Thinking about going through "stuff bankruptcy"

[Strouty]

You mentioned that by having the items, you have saved hundreds or thousands on a job. On these jobs, are they for you or for a customer? If they are for a customer, are you charging them for those parts? And if you are charging them for the parts, are you charging them full price? If you are charging them full price for the parts, then charging them labor, can't you just go out and buy the parts new when you do a job for a customer, and make the same money? If the answer is yes, then you DO NOT NEED that specific part or dozens of parts taking up space. Do you see what I mean?

Kevin, I whole heartedly agree with all of your post. I wanted to clarify my thoughts on this one part.

Most all of the jobs are for customers, I bill them full price plus a markup. If I were to toss them, I would lose all the extra money I get by not having to purchase the items. As an example I used 100 clamps on a job a month ago, I charged $5 per clamp and I pocketed all $500. I can't justify losing that profit margin. I cull the herd, because things do become obsolete, but there are many things that are exactly the same as they were 15 years ago. To make matters worse (at least in my head) I have never technically bought one once of these supplies.

When we do (or when I used to do) big jobs, the customer would supply parts, at the end of the jobs you were responsible to properly dispose of all remaining material on site. So this stuff is a collection of all the materials that I got for free over the years and there is a lot of it. It is all either stainless or galvanized steel. The only thing I have found that can destroy it is mice, so I have to keep it in a mouse proof container, so far that has been my conex.

I don't think I could ever totally get rid of everything, I was talking more about my stockroom and the supplies that I have not sorted.

I have tools that only get used once every ten years, but they can make me a lot of money, so I never get rid of them.

I have no friends, I wish all my GJ friends were closer, I would love to help other people out and have people help me out. All of my "friends" are not any help when it comes to working for free, I have to pay people to help and it can get expensive quickly, especially when I don't even know where to put anything.

 

[Strouty]

For some reason the picture did not show up, I see what you are talking about now.

I sold all the trash barrels, I use all the gas and diesel cans. I actually used them today and I am going to refill them this afternoon. The big white container has speedy dry in it, I do not use it anymore, I use a sawdust based floor dry. The buckets have gear oil, hydraulic oil, and to hold all the funnels from the gas cans.

I actually have more gas cans in there now, but they were supposed to go to the auction, except the auctioneer messed me up and I only brought a tenth of what I wanted over there.

I do have help this weekend and we will be making headway outside more than inside. I have to have things ready for the snow!

 

[Kevin54]

I have no friends, I wish all my GJ friends were closer, I would love to help other people out and have people help me out. All of my "friends" are not any help when it comes to working for free, I have to pay people to help and it can get expensive quickly, especially when I don't even know where to put anything.

Strouty......we're both rowing the same boat when it comes to that. Luckily, my wife is my best friend. I do have three other best friends, but all they want to do is lay around or wag their tails after you give them a treat. Sam the hell dog would help, but he just carries it out into the yard until he gets bored. The little girls (Shelties) would try to carry it out to the yard, but STHD decides he wants to help them

 

[Strouty]

Most of my friends don't want to get dirty, then the other ones live about an hour away, so I don't see them that often.

Of course the friendship started after they had worked for me for a while, so it never seems like friends, just friendly coworkers. I always have to pay. My brother still thinks 30 minutes is too far to come and help me, and my Dad will help once a week for a couple of hours, between our schedules, I have only had him over two or three times in the last three or four months.

A_Pmech is always threatening to drive out and pickup my ironworker (free of charge too), but we have not been able to schedule it yet.

 

[bczygan]

For some reason the picture did not show up, I see what you are talking about now.

I sold all the trash barrels, I use all the gas and diesel cans. I actually used them today and I am going to refill them this afternoon. The big white container has speedy dry in it, I do not use it anymore, I use a sawdust based floor dry. The buckets have gear oil, hydraulic oil, and to hold all the funnels from the gas cans.

I actually have more gas cans in there now, but they were supposed to go to the auction, except the auctioneer messed me up and I only brought a tenth of what I wanted over there.

I do have help this weekend and we will be making headway outside more than inside. I have to have things ready for the snow!

Sounds like you know what is what with your stuff. Take a pad of paper and mark a big X on it and tape one on each item that will be going to auction or scrap or for sale. That way you have mentally and physically crossed them off your list of things to keep.

Keep going through your stuff and identifying more things to tag.

