too many tools

[Jhoff310]

I have been in the process of cleaning up the garage, putting tool in their place, organizing etc..
I have come to the conclusion that I have too many tools. Without counting for an exact number I know I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 25+ pipe wrenches, 50+ screwdrivers, 30+ pliers, 10+ vise grips, etc...

So my question is...how many of any 1 tool does 1 guy need? I understand answers will vary based on your profession/ interests, but I'm just looking for thoughts

 

[NUTTSGT]

It's in my Sig....


I think you have just enough.

 

[dacan23]

LOL, its like this CL ad I saw and told my wife about. Guy said his wife saw that he had 9 3/8 ratchets and said he has too many tools, has to stop buying tools, and needs to sell some. I said to my wife, I think I have more than 9 3/8 ratchets.... I aint selling anything unless its my choice...

 

[jimreed2160]

I have come across dupes while organizing lately. In some cases like putty knives, more than three or four seems excessive. But in other cases, like socket sets and pliers, I like dupes. That means I can have common tools in all work areas. That means a set of common tools in each vehicle, a set for interior house maintenance, and sets at several garage workstations. No need to walk if tools are handy. So I guess it really comes down to what kind of tools you use the most and how conveniently they are located.

BTW, having grown children is great because I have sent dupes to most of them.

 

[Old Man Roger]

I think having duplicates is a good idea in most cases. 25 pipe wrenches seems a bit over the top though. If they're all different sizes, then that's just being prepared.lol

 

[5ktq]

I can't really see a need for 25 pipe wrenches, but 50 screwdrivers seems way too few for me.

Guess it depends what you work on.

 

[Gmonkee]

Look at how you stored it the last year, five years. Buried behind th old water heater in a gunny sack or on a nail side of the bench.

Then look at how many times you ever used it and if you still see what it was used on.

Decide from there if each item is useful or will be and part it all into three piles.
The users, the future useful and the long unused with no future. Be honest on the last two.

Age and experience reduce the numbers of tools you use and the number of skills get bigger.

Slowly sell off the never use stuff to re-invest that money into a new tool or toy you want or need. Its rewarding after a while. I paid all my new painting tools plus house paint off mech tool sales. No out of pocket.

 

[protegeV]

That's a lot of freaking pipe wrenches. IDK what kind of work you do, but I've gotten by just fine with 6 screwdrivers for the past 14 years as a professional mechanic.

 

[brownbagg]

my dad always ask me what i wanted for , I tell him a 1/2 wrench, he always ask if i already had one. yes but now I have two

 

[fowldarr]

I don't understand the question...too many tools? I can't comprehend what you are saying.

All joking aside, depends on the type of work you do with your tools. I have two pipe wrenches (maybe 3...or 4), different sizes, have always done what I needed. I don't count ratchets, because I obviously need them in Plomb and Proto, and whatever other cool old brand I can find. I have duplicate sockets all over the place.

Also, my goal is to put full sets together for each of my kids for when they are ready for them. I have 4 boys, which equals lots of excuses to buy tools.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I can't really see a need for 25 pipe wrenches, but 50 screwdrivers seems way too few for me.

Guess it depends what you work on.

Question is: are the tools in question worthwhile and different?


50 screwdrivers with worn tips and smelly handles is far too many. Having all the major sizes, plus cabinet drivers, JIS, Torx, specialty, 50 seems fair.

People say I have "so many" wrenches, over 200. They all have different uses/size/styles. Most with 200 wrenches have the same 8 SAE sizes in various condition. I have over 200 different wrenches, the other guy has 8, and duplicates.

10 vice grips is a decent number to have the basic assortment. If you have 10 identical rusty pairs, that's different.



It goes on and on.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I have given away as many tools as I currently own; and bought more this past week that I really could have done without. But how in the heck can I be giving this stuff away if I don't have it in the first place?

Being I like to treat My Kids fairly; My Daughter will continue to receive tools to fill the roller cabinet and tool chest She doesn't know She owns. And, none of the three realize that some of their existing tools are due for upgrades. You will have to come up with Your own insane logic, but this is how I do it.

 

[Old Man Roger]

I have given away as many tools as I currently own; and bought more this past week that I really could have done without. But how in the heck can I be giving this stuff away if I don't have it in the first place?

Being I like to treat My Kids fairly; My Daughter will continue to receive tools to fill the roller cabinet and tool chest She doesn't know She owns. And, none of the three realize that some of their existing tools are due for upgrades. You will have to come up with Your own insane logic, but this is how I do it.

lol.

 

[454ragtop]

I'll just leave this here......

 

[plinker]

There was a time where I thought I had enough tools, was I ever wrong. I'm learning to live with it.



Rule of thumb though, for each size & type of pipe wrench you need two, plus a back up. You cant have too many Vise grips. it just isnt possible. Clamps are the same way.

If you have a surplus of a few things, sell or trade to get the rest of your stuff on a level playing field.

 

[GrayFlattop]

So my question is...how many of any 1 tool does 1 guy need? I understand answers will vary based on your profession/ interests, but I'm just looking for thoughts

More.

 

[DadsTools]

I just read the title to this thread. It's impossible.

The only real possibility is running out of real estate to put them. But that has nothing to do with the tools.

 

[PelicanPines]

Only 30 pliers... I probably have 40 wire cutters & 30 needle nose.

You can never have too many tools.

I also agree with another poster here... 100 screwdrivers is barely enough... so 50 is laughingly low.

OP, You are amongst friends here.

