Tool Acquisition Mode

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

Do you guys ever do this? I will go two or three months and only buy a screwdriver (if even that). Then I suddenly have the brown truck stopping at the house daily for a couple of weeks.

In the past couple of weeks, I have bought:

- Various Blackhawk crowfoot wrenches
- OTC pickle fork set
- OTC front end tool set
- Lisle inner tie rod tool
- Another PI torque wrench
- Williams (USA) 1/2" metric socket set
- Sunex 1/2" metric impact socket set (already have a deep set)
- Random Proto 1/2" metric sockets
- Welding goggles
- Proto wobble extensions
- Proto ratcheting spline wrench set
- SE tools spark plug boot pliers - straight and 45
- HF 56" roll cab

Now for another two to three months of nothing.

 

[bcradio]

But of course. I Wouldn't be allowed on this site if I didn't

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

The thing is, this isn't some kind of binge buying - it is all stuff that I need. It just seems to come in waves.

I am very excited about the roll cab. I am hoping to not need the top. We will see after I get everything moved into it.

 

[anndel]

I just bought the OTC Hub grappler kit, OTC Slide Hammer kit and OTC 10 lb slide hammer for no reason and thinking I gotta change a bunch of wheel bearings soon.

 

[woody6904]

I'm the same way. In the winter I have too much time in front of a computer, and this dangerous website just taunts you into buying new stuff. Once spring hits I bet I don't buy another tool till next winter unless its an emergency. This time of year the fedex and ups guys know me too well.

 

[crewchief888]

i pretty much spent all the money i'll spend on tools already this year...

milwaukee 18v fuel grinder
milwaukee 12v fuel 1/2" drill/1/4" hex combo
10" sliding compound miter saw

i do need to stock up on some consumables, like mig wire, cutoff disks, ect.

 

[Gone Boating]

Been on an acquisition spree since Christmas.

DeWalt 20V Impact wrench, impact driver and circular saw.
Knipex snap ring pliers
Pittsburgh pro impact sockets, extensions and u-joints
Hook and pick set
Various sets of impact bits

Etc
Seal puller


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[Moose-LandTran]

Do you guys ever do this? I will go two or three months and only buy a screwdriver (if even that). Then I suddenly have the brown truck stopping at the house daily for a couple of weeks.

Yep! Currently it's non-stop delivery week, and i love it!

 

[jakemac]

Wait ! WHAT ?!?
You guys take time off from buying tools ?

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Wait ! WHAT ?!?
You guys take time off from buying tools ?

I do.

When i run out of money.

 

[TK-421]

That's how I do it. I spend a few months saving money and researching which tools I want, and then when I feel I've made the right decision I drop a few hundred bucks on tools in one go.

 

[derosa]

In one of those modes right now. Jan of 2015 I bought a bandsaw which was the first tool in almost a year, wasn't till end of Dec I ordered craftsman socket kit. Since then I bought a Jet planer/molder, set of 18 wright metric wrenches, 12 wright sae wrenches, two 1/4" wright ratchets (4 3/4 and 5 1/4, three 3/8 ratchets (4 3/4, 7 and 10"), a 1/2 wright ratchet, a rosette cutter for the lathe and a few other small tools. Next month I'm hitting a bicycle shop auction hopefully for a repair stand, headset press, and some specialty tools I lack, maybe another truing stand I can loan to the bike clinic. I fully plan to blow a grand there on mostly tools and after that I'll be off my streak for at least 6 months or the wife will start getting upset.

 

[nutsnbolts]

"My Ebay" is always full of possibilities

I tend to buy SOMETHING every payday, and recently I went on a bit of a spree because I discovered new things that I, of course, now need, simply because I found out that they exist. See how it works at my house?

 

[winlinmac]

UPS and USPS guy asks me "Have you started a business of some kind?" no further comment

 

[nutsnbolts]

My wife has a rare medical condition and she also shops online a lot, as getting out of the house has its challenges for her. At times there seems to be a war between us as to who can get more packages sitting on the front porch.

 

[stearn786]

I'm the same way. I haven't bought any tools really since the end of December but there's lots of things on my wish list that I've been eyeing. Pretty soon I'll go on a tool spree again. I'm mostly just waiting for spring so I can make some more money. The shop has been dead at work lately.

 

[Chaznsc]

I go thru phases. I will go months without buying so much as a nail, then I go on the warpath. It's a guy thing I believe.

 

[Xxslyer1]

My wife has a rare medical condition and she also shops online a lot, as getting out of the house has its challenges for her. At times there seems to be a war between us as to who can get more packages sitting on the front porch.

