Minimalist tool kits

[richfinn]

I realise this probably the wrong place to ask

Has anybody ever actually sorted through their tools and equipment and removed the obsolete/duplicate and whimsical tools (looks great but *****) that they dont use?

I'm a mechanic and I have loads of stuff I dont use anymore, have never used ever, or have very similar tools that do the same job

I see loads of YouTube "tool cart tours" where the tech has a giant toolbox (full of nice to have stuff) but then a cart with the essentials (whats actually required)

Looking for ideas/pics/experiences of downsizing or condensing your tools to the minimum required to do the job

 

[gatlibs]

Unless you are hurting for the funds, then I'd recommend keeping the tools. You won't get what you paid for them. Does the option that you mentioned of a tool cart work for you? That is the only thing that I've seen. You could buy one or more plastic or metal tool boxes to keep the chest free, but even with locking mechanism they won't have the weight like a chest that is the big anti-theft component.

 

[richfinn]

Unless you are hurting for the funds, then I'd recommend keeping the tools. You won't get what you paid for them. Does the option that you mentioned of a tool cart work for you? That is the only thing that I've seen. You could buy one or more plastic or metal tool boxes to keep the chest free, but even with locking mechanism they won't have the weight like a chest that is the big anti-theft component.

Thanks for the reply

I'm more intested in weight/space saving and bang for the buck than security or value, if that makes sense??

 

[woody 73]

I will say it again you only need one tool in your kit (besides the visa card) and that is a BFH or Big Fxxxing Hammer.

No fuss it takes up less space.
Wife wants a larger kitchen well out comes the BFH.
Your boss pisses you off well out comes the BFH.
You meet some bad dude type, no problem out comes the BFH.
Neighbor gives you a hard time, out comes the BFH.
Door stuck again ,out comes the BFH.
You should ever meet Thor, well you got that one covered.

 

[richfinn]

I will say it again you only need one tool in your kit (besides the visa card) and that is a BFH or Big Fxxxing Hammer.

No fuss it takes up less space.
Wife wants a larger kitchen well out comes the BFH.
Your boss pisses you off well out comes the BFH.
You meet some bad dude type, no problem out comes the BFH.
Neighbor gives you a hard time, out comes the BFH.
Door stuck again ,out comes the BFH.
You should ever meet Thor, well you got that one covered.

I've already whittled my hammer collection down to 2

Oddly one of those is a "Thor" copper/hide mallet

Also have a 32oz ball/pein

The slide hammer makes 3 (see my issue)

 

[sberry]

I will agree with the OP here. I absolutely stripped, still do of accumulated shat that not being used. I found half a dozen chrome 1/2 x 1/2 chrome sockets on one, I saved 1 or 2 and rounded the rest over to a storage box out of the way. Took most of the doe wrenches out, but them in a bucket on a shelf. Been sorting thru them, giving nice rides back and forth but ignoring them.

 

[sberry]

I don't need acumulated iers of some types, a pair in the work rack does it and I need the place for Channelok I do use, number 9 et

 

[sberry]

I did this,, some a dozen the same size, some 1, some none and the remains of the set in the storage box, same for some more specialty pieces, we can go a few extra steps in the event we need it but don't want to sort or lose it.
**** I got to have but don't need in the way, what this red cman box is for.

 

[dsaabm]

I asked a similar question in this thread Link last month and got a some helpful replies, I am working on getting rid of duplicates and never used stuff but I am having a tough time not spending that money on new tools

 

[sberry]

It all looks a little different, some pics are older.

 

[richfinn]

I did this,, some a dozen the same size, some 1, some none and the remains of the set in the storage box, same for some more specialty pieces, we can go a few extra steps in the event we need it but don't want to sort or lose it.
**** I got to have but don't need in the way, what this red cman box is for.

I love the "make do and mend" simplicity of your tool cart

Much as like to look at the awesome big shiny tool palaces on wheels, It's nice to see old school upcycled
rigs that do essentially the same job

 

[sberry]

I tried a lot of stuff. Some of this was prototype,, or meant to be to get the "footprint" right. It's been tuned several times, the changes are smaller now but more sorted to the exact need where needed.

 

[sberry]

This has been hyper tuned for the "footprint ". Been tuned. Some was originally intended as prototype, it's easier to change with no investment. I had intended a hf cart here, still could but this works so well that it just be another expense.
Reason for some of my cobbles is design. I can totally ignore what came before or the way it was/is. Same for a lot of fab from the scrap. In a more structured environment, cu sd to me stuff would use new but I can design from scraps with disregard to cost at times.

 

[sberry]

New steel had dropped again, I tend to buy more. Cost more now to sandblast and clean an old channel as to buy new.

 

[bwringer]

I've saved a lot of space and time by paring down the stuff in my "front line" box to the sizes needed for the machines I work on most often, which is Japanese motorcycles and Toyotas.

So the 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18mm, etc. stuff is all in a drawer in the back of the garage. I can get to it easily if needed, but it's out of my way the 99.99% of the time I don't need it.

Same for inch ****. I have an inch **** drawer way in the back in case I need to monkey with agricultural machinery like a mower or Harley or something, and I recently sorted out and donated a TON of duplicates. The stuff seems to pile up if you never use it.



