What are the main use for your tools?

[Outlawmws]

Nope, is not possible to have too many tools.

It's possible to not have a garage or shop big enough, not a big enough tool box (Or boxes...) not enough $$ to buy more tools, or enough time to use or find more tools, but too many tools? No.

Collecting tools is fun (Almost as fun as using them, especially when you have the right tool for the job. I about ran out of tools to buy for "use" so these days I also look for cool vintage or antique tools or tool boxes.

I have 12 roller or floor boxes, (with drawers) and 12, top or intermediate boxes (Also with drawers); and the range of tools runs from automotive, to wood working, to machine tools (Mill and lathe), to power tools both floor and hand, to specialty tools like body work, carpentry, sheet metal, plumbing, electrical, electronics, and other unique tools.

Then there are the upgrades. Two years ago I found an American made cutoff band saw, and after fixing a minor issue, sold the Taiwan saw I'd had for over 20 years. same deal for a Craftsman band saw from the 50's replacing a 3 wheel import saw, and I'm hoping that soon I can replace my old Taiwan Drill press with a 30's-40's craftsman Drill Press built by Atlas for Sears.

A few weeks ago I got a 1954 5 drawer Craftsman Roller )(No 12), and after a few hours spent sanding and painting (and for one drawer, spot welding a section of drawer front; did I mention the joy of having the right tool for the right job?...), It's started collecting my vintage tools.

Do I use 'em all? No, but almost all of them I have used. I will try to work on almost anything, and am usually pretty successful at it.

 

[airbatica]

At the moment, my tools are used primarily for fixing the car, truck, or boat. Very soon, they will be used to make me money at my new job as an interior aircraft mechanic.

 

[Recoil Rob]

I use 5% of my tools 95% of the time for work, I service steam baths, saunas, spas and whirlpools. These get carried in a small plastic open tote box to and from jobs.

The other 95% are split between the basement, for working on guns and fishing equipment, and the garage for everything else from cars and trucks to motorcycles and boats and whatever else needs fixing.

 

[jvitez]

I use tools to work on my vehicles and general homeowner type repairs.

Buying and selling tools for profit? Lots of work for little money IMO, but if you enjoy it as a sideline, why not? Or more likely, buy stuff you thing you'll keep, and sell what eventually doesn't meet your needs or you find better versions.

Now when you mention your boyfriend, and I assume that means you have ** *** chromosomes (can't be too sure nowadays.....), then by all means learn about tools. No need to be a helpless girl when it comes to these matters. After dating my wife a few times, she asked me if I had a Vice-Grip as she wanted to fix something in her apartment. That was my first inkling she might be a keeper.

 

[ibedayank]

my tools get used to make money .... save money by doing it myself... or making what i want

 

[Lkdelta]

The mechanic tools..
She is an independant contractor on a motor delivery route
Someone has to keep the vehicle running...
Me and Advance Auto give it our best shot.

For bigger problems, the nephew is a master automotive mechanic,
He shows up here with his hands in his pockets,
only uses stuff from my tool box drawers,
he can fix about anything

And usually fixes it all...for $20 per clock hour.
Did a full engine change out in about 6 hours
Push it in, change it, drive out...

 

[Lkdelta]

woodworking or plumbing or the electrical tools...
This house is about 110 yrs and the "awesome" next door neighbor's is about 130ish...
that house is a second home and he's from out of state...
So, not much here, in his garage

Both houses need attention occasionally
and we have made new siding before

 

[TozziWelding]

I make my living with my tools, and I just like em too

 

[crewchief888]

tools
tools
tools

heavy equipment mechanic, machinist/tool & die maker, welder since 1976.
i have a few tools at work,
and in the garage.
and some more downstairs,
and so on and so on...........

according to the old lady, i may have too many.

 

[saturdaymechanic]

Car maintenence and home repairs. As stated above, they save me money since I do the majority of work around the house and on the cars.

