Multiples of tools in your boxes... question

[NOMAD]

So I have a tiny collection of tools and try to add to it when I can. I'm switching from cheapo tools to nicer tools as I use them more and appreciate the quality and accuracy more. (took me a while to realize it and several broken tools)

So I understand it would be nice to have two sets of wrenches, two sets of sockets for those jobs when multiples help. But...

I've seen a lot of the professional's tool chests, and even some shadetree's boxesand there seem to be 5-6 sets of everything imaginable. I look at that and I'm amazed at the sheer quantity of tools (ie: ratchets, wrenches, sockets) some folks have. Why is this?

Pack rats?
Compulsive buying?
Professionals need 5-6 sets of everything (I'd think this may be true, not sure)
Each set is actually a unique variant?
Buy and try different brands out of curiosity?


Are there truly that many variations that these are different and have their specific uses? I understand deep, short, 12pt, 6 pt, impact etc.
I've seen boxes with like 7 of the exact same ratchet.

just curious.

 

[l_bilyk]

Sometimes it helps to have a pair of common sized wrenches, like 3/8, 1/2, 5/16. 13mm. 10mm

I don't see much need for duplicate sockets... you only have two hands and if you need to support a nut behind a panel you can usually use a wrench

 

[Deafautotech]

me too. i would like to know why....

but i had too damn many tools and i still can use it for one job while i can take other tools for other job... but My work require me to finish the first job then second job... not try to finish two vehicle at same time... i tried to do but it got ugly because my work said no...

 

[wilbilt]

Sometimes it helps to have a pair of common sized wrenches, like 3/8, 1/2, 5/16. 13mm. 10mm

I don't see much need for duplicate sockets... you only have two hands and if you need to support a nut behind a panel you can usually use a wrench

Sometimes you can't get a wrench on the nut behind the panel.

Sometimes it's nice to have tools under the car and on the other side of the shop and/or on the bench at the same time.

Sometimes friends help you, and they need tools, too.

Sometimes your kids use your tools, and it's nice having something to use in the year it takes you to find them again.

Sometimes there is that one old weird socket that is the only one that will fit.

etc...

 

[T56 Impala]

Well, I guess dups are part of life. I buy my own tools, I get them as gifts, hand-me-downs and sometimes, I just can't pass up a good deal. I also have a bad habit of, if I can't find it I buy it. I am also not afraid to buy the right tool for the job. Sometimes that means buying a whole set of which may contain several things I already have.

 

[johnny1290]

I second it's nice to be able to leave the tools you're using at your bench or under the car or whathave you and not have to hunt around for them.

You need tools for the trunk of your car(at least I do)

when you drop that socket somewhere that's not easy to retrieve and you jsut don't have time to fool with it right now

when you god forbid lose a tool or break one down time to get a replacement is precious garage time lost

when you need to heat up a wrench and bend it to get at a nut or bolt its good to have an extra

you need one to keep and one to lose

you can never have too many tools-they're shiny

You move up from cheaper to more expensive tools and so you get doubles

loaners

 

[NOMAD]

you can never have too many tools-they're shiny

OK, so you answered it right there... I agree.




I thought of this when I looked at a photo in the "show me your toolbox" thread where people posted pics of an open drawer.
I'm not saying I wouldn't love to have that many tools... but dang!

I bought a set of all craftsman thin profile ratchets so I can see the ratchet preference thing or replacing cheapies. I now have three stubby ratchet sizes, 1/2" S/K and 3/8" C-man original and ols 1/4 driver. I'll barely touch the others now.

 

[Chris Adams]

Wilbilt and johnny1290 really hit it on the head.
I sometimes need extra tools because I tend to work on cars with buddies. You don’t want to be reaching for the same ratchet, or socket.

The guys who wrench for a living need extra of most everything.
You can’t tell the boss/customer that ‘well, I’m gonna have to knock off for a day or two till the Snap-On truck gets here with a replacement ratchet…

And if you are paid by the job, having a set of tools in the cart as well as in the big box pays for itself in saved footsteps/time.

