What tool(s) have gone missing?

[jgira12]

I just realized my Torx 15 screwdriver and another standard screwdriver are no where to be found. Has this happened to you? I hate it...I know they are around here somewhere, but can't locate them for the life of me!

 

[rsanter]

there was a show one time where the main characters guardina angel came to show her how she had made life better for many people.
in one if the scenes she was in someones office with her guardian angle (and of course the person could not see them) and when the person turned to get something, the angle grabed the paper he was working on and hid it in his coat. when the guy turned back and the paper was missing he was a bit baffeled and started looking around frantically. when the guy turned away again the angel put the paper back and when the guy found it he was again baffeled that the paper was apparently 'right in front of him'

I experience this alot so apparently I have a guardian angel with a major scence of humor

non

 

[Diesel-Mech]

My nice set of automatic wire strippers walked off awhile back, I'm still unhappy about that.

 

[gsport]

i lost a shovel like that... i called my friends to see if i had left it at their house.. NOPE, still missing, figured someone took it out of the back of my truck, so had given up on it.. awhile later i found it in the "other" shop just standing up behind one of the poles....

 

[Terry Kennedy]

I just realized my Torx 15 screwdriver and another standard screwdriver are no where to be found. Has this happened to you? I hate it...I know they are around here somewhere, but can't locate them for the life of me!

When I set up my garage toolbox, I promised myself that those tools were only for projects in the garage, and at the end of each day I pack up all the tools and place them in the proper spots in the tool drawers.

I've only had 2 tools go AWOL - a 9/16" 6-point 3/8" drive socket and a 1/2" pivot-ended GearWrench. I found the GearWrench on top of the Hoover GUV vacuum and under some seat pads that were sitting on the flat top of the GUV. I'm not sure where the socket went to, but one day as I was putting the tools away, it was on the socket tree. I must have picked it up from wherever it was hiding when picking up tools from another project.

That's the garage. The house is a disaster - I used to have a dedicated telephone tool box (the classic black plastic impregnated paperboard style) but I've been grabbing tools out of it for various projects. There was also one comeplete large toolbox, but that got raided as well. At the moment, there are small piles of mostly-appropriate tools scattered around the house near where they'd be needed (by my oil furnace that I call "the beast", for example).

 

[DashEight]

From my Want Ad in the Classified Section: Someone Help me out!!!

"Hello, I'm looking to replace two Craftsman Professional wrenches that were never returned after someone borrowed them.

They are the older short style 12pt combo wrenches in sizes 18mm and 19mm

part numbers stamped on wrenches should be 42988 (18mm) and 42989 (19mm)

Let me know is you have any laying around you'd part with. They just have to be in useable condition. Thank you!, Patrick"

 

[Der Bugmeister]

I was missing one socket for months, discovered it still on the intake manifold nut right where I'd left it in a spot of typical absent mindedness. (Aircooled VW)

Early on, I noticed my 10, 13 and 15mm wrench collections seemed to have a real transient nature to them...sometimes I'd have 3 or 4, other times I'd be hard pressed to find one. Didn't take long to clue into friends who used their tools in tandem with mine while working on their cars.

Put a stop to that right quick!

 

[Tech Guy]

I must own at least 20 tape measures. If I can find two at any given time I am doing good. After awhile I find them all again and put them back where they belong. Time goes by and Id be lucky if I could find two again. I swear they grow legs and walk around on me.

 

[Kevin54]

I must own at least 20 tape measures. If I can find two at any given time I am doing good. After awhile I find them all again and put them back where they belong. Time goes by and Id be lucky if I could find two again. I swear they grow legs and walk around on me.

That sound about like me. I have three in my garage, two in the house, one in the house garage, and one or two in the wife building. When I start working on a project, I'll be using three and lose three somehow. The wife ends up finding them and putting them back.

As far as garage tools....my 11/16" wrench came up missing. I have tore the place apart looking for it to no avail. As soon as I buy a replacement, I know it will show up

 

[knudsen]

There are wormholes all over the planet. Tools are attracted to them. Once they go in, they randomly pop out elsewhere. If you're lucky, they pop out in your shop. the wormholes seem to be attracted to children.

 

[robin1731]

Garage Gnomes. There is another thread on here some place that talks about this also. I lost a set of duck bill pliers about a month back. Still haven't found them. I remember what I used them for but don't know where they are. I don't really want to go buy another pair but if I do then I'll have 2. Because as soon as I buy another pair the other's will show up. Just the way it work's.

 

[plinker]

So far I havent lost any tools permenatly...so far anyway.


I agree on tape measures and will add pencils to that. There never where I need them (or put them).

 

[CarCrafter]

Too many sockets and pry pars and hammers over the years to count. It still bothers me when I lose things, but eventually I learn to stop looking cause it'll just drive you nuts. I have a friend who puts orange reflective tape on everything. It makes a lot of sense and I keep meaning to do it too. When you lay something down under the hood, and then you go off to lunch or get called away for something else, its less likely to blend it and become a permanent resident of the vehicle. I've left hammers on leaf springs and too many things to count. Its not so bad when they are a singular item. When its one out of a set, arrrgghhh

 

[Tech Guy]

Garage Gnomes. There is another thread on here some place that talks about this also. I lost a set of duck bill pliers about a month back. Still haven't found them. I remember what I used them for but don't know where they are. I don't really want to go buy another pair but if I do then I'll have 2. Because as soon as I buy another pair the other's will show up. Just the way it work's.

