Tools that always go missing?
- Thread starter bagged89s10
- Start date
bwringer
Well-known member
Maybe it's a sign of impending middle age, but my tolerance for this sort of irritation is getting lower and lower.
I simply keep buying more and more of whatever I keep losing until I reach the saturation point of my environment (or maybe the gremlins and pixies finally have enough) and can find what I need quickly no matter where I am.
For example, tape measures. There are at least a dozen floating around my house, garage, and vehicles. About four are "good" ones I seek out when some degree of precision is needed, most are freebies or cheapies.
#2 Phillips screwdrivers. Yes, of course I have a designated screwdriver drawer, and it's full and organized. But there are good phillips #2 screwdrivers pretty much everywhere I spend any time. I've also stopped tolerating crappy screwdrivers entirely -- the second the tip gets wonky or doesn't fit perfectly, it goes in the trash and I grab another. This policy has greatly reduced the amount of stress in my life.
10mm sockets -- yes of course I have nicely organized sets of sockets. But I also have several extra sockets in common sizes like this stashed here and there. I also make a point of stashing the less-common sizes separately. 11mm sockets go in the trash or in a special drawer of uncommon tools. My main socket rails are set up for Japanese vehicles (8, 10, 12 14, 17, 19, 21, etc.) and the other sizes used on American/Euro machinery (9, 13, 15, 16, 18, etc.) are on separate rails where I can find them on the rare occasion I need them.
Same for pencils, markers, and utility knives. They're cheap, so I keep buying more and strewing them hither and yon, and eventually there's one within arm's length at all times. A while back, I started throwing away the lower-quality utility knives whenever I find them. No point in keeping dangerous **** like that around.
Another general garage de-stresser is a large stock of spare fasteners. If I remove a Phillips head screw, it goes directly into the trash or scrap bin and is replaced with a socket head.
However, when working on a car or motorcycle, I'm very careful about FOD. I maintain awareness of what I've pulled out for the job and exactly where each piece is so I don't slam a ratchet in a hood or leave a rag in an intake.
I simply keep buying more and more of whatever I keep losing until I reach the saturation point of my environment (or maybe the gremlins and pixies finally have enough) and can find what I need quickly no matter where I am.
For example, tape measures. There are at least a dozen floating around my house, garage, and vehicles. About four are "good" ones I seek out when some degree of precision is needed, most are freebies or cheapies.
#2 Phillips screwdrivers. Yes, of course I have a designated screwdriver drawer, and it's full and organized. But there are good phillips #2 screwdrivers pretty much everywhere I spend any time. I've also stopped tolerating crappy screwdrivers entirely -- the second the tip gets wonky or doesn't fit perfectly, it goes in the trash and I grab another. This policy has greatly reduced the amount of stress in my life.
10mm sockets -- yes of course I have nicely organized sets of sockets. But I also have several extra sockets in common sizes like this stashed here and there. I also make a point of stashing the less-common sizes separately. 11mm sockets go in the trash or in a special drawer of uncommon tools. My main socket rails are set up for Japanese vehicles (8, 10, 12 14, 17, 19, 21, etc.) and the other sizes used on American/Euro machinery (9, 13, 15, 16, 18, etc.) are on separate rails where I can find them on the rare occasion I need them.
Same for pencils, markers, and utility knives. They're cheap, so I keep buying more and strewing them hither and yon, and eventually there's one within arm's length at all times. A while back, I started throwing away the lower-quality utility knives whenever I find them. No point in keeping dangerous **** like that around.
Another general garage de-stresser is a large stock of spare fasteners. If I remove a Phillips head screw, it goes directly into the trash or scrap bin and is replaced with a socket head.
However, when working on a car or motorcycle, I'm very careful about FOD. I maintain awareness of what I've pulled out for the job and exactly where each piece is so I don't slam a ratchet in a hood or leave a rag in an intake.
Last edited:
Falcon67
Well-known member
1/2" combo wrenches. Disappear like socks.
M_George
Well-known member
Any tool I drop while working under the hood. They seem to fall into the abyss.