Also, I love buying, looking for, talking about and using tools.

 

[hickmlg09]

tools
tools
tools

heavy equipment mechanic, machinist/tool & die maker, welder since 1976.
i have a few tools at work,
and in the garage.
and some more downstairs,
and so on and so on...........

according to the old lady, i may have too many.

Sounds like something I say to my Bf. Lol.

 

[71 Dodge Demon]

mostly automotive related things

 

[knocker]

Tools at work are used on mainly Volvo's w/ some other makes thrown in there. Tools at home range from my Nissan's to side jobs and other things around the house.

 

[jethro29]

i am a professional tech ,so all week i use my tools to make a living and on nights and weekends,i work on freinds and family's vehicles. and on my own toys.= 1973 5.0 pinto,1965 falcon,1953 ford f-100.

 

[Lkdelta]

Wish I could make my SO understand that!
I get so much **** from her for buying stuff I don't need yet, but not a peep when it actually comes in handy.

or...but not a peep is heard by her from me, when she buys stuff...

I feel fer ya

Funny how so many of the female S.O's think alike

 

[jeffmoss26]

fixing stuff around the house, computer repair, voice and data cabling, sound and video systems...tools have always been a hobby since I was a kid!

 

[wchamberlain]

I just sit there and look at them and watch the dust collect!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[e30bradley]

I use my tools on fixing and upgrading car equipment.. also on around the house improvement. stuff like hanging cabinets.

 

[bob ny]

i use tools to fill tool boxes the problem is i keep buying boxes bob w

 

[zer0cell]

I primarily use them for remodeling jobs, home repairs and hobbies.

 

[caseyjw]

I'm the odd one out here I think... hate working on cars... rather pay one of you to do it for me.

Professional technician, build and maintain high vacuum and thin film optical coating systems. Power, Logic, mechanical fab, installation, repair, upgrades... you name it.

I don't have enough tools, not now, not ever.

 

[Brad54]

I'm a hot rodder, so I'm the guy in The Tool Guy in the neighborhood.
I've got a growing collection of fabrication tools, and a pretty good collection of hand tools.

And I don't believe you can have too many hand tools, though I did just send a bunch of them to the swap meet this year.
I have two of every size standard socket, from 1/4-drive through 1/2-drive, deep and shallow. (Only one set of 1/2-inch deep sockets... impacts).
I have multiples of ratchets, and my tool box has two of every size wrench from 1/4- to 1-inch (gear wrench on one side, with standard-length Craftsman Professionals filling in the holes) and long Craftsman with a few Snap-ons and Mac on the otehr side of the drawer. Also have two sets of stubbies, and two sets of line wrenches.
I have the multiples so when I'm wrenching with my son or some friends, we all have the tools we need and the work goes much faster.
I'm seriously considering getting a second set of screwdrivers though, as I've noticed it's become a problem waiting for the tool lately.

Then, on my wall above the workbench I have at least two of every size wrench from 5/16 to 1 1/4, with 4-8 wrenches in the most frequently used sizes (1/2-9/16). When we're thrashing, sometimes it's just easier to grab another wrench than play "Where'd I set that this time?!"

For my junkyard box, I've got a small Montezuma box with FULL sets of Standard and Deep sockets, in Standard measurement, and a half a set of metrics, two of every size wrench up to 1-inch (GearWrenches, with Craftsman raised-panel filling in the gaps, and then double-box wrenches for the duplicate sizes to reduce the number of tools), a single set of metric wrenches, a set of stubbies, a set of flare wrenches, one of each socket, a full set of screwdrivers, and misc hammers, hacks saws, etc.
It doubles as the race box when I help guys out.

And then there's all the specialty tools and equipment, much of which I think any homeowner should have: bench grinder (two in my case, but everyone should have one), drill press, big honkin' vise, etc. etc.

Again, I've got multiples on some of that stuff too.

-Brad