I'm sorry about her condition but...........been there done that and I was rolling when I read that. I had shoulder issues and was out of work for 4 months and my wife was on a shopping spree and we ended up in a war. Luckily I already paid my house, cars, trucks, lift, barns and property off. Otherwise I think I would be living in my toolbox lol.

 

[wesst]

My wife keeps asking what the packages are on the front porch. I just keep telling her it's part of her birthday present, so it's a secret.

 

[nutsnbolts]

I'm sorry about her condition but...........been there done that and I was rolling when I read that. I had shoulder issues and was out of work for 4 months and my wife was on a shopping spree and we ended up in a war. Luckily I already paid my house, cars, trucks, lift, barns and property off. Otherwise I think I would be living in my toolbox lol.

Thanks. We have a great understanding. She likes to buy clothes and l like tools. lt was motorcycles before, but l wrecked my beloved FJ1200 last summer and ended up with a major shoulder surgery of my own. I gave up my bike and she is very happy about that, so as long as l don't bankrupt us she is perfectly happy to let me buy good tools. She says l am welcome to fix anything l want around the house as well

 

[Coolabah]

That's how I do it. I spend a few months saving money and researching which tools I want, and then when I feel I've made the right decision I drop a few hundred bucks on tools in one go.

That's what I do .
Well............In theory, but all the steps blur into one short but continuous step spanning mere minutes ( I am nothing if not time efficient ) . Lucky for me I guess a lot of my tool purchases are for my business but I do listen to myself on thinking four times then sleeping on it for the expensive stuff.

 

[K-Dog]

Budget and Woot are factors in this for me.

 

[B_Bimmer]

I'm the same way. In the winter I have too much time in front of a computer, and this dangerous website just taunts you into buying new stuff. Once spring hits I bet I don't buy another tool till next winter unless its an emergency. This time of year the fedex and ups guys know me too well.

I wish when I searched completed listings on ebay it was long enough term to see seasonal trends. All us more north without a heated shop surely drive up prices in the winter.

 

[skunkape1]

This describes me and I'm currently in an acquisition mode and need to take a break. In all seriousness, I am a recovering addict and I see this tool acquisition therapy as part of my addictive personality.

 

[ssdave]

I'm pretty much in holding pattern, only buy to upgrade what I have or fill in missing pieces or to make up something as a set that amuses me.

I've got rid of about 35 3/4" drive sockets, several boxfull lots of miscellaneous cheap or obscure name tools, over 100 Craftsman wrenches, ratchets, and extensions, 500 or so sockets, and a few mismatched or odd lot Snap-on, Proto, Plomb, and similar wrenches in the past month.

Bought back a Snap-on set of metric wrenches to fill out my truck box capability, a half dozen Snap On sockets and wrenches to replace mismatched or missing ones in my sets, a handfull of socket adapters to make up a 1/4" ratchet to 2 1/2" socket toy and a 1" breaker bar to 1/8" socket toy for display, a real nice set of Proto socket end wrenches for my collection, and 9 Proto wrenches that are larger than 1 1/2" to expand my set. I also used surprise points to buy a few Craftsman swivel sockets to compare to my snap-on and proto ones.

My mode of operation is that I'm trying to cut down on just plain hoarding or general accumulation of tools, and plow the money back into getting top end nice things that enhance the quality or completeness of the remaining sets I have chosen to keep.

I'm in a rental house at the moment, with no shop, so not much else to do and selling off the extras and buying back a few choice tools is money neutral to me, and amuses me when I have excess time. I think I'm about to start in building a new house and shop, so that will put a stop to recreational tool trading until it's done. Might have to buy a tool or two in the building process, but shouldn't really need to for most things, I've got enough.

 

[drink]

I have been trickling some missing tools into sets lately. Sometimes I have been concerned with the possibility of some tools being no longer made in the USA and wanted to complete matching sets before all the inventory was gone.

 

[drewvdw]

Can't say that I've left "tool acquisition mode" my Snap-On rep says I have a problem...and he doesn't see half the non-Snap-On stuff I buy.

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

Got the roll cab unloaded this evening. It was one of those times when I was very thankful to have a front-end loader.

I should be done for a while. I could use a better vise, but it isn't really a need right now.

 

[NUTTSGT]

There's alot of times as I'm running errands on payday that I grab something, no matter how small it might be. Other times, it might be a month or so that I pick anything up.

I'm preety much to the point anymore, if I need a tool, I go buy it. If I start a new project and it requires something special, I go it as I figure I'll need it atleast once more.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I have been in acquisition mode for the last several weeks. #2 son is in the process of upgrading his Asian imports (Craftsman mostly), I have been buying box lots at auction, mixed lots on eBay and stray tools.

