When do you stop buying tools

[Lkdelta]

In my mid teens I would go into Sears on a Friday night with my Dad & spend my paper route money on maybe one wrench, screwdriver or whatever.

Same here, except it was money from lawn mowing. Most of the time I could get there on my own. I needed the help when I brought the 144 pc socket set home.. The toolbox trip wouldn't fit on my bicycle either.

When is it done?
I figure they'll need a nice new Framing hammer to nail "my box" shut

 

[pendragon1998]

Y'all should have seen my grandpa...he was in his 70s, mostly blind, and he would line up his bandsaw blade 'by touch' to cut wood for the little birdhouses he used to build. Scared everyone to death that he was going to lose a finger but he never did! Nobody could keep him out of his workshop and he was still buying tools right up until he died.

 

[smoky]

is this a trick question? I'm pretty sure I'll never stop buying tools, and I'll bet that many other members on this forum feel the same way.

 

[Revere Cycles]

Like some of the others here, I only buy tools when I need them. I can't really afford to drop a bunch of cash on things I won't use right away. I'd love to have a TIG welder, but I don't have a use for one right now.

I will say, there are certain tools that I have multiples of. Sometimes I'll find a deal too good to pass up, or I know that I'll need another one in the future, so I will put it away until it is needed. For example, I have three Channellock 8WCB wrenches. I loved the first one I got, then I saw them on sale and bought two more. Now I have one for home, one for my bicycle repair kit, and another in my general tools.

 

[drb007]

My dad and I are currently on probation from CL purchases, imposed by our wives. We are a bit addicted. We call each other nearly everyday, and usually answer the call with, "What did you buy?"
The bad part for us the size of the tools. I can get away with three grinders in a week, as they are relatively small. When I need a 5th wheel trailer and a tractor to unload my purchases, it makes the ladies uneasy.
I was just out in the shop last night looking around at my tools, and realized the I have purchased a lot of great items this year. Now, I am looking for pieces and tooling for those items.
My dad is trying to build his dream shop(s). One will be a BIG wood shop, the other a smaller metal shop. He retired last year, and while he is not hurting financially, he knows he only has just so much money left in his life...everytime he buys something he has to figure out how much sooner he needs to die
We don't hunt or fish, so to us, the tools are our "kill" that we bring home. We just don't eat them...

 

[Joe B.]

Can you guys please have your next if kin post directions to your Estate Sale on Garage Journal? (when the time comes)

 

[Kev442]

He retired last year, and while he is not hurting financially, he knows he only has just so much money left in his life...everytime he buys something he has to figure out how much sooner he needs to die

That's funny stuff right there.

You might whisper the word "sell" to him.
A horrendous thought, but slightly better than the alternative....

 

[drb007]

He doesn't seem to have the "sell" gene in him...

 

[woody 73]

I wonder if they have a place in heaven with a tool store?

 

[Sweet Old Bill]

I will probably quit buying tools just after I stop spending time on this site! That should be about 15 minutes before I am dead! "There is always time for jello!" & then on to the undertaker!!

 

[Man of Many Vices]

You will not have enough tools until you have accumulated each of the following sets:

1. Inside your main working multi-bay, double decker with side wings, connected by a pintle hitch to a similar caboose: at least one of every tool ever invented for your specific trade. Brand mixing is OK, so long as only one brand is represented in each drawer.
2. A back-up set, as above, compressed into a single roll-away top/bottom. No need to include tools invented prior to 1940 if a modern version is on hand.
3. One traveling set to take along on family vacations so you can periodically demonstrate why you need so many tools.
4. One set of tools to lend to others: Cast iron ball pein hammer, K-mart adjustable wrench, AutoZone 6-in-1 screw/bit driver set, knock-off Channelock pliers.
4. One tool box / bag for each type of household project: plumbing , electrical, sprinklers, carpentry, drywall, masonry, HVAC.
5. A specially tailored set for your spouse that you will never be allowed to use. (Caution: no sharp objects).
6. A small set for each child in your house old enough to ride a bike.
7. A complete assortment of antique or vintage tools related to your trade to cover one whole wall in your living room.
8. Tools set aside as gifts for the special people in your life. Start out small. If you give them a tool and they don't respond with the same enthusiasm as they would have if you had given them grandma's diamond wedding ring or grandpa's gold pocket watch, then ****** to tool back and scratch them off your gift list.
9. A complete set of tools for each hobby. Don't overlook tool repair and restoration.
10. Whatever tools you might need to get yourself out of a jam.

 

[Outlawmws]

I wonder if they have a place in heaven with a tool store?

Not a clue, but I'd bet money that Chicom tools are the only tools in the other place...