Bill

 

[Strouty]

Sounds like you know what is what with your stuff. Take a pad of paper and mark a big X on it and tape one on each item that will be going to auction or scrap or for sale. That way you have mentally and physically crossed them off your list of things to keep.

Keep going through your stuff and identifying more things to tag.

Bill

The big things are easy, it is the little stuff that kills me.

 

[Amitygravel]

Then kill those little things Strouty before they emotionally kill you.
Scrap for any metals.
Or donate and write it off your taxes.
Do you have a really sharp tax preparer?
They should be able to guide you on tricks of the trade for maximizing deductions.

Something I just learned from my new CPA who came in and made a huge difference with my taxes.

 

[bullnerd]

Strouty, I cleaned off my bench and canned a bunch of small stuff in your honor tonight!

It felt good!

Tomorrow a little more...and a bigger can!

 

[Strouty]

Strouty, I cleaned off my bench and canned a bunch of small stuff in your honor tonight!

It felt good!

Tomorrow a little more...and a bigger can!

Thank you, I am pretty sure that I will sleep better tonight!

 

[rob1200]

...I am really concentrating on my stockroom and surplus supplies that are overflowing, I am not talking about getting rid of tools and equipment, not yet anyways...

...The big things are easy, it is the little stuff that kills me...

Can you post some photos of your stockroom as it currently stands? What categories of stuff are you storing there? (From the other thread I remember RC parts, mailing supplies, electrical, fasteners? lathe tooling?)

Sometimes when I'm stuck, I find it helps to explain the problem in as much detail as I can to a neutral third party (my wife usually). So really I'm explaining the problem to myself. It can turn an amorphous blob of "stuck" into something more concrete. Then I see which direction to go in to make progress.

I'm a perfectionist when it comes to making things or repairing things. But I try not to be a perfectionist when it comes to storage. Instead I aim for convenience, versatility and flexibility. There is no perfect storage system for a general-purpose shop. The diversity of projects is too great.

Personally I hate to throw out anything, so the stuff I should throw out or sell ends up in deep storage. For me that means in a box high up on a shelf (or at the back of a bottom shelf) and densely packed in (which often means car parts stuffed right next to paint supplies, for instance). Yes, stuff in deep storage is slow/hard to access. That's my compromise.

 

[Strouty]

I am overwhelmed with the amount of things to organize and label. I have a few drawers that are labeled and organized, then I have others that are haphazard with random stuff tossed in. For a long time, I thought "all I need is the right storage containers and everything will be fine", that does not work. My core issue is sorting and labeling. Once I got to a certain point it just makes me sick when I look at things. I try and break stuff down, but I am right back down to the issue of not being able to organize and label and put it away. I know I have some metal issues that are rearing their ugly heads with my perfectionist attitude.

When I organize a drawer, then find that I do not have enough room to put more "similar stuff" near or in it, it makes me stop what I am doing and start over. I am working on broad categories, but I have so many spaces designed for detailed sorting that the broad categories doesn't work that well. I am in a catch 22 and that is why I am posting this right now.

Here are some pictures.

 

[Strouty]

I know I can go vertical, but I have plans to move the stockroom to the other end of the shop. It will actually end up being a little bit larger as well, that will probably not help the situation. I just want to sort things so I can find them. Maybe that is going to mean that anything I don't use needs to go away, maybe just setup more deep storage, I all ready have several of those locations too.

Here are some of the drawers:

 

[KariFS]

KariFS,

Your post was awesome, I will be copying it (fully quoted to give you credit) to my Salvage Garage thread. You made some great points and you have also driven the point home even more. I have many projects that have suffered over the last few years and I want to be able to do projects, not spend my life organizing piles of stuff. My system is broken and this fall/winter will be my time to fix it.

I appreciate all the support, it is good to know that I am in good company.

Thanks for the kind words, and I am glad if you find my post helpful. Being a perfectionist is tough if you happen to have tendencies to "hoarderism". Your workshop thread has been a wake up call for me, and I am grateful that you have openly brought your situation out. I was trying to create a perfect order too and got overwhelmed even in my small shop. I can only imagine your situation.

You still don't sound like a hoarder in the "nutcase" kind of way, more like a regular guy whose "habit" has gone a little too far. I mean, you're not storing all your candy wrappers and pizza boxes and **** like the "clinical" hoarders do. The problem seems to be the perfectionism combined with the huge amount of (mostly good) stuff accumulated over the years.

