Justifying your tool purchases

[toolaholic]

Hi all, scored a wright 6400 24inch long 3/4 ratchet on eBay for $60 plus $18 shipping. Brand new! I have a wright 22 " breaker and a tekon 40" 3/4 breaker bar. Plus a proto 20" 3/4 ratchet. Do I need it then? No! Did I want it? Yes! My excuse is I can use it as a ratcheting breaker bar in my truck. Gotta be better than the 9.99 harbor freight breaker in there now. Crazy thing is I would change a tire with that wright ratchet with a 3/4 to 1/2 adapter. Anyway that my reasoning and I'm sticking to it! LOL

 

[ImStricken06]

my justification for buying tools, is that im a youtuber lol.
www.youtube.com/imstricken06

 

[IUEC Medic]

The majority of my tools have paid for themselves in a matter of hours.

After they pay for themselves, they pay me, then they start to pay for the more frivolous stuff.

 

[woody6904]

Everybody needs a hobby right? What better hobby then to buy tools that able you to fix stuff which in turn saves money letting you buy more tools. The way I justify it with my wife is I could be spending it at the bar.

 

[mech-tech]

For me I hate borrowing tools, so I like to be prepared. The only job where I was constantly buying tools was working on heavy equipment, I was often sent out on the road to do field repairs and out there you are on your own so having the right tool is a must. Now that being said I was spending most of my extra money each month on tools which made the boss money instead of me, so after leaving that job I realized I had developed quite a collection. It's piece of mind knowing I have the tools to do the job again should I ever need, but do I need them all at this point in life, not really.

 

[BaMaDuDe87]

I don't try to justify my purchases. I wanted it, I bought it usually works for my peace of mind.

 

[dclassical]

There are tools I would not own if I knew the right people or shops. But I do not. So I buy the tool so I can get the job done without relying on anyone.

Case in point: spring compressor. Way overkill for a home garage. Yet could not find a shop willing to swap the struts. If I lived next to Eric O. of South Main Auto (YouTube) you bet that I would take them there for him to do it. Saw a video about it where he said many people bring the assembly, the new strut and he charges 3/10th of an hour labor to swap both sides. At the time of the video he charged $65 an hour. So that would be a no brainer for me.

But as I said I don't know anyone with such a tool (not the little rental from AutoZone that scares me to death) or a shop willing to do that.

 

[martin666]

Only justification I can come with is....because I don't have it, so I need it.....it's the only reason that even comes close to explaining why the vehicles I work on are 99% SAE fasteners yet I have full sets of metric sockets. Chrome shallow, chrome deep, 6 point, 12 point, semi deep, chrome swivels, impact swivels, impact shallow, impact deep, in all 3 drive sizes. Same for metric wrenches, 2 sets combination, ratcheting, standard length, long pattern, stubby....also I hate borrowing tools. So that's it, only justifications I can come with

 

[back2class]

If I see much possible future need for something I will keep it. Seldom buy anything I don't foresee a real need for one day though. That is collecting and not my thing. I have sold a few things that after a wile realized I just liked having....but did not really expect to use. Example was a Snap-On torque multiplier. Finally sold that as it was stupid to keep funds ******* in was was just fancy clutter.


I would say when something crosses that line between real use and collecting is where I can not justify. Collecting is for women, fussy old men and nerdy kids.

 

[cowboy73]

The wife won't let me spend money on hookers!!!!

 

[[email protected]]

Because I want it. It's good enough for me.

 

[zkling]

Whatever allows you to sleep at night.

 

[Wamsutta]

My favorite one is: "I'm just a DIYer; I can't justify the cost of Snap-on."

 

[OccupantRJ]

My justification is self sufficiency.

 

[richeyc2000]

As someone on here said before "He who dies with the most tools Wins" that's what I'm going with as my tool purchasing motto.

 

[bobcatdan]

I'm a mechanic, tools make me money. If I don't have tools, I don't have anything without a complete career change. I'm a tool junkie so even if I never needed a tool to make me a penny, I still have them. Don't know what my excuse would be then.