And this is why I own 20+ tape measures. Lose one, buy one, original and his buddy show up. Never ends

 

[tdkkart]

I had a 2ft level go missing for about 3 years.
Found it when I was cleaning out my enclosed trailer to sell it. I had left it in top of the upper cabinets when I installed them.

 

[knudsen]

My best one is the screwdriver I lost in the Philippines. 10 years later, I pulled the headliner to do bodywork on my Jeep J-10 pickup, here in Indiana and found the very screwdriver. Now that's a hell of a wormhole or a long legged gnome!!!

 

[lametec]

I just had a 13mm deep 6-point socket fall into a black hole a couple weeks ago.

I was pulling the engine out of my Intrepid R/T and it was laying on a board on top of the engine. For some reason, whether it was me bumping the board or the engine moving, the socket rolled off the side of the board and fell down on the drivers side of the engine. I heard that it did not hit the floor, so I knew it had got hung up one something down there.

No biggie, I figured. Once the engine is out it'll be a piece of cake to find it. Well, the engine is out and has been stripped down to its sepearate components. No sign of the socket. I've looked all over the engine bay 3 times and still no sign. It's not like there's a lot of stuff for it to get hung up in in the "empty" engine bay. Basically a frame rail, engine cradle or some hoses and wires.

I bought a replacement on Tuesday, but the original socket has yet to reappear.

 

[IDASHO]

I know I have 3 or 4 of them...

But I can never seem to find a 5.5 mm 1/4 drive socket when I need one.

 

[farmall57]

I've lost (misplaced) 1 good Leatherman and 1 Victronix multi-tool, just makes me sick when I do that as they are not cheap and if you get used to carrying one you cannot be without them. I lost a Gerber multi-tool also but found it down in a pressure tank pit that I only get down in every few years, crawled down in there to do some service and there was my Gerber right where I'd left it several years before. I'm sure I've done the same with my others but have yet to locate those!

 

[Bojans]

Tech Guy -
I am the same way with tape measures but you can also add utility knives, I must own at least 10 of each but if I have 1 in the appropriate stop at any given time I am lucky.

 

[snorky18]

At our house, it's utility knives, claw hammers, ear protection, and tape measures. I went to Harbor Freight and bought a bunch of each of the above, so I can always now find at least one of something when I need it...

I'm sure whenever we finish all of our rennovations and all my tools eventually all migrate back to garage, I'll have 10 each of the above mentioned items.

 

[dipper]

I have a 1/4" drive ratchet, extension and 7mm socket inside the front fender of my 89 mercury. It dropped in there and I could not fish it out for the life of me.
Hopefully I "remember" to get the sawzall out before I junk the car.

 

[-B-]

I have yet to loose a tool or keys I have monetarily misplaced them but never lost. I have had tools stolen at races in the past tools which I miss dearly some are unavailable now. I try very hard to always maintain specific spots where I lay down tools if not working directly at my bench or box. It is either a discipline you can do or not do I do it because growing up pops was for ever wasting time looking around or having me **** tools that were all over the place.

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

there was a show one time where the main characters guardina angel came to show her how she had made life better for many people.
in one if the scenes she was in someones office with her guardian angle (and of course the person could not see them) and when the person turned to get something, the angle grabed the paper he was working on and hid it in his coat. when the guy turned back and the paper was missing he was a bit baffeled and started looking around frantically. when the guy turned away again the angel put the paper back and when the guy found it he was again baffeled that the paper was apparently 'right in front of him'

I experience this alot so apparently I have a guardian angel with a major scence of humor

non

Thats the same ***** that keeps moving my stuff around! Some guardian angel!!!

 

[knudsen]

That's funny, lametec. My wifes Grand Marq ate a 13 mm. Black hole love cozy warm intakes too. That musta been ten years ago.

 

[brownbagg]

every they ask me what I want, 1/2 wrench. But you have one, well now I have two

Now I got about 12 of every size. i just hate looking for one wrench. more the merrier

 

[pixelmonkey]

scrub brushes!

had 3 of them in the garage 1 year ago... now NONE can be found!

searched the house. no luck
chris<pixelmonkey>

 

[Tech Guy]

Tech Guy -
I am the same way with tape measures but you can also add utility knives, I must own at least 10 of each but if I have 1 in the appropriate stop at any given time I am lucky.

Hahahaha-never thought of the knives till you mentioned and come to think of it I must own 20+ of those as well. all other tools seem to behave and find their home though.

 

[Poltax]

Gnomes, Guardian Angels, friends..........sorry but its your kids taking your tools!!

 

[rwhite692]

In a slightly different vein of "lost tools"....

In a former life, I was a marine mechanic.

