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

[dnschmidt]

OK, I've got to help my friend Dennis rebuild his 6.0 Powerstroke which he blew up even though it has all of the Bulletproof Upgrades. I know for a fact that I bought a digital dial bore gauge made by Johnson Level from Zoro in 2014 that has 0.0001 accuracy that would be very helpful in this rebuild to measure the bearing clearances. This is a $400 precision instrument. Now I know it's somewhere in my house but I can't find it and I've looked pretty hard. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE THESE PROBLEMS?

 

[lardy1]

Rarely. My dad was adamant about putting tools away where they belong. Working on lake freighter, it's SOP. You ALWAYS return tools in the engine room. I'm an ******* about it in my shop. If you use it, put the sonofabitch back where you got it from. I absolutely hate looking for things (but still fail to meet my own standard sometimes).

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

Absolutely! Happens to me all the time. Problem is when you rarely use a certain tool the mind just shuffles it off into the abyss.
Don't worry...it's there somewhere and you'll find it when you no longer need it.

 

[PBCampbell]

Yep, I'm having that problem right now concerning a certain screwdriver.

 

[930dreamer]

With six plus boxes it's here somewhere!

 

[lilredex]

Not just tools......many things are put away in a place where you'll find it when needed, but guess what?

 

[engineer2]

Happens to me with seldom-used tools. I know I have a fuel injector tester, but haven't seen it in a few years.
I have a large blow molded plastic tool case under my tool chest. I need to pull it out since I don't remember what's in there.

 

[LXCam]

Not just where Denny, but in which state is it at!

 

[Toolfool]

Not just where Denny, but in which state is it at!

I'm thinking I left some things back in WA that I didn't mean to.

 

[j3rf]

Depends on which set of tools you're talking about... The ones I use every day to make money, are exactly where they are supposed to be at the end of the day. The tools I use at home probably are. My spares or junkyard box is in my storage unit somewhere.

 

[crewchief888]

No
I know where every tool I have is at

 

[Ohmthis]

Yep, my issue is my stuff is split up between 4 places. My old place had a large shop with everything in it. Now I have some things in my upstairs shop, some downstairs, some outside in my small barn (20x20), and some at my dads. Good luck. I just used my dial bore gauge and they are a must (to me anyways) for an engine rebuild.

 

[tarmy]

Just bought a new hog ring plier and rings…cause I got no idea where mine are…

 

[JWC86]

I’m getting batter but yes this happens sometimes.

I’m a very patient and calm person but when I can’t find something it tests me more than anything else. Good luck!

 

[dnschmidt]

No
I know where every tool I have is at

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

 

[RTM]

My problems occurs when I am cleaning / organizing things. Or when a tool might have two different uses, and I have not defined its home yet. Some tools seem to show up in the darnedest places, but once I think about it, I recall what leaps I made to get it there.

ITs especially hard for a few tools that only get used once every few years, but are mission critical. I am starting to think I need a sheet to track things between the 7 cabinets, 8 toolboxes, 6 shelving units, etc where things might go.

Easiest thing is to buy a new one, the missing one will immediately come out of hiding to greet its brother.

 

[crewchief888]

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

My stuff is usually where it belongs. Especially in my service truck. I keep some stuff in the house, other tools and equipment in the garage. Typically I don't move stuff back and forth very often

 

[Blueshound_GJ]

Has anybody seen my 10" red handle Snap-On wire crimpers? Last seen in the vicinity of a low voltage outdoor lighting project.

 

[71goldss]

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.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Primary if the tool hasn't been used after a toolbox reorganization.

Fuel line quick connector tools..... those are really engine tools.... but this set is a pliers version.... does it go with the pliers? Some of the ford quick connect tools do ac and fuel..... so the fuel pressure tester needs to be with the ac sniffer? Or is that a diag tool?

 

[dnschmidt]

Not just where Denny, but in which state is it at!

OK Cam here's a story for you. I have a friend named Dennis that has a house here in Phoenix and one in Prescott. Two years ago I placed exclusively for him a $10,000 order with TOPTUL. I had made the mistake of giving him one of their 400 page catalogs and I think he ordered one of each. Every time I go over to his house in Phoenix whatever tool he needs is up in Prescott. When I visit him in Prescott whatever tool he needs there is in Phoenix. STRAIGHT BUSINESS. Next time he asks me to place an order with TOPTUL I'm making him buy two of each.

 

[Wrench97]

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.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I admit to having CRS (can't remember ****) !

I have been missing my 3 lb hand sledge and my favorite Vise Grip 6LN. These are the "old school" version, Made in the US, by Petersen. Both are probably kicking around the garage somewhere as I know I did not loan them out.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

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.

 

[diernosaj]

I don't have so many tools I forget where I put them.

I have so many tools that I forget I actually had them. That specific tool I needed or could have used for a project. Often times I'll remember or see the tool after the project is done. I've bought tools I already had before.

