Tool Duplicates - Same Drawer or Not?

[mad german]

Hi all-

Quick organizational question for you. If you have duplicates of tools, do you store all of them together or do you put them in a separate toolbox, perhaps a smaller one that you keep (in the utility closet of the house or in the basement, for example.)

I was looking at my screwdriver drawer and noticed that I have several of the same screwdriver, and they are taking up extra space that I could use to make things a little more organized. The same holds true for some of my wrenches. I'm considering taking all of my duplicates and putting them in a separate box.

Thanks in advance for the suggestions and comments.

MG

 

[ssdave]

The question becomes: What do you need the duplicates for?

If you need to use multiples of the tools at once (like 2 wrenches for different ends of the bolt) or they are duplicates but slightly different (like long and short pattern wrenches) then store them together.

If they are duplicates that you just have but have no simultaneous use (like several #2 phillips screwdrivers) then either store them separately, or better yet, get rid of them. Junk you store that is above what you need is just space and time and energy wasted that could be used for other things. It's taken me a long time to realize that. I had (have) multiples of many of my tools because they came to me cheap and they were just so nice and I just had to have them. Identifying the extras and getting rid of them is liberating; it frees up space and some cash if you sell them, but even more importantly it frees up time in your life that you don't have to organize and clean and store them. My strategy lately has been to try to sell those extras, and use the funds to buy expensive stuff that I really wanted but was too cheap to pay for. Win-win: free up space and reduce clutter and get things I really want/can use.

If you are storing extra tools for in case you break or wear out the primary ones, think carefully if that is really a viable need. If you're storing 20 things, and only end up using one, you could sell the 20 for 5% of the new value, and buy the one at retail when you need it and break even, but not have to store the extras. The economics would be even better if you sell the extras for 20 to 30% of new.

 

[Brad54]

I'm probably not the right guy to ask (or answer!) this question, but here's how I do it:

I've got multiples of just about every tool, and I keep them in the same drawer of the main tool box, because when I have friends over to work on projects (which we do a lot), we're all working out of the box and grabbing tools.

Two of every size wrench: one for the nut, one for the bolt.
I've got a stack of wrenches on my wall above the tool box too, with at least two of every size from 1/4 to 1 1/4, and several each of the most popular sizes.

And then I've got my Montezuma road-trip/junkyard/race box, with multiples in it as well--for the same reason... we're at the junkyard, one on each side of the car or truck, we each have the tools we need.

I keep that tool box at the front corner of my shop, with my main box at the far opposite corner of the shop, so it gets used about as much as my main box.

Oh... I also have short road-trip/junkyard kits that I keep in .50-cal ammo cans... pliers, screwdrivers, hammer, full set of wrenches (which means two of every size).
Um... and I also have a pretty complete tool roll in my '76 Dodge Truck.

-Brad

 

[colin39]

The question becomes: What do you need the duplicates for?

If you need to use multiples of the tools at once (like 2 wrenches for different ends of the bolt) or they are duplicates but slightly different (like long and short pattern wrenches) then store them together.

If they are duplicates that you just have but have no simultaneous use (like several #2 phillips screwdrivers) then either store them separately, or better yet, get rid of them. Junk you store that is above what you need is just space and time and energy wasted that could be used for other things. It's taken me a long time to realize that. I had (have) multiples of many of my tools because they came to me cheap and they were just so nice and I just had to have them. Identifying the extras and getting rid of them is liberating; it frees up space and some cash if you sell them, but even more importantly it frees up time in your life that you don't have to organize and clean and store them. My strategy lately has been to try to sell those extras, and use the funds to buy expensive stuff that I really wanted but was too cheap to pay for. Win-win: free up space and reduce clutter and get things I really want/can use.

If you are storing extra tools for in case you break or wear out the primary ones, think carefully if that is really a viable need. If you're storing 20 things, and only end up using one, you could sell the 20 for 5% of the new value, and buy the one at retail when you need it and break even, but not have to store the extras. The economics would be even better if you sell the extras for 20 to 30% of new.

Why would you not have duplicates? I have lots of duplicates, and im talking complete sets no just 4 13mm or 1/2inch spanners, im talking 4 sets of combination spanners 4mm to 36 and 2 sets 38mm to 65mm
Multiples of sockest sets, and screw driver sets.
Ok i have my tool box, break down van tools and a tool / service cart, all fully equipped.
So why wouldnt you have duplicates?

Colin

 

[Roobaix]

I have dupes in different boxes for different purposes.

I have my main box at work with the majority of my tools in it.
I have an additional set of most used tools that can go into a variety of small bags/boxes when I need to go off site for work.
I have a very small bag sitting at my desk with the meat n' potatoes that will get a lot of work done, for when I need to go light or can't bring a ton of stuff with me.
At home I have a small bag in house and a small box in the garage.

I don't have dupes of everything though. In the small work bags I have tools that can be used for multiple purposes to save space and weight. Multi bit screwdrivers, pliers/cutters/strippers, pliers wrench...stuff like that.

 

[n8n]

I definitely put duplicates in a separate box, unless it's a tool that I might need two of for the same job (e.g. combination wrench)

When that box gets too full it's time to cull, or else put together a small specialized box for a particular often done job.

 

[ssdave]

Colin39, I definitely have duplicates also. In my main box, I have two of common sizes of combination wrenches. Plus different types; dbe, oe, offset box, short, and long pattern. Sockets, have regular and deep, 6 and 12 point.