You regognize the situation and realize that you have a problem. That is 95% of the solution. Just remember to resist temptations. Don't go buying any fixer-uppers before your shop is ready for fixing them And settling for less than perfect does not mean half assing what you do, but just acting more like normal people I am not quite there yet but I'm trying

 

[GarageWarrior]

Looks like a good assortment of supplies for variety of jobs. May be it can be scaled down some and organized better, but I think if you keep trying to do every type of job that comes your way - you'll just have to keep buying and managing all the support tooling, supplies, equipment. Heavy fab work, building trucks, reselling, tower work, woodworking, mechanical repair....

Perhaps find what you want to do for your CORE business and focus on that. Get rid of other stuff - hobby stuff, side jobs, DIY stuff.

 

[Notgrownup]

It is not as bad as it was, of course that is also coming from me.

Denial is not just a river that runs through Egypt...
Lol....

 

[Strouty]

Looks like a good assortment of supplies for variety of jobs. May be it can be scaled down some and organized better, but I think if you keep trying to do every type of job that comes your way - you'll just have to keep buying and managing all the support tooling, supplies, equipment. Heavy fab work, building trucks, reselling, tower work, woodworking, mechanical repair....

Perhaps find what you want to do for your CORE business and focus on that. Get rid of other stuff - hobby stuff, side jobs, DIY stuff.

I am actually working on a list on "realizations", these are truths about my current abilities and my future endeavors.

As an example here are a few that I have:

I am not an automotive garage and I do not plan on becoming one.

I am not an electrician and I should not pretend to be one.

I am not a T-shirt business and I do not need to have silk screening equipment.

I do not want another 1979 monte carlo, so I do not need to keep the parts.

A waste oil furnace is not something I can afford in the near future, so I do not need a 250 gallon oil tank taking up space in my shop.

 

[Strouty]

Well some of you guys are going to be mad, but I have decided to scrap a bunch of my steel shelving. It has been outside for years now, it is missing braces and is starting to rust up pretty good. I was going to put it all on some wood pallets, then band it to the pallets and wait six more months for the next auction.

That just seems like way too much effort and time to invest in a gamble. It is all going. This is the first casualty of my "stuff bankruptcy". Just making the decision has me feeling all kinds of mixed emotions, then off course I have to wait until tomorrow morning to unload it all at the scrap yard. I have a feeling I may be sleeping rough tonight.

 

[Strouty]

I have only been doing stuff outside, but just getting rid of stuff is making me feel better about the inside. I can see that having help there is a good motivator too, wish I could have help all the time. I will update later tonight.

 

[Notgrownup]

Damn you've got a lot of stuff..not junk either, just stuff...

 

[Jere]

I have a rule as far as keeping stuff goes. If I don't use it/haven't used it in 4 months its time for whatever to go up for sale or to the scrap yard. There are a few exceptions like specialty stuff and, tools if they are not in the way. I just took around 500lbs to the scrap yard the other day only got 50 bucks for it but the lack of clutter on a daily basis has a higher price

 

[Strouty]

Damn you've got a lot of stuff..not junk either, just stuff...

That is only a little portion of it. It is slightly overwhelming, but I will get organized. Hopefully before I am worn out, so I can actually use the shop.

I am standing behind you while I type this.

 

[Strouty]

I have a rule as far as keeping stuff goes. If I don't use it/haven't used it in 4 months its time for whatever to go up for sale or to the scrap yard. There are a few exceptions like specialty tools if they are not in the way. I just took around 500lbs to the scrap yard the other day only got 50 bucks for it but the lack of clutter on a daily basis has a higher price

Four months! Wow, that seems crazy to me. Maybe someday I would be able to say one year, but never four months.

I am standing behind you while I type this.

 

[dlcwent]

Are you still on your way to the scrap yard this morning?

 

[Strouty]

I went to the scrap yard and then loaded up stuff to bring to the auction. I am now in Massachusetts getting some lunch.

I am standing behind you while I type this.

 

[ishiboo]

I have been working on my shop for a while, I even started a thread about the mess and my slow progress (you can click "the salvage garage" link in my signature to see it). I have been listening to audiobooks while organizing things and one idea that I think may be the best solution is going through a bankruptcy process for my stuff. The idea is that you just throw it all away and start fresh. I watched garage warrior's endeavor, it kind of scared me, but it also got me thinking. I am really concentrating on my stockroom and surplus supplies that are overflowing, I am not talking about getting rid of tools and equipment, not yet anyways.