In the process, I have picked up some SO, Mac and Wright tools to fill holes in my sets, as well.

I keep my wife happy by passing down the Asian imports and mongrel brands to the grandkids.

 

[FigureItOut]

I've been trying to discipline myself and cool it for a while, but only because I'm wanting to take a ride up to Kansas City, visit my brother and check out the Harry J Epstein store. It'll be nice to actually be able to put my hands on stuff before deciding.

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[Sine Swept]

I bought my third set of JIS drivers. One Hozan, a Thailand Vessel set and a Japanese Megadora set. Always good to have backup's when you get into the middle of something!

I spent the past 2 years seeking out anything that would float my boat. Hand tools mainly, though there was that compact DeWalt router with fixed and plunge bases. GJ would not approve if I was to harbour my emotions when it comes to tools. If you want it, then by all means just buy the damn thing and stop obsessing about something you don't have when you could just be drinking a cold beer and admiring your new purchase!

Can't justify buying something? Sell something you don't need, plain and simple.

The Egyptians proved that you can't take it with you, but you sure can use it while you're here!

 

[CalsXS2]

It's a sickness. I truly am a shopaholic. What's sad is it's ok in today's society to be one. People laugh it off. But it's just as bad as being a crack head. Or an alcoholic. I do really stupid stuff just to buy something.

A couple of prime examples.

Vintage Craftsman block grinder. I need a new bench grinder like I need a new hole in my head. I seen a couple of threads on here and thought they were cool. So I got all worked up in a frenzy trying to find one. And I couldn't settle for just any one. I had to have a big one. Hell. I paid a guy for one that's 500 miles away. He is supposed to bring it to me in a month and a half when he comes to my town. Now that's stupid. But I did it just for a fix. I hope it shows up.

Seen some old cool drill presses. Don't need one. Now I'm restoring 2 of them. Got them both all tore apart. Couldn't drill a hole to save my life,,,lol. Desperately seeking a motor for one. Not just any motor. Got to be the right one for a 1939 Delta mind you.

Current tool acquisition mode. Now I'm hot for a drill press vise. For a drill press that don't run.

If it's not tools, it's motorcycles or guns or something else. I call it wild hair up my **** of the month. I did ride my Goldwing today. I need a water pump for that. Got get it ready for riding season.

What's sad about it is I can't really afford this ****. I'm a broke old fart on disability with no money left at the end of the month.

Sorry guys. Got a little carried away.

Anybody got a cool old drill press vise for sale,,,,lol. Seriously though.

 

[K-Dog]

Can't say that I've left "tool acquisition mode" my Snap-On rep says I have a problem...and he doesn't see half the non-Snap-On stuff I buy.

If the Snap-On man says you have a problem, you must be REALLY bad.

 

[Al Borland]

If the Snap-On man says you have a problem, you must be REALLY bad.

Or, he already has a new boat.

 

[Jim C.]

I'm pretty much ALWAYS in tool acquisition mode, and I "acquire" them from a number of different sources. Granted, there are times I'm a little more motivated to acquire tools than other times, but rarely does an entire week pass that I don't get something.

Jim C.

 

[Jim C.]

....... Seen some old cool drill presses. Don't need one. Now I'm restoring 2 of them...... Desperately seeking a motor for one. Not just any motor. Got to be the right one for a 1939 Delta mind you......

I completely and totally understand this type of thinking. Seriously. A 1939 Delta drill press ABSOLUTELY requires an original, vintage correct, Delta motor. Having acquired my share of old Delta machinery, I've gotten to the point where I won't buy a machine if it's missing major and/or difficult to find parts/components. Locating those parts then becomes an obsession and often somewhat expensive. I fully understand your mental illness. If you ever get it under control, please let me know how you did it. I've been searching for an answer for decades!

Jim C.

 

[wolf_from_wv]

I have a pretty complete regular socket set and 2 each of wrenches. Now, I'm filling in missing socket sizes and specialty tools when I can find them cheap.

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

I thought I was done, but I did order another 3/4" breaker bar and I will probably order a new creeper and some more Ernst wrench rails today.

 

[Finky198]

A tool a day keeps the doctors away.....

I usually pretty badddd a few packages a week Ups, USPS , and Fedex are all on firs name basis. I've even met them on route or pick up at the hub on weekends it's a problem...

I've been good lately trying to organize and make list for the next go around... Most likely I'll binge come springs thaw after some bigger jobs come in.