 

[Professional Tool User]

It depends on how much you use said category of tool and how many types of each category you need. For vice grips, 10 or so if they are different styles isn't excessive as long as you've got a couple of specialty ones you are using every now and then. With pliers, the same applies. I bought a crappy Made in China Mac 11pc set of long reach and specialty pliers just in case. 50 screwdrivers might be a bit much, but then again, there's those big sets people often buy at big box stores. 25 pipe wrenches on the other hand is excessive. You shouldn't need more than 5 of various lengths.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

25 pipe wrenches on the other hand is excessive. You shouldn't need more than 5 of various lengths.

12", 24",36",48", and 60" should fit the bill If neatly hung on the wall, they would be worth having as a conversation piece.

 

[B17E1943]

That's crazy talk.

 

[Estebanchee]

I know what you mean OP. I started giving away tools left and right because I realized they have no real use with me. I started leaving them randomly at the junkyard I go to. I love finding tools at the yard and figured these tools will have a 2nd life with other gearheads rather than be thrown away.

I still have a few duplicates, but Ive separated them. Most of my tools are in the garage. A few are in a roadbox for my car.Im currently making a set for the junkyard (so I dont take anything out of my roadbox). And lastly Im also compiling a tool bag for around the house maintenance.
Oh...and not to forget my modded tools. I keep tools to mod as I see fit. Never know when you need to make a specialty tool.

 

[The Maxx]

"They" say less is more.

I say that if less is more, think of how much more more can be

 

[Jhoff310]

My profession is a road jockey from 9-5. I also run my own hauling/cleanup/ lite demo business, and I also maintain several rental properties for local investors. So having tools of various sizes is important, as well as having dupes. I have been known to torque on tools until they bend/ snap/ etc...Tools also get left behind on jobsites, come up missing, etc..

I think I will reevaluate my storage methods, and see where it goes.

 

[shoe1]

I hate to count up how many tools I own or duplicates. I have a set in the big shop at my dads plus his tools that I have been going through and giving away part of to family. I have 2 small cpl boxes in my pickup of beater tools. I have 2 large cpl boxes full of s-k that where my work boxes for years I keep if I ever need to work out of a truck again. My small engine shop I have a set of tools I use everyday and when I added a second bay this summer I put togather some older stuff and some of my brothers stuff I just inherited back there so wasn't caring tool back and forth. that's just hand tool not counting carpenter tools, plumbing tools, shop tools. I have tools at home in my garage. Sometimes it get to be a pain to hunt things up because tools are in so many places.

 

[930dreamer]

Like this? Six more not in the pic.

 

[itstippy]

I have WAY too many tools.

I buy boxes of tools at estate sales, yard sales, etc. because I want/need several of the tools in the box. The rest are all surplus. I've done this for many years. I have 5 gallon buckets full of screwdrivers, sockets, wrenches, ratchets, hammers, and other common hand tools. I have milk crates full of corded drills, circular saws, jig saws, and other common power tools. Tool truck and Craftsman branded surplus go to my son, who sells them at swap meets and makes some money; the rest have little monetary value but are all good, usable tools. I don't keep junk. I don't know what I should do with all these surplus tools. Maybe I'll donate them to the Habitat For Humanity resale store and let them sell 'em off.

 

[tigeraid]

I dunno about "tools" in general, but when I got the shop organized and tools put away.... and THEN organized my "house tools" in the basement... I realized I DEFINITELY have way too many damn screwdrivers. I still have a 5 gallon pail in the basement with leftover screwdrivers.

 

[jonshonda]

I am going to be honest when I say I only "usually" buy tools when I need them, sometimes when I am not happy with what I have (upgrade), or when I get a really good deal on something.

I get having multiples of certain things at each of your tool locations, but be honest with yourself. How many pipe wrenches can you put into use at any one time. If you have the room to accumulate the stuff, then have at it. But when you cannot organize the tools you use on a regular basis, then you need to start thinning the herd.

 

[Farmerjonathan]

To many tools?????

That is like,

your wife is to good looking?

this beer is to cold?

my car is to fast?

I make to much money?

I can't comprehend!!!!!!!

 

[NUTTSGT]

My profession is a road jockey from 9-5. I also run my own hauling/cleanup/ lite demo business, and I also maintain several rental properties for local investors. So having tools of various sizes is important, as well as having dupes. I have been known to torque on tools until they bend/ snap/ etc...Tools also get left behind on jobsites, come up missing, etc..

I think I will reevaluate my storage methods, and see where it goes.

You know, if you would have started this thread last week, I would have stopped Friday as I was going through the area and relieved you of some of those tools.

 

[L5wolvesf]

too many tools

Your words hurt my ears

 

[Jhoff310]

You know, if you would have started this thread last week, I would have stopped Friday as I was going through the area and relieved you of some of those tools.

I sat in the garage all day Friday waiting for ya, I had to drink all of that beer by myself.

 

[Al Borland]

You have too many tools...


…..And Santa is real.


Not buying it.

 

[zktk01]

My wife has too many shoes.

 

[sberry]

This is why I really don't care what Sears does. I just don't need any more, the only things would be specialty as I got plenty general hand stuff with the last small set of metric wrenches for my work truck. I quit after coming home with another 3/4 drive socket set I have never used.
I could replace a few worn right out.

 

[bmwrd0]

How many tools do you need to get the work done that you want to get done?

That's how many tools you need.

 

[speed bump]

If I have more than a couple or there is a better way to do it I have started getting rid of tools. If I get to move into a new shop this spring then I will likely clean out some more tools.

My motto has become: space is worth $100 a square ft, is the thing worth that?

 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I can never have enough pliers. No matter how many I own I never seem to have a pair handy when I need 'em.

 

[dacan23]

Which equals never enough

How many tools do you need to get the work done that you want to get done?

That's how many tools you need.