My situation is different than most, I actually have a decent amount of storage space, but since I never really organized or labeled anything, I might as well be empty. Sometimes after finding what I am looking for, it still cost me more in time and effort than going to the store to buy a new item, especially when I find that it is damaged due to improper storage.

I have so much stuff that I don't even know what it is, sometimes I know a general application like electrical, but I could not tell you where it would really be used. This has come from buying pallets of random stuff from auctions. I usually do not pay much for the pallets, but as soon as I get the stuff, it becomes "gold". I then go through a process of trying to find it a new home and everything gets churned. Thankfully I have not bought anything like that for almost a year, I get the itch every once and a while, but I just made it through an auction and did not buy anything except the banding carts that I actually needed. It felt pretty liberating.

So I would like to do a modification of the idea. Since I have the room to store most of the "stuff", I would sort by basic application (electrical, painting, plumbing), then I would label the containers like that and store them until I actually have time to sort or need some type of item along those lines. I will still toss stuff, that has no value, but I can't bring myself to tossing everything. I know I could sell it all, but the local auctioneer will not come to me and the next auction is in the spring. I would like to start this soon, if not tomorrow.

I would appreciate any input, I am also posting this in my Salvage Garage thread.

I have a similar scenario, but I don't yet have all the storage I need. Stuff is aging/rusting/etc. that is brand new and I paid big bucks for. I think many of us here are hoarders, unfortunately.

I'm going to be making some big changes over winter.

 

[-Brent-]

I have a shelf that stuff gets put onto. If it doesn't move from that space within the year, it gets sold.

As well, I started giving something (at least one thing) away each month. I've helped all sorts of people out, which is fun. I've offered all sorts of things like recessed light cans and trim, sheet rock, wood, moving dollies, hand tools, electrical supplies, etc.

Some stuff I sell but it's been an incredible experience giving throughout the year. It's a practice I'm going to continue. Luckily, I have a couple decent avenues to give stuff away locally. There's really no hassle, I post up the item(s) and someone takes them.

 

[Jere]

Four months! Wow, that seems crazy to me. Maybe someday I would be able to say one year, but never four months.

I am standing behind you while I type this.

It really helps me to get projects done and stay focused on what I want to build, fix, restore. Make your own deadline and pick up some labels to date projects and or make a list somewhere.

Growing up, my family always had room fulls of stuff they kept for decades and never used( not as bad as people on hoarder shows though). The garage always had so much stufff that it never got used for anything, nor did much of the stuff. I have some of that sentiment my family has but I work through it with logic rather than sentiment and stick to goals as much as possible.

 

[MarkG]

I can kind of relate-----I recently went through a couple huge coffee cans full of miscellaneous fasteners, hardware, etc. many of which were probably only one of of 2 of a kind, but there's always that feeling that if you throw something away, you'll find the perfect use for it the following week! (or day) :S But it's impossible to really 'organize' it when it's all oddball stuff or else you'd take up a ton of room. Still, I hate to throw new, good stuff away, random or not.

 

[bczygan]

It really helps me to get projects done and stay focused on what I want to build, fix, restore. Make your own deadline and pick up some labels to date projects and or make a list somewhere.

Growing up, my family always had room fulls of stuff they kept for decades and never used( not as bad as people on hoarder shows though). The garage always had so much stufff that it never got used for anything, nor did much of the stuff. I have some of that sentiment my family has but I work through it with logic rather than sentiment and stick to goals as much as possible.

I have a couple small dry erase whiteboards and markers. One is in the garage, and I use it to keep a short to do list. Add and delete items easily.

 

[ez-duzit]

Garfield claims he's not fat--just short for his weight. We don't have too much stuff--we just need a bigger shop!

Mine is so jammed with stored materials and supplies, much like OP's. My plan is to begin anywhere at all by donating or tossing anything which is not worth taking the time to resell. Anything of value that has not been used in recent years will be sold on c/l, forums or eBay.

 

[Strouty]

I hope that all this cleaning of the outside of my shop, will keep me motivated when I finally get to the inside.

I think when I stumble on random hardware, I may be able to put it in the scrap pile instead of trying to sort it.

 

[ez-duzit]

Random hardware goes in the random hardware bucket until you have enough to make an eBay or c/l listing worthwhile, or until you've gone through all your stash. What won't sell can be scrapped or donated.

 

[Strouty]

Random hardware goes in the random hardware bucket until you have enough to make an eBay or c/l listing worthwhile, or until you've gone through all your stash. What won't sell can be scrapped or donated.

