Do You Have So Many Tools You Forget Where You Put Them?

[signcrafter]

I checked Amazon and I definitely did buy them but I couldn't find them.

It's great how amazon reminds us of the tools we already bought. More then once I've hoped on amazon to order a tool and at the top of the page it says last purchased on such and such date. So back to the shop to look harder I go.

 

[dchawk81]

I'm such a slob that I don't know where I put them. There aren't too many.

 

[dscheidt]

It's great how amazon reminds us of the tools we already bought. More then once I've hoped on amazon to order a tool and at the top of the page it says last purchased on such and such date. So back to the shop to look harder I go.

No, I've totally not done that. Never.

 

[rharman]

Yes sometimes. Only at home though never at work because my tools are always in my workspace. The reason it happens at home is I’m completely out of space in all my toolboxes so I have cardboard boxes and totes full of miscellaneous tools because I have no where to put them. Most of them are duplicates though so not that big of a deal. I want my parents to stop being pack rats so I can have more space in the basement to get another box or two or more like 10 lol. And I’m very stickler for organization so I hate having them in boxes and totes. My toolboxes are all very organized and I’ll know if you moved a tool a centimeter.

That works fine for the metric stuff but what about the SAE?

 

[Formula]

All the time. One of the guys needed to borrow a rivet nut gun. I knew I had one and last used it about two years ago. Took me a few minutes to find it in the sea of plastic cases.

 

[Wrench97]

I bought a DA sander for a project once, when finished I decided the best place to store it was on the top shelf, got the stool out and found a spot right next to the DA I didn't remember owning..........................................

 

[Radio Flyer]

Yep, with not so common stuff,

Put it out of the way in a safe place, so it won't get broken.

Can never remember where the the safe place was.....

 

[PlanB]

Home gamer here and its surprisingly how few tools it takes before this happens.

Btw did anyone see where i left my glasses?

 

[ecotec]

We have all done this on occasion. I have organized my tools pretty well… so I always know where the vast vast majority are. There are a few things that are in places that I will have to look hard to find. I see something every now and then and think that I will never find that when I really need it. I should make an effort to make it more and more intuitive.

What do you guys think of labeling blow molded cases with white paint marker? This would make it easier to look through a drawer full of blow molded cases.

 

[tak1313]

My problem is that I forget that I already purchased a tool, then accidentally come across it right before I‘m getting ready to purchase the same tool.

My problem is that I forget that I already purchased a tool, then accidentally come across it right after i already bought the tool again...

I have a LOT of tools (any many duplicates) but it's not because I have too many tools, it's because of my innate propensity for disorganization. It's a highly honed skill that I have acquired with great perseverance over many years of tool buying - plus I'm a tool hoarder...

 

[dchawk81]

My problem is that I forget that I already purchased a tool, then accidentally come across it right after i already bought the tool again...

I have a LOT of tools (any many duplicates) but it's not because I have too many tools, it's because of my innate propensity for disorganization. It's a highly honed skill that I have acquired with great perseverance over many years of tool buying - plus I'm a tool hoarder...

I bought a deburring tool, used it once, and couldn't find it when I needed it again. I just hope I don't lose the new one I just bought before I get to use it.

 

[finn]

Found my long lost welding pliers yesterday while looking once again for the conical shop vacuum nozzle ( for about the tenth time).

I finally rounded up the magnetic pick up tools, aka magnet on a stick, and put them all in one place. I came up with six.

They will all be lost again before Christmas.

 

[tak1313]

I bought a deburring tool, used it once, and couldn't find it when I needed it again. I just hope I don't lose the new one I just bought before I get to use it.

Like me, you will find the old one when you are looking for something else and say "sh*t, so that's where I put it...."

 

[rlitman]

So do I. Somewhere in my house. Unfortunately that's not specific enough for me to find it.

And that is why I own two pneumatic framing nailers. It's also why I have an extra tub spout lost somewhere in my house. I hope to find it before I renovate the second bathroom.

 

[tak1313]

I can't count the number of times I bought dupes of something I actually knew I had, but either couldn't find it, or just didn't want to look for it knowing that looking for it would be a big PIA with no guarantee that I would find it.

The skills of chaos and disorganization has its disadvantages at times...

 

[m6z]

Thankfully, no.

I do tend to purge unused stuff and often realize that I shouldn't have.

 

[dchawk81]

Like me, you will find the old one when you are looking for something else and say "sh*t, so that's where I put it...."

I figure as much.

 

[humber2]

A recent item I wasted time looking for was found in the last place I looked.

 

[Doubled33]

When I worked in a shop environment I used to go through a drawer in my box or cart every other week or so and look at the tools in it that may have been less used and ended up in the back of the drawer. I would re organize and clean up the drawer a little bit. It took about 10 minutes.

