Keep or toss duplicate tools?

[dalepres]

Over the years, I have accumulated a huge stash of various, mostly Craftsman, tools. I have a lot of duplicates where I needed an extra of one tool or had lost one and ordered a whole set to replace the one because the set was such a better deal. I do have hoarder tendencies, especially with tools - not TV show bad hoarding but I do have a lot of seldom-if-ever used tools.

Now I need to organize; I dread having to go look for a tool because they're so unorganized, probably 75 Craftsman screwdrivers in the screwdriver drawer, for instance. I'm buying organizers and holders so that every individual tool has a place to be and it is easy to see when it's not in that place.

So, what should I do with all of the extras or duplicates? Box them and pack away, toss or sell them? When I see the well organized boxes and garages on here I know I'm doing it wrong. So what do you all do with extra stuff?

 

[nh_yota]

I think it depends on the tool in question - I have duplicate sockets and screwdrivers from various sets I've acquired over the years. I've pared things down over the years so I have a full set of everything in my house and a smaller set made up of duplicates in my truck. Any leftovers go up to my dad's house because he can never seem to find a tool when he needs it.

 

[PFSard]

It depends on the quantity of duplicates, but ..... I keep mine stored away in case I have an issue with my primary users.

 

[yankee john]

After years of procrastination I'm facing the same task. I keep trying to give the extras to my kids, but they don't seem inclined to want to wrench on anything. Can't blame them, the days of attacking your engine with a breaker bar, socket set, screwdriver, and a strobe light are long gone.
I brought a box of extra tools to our hospital thrift shop, but saw them on the 'free' pile' the next week. They aren't really a thrift shop kind of thing. They had disappeared from the free pile the week after that. Hopefully they found a new home where they will be well used.

 

[AA/FC]

75 screwdrivers? I'd say that's "just right"

And no, you NEVER "toss" tools... as in "put in garbage". Unless they are beyond repair, tools never go in the garbage! I cant beleive anyone would even consider this, not to mention post this foolish idea on a tool website. This is borderline troll territory. Lol. What is wrong with having more than one of the same tool? Some day you'll be glad you have a spare, or two. Anything beyond that, if you must get rid of them, sell at a garage sale, or donate to a young person who would love to get them.

My .02

 

[ex-x-fire]

Why would you throw away perfectly functioning tools? Post them on craigs for cheap/free, I'm sure there's a kid out there that'll put them to work.

 

[Spdfreak91]

I would say give away to who you can or sell for a wash, helping people out is always good one way or another.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I always felt I wanted one set and few to no duplicates.
And I never had a box of tools in the car(s) until recently.

In my last order from Cripes, I bought a big flat plastic handled box for some basics. Since duplicates are inevitable at some point, I'm glad I was able to fill it with enough to do battery, alternator, and wheels.

Just figure out a way to make a positive out of some loose ends.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Talk to the highschool/college shop teacher and see if there is a deserving student that needs them. Donate to a third world tool program, the KMSTools franchise in western Canada has such a program.

 

[matemike]

Just duplicate? Keep 'em
Two is one and one is none.


If you had three or four of the same tool then you could seek an appreciative and deserving soul to take them off your hands.

 

[Ramblin Man]

I have duplicates of the most commonly used tools in the shop, I have an auto repair shop. I have them available in toolbox and cart because I have 2 bays going all the time, so I'm not going back and forth very much.

I have given away most of the tools I feel will not be used. I gave a lot to a young man starting out in a diesel shop in Alabama. I know his grandfather and knew they would be used and appreciated.

 

[LB-1911]

Over the years, I have accumulated a huge stash of various, mostly Craftsman, tools. I have a lot of duplicates where I needed an extra of one tool or had lost one and ordered a whole set to replace the one because the set was such a better deal. I do have hoarder tendencies, especially with tools - not TV show bad hoarding but I do have a lot of seldom-if-ever used tools.

Now I need to organize; I dread having to go look for a tool because they're so unorganized, probably 75 Craftsman screwdrivers in the screwdriver drawer, for instance. I'm buying organizers and holders so that every individual tool has a place to be and it is easy to see when it's not in that place.

