Enough tools? How much is too much?

[dsaabm]

I know kind of conflicts with the spirit of garagejournal but while I was browsing for my 4th toolbox I came to the realization that maybe I don't need so many tools. I no longer wrench professionally every day but do so on the side and would like to open my own shop a few years down the road.

But where do you guys draw the line with tools? So many tools are useful, but probably not really needed, for example, all the variations on ratcheting wrenches. Yet I cannot seem to be able to part with any and continue to buy new ones.

 

[Fedwrench]

In light of the new covid-19 world, I find myself questioning why I have so many tools and what a burden they will be on my wife should something happen to me.
However, a general rule of thumb would be that when you reach a point that you buy something without realizing that you already had the exact same item, it might be time to stop.
Another sign you have too much is when you have to dig through totes or boxes to find what you're looking for and you forget what it was you were looking for in the first place.
As tool designs like higher toothed ratchets continue to evolve, I find my reach for first tools changing and that results in some tools not being used any more. I find myself consolidating the tools that I haven't used in a year or so for future disposal.
Space is also a great determination. If you longer have room to work in your shop, all of those tools won't do you much good regardless, of how sweet of a deal they were.
Sometimes, less is more

 

[jeepinerdeep]

You are fine right up until you can't eat, pay the light bill or make the house note.

 

[OMMP]

Forgive me, my comrades, for I have sinned...
I gave away some tools, made some exchange... But never have I sold one piece. Not one! Yesterday I put my first ad, today is second...

 

[bczygan]

The old rule of thumb is if they are negatively affecting your life, you have too many.

Bill

 

[Slednut]

You have too much if you have to walk sideways through your shop. Or maybe you don't have a big enough shop.

 

[ovilla]

I remember when I stopped getting excited at the sight of the new Craftsman flyer or catalog, so that’s when I decided to pick up a Snap-on catalog. Problem solved!

Your problem is that you’re probably only thinking of tools - as in hand tools. Start thinking SHOP EQUIPMENT - especially if you want to open a shop someday. Now is the time to start collecting (and using) these machines on your everyday fleet of cars. It will make wrenching so much more enjoyable. I’m probably never going to open a shop (I’m an IT guy), but I have two COATS tire changers, a COATS wheel balancer, a mig welder, oxy/act torch, three brake lathes (yes 3), two tool boxes, a Branick 7400 strut compressor, and two lifts. My side hustle is wrenching on cars so that’s why I have a lot of machines and tools. However, even if I only worked on just my own cars, I’m sure I’d still have the exact same set up.


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[dnschmidt]

To quote the famous poker player Sammy Farha "ARE YOU SERIOUS??"

 

[ddawg16]

To quote the famous poker player Sammy Farha "ARE YOU SERIOUS??"

Kinda my feelings.....

If anything, this is the wrong place to ask that question. It's kinda like walking up to a pond of Aligators and asking them if they have had enough meat.

 

[Sine Swept]

When you have every damn useful thing you could imagine.

 

[MushCreek]

Until you can't see the floor, you don't have too many tools. Then it's time to buy more tools so you can use them to build a bigger shop.

 

[Ton ton]

Kinda my feelings.....

If anything, this is the wrong place to ask that question. It's kinda like walking up to a pond of Aligators and asking them if they have had enough meat.

Crocodiles is more like it.

 

[seber]

Tools are like guns. You can have enough but you can't have too many.

 

[BrandoJames]

I came to the realization that maybe I don't need so many tools. I no longer wrench professionally every day but do so on the side and would like to open my own shop a few years down the road. But where do you guys draw the line with tools?

As a DIYer, I always hold off on a first impulse to buy a shiny new tool. Wait a few days before you pull the trigger. 90% of the time, I realize that I don't really need that tool.

 

[mike93lx]

When they are getting in the way or you are paying interest to own them (assuming they are not making you money)

 

[DFB]

You have too much if you have to walk sideways through your shop. Or maybe you don't have a big enough shop.

 

[BK13]

I doubt I'll ever get to that point. It is a pleasant thought, though...

