Whats your tool leash?

[Danglerb]

As an adult with a credit card and internet access its a daily struggle not to buy more stuff. Whats your leash, what keeps you from buying even more?

I'm naturally cheap, so its easy for me to skip anything that isn't a great deal, but also hard for me to pass up anything that is a great deal.

I run things I'm not sure about past a couple different forums to get an idea if its something I might be able to use or actually even need.

I'm out of space, and paying a good chunk/month for a storage unit, anything big takes some serious consideration.

I try to stay focused on current work and hobby interests, so I can skip wood tools etc.

 

[toolmaker1]

No evil credit cards for me so if I don't have the cash in my pocket it's a no-go.

 

[Coach James]

I just don't go overboard spending. I like watching that savings balance grow every month.

Coach

 

[crewchief888]

i dont even look at tools unless i have cash in my pocket, then it has to be a deal.

i dont buy much anyway, even if i loose something at work, i have at least one spare to replace it at home.

 

[fflintstone]

I have most everything I need, if I see an “upgrade” to my stash at a great price, I will try to do it. If I need something I don’t have I buy it if I can.
I consider it a sin to rent anything.

I kinda need a hydraulic log splitter but there are just no funds at this time.

 

[supertooljunkie]

I have just about everything I need, at home, truck, junkyard boxes, and work. I tend to buy older American made stuff now at pawn shops. I used a credit card for Ebay, but my wife canceled it. So, now it must be a cash purchase, or money in the bank for an inter net purchase.
Lately, I have been buying Duro/Indestro, Fleet, Sparta, New Britain, etc.

 

[Thumper]

Knowing I gotta pay the ****** bill..........

 

[pep]

I'm naturally cheap, so its easy for me to skip anything that isn't a great deal, but also hard for me to pass up anything that is a great deal.

.

Bingo. Got it in one.

I don't doubt for a second that I could turn a decent profit on eBay with the stuff I've bought in the last few years. It's easy to end up with too many screwdrivers and pliers, though.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

Ive got at least 3500 entries on my spread sheet for my specialty tools, that does not include my hand tools...Im running out of pallet rack,... but enough is never enough. The term OCD, and hoarder come to mind..

 

[volpster31]

im trying to slow down on the hand tools because i dont need any more(tough to say)... but i cant pass up a deal.the whole pb swiss on amazon thread on here a while ago got me buying screwdrivers when i have more than ill ever use already.
i do need some power tools but ill get them over time....this website doesnt help. its like a crackhead hanging out in a drug house

 

[ambenz]

I usually buy only what I need or if I know something is broken, I prebuy before I need it for a upcomming job.
I don't buy tools just to have a full toolbox.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I have about reached saturation these days. Made a vow not to buy tools and things I don't NEED for a while. I have plenty to do setting up my new shop as it is.

 

[mrholeshot]

I'm at the point I look around and ask myself why do I keep buying tools. I'm retired and don't need a thing. I think I need help

 

[Hiball]

Needs to be a Bargain or a ReSellable Item where i can make Money, Ive carry all the Basic Hand tools and a Large selection of Specialty Stuff. I have no problem flat out buying a "Needed" Tool it Time is of the Essence, but its much more fun to pick them up Second Hand.

 

[Deafautotech]

i wish i could click the box of wife that enjoy to stay home and sleep with woman... But i am single so i can buy more tools what i want or need upgrade the tools...

 

[woody 73]

Darn I wanted to pick several of the boxes,running out of money and space!,wife loves me but she can not park the car and that is killing her. Don't tell her but I want at least two more machines and I have no space...

 

[littletoes]

Hell-Budget, HANDS DOWN.....if it weren't for my budget, I'd have the biggest tool box Snap-On offers, and it would be full.

But hey, I'm not a credit card guy, I don't have any, nor do I owe anything to anybody except the house. AND I LIKE IT THAT WAY!

BUT! Maybe its because I've had to struggle/wait for each and every tool I own, so maybe I appreciate them more???

Is Love too strong of a word for tools???

 

[JayL]

If I find a tool on sale online at a good price then I purchase. When it arrives and I find that it turns out to be a pure impulse buy then I re sell. Being a foreign buyer helps a bit since most of the things I purchase are not available locally so more often than not can still sell the items with a profit margin.

 

[flatheadguy]

At this point in time I have more than enough hand tools. A fifty-some year collection, mostly Snap-On from forty years ago. But, I am a self-confessed machinery *****.
Show me almost anything, like a high quality bargain lathe (got six) or some other piece of shop or sheet metal equipment at a good price and I'm a goner. No Chinese stuff please. It's a disease. A terrible affliction. No known cure other than death.
Oh, well.

 

[oldwino]

I'm actually going the other way and getting rid of a bunch of tools I'll never use. Former contractor I really don't need 4-generators, 7-skil 77's, 5-6 sawzall's, etc. Even my mechanics tools I have been accumulating since the 60's, starting with Crapsman and building to mostly snappies and mac. I just don't need that much stuff.
The hardest thing for me is IF I need something I should go to HF and get it cheap because I no longer make my living with it. Milwalkee, Bosch and Hilti tools feel so much better than Chicago Electric.

