Rant: How do you remember which tools you have?

[HoseB]

I have tons of tools. Some have never been used (I buy when I see a good deal, not always because I need it).

Last week I needed a good snap-ring plier. I struggled with a cheapie I had laying around in one of my tool boxes. Cursed the whole time trying to remove a particularly tough snap-ring (CV joint/axle). I eventually gave up and ran out to purchase a good set of snap-ring pliers.

Yesterday, I'm digging through one of the lower drawers in my toolbox and find this:

Damn! Not the first time this has happened with tools/supplies.

Other then taking inventory once a month, does anyone have a plan for keeping track of tools?

 

[Skin]

Organization. If your drawers are overfilled and messy obviously you wont know whats in them. You can also label your drawers with the contents.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

I keep an inventory list in both the house and the work box. The stuff in the cars is pretty basic, so I don't worry about it too much.

I don't know if they still do, but Snapon and Mac used to give out those little plastic folders to keep receipts and whatnot in, and they work great for keeping a list in.

 

[JimDon]

Computerized word file on your computer with complete inventory and purchase and replacement costs. Then you can use the search function to find the oddball you might not remember. And then put a hard copy in your safety deposit box incase you ever have anything stolen, destroyed or lost in a fire, for insurance purposes. Make sure your homeowner rider is enough to cover your losses. Some of these collections can get pretty pricey and just try telling some doughhead insurance guy you had a quarter mill in inventory and watch him go yah sure.
Jim

 

[UncleJoe]

One thing is to make a good inventory to begin with. I start by taking a camera and opening every drawer and snapping a picture. Then I sit at my desk and open a spreadsheet and start looking at photos. This is a good way to kill a rainy afternoon.

Once you are done and have everything then you have to keep it up to date. I have a shoe box on a shelf in my office. When I come in from the store I place all receipts in the shoe box. When I get something off the internet I open the box and place the receipt in the box. At the end of each month I get a good cup of coffee and go through the shoe box and update the spread sheet.

Now having done all that I still have dome the exact thing you described in your original post. I guess I should print out the inventory and place it on a clipboard and hang it on the wall in the shop.

Good post I will be interested in what other folks are doing

 

[trout]

I had 99% of my stuff stolen over a year ago. Every couple days I remember another tool I no longer have. Now I keep pictures of everything.

 

[scott37300]

I'm in the same boat. I also buy when I come across a good deal so have lots of tools I've never used. I have been meaning to get a list together but never take the time. I try to keep things organized so I can check a few drawers and find what I need. I also like just going threw everything once a month or so

 

[spongerich]

That's one area where my inability to pass up a good deal on a toolbox is paying off. Ive got 3 roller cabs and 2 extra top boxes now. It's taken me a little while, but I've gotten things organized in a way that I'm fairly happy with and so I've started labeling all the drawers.

 

[HoseB]

Organization. If your drawers are overfilled and messy obviously you wont know whats in them. You can also label your drawers with the contents.

I'm organized. The problem is the snap-ring plier set is in a generic looking plastic box (along with a dozen or so other generic plastic boxes). I guess if I removed the tools from the boxes and laid them out in the drawers, it would be more obvious as to what I have. It's nice to keep the tools in their boxes, though...

 

[HoseB]

I agree on the photos/spreadsheet idea for inventory in case of loss, but when elbow deep in grease, I can't imagine stopping what I'm doing and looking for a spreadsheet.

 

[Skin]

Write on the box or use a labeler helps also. If you really want to get crazy make laminated inventory cards and put a pocket on the side wall of the drawer for said card.

 

[peelman]

I keep a Memo on my blackberry with quite a bit of my stuff inventoried. Helpful for when i'm in Sears trying to remember what 1/4" deep well sockets i have and how many duplicates i'd have if i bought this 22 piece set (true story from this past weekend). I also have a program on my Mac called Delicious Library that will scan UPC codes against Amazon.com; I have quite a few tools inventoried on there.

I have started 3 times now to write an iPhone app (then port it to Macs) that could make such a process much easier and cooler, but i have yet to come up with an interface and/or storage schema I'm happy with :-\ If i could nail that down I'd think i'd make $10, $20 easily off of garage journal members alone

 

[mrshaun]

luckily my computer program keeps tabs on what I have in the truck or it would be a big mess

 

[kc-steve]

I prefer to use a spreadsheet so I can move things around easily and make specific categories of tools, or just list it in alphabetical order. I started doing that because in the past I would tend to buy duplicates often. And I can print off the spreadsheet anytime I wish. Eventually I might convert it to a database file system. Spreadsheets are good for doing that sort of thing.

I also show when I bought something and the price I paid because some of it was purchased at estate sales etc. My current inventory shows I have spent over $11,000 on hand tools.

Steve

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I just remember, but i use them everyday and there isn't much that goes a long time without being used or seen.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Yes. I just can't remember who I lend them out to !

Some one has my RG6 combo stripper/Snap-N-Seal tool and my bag of connectors, but I can't remember who !

 

[Frank The Plumber]

Gingko.

 

[str8axle55]

I keep a mental list, I`m sure I should write it all down to hav records. I`m not sure but somehow I keep track of it all between work and home.

