duplicate tools?

[Jhoff310]

I know we all have duplicates of tools for that moment. my question is WHY??

Why do i have 35 pounds of extra sockets?

Why do i have 27 pair of slip joint pliers?
Why do I have 114 screw drivers?
Why do I have 27 pipe wrenches?

do you ever look at your tools and wonder why

 

[Empty Pockets]

Why not? Many of mine came in box lots at various auctions. I bought the box for an item or 2, kept the rest.

I have been paring down my duplicates, as the grand kids get old enough to properly use tools, and learn to use them properly

 

[ChevyEFI]

I don't bother doing auctions, or buying bulk used stuff, or buying duplicates usually. There's more time spent offloading stuff for a few bucks than I wanna do.

 

[Legion Prime]

Because my grandfathers both bought tools, my dad bought tools and I bought tools. We all bought different tools for doing different things but there is always overlap. I know I have 2 ChannelLock 909's, why? Because I've seen them break and at my job at the time I used them easily a hundred+ times a day and if they went **** up so did my day. Sockets? They break, get lost, etc. I've split more than one of the same size on one fastener before and the tool trucks and/or Sears/Lowes/HD/SK don't swing by on demand. Slip joint pliers I've got a dozen different sizes minimum. When I got a nice Matco Knipex pair I'm not going to pitch another pair, what if I need two the same size? What if I misplace one? Screwdrivers? I got a drawer of nothing but and I'll give you a dollar if you can find two identical ones. Hell I'll even let you include all my dads screwdrivers in the other box and the drawers inside the house and the tool bags in all the various vehicles to boot. Besides we all know the surest way to find a lost tool is to buy a new one.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Because I can. I bought a lot cheaply at sales (mostly before E-bay and Craigslist).
Most of my duplicates are sockets, combination wrenches and screwdrivers. These are also the most commonly used. They are also the most likely to get misused, abused and modified.

 

[dar24601]

Yes, I say I should get rid of some

then I get a call from my sister asking me to borrow some tools.
Got tired going out to garage to grab a wrench and pliers so built a set for hall closet

As long as you have the room what the problem

 

[JUNK-MAN]

Ive been thinking the same thing lately. But It is nice to have spares sometimes when somthing breaks mid job or somthing needs modified.

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[Sine Swept]

I just made a sweet score on a top / bottom setup and once I loaded it up, actually even with quality / less favoured tools it has made my other boxes make more sense. Its good to move stuff around once in awhile and you'll notice things you have or things you are missing.

 

[Jrboulder]

I keep all of my auto hand tools in a hazet assistant and all of my household stuff in a dewalt bag. Keeps the duplicates down. I used to have so much junk though.

 

[GrayFlattop]

I don’t see having duplicates as an issue - or triplicates twice over. It’s just how I choose to live my life. If or when I have to downsize, I’ll sell most of it off or give it away.

 

[Tonyuk]

Because often times you need two sockets or spanners of the same size.

When im planning to buy a set of something, spanners, sockets, pliers etc.. I usually buy a single from that set to check its quality ion a common since. I've got loads of 13mm spanners, sockets, piles of T25-T30 bits and sockets, M10-M14 spline sockets etc..

 

[wolf_from_wv]

- Sometimes need one for each side of a bolt. I have at least 2 of every regular combination wrench.

- one set for automotive

- one set for 'clean' things like electronics. I try to wipe things off, but still manage to leave a bit of grease in the automotive set.

- one set for plumbing where the socket is exposed to 'hazardous materials'

 

[bugnut]

Garage Journal, nuff said

 

[Samuel D]

Consumerist urges are hard to control, especially if you have a lot of disposable income as most here, living in rich countries, do.

 

[boblikestools]

Don't feel like you're the only one. I have too many screwdrivers to count, somewhere in the hundreds. This toolbox is quickly turning into a screwdriver toolbox. I like to have multiples so I can keep one in the house and another in the shop so I don't have to go back and forth. I may have hording tendencies according to my wife .

 

[earthmover1980]

Tools are as good as money in the bank. The money they have saved me alone is big. And then there's the collector aspect. Admit that some of these tools we find at sales are neat, or just plain unique. For the money I have invested in duplicate sets of used tools, I couldn't buy new. I look at my ratchet drawer at home with 30+ ratchets, and know I will always be equipped to repair what comes along. Why do I need 10 duplicate wrenches of the same size? Because each one is different, and for the couple of bucks I paid , why not? Some of these brands are a dying breed. It's fun to think where have they been, and will I find the other pieces to put a set together! Brands like Indestro are particularly intriguing, and I rarely pass one up at a junk sale. After all, they are out of business, and will become more scarce as time goes. And I use even the older Vintage stuff. I'm kinda if a collector/user.

 

[sberry]

I am all over, have a couple trucks, service truck, couple golf carts moving, van full of stuff and at one time several men working.
When I lived in a different world could get by on a few basics.
I don't buy anymore just cause it's a deal, wouldn't have it if i didn't need it as I am not a collector and don't mess with buy sell stuff like this. I wish I was a better seller.