 

[oldwino]

Most stuff in my life is a hot mess but I know where all my tools are. Worst I do is miscount drawers and open one just above or below the correct one.

 

[Mikeske]

When I was working in aircraft my workplace tools were shadowed and highly organized. At home is was total chaos with my tools and when I retired and took my tools home from work it was even more chaotic. So about a month after I retired I completely cleaned out my steel pole building everything went to the center and I set about reorganizing cleaning and finding tools equipment and **** that needed to go.

After three months I had the shop organized with all the tools in one place and when I found more tools from the house and my 2nd pole building I drop everything and place the found tool back in my tool storage. That is when I found I had totally overwhelmed the tool box. I then decided to reward myself with a larger toolbox and a trip to harbor freight tools. I bought a 44” top box, roller a side box and closet. I started to load in the professional tools and soon loaded it to the max. Well back to harbor freight a second 44” top box roller and side box and then bolted together but man I never realized over 40 years of collecting had occurred.

A couple years ago I was in harbor freight and they had a 72” troller box as an open box. Took one look and bought it. Now all the junk tools are in the 44” boxes and the professional tools are in the 72”

 

[nadogail]

I have trouble keeping track of where I left my cane. Sometimes I lean it against something to accomplish a task that takes both hands; then I feel confident and walk away and then ask myself "Where did I lave my cane?"

 

[gtae07]

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.

At least you find it before you buy a new one...

 

[dnschmidt]

At least you find it before you buy a new one...

Well, I haven't at least twice. Once was Irwin tap holders that you use with a ratchet. I checked Amazon and I definitely did buy them but I couldn't find them. So rather than tear the house apart, which I'm sort of doing in pursuit of the missing digital dial bore gauge, I just bought them again. During the hunt for the dial bore gauge I just found my first set. Doesn't bother me much on cheap stuff but when you're talking $300 for a dial bore gauge it sort of pisses you off more.

 

[madison069]

Happens to me with seldom-used tools. I know I have a fuel injector tester, but haven't seen it in a few years.
I have a large blow molded plastic tool case under my tool chest. I need to pull it out since I don't remember what's in there.

I started putting labels on all of my plastic cases and make sure that the label is pointing where I can easily read them. But unfortunately the labels don't stick to those cloth bags well so I don't have a solution for those.

 

[Ton ton]

Yes.

 

[justtools]

I am so bad with my own stuff that I have 3 to 8 of everything. Then when I need something and cannot find it. the number goes from 3 to 9 of everything. Organization is not my strong suit. I always had a great memory but as I am reaching senior citizen status. this is going to be a problem.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Only for the short term when I reorganize couple drawers. Otherwise, I can lay my hands on almost anything in a few seconds.

However, my tuck pointer is gone, I wanted it yesterday, and not in its tub with the other trowels, and I know I haven't used it in decades, but I know where I put it after use. So I imagine that Judy's dad nailed it into the ground out in the yard, and it's been brushhogged or graded or filled over. In his dotage he got into my tools and pounded thousands of dollars worth of chisels, screwdrivers, wrenches, n whatnot into the forest floor. Never could get out of him WTF he was thinking. Every now n then, the tiller, brushhog, or dogs find another rusty ruin of an expensive tool.

 

[LeeG]

Before I went whole-hog and did and entered pretty much everything I own into an app on my phone, I used my phone in another way to find stuff. I took a photo of every drawer, box, storage bin, or shelf, and kept all the photos in a folder on my phone. Then when I needed to look for something, it was usually findable by scanning through the photos. Much easier than digging through boxes.

 

[Blueshound_GJ]

Has anybody seen my 10" red handle Snap-On wire crimpers? Last seen in the vicinity of a low voltage outdoor lighting project.

Thanks guys, I found it in the drawer with the voltmeter. Whoever used it last should have put it in pliers drawer #2 where it belongs.

 

[Ricky Joe]

I have trouble keeping track of where I left my cane. Sometimes I lean it against something to accomplish a task that takes both hands; then I feel confident and walk away and then ask myself "Where did I lave my cane?"

Ha! I left mine at the Habitat store! I am recovering from a broken back, and seems like my mind might be missing, too!

 

[dukefx]

I have more of a forgetting I have a better tool for the job issue. Since I'm just a DIYer and stuff that needs to be done around the house tends to vary I often forget that I bought a tool that I could have used. For example there was a stripped countersunk screw and I drilled it out and made a new thread. I totally forgot about my special bit for my Anex hand impact driver that would have probably done the job. It's usually the smaller stuff I have just in case. I know where they are, I just don't know that I have them.

My father's workshop on the other hand is a mess. We usually know that what we are looking for should be in the shop, but where? We tend to find it weeks later when we are looking for something else.

 

[johninct]

I forget that I already own that certain tool.

 

[M635_Guy]

No. I buy it, it goes in place with its buddies.