week I get a ols Mac or Klein. By the time warranty them or sell them here I usally make ZERO money. But I just have to buy them when I see them. I have a small box full of them. I am about to give up, last time I had enough to make nice full sets of one brand, they sold for $2 each here. One was a Craftsman Pro and one was Klein. C-clamps are pretty bad too. Keep buying old USA made ones for $1 and NEVER use them. They just sit in a pile on a basement shelf.
I finally had to stop buying old vise grips. I used to buy any that were $1-2. I think I stopped at around a twenty of the common ones.

 

[countrytech]

Not tools, but lately mine is storage or organizer containers with compartments... stackable bins at HF, Plano boxes at walmart, stanley organizers at lowes, stackon at sears, plano-like organizers at the dollar store.... if it has small bins or trays to separate and organize different items, I'm interested! I guess it doesn't help that my wife is borderline OCD on organization and is very interested in my shop.... "hey honey could you use some of these for "x" in your shop?"

It is about time tho, after years of being a bachelor and not organizing anything, she's changed me and I'm starting to get a little OCD myself, and when I see something that could help me organize "xyz" I'm a sucker and have to get it. It's amazing how much more efficient you are when you know where everything is... then again you have to be efficient to pay for the stuff you keep adding to the collection... it's never ending

On a side note, I despise labels on my stuff because it looks ugly and it always seems like as soon as I label a container, I change my mind and want to repurpose it. So far I've managed to avoid labeling anything, but as my collection increases, I find myself fighting the urge to buy a label maker.

 

[back2class]

Not tools, but lately mine is storage or organizer containers with compartments... stackable bins at HF, Plano boxes at walmart, stanley organizers at lowes, stackon at sears, plano-like organizers at the dollar store.... if it has small bins or trays to separate and organize different items, I'm interested! I guess it doesn't help that my wife is borderline OCD on organization and is very interested in my shop.... "hey honey could you use some of these for "x" in your shop?"

It is about time tho, after years of being a bachelor and not organizing anything, she's changed me and I'm starting to get a little OCD myself, and when I see something that could help me organize "xyz" I'm a sucker and have to get it. It's amazing how much more efficient you are when you know where everything is... then again you have to be efficient to pay for the stuff you keep adding to the collection... it's never ending

On a side note, I despise labels on my stuff because it looks ugly and it always seems like as soon as I label a container, I change my mind and want to repurpose it. So far I've managed to avoid labeling anything, but as my collection increases, I find myself fighting the urge to buy a label maker.

I hear ya about being organized. I used to be a slob with tools. I kind of am still disorganized with most stuff in my life, but my tools are always quite orderly. I spent to many hours looking for missing tool I needed. Now I have a strong aversion to that hassle so my toolbox is the the most organized think in my life. LOL

 

[csmitty]

Recovering from a ratchet binge moving on to impact sockets. O **** I sill need that 1/2 in drive 88 tooth matco ratchet. Thanks alot.

We have the same strain. I'm about to embark on a serious impact socket bender, and my ratchet drawer is current sporting 4x 1/4 drive, 4x 3/8 drive and 3x 1/2 drive ratchets - all but 3 of those (1 of each size) are "new"

Must be brothers from a different mother.

However I still buy the **** out of ratchets. 1/4 is the least love with only 3 or 4. However its more than made up with 13 or 14 3/8 drive. Mostly SO dual 80s and Corwells. The cornwells just have a alure to them. Then about 5 dual 80 1/2s

Just staring buying up alot of Proto impact sockets since I get a good deal.

 

[otis66]

Ratchets. I am constantly buying ratchets.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Ratchet binge? Don't know anything about that..

(There are more now, 50-something..)

 

[csmitty]

Ok, you win. I'm more inclined to think your pro level though would be a treasure chest for us hobbiest. is that two FK80s i spot there? or maybe they're 1/2. either way. dual wielding stubbies

how do you choose which one to use? I have a hard time with my 20ish

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Ok, you win. I'm more inclined to think your pro level though would be a treasure chest for use hobbiest. is that two FK80s i spot there? or maybe they're 1/2. either way. dual wielding stubbies

how do you choose which one to use? I have a hard time with my 20ish

One is an FK80, the other an FK936.