 

[MushCreek]

I must have at least 10 tape measures, but I still have to search high and low when I need one.

 

[KamiCrit]

I have dupes sometimes because two is one and one is none. Other times it's because I find a great deal on a used tool only to find out I already have it. I may get fed up with a line of tools and upgrade to a better line.

How ever I aquire dupes, they go to the bottom box and every six months I go to the local high school and donate them to the shop department. They never complain about free tools.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Because the effort that selling things requires vastly outweighs the potential monetary gain and ease of just dumping everything into a box and putting it on a shelf. Unless I could make like $10 after shipping minimum per item what's even the point in bothering.

 

[rlitman]

I must have at least 10 tape measures, but I still have to search high and low when I need one.

I too used to have that problem, but through careful nurturing of my problems, I found a solution.

Problem: I have a nasty habit of picking up a tape measure, measuring something, then putting it down wherever I am, and the next time I need a tape measure, I have no idea where to find one. Or worse, I used to pick up tape measures from all over, where they then accumulated at the saw where I'd leave them after I make a cut.

Solution: I now ALWAYS remember to immediately put down a tape measure when I've done my measurements, and simply keep tape measures everywhere. Every saw station has its own tape measure. Just about every room in the house has one. I'm now no longer hunting for tape measures, and I have a drawer with enough extras to ensure that.

Because the effort that selling things requires vastly outweighs the potential monetary gain and ease of just dumping everything into a box and putting it on a shelf. Unless I could make like $10 after shipping minimum per item what's even the point in bothering.

There's something to be said for that. If I'm not putting enough money in my pocket from selling a tool to buy a decent meal, it isn't worth my effort to sell it. I'd rather give some tools away to friends or relatives, keep extras in the car (you never know when a pair of channellocks will come in handy for example) or at work, or put them away for potential repurposing.

 

[seber]

I limit myself to two sets of combos in the house and two in the shop. But you can't have enough screwdrivers or files. I couldn't count the number of special tools I''ve made from those extras. Often times it's so special that I throw it away after using it but imagine having to buy that tool each time. Dead files make all kinds of cutting and scraping tools. On the other hand, one set of sockets in each location is enough. If I break one I can borrow from the other location until it is replaced. Being a dedicated auction junkie I always have extras lying around until I find a place that needs them. Of course, none of that is related to my portable box that normally lives in the motor home.

 

[mfewtrail]

I don't have a crazy amount of duplicates like some here because I don't collect tools. Most of my duplicates are simply for convenience. When I'm able to, I buy duplicates for specific purposes like car tool kits, for the house, for the garage, etc. so I don't have to drag tools from one place to another.

 

[mowkep]

Because the effort that selling things requires vastly outweighs the potential monetary gain and ease of just dumping everything into a box and putting it on a shelf. Unless I could make like $10 after shipping minimum per item what's even the point in bothering.

Bingo. I've had a hard time selling extra tools. Losing money on them is a given

 

[Magnum440d100]

Ha. Duplicate tools...
I have my main box with all my tools I wrench with.

Then, I’ve got 5 vehicles and a motorcycle.. Each has a tool kit tailored to their needs (metric vs SAE)...

Then there is my junkyard box with metric and SAE. I used to have two separate junkyard boxes (one with metric and one with all SAE) that way I only grabbed the box with tools for the vehicle I am going for. But too many times, I’ve found vehicles with good parts that I’m not looking for (ie take metric and there’s an old dodge truck I could use parts from).

It’s safe to say that I have just about 7 duplicates of wrenches, sockets, ratchets, extensions, screwdrivers, etc....and probably MANY more than that.

Many times, I’ve put an extra tool in one of my car kits, only to find it works better than the one in my main box (maybe different brand, depth, length, etc).. then I have to buy another one like it to put into my main box.

But I drive classics 99.99999999% of the time (vehicles from the 60’s/70’s). So I have to have tools in them all. Breakdowns (while rare) are easily fixed roadside unless it is major. I wouldn’t feel right getting towed home because I didn’t have a screwdriver (at minimum) to change a split radiator/heater hose...... When I had 1 kit I transferred it between vehicles. But it was a pain because the box didn’t fit in all the vehicles the same.. So, I ended up getting boxes of different dimensions....

I’m glad I do have so many “duplicates” though. Many times when I had my other 4x4, I would help someone on the trail. If I didn’t have metrics, I couldn’t help most of them (my 4x4 was a 74 dodge W200 so it was SAE).

You could never have too many duplicates. Unless it doesn’t see the light of day for years on end, sitting in a toolbox and that toolbox is taking up valuable real estate in your shop. Then maybe it may be time to thin the herd....

 

[PFSard]

I like having duplicates so that when I slam a tool down on the workbench in frustration and it bounces out of sight, I have another waiting to take its place.

