My name is Dan and I have a problem

[Bryan Burns]

Just like a real addiction, if I go a week or so without scoring some tools, I feel like I'm going through an actual withdrawal.
I'm pretty organized, received a lot of compliments in the past, but no so much any more as I've got A LOT. Probably 50 hand saws that I'd like to clean up and flip someday.
And wooden levels. Probably have 10 I'd like to restore. Can't turn down stubby screwdrivers or glass scrapers or files with handles. The list goes on and on. Wire brushes, sandpaper, steel wool (once bought five pounds at once)...

"Buying's more fun than selling".

 

[TDLMOMOWERS]

I also have a tool addiction. I really can't pass up a deal on USA made tools. When I go to a garage sale, and they have tools, it's like I get all crazy and want to push everyone else out of the way. My wife has no idea about how many tools are stored away in different places around our house. When I pass, she will cuss me good, when she has to clean out all my stuff. If I pass before any of you guys, make sure you come to the sale that my wife will have, because she will probably give everything away, cheap. I went to a garage sale years ago, and the lady was selling her husband's tool collection. She had no idea what anything was worth. I felt guilty paying what she was asking and bought a bunch of stuff, that I really didn't need, but just couldn't pass up. She seemed happy just to be rid of all those tools.

My real addiction is sockets. I like to buy them by the pound and make sets. My last score was like 15 pounds for 10.00$. Been going through withdrawal lately as there hasn't been many garage sales around here.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

My wife tells me all the time I have a tool problem. ….

See a MD for pills....

 

[bobcatdan]

Go threw everything that is for sale. Organize and have a man sale. If you can do this without feeling attached to anything, you are fine. Plus the wife will be happy you thinned the herd. I have come to the conclusion my dad is a hoarder. Althou he doesn't save garbage like the show, his home, building and vans are packed to the point of bursting. He says he is a buyer seller, but in the last 10 years or so he hasn't sold much. He gets very attached to stuff to the point he has a hard time putting it down.

 

[Eric Essen]

Welcome to the club. I've managed to start passing up deals and keeping a mental list of the tools I currently "need", which I seem to bend to mean things I don't own 3 or more of already...

Except for Kennedy chests, for some reason I can't pass those or other nice vintage boxes up, I keep saying it's to help organize my current collection, but when they come already organized and full of tools...

 

[DandDMachine]

Go threw everything that is for sale. Organize and have a man sale. If you can do this without feeling attached to anything, you are fine. Plus the wife will be happy you thinned the herd. I have come to the conclusion my dad is a hoarder. Althou he doesn't save garbage like the show, his home, building and vans are packed to the point of bursting. He says he is a buyer seller, but in the last 10 years or so he hasn't sold much. He gets very attached to stuff to the point he has a hard time putting it down.

Bobcat, the only tools I have attachments to are a few of my Dads and Grandfathers tools, plus the first tool box I ever bought when I was 15. Those I wont sell. Everything else I would love to sell but just need to find the time and motivation to do it. The selling for me is just as exciting as long as it goes for a decent price. I just have been burned out on it recently.

 

[Packard V8]

Except for Kennedy chests, for some reason I can't pass those or other nice vintage boxes up, I keep saying it's to help organize my current collection, but when they come already organized and full of tools...

Know what you mean. I operate on the kharmic principle that if you don't accept what is offered, then it will be withheld three times over. That's my story on why I have thirty boxes, and I'm stickin' to it.

jack vines

 

[DandDMachine]

Ok here are some pics. I decided not to tidy up before taking these pics. These are of my basement shop. As you can see any horizontal surface is holding tools. This makes it hard to work on anything because you have to move everything out of the way before you can do anything.

 

[SMKS]

Whoa. You weren't kidding.

 

[CWP1616L]

The question is, does any one else have this problem?

I'd say it's a problem if you bought them strictly for resale and there's no buyers......

 

[Conductor562]

[/B]

See a MD for pills....

I suppose I walked my *** right into that one.

 

[lwlobo]

I only had one vise (and it was bolted to my workbench) at one point in my life.

Sigh.

Unmounted bench vises are a key sign psychologists look for when diagnosing Tool Addiction Disease (TAD), also called Tool Over-Accumulation Disease (TOAD). Table saws covered with boxes full of random tools is another sign.

 

[2oolhound]

Your only problem is you don't have a big enough shop. Do you have a garage yet?

 

[Exceller8]

You have a problem!

 

[2oolhound]

no a problem for me. I don't flip tools to begin with, so I buy tools I need, not I want, at a set budget (most of the time). I went to 2 auctions in the past 4 weeks, bought absolutely nothing.

Now this is a problem I'm sorry to say t100, it's what Psychologists call "being in denial" Think about it for a second, there you were at not just one but two tool auctions and you denied yourself the right and privilege to bid on tools and the possibility of bringing some home. This is a situation where a perfectly legitimate justifiable action gets turned around and is perceived as a problem.

 

[kc-steve]

Ok here are some pics. I decided not to tidy up before taking these pics. These are of my basement shop. As you can see any horizontal surface is holding tools. This makes it hard to work on anything because you have to move everything out of the way before you can do anything.

Whoa. You weren't kidding.

DandD, that's pretty normal for us older guys . . . as you can see by the younger guys' responses.

Give it time, every one of us will be creating pathways to get to the tools.

Steve

 

[Danglerb]

The definition of a problem is anything that you do that prevents you from doing what you want or need to do. Seems like you are on the path, but not there yet.

