How many different tool sets do you "Need"?

[Mike007]

For me, I need a complete set of tools for my trade on my work truck. It's too time consuming to run back and forth to the work truck when I'm working in my garage, so I have a complete set in my garage.

I need a basic set in my Jeep for problems I run into when running off-road on out of state trips. It's inconvenient to have it set up for every trip, so I put together a set just for the Jeep.

Then I need a more complete set that's too big to carry in the Jeep when I'm off-road, for more involve repairs, so I have a set I keep in the truck that includes most common hand and power tools.

I also own a boat.....It's a PIA to have to remember to bring tools with me when I use the boat, so I have a set of tools on the boat too.

I guess it's all about convenience.

 

[Matt_C]

Realistically, just one. I'm fortunate that my tools live on my van (I'm a mobile tech) and I bring the van home everyday. So if I need a tool for a house job, they are right outside.

Of course, being a junky, I'd like a decently kitted box for home as well. Not that I have anywhere to keep it, but it'd be nice...

 

[shawhite]

That is a lot of tools.

 

[IOWNJUNK]

Just one more!

 

[bobcatdan]

For me 2 1/2. When I was a dealer tech, I had the shop box and the road box. I only have doubles of stuff that made sense to have. If there were specialty tools I needed on the road, I just kept those on the truck. My home set is made up of mostly craftsman tools that over the years were downgraded from the main box. With the job change, I brought the service truck set to work, brought the shop box home and put the home tools in the pick up.

 

[cgv69]

Well "need" is obviously a subjective term but I have 3 sets. My primary, nicest and most complete set is in the garage for working on cars, woodworking and most everything else. Another much smaller and specialized set in the basement "gun room" and a third set more basic and general set that stays in a tool bag for when I'm away from home.

 

[tmcowboy]

One inside the house to keep others (i.e. - family) out of your good stuff.

 

[Sonny2010]

I have so many I don't use but I keep buying!

 

[Dust Devil]

Briefcase with my office equipment repair stuff (40 hrs a week)

Snap-on set for the Honda/Stihl dealership (35 hrs a week)

Quality mixed set at the house.

I would like a mobile repair/welding rig , thats next.

 

[colin39]

Erm complete set 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, and 3/4 sockets ratchets and extensions in workshop and the same in van
2 full sets of extensions as above for workshop n van
2 complete plier sets workshop and van 5 sets of spanners from 6 to 32mm inc ratchet spanners in workshop and full sae in workshop on set 6mm to 32 in van.
Full selction of hammers one set of each from 6oz to 14lb workshop n van
2 full sets of facom screwdrivers van n workshop
tyre machine and balancer in van
mobile mig welding kit in van.

 

[AndrewV]

GearWrench(gw) 398 pc kit in my jeep. Then combination ratcheting gw's, torx bits, crescent wrench, and a proto 32oz antivibe ballpein. Ow blue channel lock screwdriver set.
My jeep is set.

All done.

 

[Cameronl]

Let's see...

One in the garage (duh)

One in the basement (it's a chore trudging from the garage)

I keep a fairly complete one in my '62 Beetle (for that day it's actually drivable. I KNOW I'll need those tools along the road somewhere)

My son has a pretty good set I put together for him. I used it yesterday when I was working on his bathroom and didn't want to trudge up and down two flights of stairs to the basement (too many times).

That's four.

I have a small tool box in my daily driver. Another small tool bag in my desk drawer at work (white collar desk job, but I"m one of only two dudes in the office, and am tapped to fix things often).

I keep a few basic things in a kitchen drawer (4-way screwdriver, pliers, knife). Again, trudging up and down steps.

As I acquire new tools (garage sale finds, store bargains, etc), there's a hierarchy for placement of the new tool, and the replacement trickles down.

Garage > basement > son's toolbox > car > office.

Where I start depends on the quality of the tool vs. what's already where. e.g. Metric Craftsman RP wrenches go to the basement first, already have a full set in the garage. SAE Craftsman go right to the car (metric doesn't turn up as much at tag sales as SAE, so I already have a good size set in the basement, but HF metric there).

 

[bcradio]

Briefcase with my office equipment repair stuff (40 hrs a week)

Snap-on set for the Honda/Stihl dealership (35 hrs a week)

Quality mixed set at the house.

I would like a mobile repair/welding rig , thats next.

You work almost 80 hrs a week? I'm sorry!

 

[PelicanPines]

As the wise owl said.... Three...

 

[Rarified27]

-One complete set at home.
-Two identical (type only, not brand) basic bags in both cars
-The pickup has a bigger box with towing stuff; chains, ratchet straps, extra hitch pin, etc.
-There is a nearly complete set where all upgrade removals end up.
-There is one at school with very basic and very specific tools because teaching music means the kids break their instruments daily and the box even has some homemade tools in it.
-The last set is the 16" bag that has a one-of-everything setup so I can toss it in any car and handle almost any basic to moderate job (I need to get this one in the show us your portable thread).

So I guess it's 7.

The most specialized tools I have are for the instruments and even that isn't extensive- just different. I can't compete with some of the guys on here and their mega boxes.

 

[madison069]

I have my main tool collection in the garage, a tool kit in the bronco, tool kit in the ranger, and a tool kit in the wife's mini van. I put the basic tools in the cars and trucks to hopefully get me out of a bind if possible. Otherwise it's tow it home/mechanic.

 

[lat905]

I have my main complete set of everything in the garage. I have another set in the basement, but that is my Dad's old rolling box (he was an auto mechanic) that I inherited.

I keep a set in my daily driver, its mostly cheapo Husky stuff but good enough to fix whatever basic stuff I might run into.

I have a similar basic set I keep in my project truck, and this set I have needed a fair number of times.

I have another small set I carry on the motorcycle on long rides.