So you actual sell random containers of stuff? How do you list them? I find this interesting I may be able to do this. Could be sold by the flat rate box.

I am standing behind you while I type this.

 

[6768rogues]

I have 12,000 square feet of storage on two sites an hour apart. Once in a while I look around just to remind myself of what is in there.

 

[bimmer1980]

I remind myself that time is money.... so I can either spend that time sorting through random hardware, or I can buy exactly what I need for a project and be done....

I do keep a small amount of random hardware (new, left over, but sorted in ackro-bins), but mostly I buy what I need for a project.

Remember too, the application. Many applications need a specific grade of hardware that must be purchased new....

The old random hardware goes in the scrap bin to take to the recycler....

I can emphasize with you as my dad was quite the hoarder back in the day and it is not an easy cycle to break....

Keep at it! I've been following your threads.....

 

[Strouty]

So far, I have filled my dumpster, unloaded more than five tons at the scrap yard, and taken a boat to the dump. Not to mention all the brush and wood that I burned.

As far as the inside and the stockroom, I have made some progress, but it is not as evident yet. A few more days and there will be noticeable progress. That should get me to the "organizational" stage, then I can really toss the junk that is hidden in all the bins, drawers and shelves.

 

[GarageWarrior]

I remind myself that time is money.... so I can either spend that time sorting through random hardware, or I can buy exactly what I need for a project and be done....

I do keep a small amount of random hardware (new, left over, but sorted in ackro-bins), but mostly I buy what I need for a project.

Remember too, the application. Many applications need a specific grade of hardware that must be purchased new....

The old random hardware goes in the scrap bin to take to the recycler....

I can emphasize with you as my dad was quite the hoarder back in the day and it is not an easy cycle to break....

Keep at it! I've been following your threads.....

I can see benefits of lean inventory, but don't you run in to other problems? Like not being able to find odd-ball parts, excessive planning due to having to pre-order supplies, parts out of stock, driving around for small orders, paying retail markup/shipping on small quantities...

 

[Strouty]

I can see benefits of lean inventory, but don't you run in to other problems? Like not being able to find odd-ball parts, excessive planning due to having to pre-order supplies, parts out of stock, driving around for small orders, paying retail markup/shipping on small quantities...

I think this is my dilemma, I have almost always been able to find something that would "work", even if it was not the right part for the job. I have learned when I need 15 bolts, I should buy the box of 100 and save the rest for later, maybe this is not a good way to do it, but I have always done it that way.

My problem, as I will show when I start getting to the meat of my stockroom, is labeling and categorizing the parts, bolts, widgets so I can find them later. I now feel that I will be able to dump entire drawers of hardware, with minimal internal debate. I have never felt this way, heck I used to buy the floor sweepings from a local utility body installer. They actually know that time is money, they toss stuff on the floor and get new ones from the source, then they sweep up all the extra hardware and put it in a box, then some schmuck like me comes and buys it for $10.

 

[bczygan]

I think this is my dilemma, I have almost always been able to find something that would "work", even if it was not the right part for the job. I have learned when I need 15 bolts, I should buy the box of 100 and save the rest for later, maybe this is not a good way to do it, but I have always done it that way.

My problem, as I will show when I start getting to the meat of my stockroom, is labeling and categorizing the parts, bolts, widgets so I can find them later. I now feel that I will be able to dump entire drawers of hardware, with minimal internal debate. I have never felt this way, heck I used to buy the floor sweepings from a local utility body installer. They actually know that time is money, they toss stuff on the floor and get new ones from the source, then they sweep up all the extra hardware and put it in a box, then some schmuck like me comes and buys it for $10.

I've been thinking about organization myself. Especially all those little things. Hardware and bolts and nuts and screws and fittings and such.

Strouty, your Lista and Vidmar type cabinets are ideal for a guy with lots and lots of stuff. But I would lose track of which drawer has what. So I would make labels, as large as the face of the drawer would allow, to remind me. Us dark and bold lettering. Group things by subject, like the hardware bins in the big box stores.

And wherever I can, I try to put things with the machines that they work with.

Another trick that might help is to put a sample of an item on the outside of a box or bin, to visually remind you what is inside. Big box stores do that with electrical switches and outlets.

To me, the most important thing is to find a permanent place for each item. Then I always know where it is.

BTW, you have made extraordinary progress!

Photos of the outside?



Bill

 

[Strouty]

Thanks Bill!

I will post some pictures tonight, I just have not had enough time to really sit down and post them.