I totally agree though, its fun to buy tools, look for great deals etc., and its a PITA and a reality check to sell anything, almost like working.

 

[Packard V8]

and its a PITA and a reality check to sell anything, almost like working.

The reality check is when we stop congratulating each other on the you ***** and actually put some of our treasures out there in the marketplace.

Sometimes the reason we got such a great deal is the market for inch sockets and wrenches has tanked. Sometimes it's because there isn't anyone in the area with money who needs another box.

All too often I look at what tools/boxes are bringing at a garage sale or craigslist and say, "it's worth more than that to have a spare." Of course, now I have the huge set in the garage, large set in the basement, medium set in the storage garage, plus equipping the son/daughter with the basics so I'll have tools to fix things on their, "While you're here, Dad" list of projects.

Bottom line - I spend less on tools than many of my friends spend on their golfing or skiing hobby. Afterward, I have the tools and they've just got more boring bar talk.

jack vines

 

[DandDMachine]

Ok I decided that since it has been almost a year since I posted this I would update it. I have drastically reduced what I have been buying. I guess its like a sinking boat where you always try to bail out the water rather than plug the hole. I have been buying maybe 1/4 of the amount of tools that I have been buying in the past. I used to say if I can easily get my money back on them then I will buy it. Now I make sure that if I do buy something I can get a good return on the investment.

I was very busy in the shop this last year so didn't get as much time as I would have liked to sell this stuff. Things at work have slowed down a bit so I am back on the selling spree again. I just listed a bunch of auctions on ebay some of them with big lots of tools. Boxes of sockets and wrenches etc.. The auctions are looking decent so far. I know its not the most profitable way of selling this stuff but its at least faster. Will keep that up as time allows in the future. I brought a lot of stuff to a swap meet a month back. Sold some but mainly went to get rid of the small things that I thought someone could use. I put a big free sign and set a lot of things on a big tarp. Almost all of it went.

I was at a swap meet this last weekend and bought 5 things. I passed on many things I would have bought in the past. My goal is to take all the things I have for sale and get it to the point where they will fit on just one of those storage shelves in the picture. It will take some time but between ebay and craigslist I will someday get there.

 

[mrjaw14]

Hoarding is Bad
OCD is bad
Hoarding + OCD = Collecting which is good

I guess two wrongs really do make a right! LOL

 

[sberry]

I really don't buy unless I need it, already own a 1000 sockets and more doesn't help even if they are good deals.

 

[softailgarage]

The first step to recovery is knowing you have a problem. The second step is sending me any & all tools that pertain to the problem. It's called softails 2 step program (not to be confused with the Tijuana Two Step).

 

[JBourquin]

Organization goes a long way.

 

[fortson]

it sounds like youve got a workable plan for getting it under control. stick with it and post up some pictures when you have a useable space again. good luck.

 

[beatcad]

your problem could be worse. i've got the sickness for tool chests. those things really start taking up some room. i've got 12 rite now and im goin to look at/but another 2(top & mid set) tonight

 

[Pumpman1968]

Guilty! But I am much better now! ...except for the free vice and planer...and a buck for a Proto ratchet...and the box of stuff from the auction for $10. Bruce

 

[eborcim]

Things at work have slowed down a bit so I am back on the selling spree again. I just listed a bunch of auctions on ebay some of them with big lots of tools. Boxes of sockets and wrenches etc..

What is your ebay seller name?

 

[chris142]

My dad was always buying wrenches and socket sets. He had lots of made in use "pro America " stuff.he's in a home now and to help ofset the cost of 24hr care we had a yardsale. I made over $2000 in about 12 hrs.

 

[DandDMachine]

Ebay seller name is DandDMachine same as it is here. Here's a link to one of the auctions to make it easier to find them. http://www.ebay.com/itm/121188657381?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

 

[jveretto]

Can't say I will ever admit to the disease my wife says I have. Am not a horder, am not, am not! I just love tools and refuse to sell even the junk family gives at Christmas.

 

[Capt Chrysler]

Ebay seller name is DandDMachine same as it is here. Here's a link to one of the auctions to make it easier to find them. http://www.ebay.com/itm/121188657381?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

I think I HAVE A PROBLEM. I just looked at the ebay link and wanted to bid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Capt. Chrysler

 

[DandDMachine]

I think I HAVE A PROBLEM. I just looked at the ebay link and wanted to bid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Capt. Chrysler

Which listing? Feel free to bid on all of them, your can be part of the cure for my "sickness"

 

[wmartin]

Which listing? Feel free to bid on all of them, your can be part of the cure for my "sickness"

Are you sure on the free shipping?

 

[DandDMachine]

Are you sure on the free shipping?

Yep, some of the listings have free shipping. Those sockets fit into a flat rate box. Shipping costs me about $15. Hopefully the customer will bid the item up higher because they don't pay for shipping. Plus free shipping listings get more exposure from ebay. I have done these before and the lady at the post office used to give me a hard time for bringing 50 pound packages in there for her to lift. I feel sorry for the mailman who has to carry them to the door.

 

[bryanrj]

300 sockets at less than $100 and only 30 minutes left in the auction. Somebody help the man out. Wonder how many GJ members are among the 21 bidders so far....

 

[DandDMachine]

300 sockets at less than $100 and only 30 minutes left in the auction. Somebody help the man out. Wonder how many GJ members are among the 21 bidders so far....

If any of you are the winning bidders on any of them let me know and I will find something extra to throw in for you out of my stash.