Mustang1167
Well-known member
I'm always trying to find my 10mm socket. I buy any I see at the pawn shops, flea markets and habitat stores.
mike in tucson
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2015
- Messages
- 638
In the early 1970"s Sears would occasionally have a 99 cent sale on Craftsman wrenches. I would buy five 9/16" combos and five 1/2" combos.....and they would disappear. At that time, I mainly worked on Chevrolets for myself and friends. One car I had worked on came back for another problem....and there was a 9/16" wrench laying on the cowl that had my initials on it.....some thief probably cleverly put it there. The cowl was a handy tool tray in those cars.
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
This is a woodworking tool but hey... it went missing. My Stanley #92 shoulder plane... I'm 99.99% sure it got "walked off" by a neighbor that is no longer my neighbor. It wasn't borrowed and forgotten... it was "lifted" and "walked away"... I caught a few items and got them back... so there was a trend...
The Stanley however was just not used that often and I distinctly remember who was "around when" it was last used/sharpened.
Bet this was not the type of "Missing"... the OP was talking about... the kind that grows feet and walks off with someone else.
I'm slightly annoyed but... I reordered a new 92 on Amazon... overnighted it too. I am in the middle of a project that needs to be done for Saturday. Sadly ... I only owned one that could do the job. Unlike wrenches... to which I probably have 20 of the same size in different configurations.
The Stanley however was just not used that often and I distinctly remember who was "around when" it was last used/sharpened.
Bet this was not the type of "Missing"... the OP was talking about... the kind that grows feet and walks off with someone else.
I'm slightly annoyed but... I reordered a new 92 on Amazon... overnighted it too. I am in the middle of a project that needs to be done for Saturday. Sadly ... I only owned one that could do the job. Unlike wrenches... to which I probably have 20 of the same size in different configurations.
Last edited:
jives
Well-known member
So this thread has been somewhat resurrected. . . .
Tape measures, pencils, and pliers.Just inventoried my mechanics tools and I'm missing 2 Channelocks, at least 2 Vise-grips, and a couple of adjustable pliers. These tools always go on the road -- out to the field to fix the mower, over to a friend's to fix a door, etc.
Tape measures, pencils, and pliers.Just inventoried my mechanics tools and I'm missing 2 Channelocks, at least 2 Vise-grips, and a couple of adjustable pliers. These tools always go on the road -- out to the field to fix the mower, over to a friend's to fix a door, etc.
Richard Cranium
Well-known member
I thought we had lost this thread.
cliftonbros89
Well-known member
Box cutters, utility knives, what ever you need to cut something with. Usually some place else.
My father could never keep screw drivers around the house. I would regularly get them for him and he still looses them (blames me of course). For me I really don't misplace much. One thing that grew legs and walked away was my 6" digital micrometer.
AJ.
Well-known member
Dirtydan69
Well-known member
Anything I just set down 3 minutes ago.
coljar
Well-known member
Losing a good person on the GJ is bad, but losing an occasional tool isn't so bad.
Tape measures and pencils are at the top of my list.
Tape measures and pencils are at the top of my list.
Revelations
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2015
- Messages
- 274
Engine compartments are always the biggest thieves of tools. I always find a few goodies when I go to the junk yard.
10mm sockets and stubby screw drivers always walk, as soon as my back is turned. [emoji102]
Sent from a Galaxy far far away.
10mm sockets and stubby screw drivers always walk, as soon as my back is turned. [emoji102]
Sent from a Galaxy far far away.
Last edited:
Ree75
Well-known member
Ree75
Well-known member
my hammers like to go missing. I threatened some of my co-workers that I will break their hands if I suspect them of looking a my toolbox. In absence of my hammer they got a nice big pipe whacked across their hand
rburke65
Well-known member
Usually utility knives and rules. Wife gets pist when I take her needle nose pliers.
BBChevro
Well-known member
Any tool I lay down while I go to do something else.
When I come back to use it, it's disappeared.
^^^ This ^^^
^^^ and this ^^^
But mostly tape measures (that is what came to mind as soon as I read the title of the thread) - although I often have trouble finding something that is right in front of me.
At the risk of sounding like Forrest Gump, my mother used to say "If it had a mouth, it would bite you".
.
BBChevro
Well-known member
I was thinking much the same Kay.
I was quite surprised by the apparent "metrification" of American cars (all the references to 10mm sockets on this thread), I would have thought 1/2 & 9/16 wrenches would still be the norm.
.