So, what should I do with all of the extras or duplicates? Box them and pack away, toss or sell them? When I see the well organized boxes and garages on here I know I'm doing it wrong. So what do you all do with extra stuff?

As previously mentioned by ChevyEFI set up a small portable box or two.

I always felt I wanted one set and few to no duplicates.
And I never had a box of tools in the car(s) until recently.

In my last order from Cripes, I bought a big flat plastic handled box for some basics. Since duplicates are inevitable at some point, I'm glad I was able to fill it with enough to do battery, alternator, and wheels.

Just figure out a way to make a positive out of some loose ends.

Have a Sears nearby? You might surprise yourself with what you can store in one of these.

17" Compact Truck Box
http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-...p-00965117000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

Good Luck with the sorting & organization.

 

[PJNJ]

Depends on how many duplicates and what particular tools they are. I keep no. 2 Philips now matter how many duplicates - I can put them in small sets for the house, leave in a kitchen drawer, keep in a car. I'm getting older, not in the greatest health and it isn't easy going up and down the stairs. I've started keeping a small set of tools in my bedroom.

Cheap flatheads, I have re-ground them to fit particular screws - I have a Triumph m/c with carbs and the jets wanted to strip out until I ground down an old flathead to fit perfectly.

I try to keep spare wrenches and sockets to cut, grind and/or bend for some projects/repairs.

If, however, you are in real hoarder territory and ready for an episode of the TV series, then take the extras and sell them or give them away to someone deserving. Don't throw them away which would be a total waste.

 

[ez-duzit]

...probably 75 Craftsman screwdrivers in the screwdriver drawer, for instance. I'm buying organizers and holders...

Not until you realize that buying more **** is not the answer, will you find the right path.

75 screwdrivers?

 

[dalepres]

Depends on how many duplicates and what particular tools they are. I keep no. 2 Philips now matter how many duplicates - I can put them in small sets for the house, leave in a kitchen drawer, keep in a car. I'm getting older, not in the greatest health and it isn't easy going up and down the stairs. I've started keeping a small set of tools in my bedroom.

Cheap flatheads, I have re-ground them to fit particular screws - I have a Triumph m/c with carbs and the jets wanted to strip out until I ground down an old flathead to fit perfectly.

I try to keep spare wrenches and sockets to cut, grind and/or bend for some projects/repairs.

If, however, you are in real hoarder territory and ready for an episode of the TV series, then take the extras and sell them or give them away to someone deserving. Don't throw them away which would be a total waste.

These are some good ideas and justifications for just putting them away somewhere. There are plenty of times a wrench won't fit and I usually just end up busting knuckles or worse trying to fit. Having extras I can cut, bend, weld... Oh, I forgot.. I don't know how to weld. Now I need to get a welder and a class so I can use my unused tools. You see how this hoarding stuff works?

Not until you realize that buying more **** is not the answer, will you find the right path.

75 screwdrivers?

Well, when a set is often the price of just two or three individuals, when you're missing the individuals, it makes sense to buy the set - or at least it seams to. In my 75 screwdrivers, I have several Torx drivers. I needed a T25 last week and couldn't find one. So I tried to inventory the Torx drivers and dug through the pile and also couldn't find the T20. I had a few T10s, T15s, and T27s. So what did I do? Ordered another set from Sears. Now I have even more T10s, 15s, and 27s.

As previously mentioned by ChevyEFI set up a small portable box or two.

Have a Sears nearby? You might surprise yourself with what you can store in one of these.

17" Compact Truck Box
http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-...p-00965117000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

Good Luck with the sorting & organization.

Nice box. When I was young I replaced head gaskets sitting on the side of the road, rebuilt carburetors in the parking lot of random auto parts stores along the side of the highway, and more but those days for me are over. My tinkering stays close to home now. But I do like PJNJ does, sort of. I have 11-in-one screwdrivers scattered around the house and the cars. I have miniature socket sets just for tightening the occasional dashboard rattle or a license plate bolt and replacing the filter in the car HVAC but that's about it. So, I guess I'm saying that since I'm a tool hoarder I already have what I can use in the cars.