I also have duplicates in the sense of several different sets. Garage rollaways are one set. Wall of garage pegboards has common use items on it. Basement shop pegboards have common items used at the workbench. Truck box has a very comprehensive set also.

What I was getting at is don't have redundant duplicates you don't need in one location. If they're just extras, put them somewhere else or get rid of them. Storing the duplicates among the other tools just makes them harder to organize and use.

 

[bcradio]

Why would you not have duplicates? I have lots of duplicates, and im talking complete sets no just 4 13mm or 1/2inch spanners, im talking 4 sets of combination spanners 4mm to 36 and 2 sets 38mm to 65mm
Multiples of sockest sets, and screw driver sets.
Ok i have my tool box, break down van tools and a tool / service cart, all fully equipped.
So why wouldnt you have duplicates?

Colin

Cause there's really no need

 

[a52-830]

like a lot of others, i have "sets" of tools here and there.

some "sets" have duplicates in them by design. in those situations, i tend to keep them all together in the same drawer. usually, the "duplicates" are slightly different somehow, like length, or one set might be ratcheting, but not always.

"spares" end up finding a home in another set. i recently freed up some rolling tool box stacks, and am now putting "spares" in one of them for people who need to "borrow" something. i will still keep it locked, but am more willing to loan the "spares" out to my sons, as an example.

 

[Zeke]

I keep a skeleton set at the other side of the work area. Saves going to the box for a common thing like a Phillips and taking it back during clean up. Just leave some of the dups where they can be used and a short cut.

 

[Al Borland]

Main box has a set of everything I use regularly.
Truck has a full set of things I use at work regularly.
Work box has 2 sets of stuff for site use, because if something breaks/goes missing the world keeps on turning.
Extras live in/on the workbench and are generally the survivors of sets that have lost or missing parts. As something goes missing from one of the other places, they cycle back in.
Except screwdrivers! I have a 5 gallon pail of screwdrivers in my truck, because they are pretty much expendables at work.
I also have a 5 gallon pail about half-full of Williams deep well sockets in 1 1/8", 1 1/4" that came from tearing down a couple G.M. plants. They must have been common in the plants, as that's what the workers threw through the windows on the way out.

 

[555]

I'm currently going through the same drill. I have a lot of duplicates taking up space in my main box. I plan to keep two sets of each in the main and will divest the rest to a couple of smaller boxes and give them to my boys.

 

[crackit]

As my tools keep multiplying, I've had to limit my stacks to one set of tools (with a few exceptions), with most of my duplicates going into handboxes. I have handboxes dedicated to screwdrivers, pliers, hammers, wrenches, sockets, etc. Recently I had to split my duplicate sockets into two boxes: one for 1/4" and 3/8" drive and one for 1/2". And I'll probably be adding a box for vise grips before long.

For me, handboxes are an easy solution to overflowing stacks, and used ones can be found for cheap.

 

[KMdef9]

Mines like most;

If I have need to have a dup, it stays in the same drawer. No sense in hunting it down, or dedicating a whole drawer to dups.

From there, they'll go to the upstairs tool box. If that has the tool already, it goes to the downstairs tool box.

After that, I have a donate box they go into. There's always someone in need. Usually go to one buddy of mine, he really enjoys my visits. He's always getting tools and beer!

 

[Wamsutta]

I keep the duplicates in a separate location if they're new and I want to keep them new; otherwise, they go in the same drawer as their twins.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I have tools in my shop, garage, basement and each vehicle. Just about every box/location has some duplicates.

 

[mad german]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'll have to start a second box for my duplicates. Thanks again.

Have a good day guys,
MG

 

[gdocktor3]

You should weed some out and sell. On top of my regular stuff, which have duplicates already in each drawer, I have 2 drawers full of duplicate wrenches, a drawer full of extra ratchets, a box filled with screwdrivers, a drawer of extra sockets, a small cooler with old duplicate wrenches, a drawer with a million Allen wrenches, then two small mobile tool boxes filled with some of those duplicates that I made sets out of. Other then the ratchets, the rest will probably never be used. Even my daily use tools have duplicates. Example - my sae wrench drawer has full sets of regular combination wrenches, xl combination wrenches, xl double box wrenches, short double box end wrenches, ratchet wrenches, flex head ratchet wrenches, stubby ratchet wrenches. And for some reason I have a set of SK double box end ratchet wrenches on the way. Those extras are just a waste of space realistically.

 

[crewchief888]

same drawer

that is, until the drawer gets full.........

 

[gdpolk]

It depends. I have a small set of the most basic tools in a small handheld box. These are my best quality tools and my first go-to solution for every day tasks. In it I have a mix of mechanical and home maintenance tools. It's certainly not a lot but usually at least gets me started when asked, "can you come look at this please?"

Then I have my home base roller cabinets that I slam full of all my other tools. I group these with all the same tools in the same place, sorted by size. That makes it quick and painless to find what I need when I need.

 

[Richard D]

Get rid of duplicate tools? Get rid of ANY tools!?!? Hilarious!

 

[ssdave]

Get rid of duplicate tools? Get rid of ANY tools!?!? Hilarious!

If you don't think that's necessary, you're not doing your share of buying, and need to buy at a higher rate of speed.

 

[crewchief888]

Get rid of duplicate tools? Get rid of ANY tools!?!? Hilarious!

one tool i sold, wasnt a duplicate...

ive given quite a few tools, and a set of boxes, to a friend in need.

i still have everything i started out wrenching with, plus a lot more....

 

[PelicanPines]

Wrenches, sockets = different boxes... for a reason...

Pliers, screwdrivers = one place... for a reason...