Boogerman
Well-known member
I received three packages of 12 each drill bits today in the mail. My wife was puzzled, and asked "why would you ever buy 12 bits the same size? Do you really need 12?" I told her I was restocking the cabinet; I periodically go through and note the sizes that are down to only a couple, and re-order and restock. I did say that I stock 115 sizes of bits up to 1/2", in addition to having larger bits. I stock from 2 to 20 each of the smaller 115 sizes, and typically 3 of the larger sizes. She asked how in the world someone could ever use up 115 bits, much less 12 each of 115 sizes. She guessed that a normal amount of drill bits to go through a year might be 2 or 3 or 4.
I have probably 10 to 20 index sets of bits. One or two of alpha sizes, 3 or 4 of number, and 6 to 10 of fractional. One set of fractional and one of number by the drill press. One fractional by the cordless drills. Several fractional indexes on workbenches and numerical on one bench where I do tapping frequently. A couple fractional in portable tool sets. Sets of all by the mill and lathe. I have a small drawer cabinet for each of the three series with spares to refill the sets. Another fractional cabinet near one workbench to refill easily there (not near the other work areas). Every time I dull a bit, I go to the cabinets, replace it, and throw the dull one in the used bit bin. I used to sharpen, now I just accumulate 5 or 10 pounds, and ebay them to someone else who likes to sharpen bits. I don't unless I have to. I may go through 50 or 100 bits a year, never kept track. Sometimes I go weeks without ruining a bit, sometimes I ruin 5 in 10 minutes.
I approach all other expendables the same way.
I stock 20 to 100 sheets of every grit of sandpaper/cloth from 30 to 1000.
I stock cutoff wheels, grinding discs and flap wheels by the dozens in different grits.
I stock 2x72 belts in about a half dozen grits, 3 or 4 belts of each.
I stock a few thousand dremel type grinding wheels, cratex, sanding drums, diamond burs, rolocs, etc.
I stock a few hundred 1/4" screwdriver insert bits in about 80 to 100 types.
I stock a few spools of weld wire, a few 5 or 10 pound cans of each type of welding rod.
Reciprocating saw blades about a dozen of each type, for maybe 150 total.
Sabre saw blades a huge assortment, maybe 250 total.
Wood saw circular blades, 2 or 3 of each type.
Hacksaw blades, a few dozen.
Taps, 5 or 10 of each size in different types (plug, bottoming, taper)
Carbide inserts for lathe and mill tooling, stock by the dozens to 20 pieces of each size and type.
End mills, about 400 in different sizes, types, configurations.
I stock gallon cans of most common chemicals and solvents, where I can use that much before it goes bad. I refill smaller containers.
I buy gallon cans of Titebond, and refill smaller containers from it.
I buy pound size containers of epoxy.
I buy gallon cans of cutting oils, refill smaller cans.
I stock a few thousand small screws, machine screws, washers, o-rings, lock washers, cotter pins and similar hardware. Stuff that's hard to get down at the local store or that I go through continuously.
I let the local store stock common bolts for me, they take up too much room and you never have an adequate quantity of a size. I do have a few divided bin organizers of small common sizes.
I have a few hundred wire nuts, connectors, crimps, etc in a wide range of sizes.
I have assortments of all kinds of ring and spade terminals in sizes for many different wires, probably a few thousand overall.
Electrical tape comes by the dozens of rolls at a time.
One or two of each paint color/type that I commonly use; buy individual colors as I need them for bigger jobs but like to have stuff for incidental use on hand.
I never worry about the cost of individual items on a job. I make the decision and pay for it up front to have a fully stocked shop. When I run low, I just restock. I don't want to be thinking about economizing on expendables or being careful to not ruin the one single item I have on hand to do the job. I want to do the job, use up what supplies/expendables are needed to do it fast and efficiently, and go on with life. I got to this stage slowly, buying what I could afford and building stock when I had a job that would stand the expense. After I got fully stocked, the occasional resupply pieces are pretty low cost in the big scheme of things.