How do i choose.. random/mood usually. I don't like swapping sockets repeatedly mid job, i usually have a few ratchets around on any one job so i just grab whichever i need, saves time and hassle. Yes, they're used daily.

 

[supertooljunkie]

Ratchets mainly, any size, preferably US made. Quality wrenches, preferably metric, but end up buying SAE, if cheap and US made. I have several drawers of US made SAE wrenches. Sockets, the same.
Lately though, it has been just about anything Duro, Indestro, Wizard, Westcraft. and US made Thorsen. Anything European.
Oh hell, just fess up and admit, quality made tools, bought cheap.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

Love the one in the back.

Me too,Can you tell us a little bit about it?

 

[c/o say]

OK I give maybe I don't have a binge problem. But I'M sure moose you have a problem. When you have to have a tool box for ratchets and ratchets only. Your snap on dealer must LOVE YOU.

 

[Jim C.]

I went on a little Channellock binge about six months ago. That resulted in a cable cutter, a couple V jaw channel pliers, a nipper, and a pair of wire cutting pliers. I was real close to buying a pair of needle nose pliers, but then I snapped out of my "blue handled" stupor and came back to my senses. It all started with the cable cutters. I actually did need those. Everything else was just temporary insanity. Occasionally I'll go on a wrench binge or a socket binge, but not too often. The Channellock binge was probably my worst so far.

Jim C.

This damn thread got me going again!!!!! I just bought three more pairs of Channellocks within the last ten days!! I don't need any of them. What the hell am I doing???

Jim C. (who is once again suffering from temporary "blue handled" tool syndrome)

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

I am also drawn in by the Blue handles!!

 

[Jim C.]

I am also drawn in by the Blue handles!!

Nice Channellock collection!!!!!! Hey, is that a 148-10 near the end on the right? How do you like those? I was looking at the 148-14 cutters, but I'm trying to find out what type of material (how hard/how thick) they'll cut through before I buy them.

Jim C.

 

[ajchien]

Argh!!!!! I need a new binge!

Since joining GJ ... Ive binged on ....

Screwdrivers.
Vises.
Channellocks.
Needle nose, slip joint, linesman pliers.
Punches and extractors.
Hammers.
Ratchets.
Extensions and adaptors and universal joints.
Snap ring pliers.
speeders.
Breaker bars.
Measurement tools.
Pullers.
Adjustable wrenches.

And finally, I've filled out a wrench set. Both 6 and 12 point combo in metric 6-20mm and SAE 1/4 to 1in.

Is it over? It can't be over I need a new binge! Someone please post some tool **** to drool over...

 

[Boiler]

Every time I go to Lowe's, Sears, or visit my SO dealer to pick up orders or warranty, I try to leave with a new tool. I love having everything I need to do anything. There is something great about having what you need to do anything around the house or on the cars, mower, etc. At Lowes I'd pick up a new pair of channellocks each time I'd go, now I think I'm going to have be done there unless someone can direct me to the next quality item they have. Everything else seems junky. I may have to move on to power tools.

Sears is getting tough too. I ususally check out the clearance and then hit the house / building tools.

My pliers drawer is full though, so I'm going to have to figure something else out. A new box is not an option. I quadrupled my storage last summer and now its getting full. Going to need to be some thinning down and rearranging soon...

The life and times of a tool junkie...

 

[Trucky]

I've spent over $250 on pliers alone since I got back from college...

Yeah, I counted it up earlier today. Kinda shocked. Kinda happy that I had all of that for use later

 

[Sick Puppy]

Koken.

 

[blue dog]

I seem to have a NWS and knipex addiction at this point.

 

[bob ny]

right now i am into 4 in and under early adjustable wrenches. in the early 2000s i was really into farm tractors(23 PEICES AT ONE TIME)i have a collection of
pliers
braces
hand drills
walking sticks/canes
hess trucks
models of construction trucks
craftsman working tools
bob w.

 

[4x4gearhead]

Ive gone on some serious wrench and ratchet kicks, then every once and awhile I get it up my craw to buy some automotive specialty **** at low prices. Unhealthy? maybe, but the fact of the matter is I use the hell out of tools and if you do too, then use this excuse to make yourself feel better! I counted the other day and I have 38 ratchets. I also use a bunch of ratchets with different setups as I work to save hassle.