 

[Outlawmws]

You will not have enough tools until you have accumulated each of the following sets:

1. Inside your main working multi-bay, double decker with side wings, connected by a pintle hitch to a similar caboose: at least one of every tool ever invented for your specific trade. Brand mixing is OK, so long as only one brand is represented in each drawer.
2. A back-up set, as above, compressed into a single roll-away top/bottom. No need to include tools invented prior to 1940 if a modern version is on hand.
3. One traveling set to take along on family vacations so you can periodically demonstrate why you need so many tools.
4. One set of tools to lend to others: Cast iron ball pein hammer, K-mart adjustable wrench, AutoZone 6-in-1 screw/bit driver set, knock-off Channelock pliers.
4. One tool box / bag for each type of household project: plumbing , electrical, sprinklers, carpentry, drywall, masonry, HVAC.
5. A specially tailored set for your spouse that you will never be allowed to use. (Caution: no sharp objects).
6. A small set for each child in your house old enough to ride a bike.
7. A complete assortment of antique or vintage tools related to your trade to cover one whole wall in your living room.
8. Tools set aside as gifts for the special people in your life. Start out small. If you give them a tool and they don't respond with the same enthusiasm as they would have if you had given them grandma's diamond wedding ring or grandpa's gold pocket watch, then ****** to tool back and scratch them off your gift list.
9. A complete set of tools for each hobby. Don't overlook tool repair and restoration.
10. Whatever tools you might need to get yourself out of a jam.

Almost a complete home run there!

 

[franzdom]

I don't see it happening. I'l likely be the guy who's in the hospital on his death bed and sees an interesting screwdriver in the maintenance man's tool belt and whispers with one of his last breaths......"what you want for that screwdriver?"

Just classic

 

[coolreed]

When you are in the ground, hard to get on a tool truck then.

I agree,..when they plant you.

 

[supersteve]

4. One set of tools to lend to others: Cast iron ball pein hammer, K-mart adjustable wrench, AutoZone 6-in-1 screw/bit driver set, knock-off Channelock pliers.

Ooohh, this is great, I need to work on this!

 

[RedFordTruck]

Trick Question! You can never have too many tools!

 

[BobBarker]

When I am sleeping.

 

[ATC]

I have been on a buying spree lately. I bet I have spent $300 on tools in the past month. And I blame this forum!

I have NEVER done that before. All my previous purchases have just been a wrench set here, maybe a socket set there...

I am done for a good while now. If I need something, I'll buy it...but no more impulse buys for me.

 

[jdsac]

I used to go to the local flea market because it was close & just pile up the "deals" in the corner. I realized I needed an intervention when going through the pile later, I had something like 6 full size grinders, several of the older big
1/2" & 3/4" drills + lots of other stuff.
It's still hard to go & walk away from something that is well priced, knowing
that I don't need it.

 

[slipkorn34]

ill stop buying once my toolbox is overflowing just so i can save up for a bigger box, a top, or sides but probably get right back into it.

 

[MachYou]

I haven't bought a tool in over 3 months, should I see a doctor?

I went 6 months with out buying a new tool and now bought 3 snap on ratchets in the last month.

 

[crewchief888]

ive been wrenching professionally since '84, and bought most of my "working" tools from '84 till about '98.
not too much that i dont have or need now.
i hit swap meets, flea mkts, and pawn shops slowing adding (mostly) truck brand tools to my home boxes, and to replace what i manage to loose at work.
went through a buying spree about 5 years ago, when i built my trail truck, every time i turned around a grinder or drill went up in smoke.

been slowly adding around the house DIY power tools for the times i need them for a particular remodeling project.

only time i add to the garage tool "collection" is when i have a few extra dollars in my pocket, and run across a deal.

 

[metaldad]

Needed a small precision slotted blade driver. Bought 2 sets at Menards.
Also saw that Menards has all their USA Masterforce drivers on sale, bought a few of these, and a few of those. Also noted that a 6 piece driver set was on sale, with a rebate, bought 2.

 

[t100]

having kids would be the cake. I've been buying very little, selling more, a lot more since last year.

 

[Beerman]

I live by two major, SE flea markets and would spend 3-4 hours going through both every Sat. and Sunday, if I could. Even though I don't need it, it's hard to pass up a $1-2 American made wrench or ratchet.

I don't just look for tools, but collect other things as well. At this point, I more of a tool collector than a tool user (never been a pro, but liked having pro tools when I did get them out).

I think every man (and most women) collect something as a hobby-my hobby just happens to be quality tools-not into stamps, coins, comic books, sports cards, etc.




Beerman

 

[jethro29]

never ever.