For a homeowner or hobbyist who works alone you only need dupes of things like common wrenches, example for bolt and nut combos with say 9/16 on each side.
Most guys can get by cheaper by using variants, not duplicates. Example I have two or three 9/16 combo wrenches in the drawer, but I also have 9/16 in short, bent, offset, double box, double open, ratcheting, flex head ratcheting configurations, so effectively I have at least 12 9/16 wrenches, while only having at most two of any exact wrench.

Just this year I gave away over 100 lbs of wrenches sockets etc. to relatives and friends who needed them. I was devoting an entire 7 drawer rollaway to ‘extras’. I noticed I hadn’t opened the drawers in over three years so I gave the stuff away, and haven’t missed any of it.

 

[Fedwrench]

Duplicates may be due to some overlap between sets. Sales also help. I know I tend to grab a rack of 3/8 drive sockets for $10 on sale at Sears rather than the one or two sizes I misplaced. A tech's tool chest also represents years, if not decades in the trade accumulating tools. Tools evolve. Look at ratchets, 30 teeth became 36 or 45, then went to 60 and now 80. All other tools from wrenches to pliers change with improvements (although not always for the best) in fit, feel, finish, and balance. Better and lighterweight steels, better grips, brighter chrome or high visibility size markings, etc. Hell, you may just need a chrome fix. Do you need 6 ratchets? probably not. Do you want 6 ratchets? Probably, if any of them will save you time on a job or make you feel better doing it.

 

[Red Green]

I know I have several 1/2 dr. ratchets right now 2 are broken waiting to be returned to sears. So if you NEED to work on something that can't wait then you will need multiples. Also friends tend to break tools for you LOL.

 

[Danglerb]

Simple answer, how do you get rid of extra tools? and why go to the trouble of getting rid of them if you have a big enough box?

 

[johnny1290]

Simple answer, how do you get rid of extra tools? and why go to the trouble of getting rid of them if you have a big enough box?

I think that's the long and the short of it, for me at least.

 

[mulepackin]

I suspect some techs keep multiples of certain tools to lend speed to particular jobs. They may have a few 9/16 sockets for example with different ratchet, extension and swivel configurations, preassembled for a specific task. Saves the time of breaking down and reconfiguring for each step as they go.

 

[Chris Adams]

A place duplicates are handy is power tools.

Two cordless drills means you don't have to change the bit when doing 16 holes, one at a time, one bit for starting, one bit for final.

Two cordless impact drivers means you can have socket on one and a Phillips on the other so you can do nuts and bolts in an assembly job in seconds rather than minutes.

Two cordless saws mean you can cut multiple materials without stopping to change the blade, say from rip to finishing.

About a month ago I did a job where I employed each of these combinations and I finished in about half the time (2 hours) that it would have taken if I had done the perhaps 160 bit changes and ten blade changes.

 

[Rickster]

I started out with all Craftsman stuff and now through estate sales and garage sales I'm upgrading my tool selection with better quality stuff. I have my tool cart set up with a couple of sets of douplicates but the main box handles the rest. Along the way I've accumulated a fair amount of extras that continuely get added to. Some of the guys here often email me looking for something they need and I'm more than happy to sell off any extras.

 

[NOMAD]

Simple answer, how do you get rid of extra tools? and why go to the trouble of getting rid of them if you have a big enough box?

I'll send you my address.

That goes for the 100 lb of wrenches too.

 

[Jononon]

Buy and try different brands out of curiosity?

That's my failing. I inherited a Britool 3/8" ratchet, which was a definite upgrade from the Chinese rubbish I had myself, but, as I started to earn more, wanted something that bit better. I now have them from Stahlwille, SnapOn (x2), Facom (x3), and GearWrench. The latter isn't really a competitor, but playing with it in the shop suggested it was worth a try.

I actually need two good ratchets and a spare.

Simple answer, how do you get rid of extra tools?

Fleabay. I can justify buying new tools if the old ones bring in a bit of money.

and why go to the trouble of getting rid of them if you have a big enough box?