 

[VincenT]

I picked up a demo hammer at Home depot and my kick started there, for some reason i loved the weight of it. I had to get every type I could find.

 

[tankboy_taylor]

a skid steer binge in 07 nearly destroyed my marriage.

LOL your not the first Ive heard say that

 

[disaster1277]

it started few yrs back my father gave me a 4 inch proto pro. adj. wrench now i have about 50 all different mkr and styles

thanks dad

 

[widerberg]

Vises for me. If a deal comes through tomorrow, I'll have bought 6 in, er, about a week. I think I'm done there, though.

Also, sockets. I bought one of those injection molded Craftsman socket holders a couple of years ago, the ones which have holes for every socket size imaginable for 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 inch drives. Well, the empty holes on the rare/useless sizes bug me, and I've decided to complete the "set" and fill every last hole no matter what. So . . . every few months, I'll go nuts and buy up a few sockets. That doesn't sound bad, but I'm on the larger sizes now, so they cost more, and I'm committed to buying vintage USA or current truck brand sockets. It's fun, and I'm almost done. Would definitely characterize it as binge buying, though.

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

I don't binge on a certain type of tool, but more a "mindset of owning" binging, I guess it would be called. If I don't have the tool to do something - even if I'm only very rarely going to use it - I still much prefer to buy it than borrow from a buddy or rent from a parts store.

It does get annoying at times; $10 in bearings and seals for my rear axle, and $150 in tools to remove the old ones and put the new ones in. Need a single 15mm flare nut wrench for my power steering pump...$100 later and I have a full set of SAE and imperials.

 

[TozziWelding]

If I want or need a tool I buy it, I can write em' off

 

[Davo3]

Trying to stop myself from having one of every Klein-Kurve stripper/cutter:

...because half of them would just never be used.

 

[canuckian]

starting to get back on a bit of a ratchet and screwdriver binge again. Ah well...could be worse I suppose. I could be binging on something a little pricier like air tools.


mmmmmm....air tools...........

 

[jeffmoss26]

Klein Tools in general...lol

 

[dodge610]

No certain tool just tools in general. I am on a metric binge right now got most of the SAE stuff and just noticed my metric is a little sparse. This place does not help but i love it and i get some great tools at good prices. Would not change a thing.

 

[Eldogg]

Trying to stop myself from having one of every Klein-Kurve stripper/cutter:

...because half of them would just never be used.

WOW! I didn't know they made all those... I was just getting over my Knipex and Snap-On ratchet binge. Now I must own all of those strippers.

 

[johndeereman]

I would have to say it's been impact sockets and accessories of all sizes recently now i just need to get a quality large compressor.

 

[bob from indiana]

I have been getting 8" slip joint pliers so far my favorite is Witco a spin off of Wilde. I got them at a flea market for $4.00. I have a pair of Channel lock 8 " that I use a lot and plan to get the new Tektons when I find them in a store.

 

[Bobcat753]

a skid steer binge in 07 nearly destroyed my marriage.

How many did you buy?!!
One should be enough unless you had to have all the attachments!


For me it's lightbars,pintle hooks,and chainsaws. Random but I like em!

 

[rockinacummins]

I do this too. I'm stuck on wrenches and ratchets of course. But I'm really into adjustable wrenches right now. Maybe it will be something crazy like needle nose pliers or crows foot wrenchs or something next time...

 

[IH__COLLECTOR]

Im into anything with a green handle and says snap on right now.

 

[quattroJoe]

I'm always on the lookout for ratchets... Even though I have a favorite in each size I can't pass up a good deal. Just bought Armstrongs in 1/4 and 3/8 as part of my Epstein's Day purchase. Last week I received a pair of Gearwrench roto ratchets, and coincidentally found a perfect use for the 1/4 the next day at work. My latest binges though have been adjustable wrenches (even though I rarely use them,) and pry bars. The impulse to have complete sets is probably the biggest driver of that.

 

[thetool]

always ratchets but just got off a screwdriver binge, before that it was sockets and i do have a ton of them now and the little shorty wrenches and long oddball tappet wrenches and plyers and now i`m on wrench sets, i`m sick