I have a few things in a little tool bag in the shed. Couple screwdrivers, channel locks, crescent wrench, just so I don't have to go to the garage for something simple.

I find if I don't keep the stuff I need in multiple places, I'll forget to swap them back where I need them. And the day I forget, is the day I need them.

 

[Dust Devil]

You work almost 80 hrs a week? I'm sorry!

No need to be sorry, I am a happy camper. I love to wrench and I am paid well.

 

[Brownsfan]

As many as possible. Duh.

 

[techenthusiast]

No need to be sorry, I am a happy camper. I love to wrench and I am paid well.

Does having two full time jobs burn you out?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Dust Devil]

Not yet.

I keep the office equipment job because it pays so good and the benefits. I enjoy working on bikes so much time flies and the shifts seem like they go by in a flash. My boss is super cool too, that helps. I couldnt manage this if the second job was not a "dream job".

It is also nice to be exposed to all the Honda lawn and power equipment (generators) and we are also a Stihl dealer so I get to work on all that stuff too. I value the experience tremendously. The doubling of my take home pay is nice too. I could be saving a ton of cash right now if I had not decided to build my dream tool set. I am almose done with that so I will be back in saving mode soon.

 

[bcradio]

No need to be sorry, I am a happy camper. I love to wrench and I am paid well.

That is all that matters

 

[jd_1138]

Realistically, just one. I'm fortunate that my tools live on my van (I'm a mobile tech) and I bring the van home everyday. So if I need a tool for a house job, they are right outside.

Of course, being a junky, I'd like a decently kitted box for home as well. Not that I have anywhere to keep it, but it'd be nice...

I keep a basic set in the closet -- housed in a 3 drawer portable box. Not having to go out to the shed or vehicle is a blessing especially in crappy weather.

 

[NoahG]

Two. My large kit at the shop, and a basic kit for the apartment.

 

[sonvolt]

One at the shop, one at home, and one by mom so three for me

 

[Rogue1987]

Full set at work.
Half set at home supplemented by small sets in the car and truck.
1/4 set at the cabin.

 

[oldtools]

2 in garage
1 in car
1 in bedroom
1 in study room
1 portable dedicated to plumbing

 

[Dust Devil]

2 in garage
1 in car
1 in bedroom
1 in study room
1 portable dedicated to plumbing

Freeking madman!! LOL.

 

[Notorious BRT]

My first post here, so hello everyone!

I have 4 sets of tools.
I have a nearly complete set in the shop here at home, a gunsmithing set in the game room/man cave, a set (the best one) in a tool cart that is semi-mobile and spends it time wherever my most extensive project is being done (I farm and help another guy farm as well), and a small mechanic's set that generally stays on the truck.

 

[2oolhound]

My #1 set is at the back of the garage where my motorcycle shop is. Because the garage is 80' long I have a 2nd set at the front end where the driveway comes in. It has the heavier stuff for trucks etc. as well as the fine stuff too. I also have an 80lb tote box with 3/8 and 1/2 in sae and metric sockets and wrenches plus most other necessaries for field work and a second smaller tote, 50lb., for packing around in my vehicle on trips etc. I could get by with only one tote but since we're counting I need 4.

 

[Carman]

Larger set in the garage, whatever I can fit in the truck bed box, 5 Gal bucket of 'loaner' tools

 

[PKile]

Main set in the garage
Electronics set in a cheap HF aluminum tool case, also stored in the garage
Tool bags in both commute cars

I should set up a "Pick N Pull" set for junkyard excursions, but I usually assemble that as needed from the main set.

Cheers,
Paul

 

[mailpup]

I have a big main set in the garage and I carry a basic set of sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc. for emergencies in each of my four vehicles.

I also keep three fairly complete portable tools sets in the garage. One I use regularly whenever I have a vehicle repair project. If the first portable set is in use and the tools are laying around in the midst of repair, I use the second set if I have an unexpected emergency repair that cannot wait. This would usually be a road repair or a house call. I assembled the third set just for fun using mostly industrial market brands (Wright, Williams, Allen, Proto and Armstrong).

 

[beatcad]

-my main box in my garage at home
-small box on my desk at work
-small tool bag for my motorcycle
-small carry box for my vintage car(road trips)
-rubbermaid tool box/step stool in the house

 

[jeffmoss26]

Main toolbox (top and rollaway)
Voice and data bag
Cable TV bag
Sound/CCTV bag
Plus all my lock rekeying stuff in the Kennedy box on my bench.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

To reduce My act of raiding my shop boxes; I assembled a large field service set, two sets that stay in vehicles, and a fifth set for the tractor shed. The spares can stay downstairs in the utility room...

 

[Mike007]

Something else I learned, all the kits have to be good stuff. When I put together the tool set for my Jeep, I threw some China throw away tools in it I had laying around. I figured I wouldn't have to worry about losing them.

Then I blew apart my rear driveshaft on the side of a mountain, in the rain. As I struggled 3X harder then I needed to while getting soaked because all the tools were ****, it occurred to me there is never a good time to use ****** tools. I threw it all out and replaced it after that.

 

[IOWNJUNK]

Something else I learned, all the kits have to be good stuff. When I put together the tool set for my Jeep, I threw some China throw away tools in it I had laying around. I figured I wouldn't have to worry about losing them.

Then I blew apart my rear driveshaft on the side of a mountain, in the rain. As I struggled 3X harder then I needed to while getting soaked because all the tools were ****, it occurred to me there is never a good time to use ****** tools. I threw it all out and replaced it after that.

I thought I was the only one who learned that the hard way.

 

[Moose97]

3!

Shop

Travel box

House box (mostly for the Mrs.)

 

[rdn2blazer]

It's not "need'. It's the one with the most toys wins lol! So, A LOT!