 

[CoogarXR]

My problem is, I have my trusty, ******-looking ol' tools that I have used for decades. I have gobs of new tools that I have been heard-mentality'd into buying (thanks guys!). Problem is, I still reach for old'n'****** 99.9% of the time. I could probably sell off most of the new stuff and not miss it.

But then there will be that OOOONNEEEE application that only that new tools will fit. And that's when I convince myself that I need to keep them around.

And buy more.

It's sick, lol.

 

[LeeG]

Tools are like guns. You can have enough but you can't have too many.

This needs to be a t-shirt.

 

[zmotorsports]

My problem was I never allowed myself to borrow tools so if I was doing a job and needed a tool, I bought the correct tool for the job. Sometimes what I made off of the job was just enough to cover the tool but I had it for next time. Granted that didn't always pay off because some jobs I have only had come in the shop that one time.

I am to the point now that I seldom purchase new tools but that's probably because I already have most I will ever need. There does seem to be on a few rare occasions that I need a specialty tool for a particular job but other than that my thinking has changed and I am more conservative on my tool purchases.

My wife tells me I'm a tool *****, and I can't very well argue with her.

 

[16again]

Tools are like guns. You can have enough but you can't have too many.

Couldn’t agree more!!!


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[JBradley500]

I can tell that I don't need more tools when I look at the "show your new tools" thread on here (which is my favorite part about GJ) and nothing gets me excited or jealous. Once in a while i'll run into something that looks like game changer like brake files or whatever, but that doesn't happen often.

This eventually happens to all of my hobbies on forums. One day I realize i haven't logged in in weeks and I realize I might have had enough for now.

 

[crewchief888]

As a DIYer, I always hold off on a first impulse to buy a shiny new tool. Wait a few days before you pull the trigger. 90% of the time, I realize that I don't really need that tool.

ive been justifying my tool purchases for a long time..

as well as everything else I buy

guns, reloading stuff, even a pair of pants or boots.....

but i'm on the downhill side of my working career, when I retire I probably wont be able to shoot competitively anymore, mainly due to the cost of competition

 

[Dave455]

To be honest, all this Coronavirus has made me grateful for just how many tools I do have. I’m able to get on with a whole variety of jobs without going out for stuff, and that’s priceless right now.

Glad I keep stocks of consumables such as screws too. There’s even stuff that I have come close to dumping, like old hardware (hinges, door furniture etc) that I’m finding the time to clean up and sort out.

Personally, I reckon the key is organisation. I know folks with a fraction of the stuff I have, for whom it’s obviously too much. Stuff is scattered about and piled up, and they can never find anything.

While I’ve got a lot of stuff, I know where it all is should I need it, and that’s the important thing. If you can find the tool you need, and have use for it, I doubt you have too many.

Consider also, that you can easily justify different grades of tools. I have for example, some very nice Snap On 3/8 drive metric sockets. They live in my main box in my shop, and I use them a fair amount. Would I chuck them in a box and take them to a scrapyard to pull off a part for a Nissan Micra K11? Probably not, hence you NEED a couple of sets.

 

[Matt XYZ]

I can tell that I don't need more tools when I look at the "show your new tools" thread on here (which is my favorite part about GJ) and nothing gets me excited or jealous. Once in a while i'll run into something that looks like game changer like brake files or whatever, but that doesn't happen often.

This eventually happens to all of my hobbies on forums. One day I realize i haven't logged in in weeks and I realize I might have had enough for now.

Me too. I've bought so many tools since joining that thread. Mainly ones that I needed, some I've used only once and some I haven't used yet. I find I am mainly upgrading to better quality. Retiring my late 80s early 90s Craftsman I used on my first cars in high school with better brands. A few used Snap On items, Proto, SK, etc from eBay and finding used high quality German tools for peanuts locally. I've really taken a liking to Tekton also. I have too many sockets, ratchets and wrench sets right now and should clean out my boxes.