 

[kc-steve]

Gingko.

Do you mean the plant? and for use as a memory enhancer?

I have been collecting tools for 40 years. I don't think my memory could be helped in this case.

Steve

 

[Vicegrip]

I'm organized. The problem is the snap-ring plier set is in a generic looking plastic box (along with a dozen or so other generic plastic boxes). I guess if I removed the tools from the boxes and laid them out in the drawers, it would be more obvious as to what I have. It's nice to keep the tools in their boxes, though...

Bingo, the box keep you from seeing them while looking for other stuff and re-remembering them. My father was the king of boxes and bags. Never could find a thing and spent a lot of time looking in this bag or that box for stuff.

Unless the tool is a kit with small parts like a bubble flare tool or the like it comes out of the blow mould box. The boxes take up too much space anyway. 3 snap ring pliers would have been in the plier drawer. Like with like. Snap ring, regular, needle nose, locking, all the tools that have a center pivot go together. Some things end up in more than one place. Vice grips. The nice clean un-abused ones go in the tool box, the old flash burnt slag crusted ones go in the clamps bin.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Bingo, the box keep you from seeing them while looking for other stuff and re-remembering them. My father was the king of boxes and bags. Never could find a thing and spent a lot of time looking in this bag or that box for stuff.

Unless the tool is a kit with small parts like a bubble flare tool or the like it comes out of the blow mould box. The boxes take up too much space anyway. 3 snap ring pliers would have been in the plier drawer. Like with like. Snap ring, regular, needle nose, locking, all the tools that have a center pivot go together. Some things end up in more than one place. Vice grips. The nice clean un-abused ones go in the tool box, the old flash burnt slag crusted ones go in the clamps bin.

My stuff that's in boxes is either labeled or has its contents written on it in paint pen. My valve tools and diesel fuel line sockets have identical boxes, except they're clearly labeled for what they are.

 

[Busted Bolts]

I put my tools in my box by catagory. If you have a small rollaway this can be difficult. I put the specialty tools in a drawer all on their own. Example diagnostic, testers, leads, meters, clips, spark plug tools, and so on in this type in a drawer, this way if I'm working on anything to do with electrical, testing, or 12v stuff thats where I would go. If its not there then I don't have it. Same with brake, tubing tools. Bushing drivers, lg pins, ball joint/u joint adapters. Try to think of the scope of work and create your tool drawer that would cater to that trpe of work. Also frequent your seldom used drawers for a refresher as you take on jobs you'll remember if you've got that tool or potential fix to get it done. Works for me. Good luck. Oh and yes you can do spread sheets, cards, label, pictures, and cheat sheets.

 

[PCO6]

I keep an Excel work sheet inventory of all of my tools. The tools are listed line by line alphabetically by their common name. The columns from left to right are - the common name of the tool, the brand and model, where I bought it, the category it falls into (mechanical, welding, etc.), the month I bought it, the year I bought it, the actual price, the regular price if I bought it on sale and whether or not I have a receipt or if the price is estimated (had to do that for a lot of my older tools). I like Excel work sheets because it allows me to do sorts by the columns. It's quite easy for example to determine how much I have spent on tools from year to year, list all of my tools in one category, etc.

As for how they are organized in my garage ... lots of drawer and cabinet space, use them often and having a good memory ... which will get worse as I get older.

 

[american lockpicker]

Good memory + few tools(I downsized my collection a while back.)

 

[Monte]

Excel file

 

[bobcatdan]

I havn't needed something and forgot I had, but I have found things in bottom drawers I forgot about. Last week I was going threw the electrical drawer in the service truck and found my blacklight, but don't have a damn clue where the glasses are.

 

[AWD Diesel Dude]

Another member here developed software for this very issue based on Microsoft access. If you don't have access you could always just download access viewer for free...

Anyway, it's explained in this thread and it's a free program that works exactly as described:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55227

 

[canuckian]

meticulous organization, a good memory and good photo documentation(insurance company requires it). Plus, I keep all of my receipts in the little folder I got with my box. Thought about doing something computerized but seeing as I sit in front of one all day every day, the last thing I want to see when I get home is a fricken computer!!

funny enough, the only things I can remember exactly what i have and their location is tools and detailing gear. Everything else is hit or miss. I'm guessing that's because the way I have these items organized, it stands out if something isn't where it should be.

 

[rsanter]

orgainize my type of tool and put similar or related stuff together

bob

 

[Greatbear]

It happened to me recently. I needed an O2 sensor socket that resembles a crowfoot. I picked up a cheapie at AutoZone. I had forgotten the OTC set that I bought a while ago, it was buried in my big cabinet. In a similar vein, I picked up a KD coolant pressure tester kit while at Carlisle last spring. I got it home and realized that I had a similar set (though lacking in some adapters) that I had gotten some time back. What connects these two tool sets is I had gotten them before getting busted up in a car accident. Apparently my brain was trying to erase memories of a bad time in my life, yet took out some of the good stuff as well.

 

[smalltruck]

Some of the tools that come in the blow molded case can make it hard to find. I started writing on the top what each one is. I know that in about 6 months I will have more stuff in those cases so keeping them straight is important.

 

[shampoop]

I use them