Sacrilege?

[sydecik]

I tried briefly to find a thread relating to my topic to no avail, new thread it is.

Backstory, I worked for an LLC of a company for 6 years. started with no tool box and ended with a craftsman model #113613 which only had tools in the top 3 draws with plenty of extra space, the bottom drawer had a toaster and poptarts, not much was required to do that job and most of what was, the company provided. That was a production job with no travel and no room for growth so I transferred to the parent company when an opening became available. The parent company builds the industrial production equipment I had been operating, as well as doing installs, service, and upgrades on new or existing lines all around the industrialized parts of the world.

My first day at the new job I had filled the craftsman to bursting. I purchased a HF 44” M#68784 bottom as a replacement and outgrew that in a few months. Currently I have a Gatorbuilt 55” bottom M#GB-RX5512 with a Montezuma box on top M#MTZ-SE250 both from Strictlytoolboxes although they no longer offer the Gatorbuilt boxes.

Closing in on two years with this job and I'm running out of draw space again. My question isn’t what box to go for next but rather the best way to keep track of what tools I'm actually using and how often so I can trim the fat so to speak. Everything I don’t need at work would be taken home to fill the boxes that had been replaced. This would be a long term record, I'm thinking 3-5 years of keeping track of what I use, what I take on the road, borrow, loan out, brake, spend, and so on. After that time I'm sure my current set up would be adequate to hold the reduction. Keeping track would allow me to determine where to spend money on quality tools, what needs duplicates for loaning out, what I actually need that I don’t already have, and obviously what I can get rid of.

Do any of you have or know of a good system for keeping track of something like this with such a long time frame? An excel document might suffice but I would like some input to other options or other things to keep track of during this time. At the end I'm thinking this could not only benefit me but also new people coming into the same job so they know exactly what they are most likely to need. Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[DGersic]

When I wrenched for money, the tools I used most frequently were the ones found in my pockets, on my bench, and on my workstand at the end of a day. The tools that I used rarely or not at all were the ones still in their home drawer, hook, box, or whatever.

Also, those were the ones I could identify the fastener by sight or description, without checking, and could grab the required tool for it first time, every time.

It sounds lot a lot of work to write down each tool as you pick it up. I doubt I could do that, even if I wanted to.

Maybe just make your best guess, and move everything else to a nearby storage location like the trunk of your car. After a week or a month, anything that hasn’t migrated back isn’t commonly used.



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[sydecik]

It does indeed sound like a lot of work haha but I think it will be worth it in the long term. I do have a basic idea of what I use more often, SAE wrenches 1/4-1 1/8 and allen keys are a daily as well as a common assortment of sockets, screwdrivers, prybars, and a dead blow. However, with my job I can be doing mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic work any given time and each have their own set of unique tools required. I might go a few months not having to do any electrical work then all the sudden do that for a couple weeks straight, same with more precision equipment like calipers or dial indicators, not a daily use item but frequently needed. Also, I work on different machines that while some have similar requirements others are more specialized and some all I need is a set of feeler gauges and an 1 1/8 wrench to work on, hence such a long term of keeping track. I do see and agree with some of what your saying, I've started putting my more used sockets on their own rail to separate them out, same with a few less common but still used wrenches. I'd still like to see if anyone else has done this and how they found to be the most efficient ways of keeping track long term.

 

[Fueler]

It would be far easier to make a list of what you do not have.

 

[OHMS LAW]

In my box everything has its place. May not be the prettiest set up but everything is where I can find it when I need it. You have to make a home for it that way when you open your drawer you can see if something is missing. I don’t have a list of all my tools but I know what I have and where it is.

 

[jimreed2160]

I guess I am missing the point of tracking. If you use specific tools for your job, you need these tools. It does not matter how much you use them because you need them at some time. And if you need something you do not have, you need to purchase it.

It sounds to me like you need a better system of organization. Many people organize by tool type--ie, socket sets, screwdrivers, etc. This is helpful for specialized trades. But you seem to be more of a general mechanic who works on many different types of machines. Maybe you need to think about organizing your tools differently.

For example, I do woodworking as a hobby but also maintain my residence and vehicles. I have tool benches in my garage for woodworking tools but I also have dedicated toolboxes and tool cabinets for other chores like electrical work, plumbing and painting. Those areas use general tools but also specialized tools. So when I go to paint, for example, I can pick up a toolbox and have almost everything I need for the job. And in the meantime, my other tool areas are not cluttered up with specialized painting tools.

This may or may not help you get a handle on your specific issues but I offer it up anyway. Good luck with your re-organization.