75 screwdrivers? I'd say that's "just right"

And no, you NEVER "toss" tools... as in "put in garbage". Unless they are beyond repair, tools never go in the garbage! I cant beleive anyone would even consider this, not to mention post this foolish idea on a tool website. This is borderline troll territory. Lol. What is wrong with having more than one of the same tool? Some day you'll be glad you have a spare, or two. Anything beyond that, if you must get rid of them, sell at a garage sale, or donate to a young person who would love to get them.

My .02

Please forgive my sacrilege. By "toss" I meant toss to my sons, my son-in-law, or other good use. Throwing a good tool in the trash is out of the question; that's why I came here for other ideas.

 

[dalepres]

One really painful thing is that I cleared out a bunch of stuff about 10 years ago. I gave my son-in-law a bunch of hardware, tools, storage systems, and such left over from when I had a two-way radio company. I was busy building a second career in IT and was sure I was never going to do manual work of that type again. Now I'm getting close to retiring and the house and property need more work before I do, I'm planning my next career of being a home gardener and perhaps vegetable stand operator. Suddenly I find myself purchasing many of the same things I gave away 10 years ago.

 

[Tellingthem]

Sort and purge. I periodically sort though my tools and sell stuff to fund my new tool purchases. Heck just toss them into a few piles and hold a garage sale. I'm sure you'll find many Gj'ers will show up with cash in hand.

 

[MShaw]

The rule to live by:
If you need one and have one it will break immediately. If you need one and have two, the first one will last forever."

 

[softailgarage]

Never throw away a tool...ever. If you don't need it, sell it or better yet, donate it or gift it. Last Christmas I put together an outstanding tool box for a friend that needed tools for her home. A tool is a terrible thing to waste.

 

[anndel]

My primaries are mostly Snap Ons and some Macs. I have duplicate even triplicate Craftsmans and I find myself using all of them on a project. Just store them in a box or case or even in an action packer. You'll find use for them and one day you're going to find yourself saying "I'm glad I didn't sell these."

 

[theoldwizard1]

Duplicates (in the same box) of a few things (combination wrenches) do make sense. Three or four just wastes space.

I have a pile of Craftsman 1/4" and 3/8" sockets. To lazy to sort through them and make a For Sale list, yet I can not bring it in my heart to pitch them so they are gathering dust.

 

[ez-duzit]

Duplicate tools are those which have been dedicated to a particular machine or work area. For example I keep a 6" dial caliper handy at my main workbench and also by the lathe and vertical mill. There are drill indexes by the drill presses and also at my bench. My portable kit includes all these and more of a duplicate nature.

There are combination wrench sets on my boat, in my truck and in my shop. Likewise there are certain sized combination wrenches handy to the principle machines in my shop; these are for the purpose of making adjustments and changing blades/belts, etc.

One of my clients had his boat's tool kit so stuffed with mostly duplicate screw drivers that you would have to dump out this huge pile of tools every single time you needed even the most ordinary tool. I went through it, one day, and made him take home a shopping bag full of duplicates. This was on only a 30' boat!

 

[OccupantRJ]

Not until you realize that buying more **** is not the answer, will you find the right path.

75 screwdrivers?

Hell, I have about 300 total.

 

[chruler]

I've moved a few times recently and in an effort to lighten the load, gave away a whole bunch of duplicates. Glad some others can benefit!

 

[jrobb316]

I have boxes full of junk tools, that is cheap no name, etc tools. I'm gathering them all up and setting the box on the bench at work. The other guys can have a free for all and the rest is going in the garbage. I'm sick of sorting through all this **** when I need to find something. I don't even know how I acquired all that stuff.

 

[JonnyMac]

I just make sets up for other tasks.
Grab a toolbox and fill her up.. ive got a camping box that i keep with the camper trailer and there is a kinda visiting box that i take round to my useless friends homes when they cant fix stuff themselves, car box...
I tossed out a rivet gun once and came to regret it almost immediately!! Never throw tools out..