She's 29, about 5'6...

 

[johnny1290]

This thread has helped me get a SO F80! I got 3 new(to me) 3/8" ratchets off the bay in the last few weeks, so I can't really justify spending $70 on another one.

But all I really need to do is just rotate the stock

I'll ebay one, give one away, then I'll NEED a backup ratchet, and hey, I can try out that new F80! Everybody wins!

 

[l_bilyk]

Sometimes you can't get a wrench on the nut behind the panel.

Sometimes it's nice to have tools under the car and on the other side of the shop and/or on the bench at the same time.

Sometimes friends help you, and they need tools, too.

Sometimes your kids use your tools, and it's nice having something to use in the year it takes you to find them again.

Sometimes there is that one old weird socket that is the only one that will fit.

etc...

Well in my case I have 6 hansen trays filled up with 6-point chrome sockets, plus a full set of impacts and a good number of 12-point. So I never see a need for duplicate sockets. If i really need a duplicate socket I just grab an impact. I do have many duplicate sockets though, but I keep them in a box in the basement to reduce clutter in the tool box

 

[russlaferrera]

With Craftsmen sockets. If you loose 2, it's cheaper the buy the whole set on sale.

 

[wrenchr]

With Craftsmen sockets. If you loose 2, it's cheaper the buy the whole set on sale.

You speak the truth!!!!!

 

[Thumper]

Why have mulitples...? Because you can !!!

 

[Deafautotech]

Why have mulitples...? Because you can !!!

i am agree with you!!! i had three set of craftsman wrenches... soon i will have used snap on wrench set so i can have snap on wrenches set in my service cart and craftsman wrench (matte) set go to home...

 

[wrenchr]

Why have mulitples...? Because you can !!!

May the force be with you!!

 

[jhn9840]

Simple answer, how do you get rid of extra tools? and why go to the trouble of getting rid of them if you have a big enough box?

And if the box isn't big enough. Great excuse to get another bigger box.

jhn9840
John

 

[caspian65]

I only have 2 sets of exact socket duplicates, but own nearly all varieties of socket sizes in 6 pt and 12pt. This gives me extra sockets that I might need when working on a big job. Everyone needs multiple screwdrivers, so that is a no-brainer. Have duplicates of common pliers and a few other pieces here and there. Other than that, I have several sets of wrenches, no exact duplicates, but different lengths and with/without the flank drive and/or ratcheting ends.

The biggest motivation for me to have duplicates is I don't want to waste time looking for a socket or wrench that I might have misplaced or dropped under the car. I can immediately go to box and grab another one and keep on working. At the end of the job I gather up all the tools and throw them in the top of my roll cart... to later put back in the main box.

 

[Danglerb]

I like the idea of being able to inventory tools at the end of the job, everything goes back were it belongs and its easy to be sure nothing was left on or in the car.

 

[davestlouis]

As a rule I treat tools like jewelry in the jewelry store, one item out of the case at a time, which tends to minimize the chance of tools getting lost. When I hang sheetmetal on my old BMW's, I need an 8mm socket on a 1/4 ratchet and a 10mm on a 1/4 or 3/8, so a couple of tools out at a time, but that's it. I also have multiple boxes/cabinets, etc:
1. big rolling cab in the garage at home
2. 2 portable metal boxes for use on trips etc, they live in the trunk of the car
3. a small Matco "plumbers bag" with el cheapo/don't care if they get stolen tools for trips to pick-n-pull

 

[Uncle Buck]

I have read what everyone has contributed to this thread, but no one has hit on the reason I have about half a dozen different brands of 9/16 x 1/2" box ends, combinations, open ends, obstruction wrenches etc... I have found that in many instances where one brand of wrench will not go where I need it to another brand might be a bit thinner, have a different offset, or be just the right fit for the specific application that many others of the same size are just that much off and will not do the job. In my opinion you rarely have to many wrenches, and a huge mixture of brands is just all the better! The same thoughts apply to ratchets and many other tools.