 

[dankicksass]

If I need a tool, I buy a tool. If I want a tool, it has to be a bargain.

 

[american lockpicker]

Budget keeps my spending on check. After January I stop tool buying and it will probably be September before I start buying again.

 

[nismomans13]

great deals man. There isn't a set of wrenches in the world worth 3-400 bucks. But I'll happily pay 100-150 bucks for a clean used set.

 

[spongerich]

I'm lucky that I only really caught the tool bug recently, so I haven't amassed ridiculous numbers of tools quite yet, although I am starting to get overloaded with screwdrivers.

One other thing that's saved me so far is that I tend to overbuy at auctions and sell off enough to pay for the things I decide to keep... Craftsman stuff seems especially good in that regard. Boxes full of Craftsman tools are often cheap at auctions and fetch pretty good money on eBay.

I've also had pretty good luck doing upgrades the same way.. buy some Snapon/SK/Proto etc, sell some Craftsman.

I am having some trouble with my vises.. I keep buying them with the intention of restoring and reselling, but I have a hard time letting go of them.

 

[eborcim]

I pretty much have limited myself to vintage US-manufactured made stuff...but there are still so many ratchets!!!!! and so little time!

 

[Scout Driver]

Its gotta be a great deal and something that I know I will get some use out of.

Unless.....its an International tool. Even on these, I won't overspend. I know what they are worth and can reel myself in.

Scott

 

[unclemoak]

Being a full time college student and living in a dorm certainly puts a damper on my tool collection. Once I graduate in May, I'm going hog wild buying tools, guns, and cars as my budget permits.

 

[canuckian]

I voted wife but she's bought me some of the nicer tools I own! I have free reign to buy whatever tool I NEED when I need it (within reason). If it's just a "want", it has to be a bargain and I like to clear it with her so I'm not forced to sleep outside the day the Mastercard bill or bank statement comes in the mail!! All in all, she's fine with my chrome addiction. Her family are into construction/contracting and they rely on their tools and equipment to make their living so she understands that a better quality tool can be an asset.

 

[Ray-CA]

I only buy what I need and when I need to buy it. Rarely do i buy something just because I might need it someday.

Ray

 

[Canadian Charlie]

I have just about every hand tool that I need but would like a parts washer, maybe a press.

Space is an issue

 

[4x4gearhead]

I spend quite a bit on tools especially when I see a chance to upgrade for cheap I do use the hell out of just about everything and even the things I only use maye 10 times a year save me enough time to justify having them. I think there is something wrong with me because I just love tools and working on stuff way too much. The girlfriend isnt always pleased when she sees a new set of wrenches or something in my tool box when i do some maintenance on her car but she understands that its what I do and part of the game.

 

[Danglerb]

If I had space and a pickup truck with a lift gate they would have to lock me up.

Hot rod shop I visit was restoring an older International pick up, and it looked very nice, very tempting.

 

[Old Donn]

Luckily, I've never had a problem keeping my credit cards safe & warm in my wallet, and like some others have said, I'm getting to the age where it's time to start getting rid of stuff. I've got more than an amateur needs as it is, so unless it's a specific tool for a specific job and I can't make anything else work, I'm done buying stuff 1) in case I MIGHT need it. Or, 2) just cuz it's on sale.

 

[speed bump]

I don't really have one but I try to focus on tools I need or would really like to have rather than just buying everything any more.

 

[Horseshoe Jack]

As an adult with a credit card and internet access its a daily struggle not to buy more stuff. Whats your leash, what keeps you from buying even more?

The answer's right there in your question: "Being an adult."

 

[PaulR]

It's very tough, but seperating your WANTS from your needs.

I have a Crapsman 30 gallon compressor, I really don't need that IR 60 gallon unit....

I have cords and a light, I really don't need that Cox or Reelcraft.

I have Crapsman Lo-pro ratchet, I really don't need that dual 80.

I have a shop floor, I really don't need a white speckled 100% solids epoxy and polyaspartic top-coated floor.

 

[48548]

I buy when I have spare money and sometimes when I don't.... I don't have credit cards, but also when I spend more than I can, that means that maybe the woman has to kick in more for some bills or the last 1500 I owe my dad might be paid a few weeks later or something like that.... I just broke down and bought the snapon starterpk. Not because I really needed it, but could use the shallow metric sockets, but also because it was a bargin and when I can find most of the snapon buy one get one free, I usually take it no matter what because it is a good deal and snap on really does hold its value. That being said I spend almost 800 on snapon this month and that was getting most of the stuff used and or NIB for a great deal. I am working on upgrading all of my craftsman sockets to something better like snapon.

 

[T56 Impala]

I buy what I need when I need it. Even if it turns out to be a one time use tool. If I don't need a tool, I simply don't buy a tool.

That is unless its for my collection. In that case, I buy whatever I might not have when ever I see it. I must admit that I really haven't been searching for collector items lately. Too many other things going on that are NOT tool related. (Yeah, that IS possible!)

 

[pipsters]

The more you spend the more you save...um duh, it's a no-brainer.

 

[rayzor32]

There isnt an option for "BRAIN"