Items too big for the box I would try to stack in such a manner that you would know if something was missing and you could see all the boxes.

Many times I would find a forgotten item or misplaced tool.

 

[M6erfan]

My problem is that I forget that I already purchased a tool, then accidentally come across it right before I‘m getting ready to purchase the same tool.

Me too, but I usually find the previous one about 15minutes after receiving the new replacement. Works every time!

 

[richfinn]

I used to, but I'm ruthless with my tools nowadays. If I don't need or use a tool anymore it gets retired permanently, so I have less tools to be responsible for.

It sounds counterproductive for a GJ member but it works, nobody needs to manage three fricking toolboxes and less stuff is a lot easier and faster to organise.

I started off by going fully metric and ditched all the old Imperial tools, then I ditched all the old special engine tools from the 80s/90s I no longer used anymore (obsolete, for cars that no longer exist)

Then I started to look at sets of stuff like screwdrivers and figured I can manage with ten good quality ones and a ratchetng version with bits and ditched all the duplicates.

I whittled down my spanners to one metric set and a few ratchet versions and a couple of stubbies and cut downs

I now only buy single sockets in the sizes I need when I need them and never buy full sets anymore (I've managed to get it down to one organiser with 4 rails)

If a newer better tool comes along I get rid of the older version

I try to make kits of stuff that live together (like measuring tools that all stay together in one spot)

I throw crappy blow molded cases away and I buy cheap stackable matching crates and label them with a sharpie

When my duties no longer require me to do a particular task anymore (thank god), I get rid of that baggage too

If I'm working on something I use a basic tool cart or magnet trays and as soon as I'm done I put the stuff back in the organiser where it belongs.

I like to use magnetic holders for vertical storage so I can see what's missing at a glance

Minimalism!!, it sets you free (except multimeters, you need at least five of those)

 

[dnschmidt]

Update time: Well, I gave up and bought another digital dial bore gauge. I figured it was either that or having a heart attack from moving heavy **** trying to find the old one.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Like with like & everything gets labeled, even if it's just with a marker.

 

[dscheidt]

All the time. One of the guys needed to borrow a rivet nut gun. I knew I had one and last used it about two years ago. Took me a few minutes to find it in the sea of plastic cases.

Label all six sides of boxes and cases. If you do five, it will end up so the blank side is the one you can see. Or be vicious about making them all face the right way, and do just one.

 

[dchawk81]

Like with like & everything gets labeled, even if it's just with a marker.

But if you can't find your markers...

 

[bbbarracuda]

I have, more than once, spent a long time looking for something, only to finally remember that I sold it on Ebay years ago.

 

[nbpt100]

Not often but sometimes. When you are working in multiple places and juggling jobs it gets challenging.

 

[tak1313]

I used to, but I'm ruthless with my tools nowadays. If I don't need or use a tool anymore it gets retired permanently, so I have less tools to be responsible for.

It sounds counterproductive for a GJ member but it works, nobody needs to manage three fricking toolboxes and less stuff is a lot easier and faster to organise.

I started off by going fully metric and ditched all the old Imperial tools, then I ditched all the old special engine tools from the 80s/90s I no longer used anymore (obsolete, for cars that no longer exist)

Then I started to look at sets of stuff like screwdrivers and figured I can manage with ten good quality ones and a ratchetng version with bits and ditched all the duplicates.

I whittled down my spanners to one metric set and a few ratchet versions and a couple of stubbies and cut downs

I now only buy single sockets in the sizes I need when I need them and never buy full sets anymore (I've managed to get it down to one organiser with 4 rails)

If a newer better tool comes along I get rid of the older version

I try to make kits of stuff that live together (like measuring tools that all stay together in one spot)

I throw crappy blow molded cases away and I buy cheap stackable matching crates and label them with a sharpie

When my duties no longer require me to do a particular task anymore (thank god), I get rid of that baggage too

If I'm working on something I use a basic tool cart or magnet trays and as soon as I'm done I put the stuff back in the organiser where it belongs.

I like to use magnetic holders for vertical storage so I can see what's missing at a glance

Minimalism!!, it sets you free (except multimeters, you need at least five of those)

That must be the Marie Kondo method of tool organization. My step-daughter started watching her videos and dumped 5@55 gallon trash bags worth of clothes to Goodwill. Funny thing is, when I look at her closet, it doesn't really seem like there's less stuff in there.

My biggest problem is I live in fear of getting rid of stuff I don't use anymore because I have this little voice in the back of my head (one of many) that tells me "psssst...the day after you get rid of that, you're going to need it again." Another voice constantly pokes at me by saying, "you know, you already have a tool that does 'x,' but that other brand/updated version might do it better," and all of sudden, I have multiple tools that do the same thing.

 

[genog]

Btw did anyone see where i left my glasses?