 

[Man of Many Vices]

Ask yourself
1. Do I plan to use them at least once a year?
2. Did I use them during the past three years?
3. Did I use them on any job or project other than the one they were bought for?
3. Are they the only tools I have that can do the job I need done?
4. Do I have too much extra space in my shop/garage/car trunk?
5. Would giving up these tools result in a serious decline in my income earning ability?
6. Will the cost and inconvenience of ownership, storage and maintenance of these tools redefine who I am as a person?

If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, then you still don't have enough tools. If you answered "No" to any of these questions, then you are just like the rest of us on Garage Journal.

 

[dubdoc]

Here's my box.....it's full....and I still want more. I have always made it a practice to use what I got till I need something more, then go out and buy it. I've done this for over 50 years now, and it has never failed me.

 

[PelicanPines]

In my will... I list the names of the individuals who will get my collection of tools... method of distribution: Thunderdome.

 

[johninct]

I am to the point that I have most of the tools that I will ever need. With that said, I will buy something new if it is a game changer or a specialty tool needed for a specific job to get it done. I basically put my small wish list of tools that I would like to buy into my gift list so my wife has things to get me for Christmas and birthday. I buy HF tools to use as a proof of concept , If it works ok and I like it, it goes on my gift list ( to be replaced by Snap-on, etc high end stuff) for my wife to get me. I have been going through my tools and rediscovered tools that I bought years ago but never used and have been trying them out and discovered they are good to use too. Example, I never used some Snap-on wobble extensions that I bought in the 90's. I tried one and it worked much better for a job than the way I was doing that same job many times over. It is like I bought a new tool and made things easier....but for free.

 

[tulenutn2o]

No such thing as foo much, or too many, when it comes to tools!

 

[theoldwizard1]

But where do you guys draw the line with tools? So many tools are useful, but probably not really needed, ...

A couple of years ago I bought an M12 Fuel 3/8 impact gun. I then bought a full set (SAE and metric, standard and deep) of impact sockets. THAT WAS A WASTE as I already owned a full set of 3/8" non-impact sockets ! That 3/8" gun is never going to break a "chromie" !

I tell young people NOT to buy 1/2" drive. Except for suspension/driveline items on full size vehicles, it is just not necessary. All of my 1/2" drive (SAE and metric, chrome standard and deep, impact standard and deep) are now in the back of the bottom drawer. Buy a lug nut flip socket set, a HF 25" breaker bar and a torque wrench. Buy FWD hub nut sockets as needed.

In my case, all of my 1/2" drive stuff is probably about 40 years old, except for the few sockets I bought to get my set up to a full 1-1/2". (First GJ inspired purchase )

 

[zendriver]

But where do you guys draw the line with tools?

Enough to get the job done.

Otherwise for the most part, could care less. It just like women buying shoes.

They only have two feet.

Purchased a cordless ratchet that only used one time, but it was a tax write off, as well

I did appreciate having a bunch of different types pliers on a small engine job and there was one carb slotted/hex bolt, nothing I had seemed to grab.

Clearing out stuff it's great to actually have room.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

But where do you guys draw the line with tools?

I Draw the line under the tool description in the sales flyer. There are times I wonder if I should be allowed to play with a pen.

 

[nelstomlinson]

Can you fix everything you have with the tools you have? Then you have enough.

 

[PelicanPines]

snip

I tell young people NOT to buy 1/2" drive. Except for suspension/driveline items on full size vehicles, it is just not necessary. All of my 1/2" drive (SAE and metric, chrome standard and deep, impact standard and deep) are now in the back of the bottom drawer. Buy a lug nut flip socket set, a HF 25" breaker bar and a torque wrench. Buy FWD hub nut sockets as needed.

In my case, all of my 1/2" drive stuff is probably about 40 years old, except for the few sockets I bought to get my set up to a full 1-1/2". (First GJ inspired purchase )

I do the opposite... I tell youngins to never get 3/8" drive anything... full stock of 1/4" for small... then a bitching set of 1/2" everything...

My thoughts... if it's small... you're covered... if it's bigger... you can take it seriously with a three foot 1/2" breaker or large 1/2" impact thing a majig.