I guess that approach is why I'm astounded that I see people here pre-occupied with warrantying a cheap screwdriver they bought 15 years ago. Or whether they can get a dealer to replace a worn out drill or tap or extractor or similar because it was expensive when they bought it. Or asking how to extend the useful life of an expendable that they don't want to replace. Or how to refurbish/resharpen some item that only costs a few dollars.
Am I the only one who approaches shop expendables this way?
I have probably 10 to 20 index sets of bits. One or two of alpha sizes, 3 or 4 of number, and 6 to 10 of fractional. One set of fractional and one of number by the drill press. One fractional by the cordless drills. Several fractional indexes on workbenches and numerical on one bench where I do tapping frequently. A couple fractional in portable tool sets. Sets of all by the mill and lathe. I have a small drawer cabinet for each of the three series with spares to refill the sets. Another fractional cabinet near one workbench to refill easily there (not near the other work areas). Every time I dull a bit, I go to the cabinets, replace it, and throw the dull one in the used bit bin. I used to sharpen, now I just accumulate 5 or 10 pounds, and ebay them to someone else who likes to sharpen bits. I don't unless I have to. I may go through 50 or 100 bits a year, never kept track. Sometimes I go weeks without ruining a bit, sometimes I ruin 5 in 10 minutes.
I approach all other expendables the same way.
I stock 20 to 100 sheets of every grit of sandpaper/cloth from 30 to 1000.
I stock cutoff wheels, grinding discs and flap wheels by the dozens in different grits.
I stock 2x72 belts in about a half dozen grits, 3 or 4 belts of each.
I stock a few thousand dremel type grinding wheels, cratex, sanding drums, diamond burs, rolocs, etc.
I stock a few hundred 1/4" screwdriver insert bits in about 80 to 100 types.
I stock a few spools of weld wire, a few 5 or 10 pound cans of each type of welding rod.
Reciprocating saw blades about a dozen of each type, for maybe 150 total.
Sabre saw blades a huge assortment, maybe 250 total.
Wood saw circular blades, 2 or 3 of each type.
Hacksaw blades, a few dozen.
Taps, 5 or 10 of each size in different types (plug, bottoming, taper)
Carbide inserts for lathe and mill tooling, stock by the dozens to 20 pieces of each size and type.
End mills, about 400 in different sizes, types, configurations.
I stock gallon cans of most common chemicals and solvents, where I can use that much before it goes bad. I refill smaller containers.
I buy gallon cans of Titebond, and refill smaller containers from it.
I buy pound size containers of epoxy.
I buy gallon cans of cutting oils, refill smaller cans.
I stock a few thousand small screws, machine screws, washers, o-rings, lock washers, cotter pins and similar hardware. Stuff that's hard to get down at the local store or that I go through continuously.
I let the local store stock common bolts for me, they take up too much room and you never have an adequate quantity of a size. I do have a few divided bin organizers of small common sizes.
I have a few hundred wire nuts, connectors, crimps, etc in a wide range of sizes.
I have assortments of all kinds of ring and spade terminals in sizes for many different wires, probably a few thousand overall.
Electrical tape comes by the dozens of rolls at a time.
One or two of each paint color/type that I commonly use; buy individual colors as I need them for bigger jobs but like to have stuff for incidental use on hand.
I never worry about the cost of individual items on a job. I make the decision and pay for it up front to have a fully stocked shop. When I run low, I just restock. I don't want to be thinking about economizing on expendables or being careful to not ruin the one single item I have on hand to do the job. I want to do the job, use up what supplies/expendables are needed to do it fast and efficiently, and go on with life. I got to this stage slowly, buying what I could afford and building stock when I had a job that would stand the expense. After I got fully stocked, the occasional resupply pieces are pretty low cost in the big scheme of things.
I guess that approach is why I'm astounded that I see people here pre-occupied with warrantying a cheap screwdriver they bought 15 years ago. Or whether they can get a dealer to replace a worn out drill or tap or extractor or similar because it was expensive when they bought it. Or asking how to extend the useful life of an expendable that they don't want to replace. Or how to refurbish/resharpen some item that only costs a few dollars.
Am I the only one who approaches shop expendables this way?
