Idle Tools

[F124C]

I'd be interested in seeing what percentage of handtools are typically used in say,an average week. Just wondering if others have bought handtools that they never used subsequently.( Guilty, very guilty!)

 

[safetyman665]

I am a tool hog. I have tools I bought years ago thinking I would use them frequently, and yet there they sit in their original packaging. I keep them knowing I will need to use them someday.

You know the saying: "It's better have it and not need it than need it and not have it".

 

[Richard D]

I'm in the 10% group. But I'd still never let go of any non-Chinese tool I own, weather I use it or not.

 

[uniballer]

I'm in the 10% group. But I'd still never let go of any non-Chinese tool I own, weather I use it or not.

X2!

 

[JJThrasher]

20-30% get used per week if I had to guess. I need too many tools for that one job. I can't not own the tool, but I rarely use a lot of them.

As an example, I have a couple snap ring pliers I only use when rebuilding trannys, which is maybe 2-3 times a year. I also own a special socket for removing the driveline brace from one of the racecars. It gets used maybe once every two years, but the job would be impossible without it.

Anyways, my point is, just because the tool doesn't get used weekly, doesn't mean it never gets used. Some jobs just don't happen very often.

 

[cburnscrx]

I enjoy this poll, but it's a little skewed. Here's why...I work on a whole lot of things that require hand tools, and therefore I have a whole lot of tools. Right now I am gutting a house, which means any of my sockets/ratchets/wrenches aren't really being put to use right now. Now, my saws, hammers, nail guns, ect are getting a workout. When I move onto the electrical, the same thing can be said as thats an entirely different set of tools. I used to filp cars for extra cash, but given the time of the remodel, I've done nothing involving car repair other than change air filters in over two years.

In my house I am the GC, plumber, electrician and auto mechanic, so I have a lot of tools. Because of this most tools don't get used often, but I am often using tools.

.

 

[cburnscrx]

One more mention...I have an entire set of traveling tools, and those don't get touched unless I am going out of town. How often that happens depends on how busy I am. Right now I am really busy...

 

[zkling]

I voted 51-60% actually it is probably more. I don't have THAT many hand tools. Mosly just the basics and less than basics compared to some. I am usually in the garage every night and many hours on the weekend working on something for either myself or someone else. About the only two things I haven't used in a while are the Mig welder and wood jointer (down for bearing replacement). Common wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, pliers are all used on a every other day if not daily basis.

 

[d.mcfarland]

The poll is for hand tools, not power tools. In reality, the number of sockets we all own kills the % numbers. A pretty good sized job might only use 7 sockets, but we all own 80 different ones. We all have ratchets we rarely use, cause the go to one never let us down. Percentage wise, whoever voted 90%+ lied. Unless they literally only own the tools they need, and in that case good for them.

 

[zkling]

A pretty good sized job might only use 7 sockets, but we all own 80 different ones. We all have ratchets we rarely use, cause the go to one never let us down.

Not everyone on here has 5+ 3/8" ratchets, a few hundred sockets, 3+ wrench sets, 20+ hammers, or things like that.

Very true on the sockets though. Especially if you buy a craftsman starter set and end up with 6pt and 12pt of the common 3/8&1/4" sockets.

 

[larry_g]

Retired with a lot of tools. Handling tools is work to me, no longer fun or a hobby. However I have not parted with many that I have gathered over the years.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Jagmandave]

I'm surprised how many tools I wind up with out of the tool box when I tackle an involved job, but over the course of a week I can't say what percentage don't get touched......

I feel like they're all important, or I wouldn't have them.

However, I'm sure I have duplicates I could do without.

 

[crewchief888]

like i always say,
i can do 95% of my work with 5% of my tools,
the other 5% of work requires 95% of my tools.

during a typical week of service calls on const eq.
i'll probably use these tools

9/16" & 3/4" socket & ratchet
filter pliers
straight blade screwdriver
hose clamp pliers
3/4" ratcheting combo wrench
DVM
3/16" allen bit, 1" & 3" extensions, 1/4 dr flex ratchet
7/8" combo wrenches


those tools cover a multitude of "it wont start, it wont move" types of repairs.

 

[Gerald O]

I've got so many tools of all varieties that it would be impossible to use more than a small fraction of them in a week. However just about every tool gets used on occasion and probably pays for itself in that single use versus paying someone else to do the job.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I enjoy this poll, but it's a little skewed. Here's why...I work on a whole lot of things that require hand tools, and therefore I have a whole lot of tools. Right now I am gutting a house, which means any of my sockets/ratchets/wrenches aren't really being put to use right now. Now, my saws, hammers, nail guns, ect are getting a workout. When I move onto the electrical, the same thing can be said as thats an entirely different set of tools. I used to filp cars for extra cash, but given the time of the remodel, I've done nothing involving car repair other than change air filters in over two years.

