How much has this website cost you?

[Tawn]

Although I did bodywork for a living right out of high school I really haven't done any body or mechanical work since joining the US Navy 24 years ago nor am I much of a DIY guy besides tinkering with the boat, rods & reels...I simply dont have the time...pretty much every free moment is spent on fishing, getting ready to fish or thinking about fishing.

Anyway I discovered this website about a year ago and I have a standard, residential, attached 2 car garage. After seeing some of your garages and tools I have:

1. Had the garage rewired with new light fixtures, outlets & ceiling fans
2. Covered 2 walls with cork tiles
3. Added a 42 Flat screen with surround sound
4. Installed wall and base cabinets along one side
5. Bought a middle box for my Craftsman box

And this evening I created a Snap-On account and ordered: a racheting screwdriver set, open ended wrench set, screw driver set and plier set.

I am afraid to add up what all this has cost me but I just want ya'll to know I blame this website and it's members!!! Thank You

 

[Stuey]

Quite a bit, but only in regard to tools, equipment, and accessories, not garage or shop renovation or anything like that.

 

[JimVonBaden]

More like saved me, in time and labor and supplies that I would have wasted had I not gotten such good advice here.

Jim

 

[RVDan]

If this website told you to jump off a bridge?

 

[Stuey]

If this website told you to jump off a bridge?

No need to be rude. And he's right. Forums like this can be very influential. People see, people want, people buy.

 

[crewchief888]

nothing really.

my garage "renovations" are the results of dumpster diving, trash picking, repurposing and trading.
it'll never be a showplace or mancave. it's cold, dark, damp and too small, and it dont bother me at all. it serves the purpose to keep my tools equipment, harley, and my trail truck under cover.

my tools & boxes are long ago paid for, i visit the pawn shops, flea mkts, ect more out of boredom than looking for the latest "you ****" deal, or have to have tool.

 

[Cryptic1911]

Check the build thread in my sig

 

[Milton Shaw]

A lot of the showroom shops would not be suitable for the work I do in mine. Some of the ones I have seen are nicer than my living room, so don't be too ready to try to match these shops. These showroom shops remind me of adds for such things as hamburgers, Have you ever gotten one than looked like the add on the price board? No way, they use professional hamburger standins for pictures just like they do for Victoria Secret adds. Same thing with flower seed packs too, professional stand ins you can't grow anything that looks like the pictures on the package.

 

[Zeke]

+1 on nothing. I enjoy the exploits of others. Some are outstanding and others are meek. Some are over the top and some are quite compact, yet very useful. You've go intimate and you've got huge. From working tractors to Hot Wheels in a display cabinet.

It's all shared here, but I have done nothing that I can think of that was all that much influenced by the GJ other than some clever ideas. I sure have learned, though.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

a marriage..., but it was one it's way out anyway....

 

[Al Bundy]

In terms of buying things I didn't really need, not much. As far as lost productivity reading this forum instead of getting things accomplished. Tens of thousands.

 

[archirelic]

I echo the sentiments of one of the other posters that said that the forum has in fact saved me money, time and time again. The little bit of cash that I've happened to throw at any deal I've encountered on here is far less than had I not seen the deal posted. Not only that, but also a lot of the organization and renovations in garages here have allowed me to imitate and duplicate a lot of what I've seen, which has also saved me substantially.

 

[gmt]

As a result of reading various posts on this site, it probably cost me a lot more than I would have spent without this site. But on the other hand, there are tool brands and tools that have been brought to my attention that I never would have known about.

 

[Tawn]

Wow.....I really like the site. My post was meant as a light hearted compliment but I've learned my lesson, I'll shut up.

 

[Gary S]

It really hasn't cost me anything yet. I built and finished my garage and tools before I knew the site existed.
Since then, I read the information here, and thank God that I didn't make any of the mistakes people here are making so they have to spend their lives asking questions to answers that they should have already had before building.

