Stashes - Or Why Can't I Remember

[littleponderosa]

I've been slowing piecing together a couple of new small toolkits for the newer scooters - 1st edition twin cams. Going to be a variation of the Snap On kits.
I was going to purchase a couple of T72 1/4" ratchets for the sockets and bit sets. Bought 1 of 2. Now I cannot find it. I remember saying to myself, "well hell, lets leave the toolbox T72 alone, buy a couple of either new or as new ratchets and put them in the new kits. I'll set this one aside where I know I can find it."

Well dumbassed myself - get ready to buy the last one on the auction site last night for a fair buy but decide I hadn't seen the 1st ratchet I bought so I go looking. I've now spent 2 hours today - 2 hours last night - and I still cannot find it. Of course, spent so much time in the garage I lost the chance to bid on the prospective ratchet.

Anyone else seem to have issues when they "stash" **** and promptly forget where the hell you put it?

Curious, since I believe I'm losing my mind. Or, I have retirement on the brain and simply cannot function due to excessive happiness. Tool OCD is dangerous I believe.

Bill

 

[2oolhound]

When ever that happens to me I sit down and think "if I had that in my hand right now where would the best place to store it be if I was super organized?" I'll often "oh right, I should keep it in the drawer in the middle……"

anyway quite often I go and look there and sure enough in a moment of clarity I had put it in the most logical spot.

 

[scissorman]

I'll bet you'll find it in the last place you look.

 

[LumpyMusic]

Here's how I think my process goes when I face the "I can't remember's" -

Get a new tool, find an old tool, whatever...think "Where would be a good place to stash this?" Find that "ideal" spot, stash it.

Later that same lifetime, need that tool. Think "Where would have been a good place to stash that way back when?". But the trouble seems to be, what was a good place THEN isn't the same as NOW. Like maybe I had a spot temporarily dedicated to tire repair but once the tires were repaired...etc. When (if) I DO find that tool, I repeat the process and then place it in a NEW "Where would be a good place" spot. And the cycle repeats.

I suppose a solution would be to always put pliers in the plier spot, sockets in the socket spot, left handed banana straighteners in the left handed banana straightener spot etc. But then I'd lose the convenience of having all the tools required for this specific task located in one place (like all the tire tools right THERE).

Clearly the frustration relief solution is to buy a new tool for each job. Six pairs of identical pliers. One for the tire kit. One for the drill press. One for the HVAC kit etc.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[Thumper68]

I have had that same issue, now new tools that don't have a spot yet go into a box on the shelf the same box for all the tools. Same goes for project parts, they all go on the future projects cart, it might take me an hour to find the part on the cart but at least I know where to start looking.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I seem to lose everything ten seconds after I find a place to put it. I have a running list of stuff to find and it seems every time I find one thing I remember 2 more that I cannot find.

 

[woody 73]

Happens to me all the time call it getting older.

 

[logical]

I wait and intermittently search for 2-3 weeks, then I order a replacement. Its a toss-up of whether I'll find the original before or just after the replacement arrives.

I recently did some pretty major front end mods to the motorcycle (new fork lowers, handlebars, lighting, etc.) and I had to buy a 3 or 4 inch long 12mm hex bit to do it. By the time I was done I had a dozen ratchets or torque wrenches with various extensions and sockets plus all sorts of wrenches, pliers and drivers spread around the area. When I put it all away I was missing my short 12mm 3/8 6pt socket. I looked everywhere and finally ordered a new one. The day after it arrived, I was rearranging my hex/torx driver drawer and found it. That long 12mm hex I bought was just the bit really.....I forgot I had to load it into a socket to use it and saw it as all one piece when I put it away.

Anybody need a 12mm SK 6pt 3/8 socket?

 

[slip knot]

Go buy another one. as soon as it arrives the lost one will show up.

I'm finding tools all the time that I forgot I bought. Its like Christmas thru-out the year.

 

[whyNick?]

I'm finding tools all the time that I forgot I bought. Its like Christmas thru-out the year.

Yeah this has started to happen to me with some regularity, sometimes it's scary when I find a stash of something I honestly can't recall purchasing but other times it's fun, like my past self sent me a gift.

 

[404]

I spend more time looking for stuff than working sometimes.

Item I need is:

In one of many large but mostly empty cardboard boxes of tools brought in and not put away.