 

[WWShop]

I hang on to all duplicate tools and when I see something on CL that i really want (Craftsman block grinder or a vise) I throw those duplicates on CL and try to make a quick $30-$50, or whatever amount, and use that money instead of withdrawing from the bank. My wife is happy with this and I get what I want.

 

[wvhillbillie]

I recently gave an assortment of extras to a good neighborhood kid in need. I remember what it was like always using my dad's tools. Im sure some will be abused and lost, I did when I was a kid but I'm just happy to know they will be used.

 

[TK-421]

Some bits of wisdom I've collected over the internet:

You need 5% of your tools 95% of the time, but for that odd 5% you'll need 95% of your tools.

Two is one, one is none.

And this one comes from my great grandpa: if you can't find it then you don't have enough.

Not only will I keep duplicate tools, I will have lots and lots of duplicates of the tools I use the most. Lots of hammers, lots of tape measures, lots of screwdrivers, lots of wrenches, ratchets, sockets. As long as you have the space to store them and the disposable income that you're not late with bills, I really don't see a reason to not have duplicates.

 

[gdocktor3]

Ever work on something with a buddy and you're both wrenching at the same time, but have to keep sharing the same 3/4" wrench?

"Hey lemme see that wrench again..." "Hang on I'm using it."

Catch my drift?

 

[Thephranc]

I have one main set and a few specialty sets. I keep a tool bag for every tool needed to work on my scooters, sign specific, gm ******, and a few others. My latest is one made up pf tools needed to repair and remove my table mounted stuff like vice, drill press sander. Just got an HF cart thats dedicated to just fab tools. Each car has a small set too.

There are also a small set of loaner tools I don't care if they go missing.

 

[jd_1138]

75 screwdrivers? I'd say that's "just right"

And no, you NEVER "toss" tools... as in "put in garbage". Unless they are beyond repair, tools never go in the garbage! I cant beleive anyone would even consider this, not to mention post this foolish idea on a tool website. This is borderline troll territory. Lol. What is wrong with having more than one of the same tool? Some day you'll be glad you have a spare, or two. Anything beyond that, if you must get rid of them, sell at a garage sale, or donate to a young person who would love to get them.

My .02

Amen to that. I was about to say "WTH what is this tossing talk?".

I inherited 1,000 tools (mostly CM, Stanley, Great Neck, Husky, etc.). I made 4 complete sets out of them and donated 2 sets to a shop teacher I know for his classes. They were low on tools.

 

[PelicanPines]

Donate or trade with someone in need.

 

[Hornman]

Could be worse. I bought some tools at an estate sale and in the 1/2" Craftsman sockets, there were 23 9/16" sockets, ranging from -V- to EE. There were about 100 screwdrivers, none of which would make the starting rotation in my toolbox. Then there were the 38 worn out chainsaw files. That farmer never got rid of anything.

 

[drink]

Keep'em! You never know when you'll need a quick replacement or have several people working on fasteners that are the same size.

 

[Blöckw@rt]

You always need reserves !!

 

[gdocktor3]

This is totally unnecessary. We believe you

 

[Revere Cycles]

Duplicate tools are those which have been dedicated to a particular machine or work area. For example I keep a 6" dial caliper handy at my main workbench and also by the lathe and vertical mill. There are drill indexes by the drill presses and also at my bench. My portable kit includes all these and more of a duplicate nature.

Same here, I have a set of tools for the garage, another smaller set for the junkyard, one in the basement, and another in my workshop. If I need a specific tool to frequently adjust a machine, it goes in a small box near that machine. For work, I have two identical tool bags, that way two guys can be working on different projects at the same time. The tools I don't like as much go into a box and get shipped out to my brother's house hoping that one day he will use them.

 

[JohnnyK8]

Anytime I end up with a duplicate by way of upgrading or requirement to buy a whole set a keep the part I need and put the extras in a tool chest for my son.

At this rate by the time he's 18 he will have a very well stocked toolbox.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

I put all my extras in an extra box and save them for the one job I need an extra, I surely wouldn't get rid of them though. You never know when you will need to bend, grind or in some way specially modify a tool and then you always have one (or 10) to do so with.