 

[Drunken Yak inc]

Since the beginning of the 2012...

5 - Snap-on Dual 80 ratchets
13 - Cornwell ratchets
2 - Cornwell ratcheting wrench sets (standard and stubby)
2 - Craftsman Pro ratchets
Vintage Craftsman ratchet (V selector)
Snap-on socket set
Cornwell socket set
Wera screwdriver set
Whila screwdriver set
Craftsman Profesional screwdriver set
Various pliers and cutters
US General 56" toolbox
US General tool cart
5 Gladiator cabinets (3 wall mount, 1 tall and one wall mount with a fold-down shelf)
Hobart mig welder

 

[bobemmerich]

In terms of buying things I didn't really need, not much. As far as lost productivity reading this forum instead of getting things accomplished. Tens of thousands.

^^This^^ And a few bucks on some old US made tools. Nothing serious. As far as garage reno's go, Nothing. I still have non mud and taped/unpainted walls, crappy fixtures and a wood floor.

 

[Flatland Dave]

Some money, and some time. But it has given me much more. Many storage, organizational ideas to make my little piece of paradise more useful.

Just ignore the trolls and naysayers.

 

[garboui]

cant say a lot. i was already a habitual tool buyer. though if i had to pick one thing that grew larger and quicker than if i hadn't been here is my hammer collection.

 

[Kevin C]

I had a plan for a garage, reading what others have done helped me refine it. I dont see why the interior cant be really nice and still be a functional shop. I'm not talking super pristine, just well finished, bright and clean.

Looking at how others have added storage has helped.

It's nice to have a good work environment.

Kevin

 

[lilscorpion]

I wouldn't say this site cost me anything...or look at it that way. I like to see what others are doing. Before the internet, we were limited to sharing with others who were in a club, neighborhood, or friends. You'd swing by and check out what they had in the works and during such conversations there's be tips, tricks, and other "so I was down at the store the other day and I saw....". That was the extent of it. We called it bench racing. The internet has opened up many doors for all of us. It allowed people who had no business doing plumbing to pull off advanced fixes and stuff like that. To me this is a resource. A place to share, ask, and socialize. It's really nothing more than that. Have I saved a buck here or there? Yep. Have I bought something on a recommendation that I might not have? Yep. Is it any different than the way things went down during bench racing? Nope. Same, same.

 

[egnorant]

This site actually turned my "Hobby" away from buying stuff for projects to using the stuff on projects. Buying is WAY down (I spent $6.00 this summer at garage sales!), gathering and sorting of tools has killed my drive to buy more.

Seeing all the great shops inspired me to clean up my act and the cash from just the scrap metal runs has paid for installing electricity and a lift.

Sold about $1500 worth of stuff from the cleanup so I am ahead there too!

Do I count the tools that were previously unusable due to neglect or just having never installed them? Air compressor, welder, parts washer, sand blaster?

I'm way ahead financially and the value added to my property and life is tremendous.

Bruce

 

[larry_g]

I have to say the ROI on this site has been great. It got me through many hours that I was stuck in the house caring for an ailing father. Without the connection to likeminded people here I would have gone nuts. Here I had a chance to exercise my brain to help others solve some problems. So for helping to keep my sanity through some difficult times, I thank you all. Now that I am not obligated to stay in the house the site has become a time sink that I must kick and put that time to use getting things done.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[JimVonBaden]

Wow.....I really like the site. My post was meant as a light hearted compliment but I've learned my lesson, I'll shut up.

I think you missed the point of the many replies! The site is great, and those of use who have saved money are not panning your thread!

Jim

 

[Steevo]

It has encouraged me to do things well, rather than fast.
It has cost my employer countless thousands of dollars in lost productivity.

 

[Outlawmws]

Wow.....I really like the site. My post was meant as a light hearted compliment but I've learned my lesson, I'll shut up.

Don't sweat it; you are going to get off the cuff comments no matter what the topic is that gets started.