Drives me crazy sometimes, looking for my darn glasses!
I can't tell you how many times they're raised up on top of my head!

 

[NakeDiesel]

I have this problem for the rarely used specialty tools I own that may get used once every couple of years or less. I have 3 of the big tool boxes built into my workbench and they are pretty organized plus my overloaded tool cart with all the frequently used pieces, but some of the specialty tools are on the shelf in blow molded cases like ring compressors, fuel and cylinder pressure guages, timing setups for diesels, cylinder honing stones, etc....

I spent 20 minutes looking for my brake drum tools the other day and they were in the drawer they were supposed to be in, but they were in with a bunch of other rarely used tools and kept overlooking them. Only have one truck with brake drums left so it had been many moons since I last used them.

 

[richfinn]

That must be the Marie Kondo method of tool organization. My step-daughter started watching her videos and dumped 5@55 gallon trash bags worth of clothes to Goodwill. Funny thing is, when I look at her closet, it doesn't really seem like there's less stuff in there.

My biggest problem is I live in fear of getting rid of stuff I don't use anymore because I have this little voice in the back of my head (one of many) that tells me "psssst...the day after you get rid of that, you're going to need it again." Another voice constantly pokes at me by saying, "you know, you already have a tool that does 'x,' but that other brand/updated version might do it better," and all of sudden, I have multiple tools that do the same thing.

It is liberating, getting rid of stuff/ becoming a conscious consumer

I know it goes against the grain of GJ

I just have less stuff but what I do keep is always nice quality and I enjoy it more

If I'm looking at a purchase nowadays,l I save a link to my home page, research it to death and then give myself a cooling off period of a month, most of the time when the adrenaline and endorphins have subsided I delete the link and forget about it

 

[tak1313]

If I'm looking at a purchase nowadays,l I save a link to my home page, research it to death and then give myself a cooling off period of a month, most of the time when the adrenaline and endorphins have subsided I delete the link and forget about it

I've tried the "cooling off" thing multiple times. In fact, after a few weeks, I usually don't even have the urge to buy the tool anymore...BUT THEN THE D*MN THING GOES ON SALE!!!

 

[txvwnut]

Tools, consumables, projects, the cat... in my small sized disaster of a shop it's easy to do.

 

[Jolomite]

Yes. I admit that my collecting is well into the range of absurd. I have a shop that I was lucky to get in the first place and I have junked it up with enough redundant things that I can't make much use of it. Half started projects that I would like to complete because, I couldn't buy that machine/ item of the same quality new. My worst problem, evidently, is buying cheap hand tools.

So, yes, I can't find things because of the clutter. When I lay hands on something I was looking for I often don't have the workspace to proceed properly. So I put the project off to tidy up and the project ends up sitting for a long time until I get free time again.

 

[d9gdon]

I have a 3 year old grandson that helps Pops rearrange his tools around the shop when he's not looking. He's like an octopus.

 

[richfinn]

Yes. I admit that my collecting is well into the range of absurd. I have a shop that I was lucky to get in the first place and I have junked it up with enough redundant things that I can't make much use of it. Half started projects that I would like to complete because, I couldn't buy that machine/ item of the same quality new. My worst problem, evidently, is buying cheap hand tools.

So, yes, I can't find things because of the clutter. When I lay hands on something I was looking for I often don't have the workspace to proceed properly. So I put the project off to tidy up and the project ends up sitting for a long time until I get free time again.

You said it, "clutter" is the enemy

 

[richfinn]

I've tried the "cooling off" thing multiple times. In fact, after a few weeks, I usually don't even have the urge to buy the tool anymore...BUT THEN THE D*MN THING GOES ON SALE!!!

That's the next step, you didn't need it at full price, you still don't need it at a discounted price.

The marketing guys are analysing your online shopping habits and trying to make you feel guilty by missing out on the sale price.

I keep looking at Rolex Watches hoping they try to lure me in with a nice saving

Oddly enough it never comes

 

[Old Man Roger]

Not only do I forget where I put a tool, I also forget I have certain tools, and this morning I looked at a tool that I can’t remember what it’s for lol

 

[BlindViper]

The only time I can't find something is because my wife moved it. All of my tools are in the garage, the exact location of any particular tool can be questionable.....

 

[Sumboodie]

I have 2 Matco carts, of course both are the same color same layout, one at work the other at home...........................
I've stared at drawers just knowing I just saw that tool in this drawer yesterday......................oops wrong box.

Had a customer come in a while back needed a pail of special Mobil hydraulic oil. It comes in a dark red pail and I swore up and down that I had seen one in the warehouse. Spent way too long pulling pallets off shelving searching. Never did find it... till I got home a few weeks later.
The pail I remember was indeed the correct product, but it was an empty pail I had gotten from who knows where and was being used to store stuff.