 

[lakelandcat]

I use tools from all different trades. I have a woodworking section, plumbing section.electrical, mechanical, drywall, paint, and specialist section. Each of these are broke down into subcategories I don't use any on a regular basis but I use them for the job I'm working on. If you are asking for a system to weed out the tools you don't use, go thru your box and touch each tool, ask yourself "have I touched this in the last 6 months" if you answer no divide your lower drawers into sections and put the tools you use most often in the upper drawers. You are the only one that can answer that question. My philosophy is "its better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. One of my biggest hoarding habits is collecting duplicate tools. How many 3/8 drive ratchets do I need? How many 15/16 1/2" drive sockets am I going to use. Couldn't tell you how many caulk guns I have. Do I really need that old set of standard wrenchs that were made in China? If you have kids thats a good way to start a tool kit for them. Maybe take your tools that you use most often and buy a roll around with drawers. Lots of options. I use to have a Matco franchise so I dealt with a lot of "tool junkies". Hi I'm Mike and I'm a tool junkie also.

 

[sydecik]

Thank you for all the responses I appreciate having the input, gives me more to think about. I’ll try and clear things up some if I can. Communication has never been my forte I’m more of a point me to what’s broke then leave me alone kinda guy. So bare with me and I’ll try to answer any questions about what I’m trying to do as best I can.

I do keep a list of things I want but don’t yet have waiting for sales or ebay and craigslist finds actually just purchased a set of interchangeable indicator tips for a steal.

I have the box fairly organized, sockets and ratchets in one drawer, wrenches in a draw, measuring equipment, pliers, air tools, electrical, persuaders all have their own place. So I know if something isn’t where it should be. But I'm running out of room for new things causing some overlap.

The point would be to get rid of what I don’t actually need. For example I have 5 sets of SAE box end wrenches, GW ratcheting, proto spline anti-slip, HF standard and XL, and some cheaper ones that came with me when I switched jobs. So let’s take a ½-13 bolt I want to know what I use most for driving that is it the HF-XL for the leverage, or did I pick up the GW ratcheting more so I wouldn't have to reset the position every time or am I more likely to need a socket because it’s recessed and a wrench is no good at all if I'm using a socket am I using a ⅜ or ½ drive deep or shallow impact or standard. Another example would be on grease fittings with a 7/16 zerk, the HF wrenches round it off but the proto antI slip grips really well the GW has to fat of a head and a socket would be useless unless modified. So hypothetically I could get rid of 3 ¾ wrenches and a few sockets I'm never using on ½-13 bolts. Everything but the proto for a 7/16 wrench because it would work best all around keeping a ⅜ drive 7/16 shallow socket for other applications. Those are just a couple examples off the top of my head where if I know what I'm using more often I can cut weight and space of the tools I'm not really using for that task. Keeping track long term would allow me to get that insight on most tasks that could use multiple tools to be completed the same way, to help reduce what's in the box making it more efficient.

Because I'm in a shop I'm limited to the number of boxes I can have as well as the space I take up in the shop. I roll my box around the shop regularly so a massive one that could hold everything imaginable isn’t really practical, I have to squeeze mine in behind a line with everyone else's tool boxes. Another reason for figuring out which of what I'm using the most is for travel. We fly out to anywhere in the world our machines are and the bean counters don’t like to have to pay extra weight charges so I'm limited to 50lb of tools minus the weight of a pelican 1510 when I travel. While I generally throw the whole set of HF standard wrenches in the box if I can see that I'll almost never need the 13/16 or ⅞ (unless I'm doing hydraulics) but will need 7/16 antI slip I can adjust accordingly. Very rarely do I have the whole story of what I'll be working on before I get somewhere so if I can get the most efficient box setup possible that helps not only me but my customer as well. I always feel like a jerk having to ask guys in a plant for there tool because I didn’t have mine, or what I brought won’t work on that machine.

I’ve been lurking here for a couple years reading all kinds of topics and finally had one I couldn’t find. I’m a tool junkie as well so nothing will be thrown away or sold it will just get transferred to my home where it can sit forgotten until that time 10 years down the road I need it again. I’m always looking for something that can do the job better or just one off items that are amusing to me. This forum has been awesome in helping me out with other problems or getting opinions on tool selections. So again thank you for the input and keep it coming.