I can't say it has really cost me anything as I was doing what I do decades before GJ existed, so I can't really blame GJ in any way for that... You can get a lot of new ideas from some posts, and its a great resource if you have a question.

I'd agree it's more likely to have saved me some money here and there and has made me a little side money selling a few things here and there I had but didn't really want to members that needed or wanted said items. I'll never get rich doing that last bit, but hopefully the guys that did buy were happy with the deal and the tools or books, which was my only reason for posting them...

But the place rocks!

 

[thightower]

Haven't been on the site long, so it hasn't cost me much yet. But it has given me some good ideas to save money.

 

[GRX]

More like saved me, in time and labor and supplies that I would have wasted had I not gotten such good advice here.

Jim

^^ this

 

[dodge610]

More than I want to admit too but it did help me get organized.

 

[jamesc]

this site has cost me alot, I am a tech so I spend money on tools often anyway but I seem to have increased my spending due to this site but I have saved money by educating myself on repurposing things or doing things better ways. everytime I see a vise I have to buy it, before I This site I liked vises but not nearly as much as I love them now.

 

[redintex]

Wow.....I really like the site. My post was meant as a light hearted compliment but I've learned my lesson, I'll shut up.

Most of us took it as such...

I found this site while looking for garage organization ideas. I have spent a LOT of time looking at garages, and have tons of ideas for mine. I could do the turnkey purchase route, but I am taking my time to bargain shop and scrounge for what I want. It will take longer, but the best part of the challenge is to be thrifty about it and do it myself, a la Jack Olsen, Red Leader, tinbender, etc.

Welcome! Enjoy the site - continue to post!!!!

And most importantly, thank you for your service!!!!


Sent from my BlackBerry using Tapatalk

 

[Motofixxer]

Sit hasn't cost me a dime, it's not mine why would I pay for it?

 

[Shadowdog500]

I agree that this forum probably saves us a lot of money with great ideas and tool and equipment reviews. Today alone it saved me over $100 on a gladiator cabinet. It also saved me a lot of money, time, and frustration in not having to learn things the hard way when setting up my shop.

Chris

 

[akdiesel]

I feel this website has saved me money by giving me ideas and knowledge to get things done correctly

 

[willymakeit]

Not as much as multiple divorces or running the bars would have.

 

[BMW Rider]

It's not just this site, the internet as a whole has led me to spend the equivilant of the GNP of a small third world nation.

 

[e-tek]

Wow.....I really like the site. My post was meant as a light hearted compliment but I've learned my lesson, I'll shut up.

I "got" it....and don't shut up!!

Haven't been on the site long, so it hasn't cost me much yet. But it has given me some good ideas to save money.

I thought u were going to say: "Haven't been on the site long....but give me some time!!"


I was in the middle of building my shop when I found the site and knew what I wanted, but I likely had a fair amount of influence from others on the addition of the lift and MIG welder. Of course not sure what I'd do now without them!!

 

[jvitez]

Countless never-to-return hours of my life, but I enjoyed (-ing) every minute of it.

Thousands of $ of tools only some of which I don't need, but yikes can I accomplish a lot now.

A garage that when finished will be much more expensive but far more awesome that I ever envisaged a garage could be.

 

[smedly]

Direct result of the site was the harbor freight toolbox. Never heard of them before, nor did I think that a box at that price would be as good as it is. I don't make my living opening and closing the drawers so its good enough for me. I'd say that's the only real expenditure, but it could be considered a savings considering the coupon. The rest is just getting ideas, tweaking the setup but and doing things on the cheap. That being said, I have been eyeing the price of flatscreen TVs these days and searching craigslist for Wilton...

I guess the thing is to most people outside of this site, my garage would be good enough, or better-than-average maybe, but I'm inspired by what I see here and want to keep making improvements.

 

[RVDan]

No need to be rude. And he's right. Forums like this can be very influential. People see, people want, people buy.

no need to assume I was being rude

geez miss one smiley around this place