In my house I am the GC, plumber, electrician and auto mechanic, so I have a lot of tools. Because of this most tools don't get used often, but I am often using tools.

.

Agreed...and not to mention 10% of a whole metric **** ton of tools (how I'd classify my collection) is a lot more then a small handful.
In my work toolbag I could honestly say I use 75% of the tools on a weekly basis, but its a bag I can carry with the essentials I need to do my job. At home I'd be lucky if I used .05% on a weekly basis....I haven't used my Drywall tools in over 3 years, but in the last week, I've washed my MudPan more then I care to admit.

 

[premierplayer]

less than 10% I'm sure, and I work with my tools every day at work

it's a sickness I tell ya'

 

[Old Steamer]

Is there such a thing as too many tools?

 

[Shadowdog500]

I also chose 0-10%. I have a lot of general tools, and I buy specialty tools when I need them. A lot of different type of things would have to break for me to use all of my stuff in a week.
Chris

 

[coljar]

Anyone who has read a couple of my posts knows I like to cite my Snap-On air operated gasket scraper as a tool I never use and concider it dumb. That said, I still love buying tools.

 

[kaffine]

I would have to be using a lot of tools to get over 10%. I have a decent set of tools for automotive, culinary, electronics, home repair and wood working.

For me to use more than 10% of my tools in a week I would have to take the week off and overhaul an engine, cook a 5 course meal, repair my TV, patch some drywall and build a coffee table. I would actually have to do more than overhaul an engine to use more than 10% of my mechanics tools.

 

[jamesc]

I would think all the professional techs would be in the 0-10 range because there is so many tools that you "need" as a mechanic but only use once a month or even once a year. I would estimate 25% of my tools are at work right now and I wouldn't say I used half of them in the last week.

 

[Outlawmws]

This^^^^ X2 posts...

The poll doesn't' MEAN anything. The guy that has a hammer and a pair of pliers could easily hit 100% every week. I could work in my garage on a major project for an entire week for 12-16 hours a day, with my son helping, and not use but 2-5%.

 

[senor fozz]

I'm in the 0- 10, becuase a) I have more tools than i need for vehicle interiors and only use 5 tools when I'm not working on cars( only 3 of those are hand tools if you include a box cutter) and b) I haven't had too much mobile work this month.

 

[Steevo]

The poll asked about "in the past week", not "in a typical week", so my answer was 0-10%.

A more typical week might be around 10-20%, because most projects tend toward one group of tools (metric or SAE) and don't get into very many specialty tools.

 

[Bikes&Bowties]

71-80% and that's including everything I own... I'm a diesel tech.. And after work I've been framing in a shop... So I stay busy with my hands

 

[Bikes&Bowties]

I suppose maybe more like 50% if you could duplicate wrenches and sockets...

 

[KEH]

I collected pawn shop tools to keep in an ammo box in the car for an emergency tool kit and hope I NEVER use them.

KEH

 

[F124C]

Is there such a thing as too many tools?

Depends on who you ask, the one who has to carry them or the one who gets to use them, a bit like climbing Mt Everest, it depends on whether you're the climber or the porter/Sherpa?

Al.

 

[Krokodil]

like i always say,
i can do 95% of my work with 5% of my tools,
the other 5% of work requires 95% of my tools.

This

 

[bcradio]

I voted 51-60% actually it is probably more. I don't have THAT many hand tools. Mosly just the basics and less than basics compared to some. I am usually in the garage every night and many hours on the weekend working on something for either myself or someone else. About the only two things I haven't used in a while are the Mig welder and wood jointer (down for bearing replacement). Common wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, pliers are all used on a every other day if not daily basis.

I'm dissappointed in you that you haven't used your MIG in a while.

I would say ~10% or less for me as well.

 

[F124C]

Thanks to all who responded, some great views expressed. As some have pointed out I didn't design or word the poll very well (it was my first and probably last poll!) anyway for me the results indicate that c.50% use < 10% and c.14% use >50% of their tools in the last week. same as me!

Al.

 

[Lkdelta]

I'm surprised how many tools I wind up with out of the tool box when I tackle an involved job

I feel like they're all important, or I wouldn't have them.

This is always a job itself taking everything back to it's storage spot
Everything has a spot and everything needs to be in it's spot...eventually