 

[cderalow]

my wife asked me the other day why i had three different drills and two impact drivers out during a project. my long winded response got a serious eye roll from her.

each drill had a different sized drill bit and both impact drivers had different bits as well.

5 tools for one project might have seemed like overkill to her, but it probably saved me 45 minutes in getting it done not having to switch bits every few minutes as I was working through an assembly process.

I don't think she realized i had so many in the first place, and there was still one of each in the garage!

hehe

 

[BDT/NWMN]

They are not duplicates.. They are components of another set.
Set 1 remains in the shop, Set 2 remain in the service unit, Sets 3,4 stay in vehicles, Set 5 remains in the tractor shed, Set 6 goes in an over the road truck. All these sets are tailored for their job. I stockpiled some spares, and have often bought multiples of a tool.

I ((??supposedly??) ""retired"" last year. But, Set 1 will remain in a continual upgrade and expansion; resulting in continual hand-me-downs for the other sets. I have given family members full sets of new and used tools, plus some tool boxes.

Sorry, but My experience with duplicates involves carbon paper.

 

[Al Borland]

If you need to ask why, you do not belong on the Garage Journal.
Clearly, you are a troll.
No other explanation fits the circumstances.

 

[M6erfan]

Because the effort that selling things requires vastly outweighs the potential monetary gain and ease of just dumping everything into a box and putting it on a shelf. Unless I could make like $10 after shipping minimum per item what's even the point in bothering.

Agreed. I don't hoard, but I'd rather keep them or give them to friends/family.

I don't have multiple sets of anything except 1/4" sockets/bits and ratchets in various drive sizes. I mean, for wrenches I have combos, DBE, DOE... so sizes are duplicated but not the tool type.

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

do you ever look at your tools and wonder why

Capitalism works. That's why.

 

[el monte slim]

How about triplicates and quadruplicates for that matter? Having worked in both tool manufacturing and distribution over my entire adult life, I've been very fortunate to have been given, or otherwise awarded with an exponentially greater number of tools than I ever purchased. (Seriously, the ratio is probably in the vicinity of 200 to 1) This largesse extends to miscellaneous household items too. For example, I once received over 50 full-sized Igloo coolers for hitting some big sales numbers in a manufacturer spiff program. I kept two for myself, and gave the rest away. I've done the same thing with excess tools. I've pared everything down to doubles for items that get a lot of use. (One resides in the workshop toolboxes, while the other travels in portable toolkits for any offsite need that arise) All of the above being said, I find myself compelled to admit having a lifetime supply of a few perishable tools, mostly in the form of hand files, drill bits, and circular saw blades.

 

[sberry]

Feel free to send me some small circ saw blades. Ha

 

[el monte slim]

Feel free to send me some small circ saw blades. Ha

I'm only heavy on 10" carbide-tipped circular blades, but those aren't going anywhere. That being said, I've got so many Simonds wood rasp files coming out my ***, the hemorrhoids don't stand a chance.

 

[jshailor1871]

Because I bought cheaper tools to start off then as I realized what I used the most I bought better versions of those same tools, sockets, ratchets, etc. I also didnt want to sell the old stuff because those go in one of my "duplicate bags" that I will grab if i have to go do something at someone else's house.

It all just accumulates though, it is fun trying to explain to a non-tool person why I have damn near about 3 of everything though.


John

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[PelicanPines]

The only thing I got ... I don't need... bucket of old C clamps with copper colored screws... Will never use them...

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

You can never have too many tools, I have a set in both service trucks, one in the shop and some stuff at home. Anything that accumulates beyond those sets gets traded off to friends for parts or favors. Ive sold some extras before and determined it wasnt worth the time. Its easier to dump them in a bucket and trade a buddy for a fender or set of mirrors or whatever.

 

[derosa]

I don't have a crazy amount of duplicates like some here because I don't collect tools. Most of my duplicates are simply for convenience. When I'm able to, I buy duplicates for specific purposes like car tool kits, for the house, for the garage, etc. so I don't have to drag tools from one place to another.

This.
I don't want to walk to the shop every time I need a tool in the basement and I don't want to walk to the basement every time I need a tool in the shop. I also don't want to walk to the basement for a simple thing so there's a tape measure, small screwdriver set, small hammer and a couple pliers in a kitchen drawer. Just enough to let the drawer close and solve 75% of basic household problems. Have specialty kits for things like plumbing and electrical. If I've got an electric problem I have one bag I grab, no hunting for pliers, strippers, knife, screwdrivers or testers of any kind. Everything is just easy to find and saves time and I find my time getting more valuable.

 

[crewchief888]

i have tools in my service truck, tools in the garage, tools in the basement, and a bag of tools for the wife to use around the house.

i have a lot of duplicate tools.

 

[Notgrownup]

I have 2 tool boxes, one in the attached garage and one in the shop, one of these days, they will be properly separated...lol