On the table in front of me in plain view.

Under some junk mail that just arrived.

Cannot recall the others.

 

[logical]

My Klein linesman pliers that I kept in my electrical only hand box went missing years ago. I know I never took them outside the house. Sure I have a Wiha pair in the garage chest and a Proto pair in the basement..and a few vintage bare handle pairs scattered around but my mild OCD will make me eventually get another Klein pair since all my other pliers, cutters and strippers in there are Klein.

I don't wonder if I'll find them, I just wonder where and when the original will show up.

 

[HanShotFirst]

I seem to lose everything ten seconds after I find a place to put it. I have a running list of stuff to find and it seems every time I find one thing I remember 2 more that I cannot find.

That post is like it came from my mind...OMG that's me.

 

[NC-Shaun]

CRS is a good reason to keep the tool box minimalistic......That being said I also need to assemble a roadside tool kit for my Twin Cam

I am thinking 3/8 short ratchet, 3 inch extension,strip of deep well sockets, a few hex bits,small crescent wrench,gorilla tape, fuel line, pliers, Flat and Phillips screwdriver, spark plugs and spark plug socket.

Did I miss anything?

 

[BK13]

I don't wonder if I'll find them, I just wonder where and when the original will show up.

It'll show up right after you buy a replacement, LOL.

 

[rsanter]

Forgetfulness of old age, it started happening to me at about 20

My biggest thing is pencils. When I am woodworking I keep setting the pencil down and then can't find it. So I just grab another.
When I go to clean up and put everything back, I will find about 20 or so pencils sitting around in very good spots to have put them

Bob

 

[dodgejunkie]

I was working with this guy one day, and all of a sudden in a panicked voice he say's "I lost all my glasses"! I had to tell him he had two (2) pairs on his head!

It happens more than I care to admit.

Worst is that we have moved 3 times in 5 years! Hard to keep track of everything at that rate, but damn I've found a **** ton of tools that I purchased cause I couldn't locate them in the boxes!

 

[maddawg1952]

At 60 I developed Sometimers Disease, sometimes I remember where things are and sometimes I don't

 

[littleponderosa]

CRS is a good reason to keep the tool box minimalistic......That being said I also need to assemble a roadside tool kit for my Twin Cam

I am thinking 3/8 short ratchet, 3 inch extension,strip of deep well sockets, a few hex bits,small crescent wrench,gorilla tape, fuel line, pliers, Flat and Phillips screwdriver, spark plugs and spark plug socket.

Did I miss anything?

Take a look at the Snap On tool set and go from there. P/N CYCLESET
My tool bag for the twin cams will be a close mimic. The toolkit I got with the Ultra has worked ok, but I'd rather just build my own up.

Evo's have been set for years with the appropriate tool pouches. Got a helluva bag on both the womans FXRC and my softail. Capable of nearly everything with an associated meter to go. I go nowhere on a scooter without a meter. Saved my *** more times than I can count. Particularly on the softail - it has over 140K and they have been miles like I owned it!

Bill

 

[404]

Forgetfulness of old age, it started happening to me at about 20

My biggest thing is pencils. When I am woodworking I keep setting the pencil down and then can't find it. So I just grab another.
When I go to clean up and put everything back, I will find about 20 or so pencils sitting around in very good spots to have put them

Bob

I started forgetting at 12 years old.. As far as I can recall.

 

[NC-Shaun]

Take a look at the Snap On tool set and go from there. P/N CYCLESET
My tool bag for the twin cams will be a close mimic. The toolkit I got with the Ultra has worked ok, but I'd rather just build my own up.

Evo's have been set for years with the appropriate tool pouches. Got a helluva bag on both the womans FXRC and my softail. Capable of nearly everything with an associated meter to go. I go nowhere on a scooter without a meter. Saved my *** more times than I can count. Particularly on the softail - it has over 140K and they have been miles like I owned it!

Bill

Thanks for the info Bill, I took a look at the Snappy kit.

Any suggestions on a roll or pouch?

 

[littleponderosa]

I'm going to build one based off the softail bag I bought in Sturgis in either '87 or '88.
That is a handlebar mount, these will be made to sit in the bottom of the side bags. Woman has a leather sewing machine and I'm just going to use it. Have the leather, snaps, etc.
Bill