 

[Avplayer]

My tools are my livelihood now with that said i've spent way more recently in the past few months thanx to this site..

 

[four.cycle]

justify?

if I open the "hers" sliding door on the bedroom closet, there are enough pairs of shoes in there to tempt me to start calling my girlfriend "Imelda".

I should justify my tool purchases?

you were just kidding, right?

 

[MikeF2316]

I'm in the "I want it, I can afford it, all the justification I need" category.

 

[Xxslyer1]

If I have to borrow a specialty tool twice then third time is not going to happen because I will own it. As far as hand tools goes I consider them disposable, if it brakes then I buy another from the first tool truck that arrives and ALSO have the original fixed. I just don't tell my wife the second part to that. Bottom line though is if it makes any job go faster even by 5 minutes then I need it. My tools are what paid the house off and allows her to buy what she wants so as long as it balances correctly then it's justified.

 

[toolaholic]

In sure the big wright6400 24 incher will pay for itself when I do wheel bearings bearings on my vehicles. Axle nuts meet super big ratchet. And yes I know about the wright 42 inch ratchet.

 

[Krause]

Toolitis

 

[Empty Pockets]

My justification is usually "I dont have one" or I dont have one like this" or "I want it."

Some years back, I was living in West Virginia, my then wife called me at work on a Saturday telling me that the freezer had quit freezing. Trying to find a blower motor on Saturday for a 25 year old chest freezer was near impossible.

We found one that was the right size and shape, without the right mounting holes. I bought it, drilled the appropriate holes, then used the tap & die set that I had bought a few months previously, at Sears (just because it was on sale).

At the time she gave me an earful because "I didnt need that set".

I pointed out that the set had saved a freezer full of food. She NEVER said another word about my tool purchases.

 

[countryroad82]

My tools help put bread on the table. No more justification needed.

 

[skunkape1]

We only get one go around in this world. If you want it, get it.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Being that My Grandsons will be given some of My tools;; My justification for buying them is Grandfathered in..

 

[Farmall 1066]

Having a well equipped shop enables me to avoid car payments, and have a lot of toys I couldn't otherwise justify, if I couldn't get them cheap, in need of repair. Also allows me to make $ by flipping stuff I've fixed, or fixing stuff for others.

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

I'm in the "I want it, I can afford it, all the justification I need" category.

I'm in the same boat

 

[d.mcfarland]

Having a well equipped shop enables me to avoid car payments, and have a lot of toys I couldn't otherwise justify, if I couldn't get them cheap, in need of repair. Also allows me to make $ by flipping stuff I've fixed, or fixing stuff for others.

Well said for the DIY type people here.

 

[frankthezapper]

1/2" drive 1 1/16" deep socket this morning, $5.90. I live 25 miles from the tools shop, (50 round trip) may need it next week to swap a diesel injector. Hope it sits in my tool box for a long time!

 

[Strouty]

I am sure the drunks and addicts justify what they do too.

Just so you know I too justify my tool purchases with almost anything reason I can come up with at the time.

 

[crewchief888]

ive been wrenching as a "pro" for 30 years, and wrenched before that trying to keep whatever POS i was driving in running condition.
i've spent a LOT of money over the years, but in the past 15 years or so, i dont buy much of anything.

i take a very serious look at what i already have, can i "make do" with what i have, or is this something i really need.

for me it's a wants vs. needs...

 

[Strouty]

It is very easy these days to confuse your wants versus needs, society has made it so that instant gratification is the norm. It never used to be like that and people have lost touch with reality to an extent, if you have deep pockets this doesn't seem to matter, but someone living paycheck to paycheck in love with instant gratification is going to run into a reality wall at some point.

 

[nutsnbolts]

Hi all, scored a wright 6400 24inch long 3/4 ratchet on eBay for $60 plus $18 shipping. Brand new! I have a wright 22 " breaker and a tekon 40" 3/4 breaker bar. Plus a proto 20" 3/4 ratchet. Do I need it then? No! Did I want it? Yes! My excuse is I can use it as a ratcheting breaker bar in my truck. Gotta be better than the 9.99 harbor freight breaker in there now. Crazy thing is I would change a tire with that wright ratchet with a 3/4 to 1/2 adapter. Anyway that my reasoning and I'm sticking to it! LOL

I have the best justification of them all: Tools are FREE.