 

[samss]

90% of my work is out of a truck at the job site. I recently switched from an open bag to a backpack which let’s me carry more tools, but gets heavy quick. Over the years I’ve dumped out my tool bag and refilled it with what I thought would be the minimum tools I’d need. Everything else was in the truck if I needed it. Seems like I’m always needing something from the truck, but when I’m done with that tool it goes back on the truck.
It’s the same thing with my truck and the shop. Just how many drums of refrigerant and recovery drums can a guy expect to carry? And don’t even get me started on parts and supplies.
If you have the space, get a smaller box to set next to your big box and only put tools in it for a specific job/task adding tools each task. And don’t just put the whole set of sockets/wrenches/drivers in the smaller box.
As far as traveling and not having ALL the tools you might need I wouldn’t stress about it. The techs I know that travel (by air) don’t carry any tools. Make a list of tools and tell the powers that be to get them to the location they are sending you to.

 

[lakelandcat]

Thank you for all the responses I appreciate having the input, gives me more to think about. I’ll try and clear things up some if I can. Communication has never been my forte I’m more of a point me to what’s broke then leave me alone kinda guy. So bare with me and I’ll try to answer any questions about what I’m trying to do as best I can.

I do keep a list of things I want but don’t yet have waiting for sales or ebay and craigslist finds actually just purchased a set of interchangeable indicator tips for a steal.

I have the box fairly organized, sockets and ratchets in one drawer, wrenches in a draw, measuring equipment, pliers, air tools, electrical, persuaders all have their own place. So I know if something isn’t where it should be. But I'm running out of room for new things causing some overlap.

The point would be to get rid of what I don’t actually need. For example I have 5 sets of SAE box end wrenches, GW ratcheting, proto spline anti-slip, HF standard and XL, and some cheaper ones that came with me when I switched jobs. So let’s take a ½-13 bolt I want to know what I use most for driving that is it the HF-XL for the leverage, or did I pick up the GW ratcheting more so I wouldn't have to reset the position every time or am I more likely to need a socket because it’s recessed and a wrench is no good at all if I'm using a socket am I using a ⅜ or ½ drive deep or shallow impact or standard. Another example would be on grease fittings with a 7/16 zerk, the HF wrenches round it off but the proto antI slip grips really well the GW has to fat of a head and a socket would be useless unless modified. So hypothetically I could get rid of 3 ¾ wrenches and a few sockets I'm never using on ½-13 bolts. Everything but the proto for a 7/16 wrench because it would work best all around keeping a ⅜ drive 7/16 shallow socket for other applications. Those are just a couple examples off the top of my head where if I know what I'm using more often I can cut weight and space of the tools I'm not really using for that task. Keeping track long term would allow me to get that insight on most tasks that could use multiple tools to be completed the same way, to help reduce what's in the box making it more efficient.

Because I'm in a shop I'm limited to the number of boxes I can have as well as the space I take up in the shop. I roll my box around the shop regularly so a massive one that could hold everything imaginable isn’t really practical, I have to squeeze mine in behind a line with everyone else's tool boxes. Another reason for figuring out which of what I'm using the most is for travel. We fly out to anywhere in the world our machines are and the bean counters don’t like to have to pay extra weight charges so I'm limited to 50lb of tools minus the weight of a pelican 1510 when I travel. While I generally throw the whole set of HF standard wrenches in the box if I can see that I'll almost never need the 13/16 or ⅞ (unless I'm doing hydraulics) but will need 7/16 antI slip I can adjust accordingly. Very rarely do I have the whole story of what I'll be working on before I get somewhere so if I can get the most efficient box setup possible that helps not only me but my customer as well. I always feel like a jerk having to ask guys in a plant for there tool because I didn’t have mine, or what I brought won’t work on that machine.

I’ve been lurking here for a couple years reading all kinds of topics and finally had one I couldn’t find. I’m a tool junkie as well so nothing will be thrown away or sold it will just get transferred to my home where it can sit forgotten until that time 10 years down the road I need it again. I’m always looking for something that can do the job better or just one off items that are amusing to me. This forum has been awesome in helping me out with other problems or getting opinions on tool selections. So again thank you for the input and keep it coming.

One way to condense is to use a 14v lit bat drill, use a 1/4" drive adaptor for sockets and a set of #1,#2,#3 screwdriver bits torx,square bits in different lengths,Dewalt or Bosch make good sets, they also have a drill bit set that folds up. folding SAE Allen wrench torx,and metric Allen wrench sets, use forged wrenches, they won't round your bolts or nuts, the prob. with cast "cheap" wrenches is they spread. As cheesy as it sounds a nice set of adj. wrenches come in real handy (they have to be pro quality)and adj. pliers This still leaves room for fluke mulitmeter, etc. It all fits nice in a metal tool case. hope this helps.I have done tech work like this before and these took care of 90% of my jobs. Mike