There's nothing quite like losing an expensive tool to the depths. Either because you were working above water, and got clumsy for a split second, or because a tool got dropped on the deck, and bounced or rolled overboard...

And you never lose a cheap tool that way, it's always an expensive one, LOL.

Sometimes when it would happen at the marina, we'd get lucky, and get them back with a BIG (ex radar) magnet on a rope that we kept around the shop for just that purpose...but usually, they would just be lost in the muck at the bottom.

One time I was able to jump overboard and dove straight after a 3/4" snap-on wrench I had dropped in about 15 feet of water (guy working with me bet me, that I couldn't get it back), and by some miracle I came up with the wrench....couldn't see a thing down there, it was pure luck...

 

[rwhite692]

Add to the list air chucks for inflating tires. I own at least a half dozen, and can never find one of the damn things when I need one.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I just realized my Torx 15 screwdriver and another standard screwdriver are no where to be found. Has this happened to you? I hate it...I know they are around here somewhere, but can't locate them for the life of me!

I lost my virginity, about twenty five years ago. Is this tool realted? I didn't hate it though. And I knew it was around somewhere, and I couldn't locate it either.

 

[knudsen]

Well... if you call a toothpick a tool

 

[babzog]

Safety glasses are always beign moved around when I'm not looking. I've got a pair of wire cutters in the wall nr my power panel. The one that really honked me off was losing both clips for my .22 rifle last year. Still can't find 'em anywhere.

 

[porschedude996TT]

I found my torpedo level under my flashing the other day. I looked for several days all totaling an hour or so. Bought a new one to replace it and ****, the one under the flashing appeared. I remember leaving it right where I found it. I'm still missing a 7/16 combo wrench... Replaced it years ago and it never found its way back...LOL

 

[thomask]

When I set up my garage toolbox, I promised myself that those tools were only for projects in the garage, and at the end of each day I pack up all the tools and place them in the proper spots in the tool drawers.

I've only had 2 tools go AWOL - a 9/16" 6-point 3/8" drive socket and a 1/2" pivot-ended GearWrench. I found the GearWrench on top of the Hoover GUV vacuum and under some seat pads that were sitting on the flat top of the GUV. I'm not sure where the socket went to, but one day as I was putting the tools away, it was on the socket tree. I must have picked it up from wherever it was hiding when picking up tools from another project.

That's the garage. The house is a disaster - I used to have a dedicated telephone tool box (the classic black plastic impregnated paperboard style) but I've been grabbing tools out of it for various projects. There was also one comeplete large toolbox, but that got raided as well. At the moment, there are small piles of mostly-appropriate tools scattered around the house near where they'd be needed (by my oil furnace that I call "the beast", for example).

Hey Terry those tools go to the same place socks and sun glasses end up. Not lost just temporarily misplaced. I keep a separate tool bag for electrical and a bucket for carpentry. Car tools are kept in rolling chest and cabinet. Getting all your tools in one place is half the battle.

 

[MR. R]

I subscribe to the Garage Gnome theory. Something always goes missing at a key, sometimes critical, time when needed. Our "gnome" happens to be either our son or his friends over to work on cars, projects, etc. Drives me crazy. Please take the time to teach the gnomes to put things back in the correct places. Then maybe you will relent and feed them or let them sleep inside tonight. Either way the necessary tools will appear by magic.

 

[Hoot]

Usually when I end up missing tools, they were left in, or on, a vehicle I was working on. I would prefer that they just quietly disappear, but that only happens about half the time.....

The last time it happened, it was two wrenches on top of the gas tank of my extended cab truck. I had to drop it down to get to a section of brake line on the frame rail. I only dropped it a few inches so I couldn't really "see" the top of the tank. Got done with the brake line and put everything back together....... Several minutes into the test drive, it suddenly sounded like the whole drivetrain dropped out and was bouncing along underneath the truck. I pulled over, checked the undercarriage, and everything looked normal. Then, I quickly figured out that I must of left some wrenches on top of the fuel tank and that's what made all the noise. I walked all over that section of road and never did find either one of them.

The only other tools that come up missing are hammers and screwdrivers, and the timing always coincides with the wife doing some little house project. I always find those in the "junk" drawer in the kitchen though.....

 

[CarCrafter]

Dammit... I've looked all over for my MAC trim/ upholstery tool and its nowhere to be found. Sucker was almost new too... Now comes the part where I have to jog my memory to figure out which customer car I may have left it in.... If anyone sees it, it has a black & red screwdriver style handle on it...

 

[Costner]

I can only recall losing one tool... and it was a torx bit that fell into the dash of a car I was working on. Looked for it but since I didn't feel like spending five hours taking the entire dash apart it remained in the vehicle.

That said, I have had tools walk off from family members who tend to forget where they "obtained" a tool. Other than those rare occasions I pretty much keep tabs on all of my tools all of the time.

Actually, I once bought a Jeep and a few weeks later while working on it I pulled back the carpet to find a super nice set of long needlenose pliers and a test lead for a multimeter. I guess somewhere out there is a tech who is wondering where his tools disappeared to, but they reside in my toolbox now!