A perfect example. I recently tore apart my bathroom wall to put some backing in for a new towel bar. The old one was flimsy, there was nothing to nail into, and it kept coming down.

It cost like $200 for the whole shebang, including a really nice new bar, drywall, mud, a nice piece of wood, 2x4's for backing, paint and masking supplies. The work I did would have EASILY cost $500 from a contractor, not to mention the headache of dealing with them. So boom, my willingness and ability to do it myself saved me $300.

BTW, I recently bought a lightly used version of that same ratchet, along with a new Wright 23" 3/4 drive breaker bar and two new 3" 3/4 drive extensions on Ebay for $100 including shipping. I didn't "need" any of it. But occasionally they will come in handy when a pump or other piece of equipment goes down at work, and many times the guy that has the big tools gets to work on that stuff, so I am sure I will appreciate having them.

 

[nutsnbolts]

My justification is usually "I dont have one" or I dont have one like this" or "I want it."

Some years back, I was living in West Virginia, my then wife called me at work on a Saturday telling me that the freezer had quit freezing. Trying to find a blower motor on Saturday for a 25 year old chest freezer was near impossible.

We found one that was the right size and shape, without the right mounting holes. I bought it, drilled the appropriate holes, then used the tap & die set that I had bought a few months previously, at Sears (just because it was on sale).

At the time she gave me an earful because "I didnt need that set".

I pointed out that the set had saved a freezer full of food. She NEVER said another word about my tool purchases.

I love that story!!!

 

[nutsnbolts]

My favorite one is: "I'm just a DIYer; I can't justify the cost of Snap-on."

Let's just take a good look at that statement...

Two different guys are faced with the same problem: putting a new clutch in a 1997 Toyota 4x4. One of them is an experienced mechanic that works at a shop everyday. The other is a DIY shadetree mechanic who works on his own vehicles on the occasion that they break down.

Which one do you think will benefit more from having high quality tools? My money is on the DIYer. The professional mechanic knows so many tricks of the trade that he could get away with using cheap tools if he needed to. The last thing the DIYer needs is for his POS tools to fail him.

 

[crewchief888]

It is very easy these days to confuse your wants versus needs, society has made it so that instant gratification is the norm. It never used to be like that and people have lost touch with reality to an extent, if you have deep pockets this doesn't seem to matter, but someone living paycheck to paycheck in love with instant gratification is going to run into a reality wall at some point.

very well stated...

 

[crewchief888]

Let's just take a good look at that statement...

Two different guys are faced with the same problem: putting a new clutch in a 1997 Toyota 4x4. One of them is an experienced mechanic that works at a shop everyday. The other is a DIY shadetree mechanic who works on his own vehicles on the occasion that they break down.

Which one do you think will benefit more from having high quality tools? My money is on the DIYer. The professional mechanic knows so many tricks of the trade that he could get away with using cheap tools if he needed to. The last thing the DIYer needs is for his POS tools to fail him.

everytime one of my lesser quality ratchets skips, it makes me really want to drop some cash on another quality ratchet....
but i usually just walk out to my service truck and grab what i need...

 

[Montosi82]

The best feeling in the garage is when something breaks and you have exactly what you need to fix it. Best time to buy a tool is before you need it.

 

[vartz04]

For me it's being able to fix/build things for my wife. Sure I use them for me a lot but it's really easy when my wife wants a Pinterest project to say "ok but I'm going to need a ______"

I've also pulled the " I've saved us thousands on house/car repairs" too.

Now justifying to myself is when I can easily grab what I need to fix or build what I am working on. That's why I have a lot of multiples. A set in the weather guard box in my truck, a set in my garage, and a set in my shed workshop. I would never get anything done if I only had one set of tools I had to fetch every time.