I've also used "catch and release" tactics several times for stuff I need to use once in a while but don't want to trip over for years.

For example, you can buy a Harbor Freight engine crane, transmission jack, etc., use it for the project at hand, then sell it easily quickly for very close to what you paid. All in all, you're in for far less than it would have cost to rent.

I did end up keeping my hydraulic press... that thing takes up a lot of space, but it's saved me a lot of time, money, and effort, even though it doesn't get used all that often. Unexpectedly handy thing to have.



Also, with my motorcycles, I've pared down my tool roll to only the essentials. I've seen riders toting **** like claw hammers, complete 1/2" socket sets, and 12" Crescent wrenches. I mean, why? What?

I maintain my bikes to a very high standard, so I can be confident that I know what I will need and won't need to reach and turn the fasteners, and that I'll be able to actually turn them if the need arises. So, for example, I can save a lot of space and weight with 1/4" sockets.

 

[jsaw]

I Have lots of stuff, but don't like excess baggage. If I really need something, I buy it. I want to have all that I need, but do not want something that does not earn its keep. No use having excess stuff in the way or carrying excess dead weight around.

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

I will say it again you only need one tool in your kit (besides the visa card) and that is a BFH or Big Fxxxing Hammer.

No fuss it takes up less space.
Wife wants a larger kitchen well out comes the BFH.
Your boss pisses you off well out comes the BFH.
You meet some bad dude type, no problem out comes the BFH.
Neighbor gives you a hard time, out comes the BFH.
Door stuck again ,out comes the BFH.
You should ever meet Thor, well you got that one covered.

^^^^^This is real close to the perfect answer. I went through a planned and organized selloff/divestiture several years ago. Retired, moved 2000 miles away and adopted a more leisurely lifestyle. By the time the move came around, I only brought along a 16" hand carry box. If I had to do it over again, the only three things I'd bring would be my Leatherman, a pair of #440 Channellocks and a Big Fxxxing Hammer, lol!

 

[richfinn]

Thanks gents for your comments and suggestions, it's nice to know I'm not alone

 

[seber]

I do it at least once a year. One thing that saved huge room was to keep one long and one short combination wrench in each size and got rid of the rest. No dbe and no doe and I'm not missing anything.

 

[VolvoRyan]

Simplifying makes for more efficient work, but you gotta have what you need. Only you know what you need. I only see one brand of car, so life is easier for me.

One thing for sure, most people have way too many sockets. 1/2" can pretty much all be impact. Good impact sockets can squeeze into 99% of the places chrome can. I started buying semi-deep chrome sockets in 3/8" and 1/4". They do the job of a deep and standard socket in many situations. I've yet to find a stud/bolt on a car that is too long for the Snap-On semi-deeps.

-Ryan

 

[PhantomEB]

Elaborate on where you want to do this? At home, at work, on the road?

At home, I don’t care how much I got as long it’s all neat and organized.
At work, as long it’s gonna make the job go a little more efficient, I prefer to have it on hand.
On the road, minimum and then some to do the job. I hate showing up at work not having this and that but at the same time I am known for taking tools home that the job doesn’t require.

 

[iWrench]

Simplifying makes for more efficient work, but you gotta have what you need. Only you know what you need. I only see one brand of car, so life is easier for me.

One thing for sure, most people have way too many sockets. 1/2" can pretty much all be impact. Good impact sockets can squeeze into 99% of the places chrome can. I started buying semi-deep chrome sockets in 3/8" and 1/4". They do the job of a deep and standard socket in many situations. I've yet to find a stud/bolt on a car that is too long for the Snap-On semi-deeps.

-Ryan

Same here. My only chromes are semi-deep Snap-On 1/4" and 3/8". All my 1/2" sockets are impact. I try to use power tools whenever possible so I have 1/4" impact sockets deep and shallow, 3/8" impact sockets deep, shallow, and semi-deep, as well as shallow and deep universal sockets.

 

[kbeefy]

I thinned the heard before moving to Hawaii almost a decade ago, got rid of most of the off brand stuff.

I have a couple vehicle specific tool kits that are as light as practical and packed in boxes or bags that pack/travel well. Still hard to beat a GI tool bag.

At work, I have an oversized cart that holds 90% of the tools I need. In the back bay, out of the way in the corner are 2 56" toolboxes with all the other general tools.

 

[richfinn]

Elaborate on where you want to do this? At home, at work, on the road?

At home, I don’t care how much I got as long it’s all neat and organized.
At work, as long it’s gonna make the job go a little more efficient, I prefer to have it on hand.
On the road, minimum and then some to do the job. I hate showing up at work not having this and that but at the same time I am known for taking tools home that the job doesn’t require.

Work supplies my hand tools/equipment/vehicle

So I have my own collection from when I worked in the workshop, which I rarely dip into, its in storage at a friends automotive business.

I would like to keep the best stuff for personal use and maybe retirement

Most of it is from the 90s and in good condition but there is a lot of specialist engine tools and stuff I will never ever use again

I kind of like the idea of just one rollcab or cart that I can have every hand tool I need, that is very mobile or maybe one of those GMTK type pelican boxes

I have quite a lot of diagnostic equipment which isn't in storage that I use frequently that mostly lives in my personal vehicle