Who else has an obsession with their tool collection?

[ngk22r]

Is it just me or does anyone else have multiples of tools that they have that they don't use? Just to sit and look new and stay that way?

Ever since I went on the collecting older mint/never-used Snap on 1/4 ratchets, its starting to feel like a drug addiction

 

[tonydanzah]

welcome to the garage journal

 

[crankshaftdan II]

welcome to the garage journal

He's got the fever with no apparent cure!

 

[ngk22r]

He's got the fever with no apparent cure!

It cures for a second after a buy a tool I do not need, but its only a quick fix..

Soon I will be on the street looking for the guy in a trench coat asking "you wanna buy some tools man?"

 

[lwlobo]

This place doesn't help, it just pushes further into addiction.

Actually, no trench coats. Those guys drive nice trucks with lift gates and pictures of kids with broken wagons on the back. They'll come to you every week to sell you your "fix".

There's also another way, some shifty world-wide networks who go by the aliases of Craigslist and Ebay. They can hook you up with just about any tool you crave.

 

[mrholeshot]

No, nobody here has any kind of problem like that

 

[00S4Boy]

No, nobody here has any kind of problem like that

See I don't understand the tool polisher theory. I buy tools because tools make me money, i buy tools to make making me money easier. Sure i like them to look nice but i use the **** out of them as well.

 

[mrholeshot]

See I don't understand the tool polisher theory. I buy tools because tools make me money, i buy tools to make making me money easier. Sure i like them to look nice but i use the **** out of them as well.

I've always use the **** out of what I buy and I've bought a lot of them. Stepping on the tool truck was one of the bright spots in my week. The trouble is that after I retired I still enjoy buying them if for nothing else to see what it takes to break them. Maybe that makes me a tool polisher but I still use my tools everyday although not to the extent I use to. Sometimes I spend an hour cleaning one ratchet. The kind of stuff I never had time to do when I owned my shop.

 

[eyeboltman]

I am a toolalochlic I have a problem I love tools ... Eyeboltman

 

[rsieracki]

ya i open my drawers and wonder... how many of X does one man need... then i smile and say that doesnt matter if i have the most

 

[trout]

My SO 71-10 is just to look pretty. It's hard to actually use a 70+ year old ratchet without worrying about what will happen.

 

[wafrederick]

I am a diehard toolaholic since I was a kid and will never stop.My neighbor Ken calls me "Tim the Toolman Taylor".

 

[mrholeshot]

My entire life I have been surrounded by tools. My dads tools first then my own. Even when you stop using them to make a living you just can't seem to let go of the tools. Even when I don't having anything I can be working on I like taking apart ratchets, cleaning them, lube and even cleaning the insides of sockets. It's therapy for me. It's something hard to understand if you are currently out busting *** making a living with your tools. Now that my retirement has me just doing a few things in my shop for money the thing I really enjoy is dealing with tools. I love to go out buy things like toolboxes, take them home and make them as nice as possible without painting them and reselling them. I guess it's my way of staying connected to what I spent my entire life doing. I think once you disconnect from that part of you just dies. It's hard enough to call it quits but it doesn't mean you have to sit in a rocking chair watching cars go by either. To me there is nothing better than a day of selling at a flea market. It isn't about the money but about the people and the tools.

 

[blue dog]

My name is blue dog and i am a toolaholic.

 

[street131]

blue dog, youve taken the first step

 

[stricht8]

Is it just me or does anyone else have multiples of tools that they have that they don't use? Just to sit and look new and stay that way?

Ever since I went on the collecting older mint/never-used Snap on 1/4 ratchets, its starting to feel like a drug addiction

That's why we are here.

 

[lalaland]

See I don't understand the tool polisher theory. I buy tools because tools make me money so I can buy my crack, i buy tools to make making me money easier. Sure i like them to look nice but i use the **** out of them as well.

Fixed

 

[chadster1]

Me being a toolman is like an alcoholic owning a liquor store.

 

[larry_g]

I bypassed hand tools a long time ago, try an addiction to machine tools. I beat it but the closest I think I ever came to addiction was e-bay when I was starting to acquire machine tools. I have gotten over it and still buy the ocasional bits and pieces but not like I did. After finding this forum I did drink some of the tea and found that a new SO tool box appeared in the shop, but that is the only thing. I push away the tea now.

To the OP I would suggest that you do whatever you can to get yourself banned from this forum as it will only encourage your addiction.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[bigdummy30]

I don't typically buy doubles but I definitely buy stuff I will probably never use" just incase" I do need it one special day.....not to mention I have an *** load of carpentry tools to go along with a decent set of mechanics tools...

 

[Davefr]

You need to have 2 complete sets of tools. The first set is toolbox jewelry. It consists of top shelf brands and you must maintain this set in like new condition. (SO KRL's work well for storing this set)

Now you need a second set to save wear on the above set. These consist of beat up tools from HF or Sears that get used for everyday tasks. They live their life in the low rent neighborhood. (ie the workbench.)

 

[mkdive]

You need to have 2 complete sets of tools. The first set is toolbox jewelry. It consists of top shelf brands and you must maintain this set in like new condition. (SO KRL's work well for storing this set)

Now you need a second set to save wear on the above set. These consist of beat up tools from HF or Sears that get used for everyday tasks. They live their life in the low rent neighborhood. (ie the workbench.)

I guess that is the category I fall into
Im still looking for the SO triple box to store the "like new" sets in.

 

[Frankstools]

I do, I do! This is a great site, a collection of tool loving people..I personally cant pass up a nice tool that may come in handy one day..

 

[Roots]

While I've never bought tools to collect or show off, I do feel a bit OCD and a bit lame about sometimes paying a premium to have matching tools or complete Hansen socket trees for my home box. At work, I could care less, and at this point in time I doubt any "set" is from the same brand any more, yet alone being in near new condition.

 

[american lockpicker]

I have a COO obsession and all my tools must look new and perfect.

 

[johnnybentwrench]

I have a COO obsession and all my tools must look new and perfect.

me too

 

[NY Old Guy]

I have an obsession alright. For example I have every Proto flex head saltus wrench between 3/8 and 7/8 except for 13/16. Even though I try not to think about it, it drives me crazy that I don't have the 13/16 but the cheapest I can find it is for $25 plus $10 shipping. I don't even need it, I already have combination, open end, angle, offset box, and shallow and deep sockets in 13/16. But I have to get the 13/16 Saltus wrench, otherwise something just doesn't feel right.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Is it just me or does anyone else have multiples of tools that they have that they don't use? Just to sit and look new and stay that way?

Ever since I went on the collecting older mint/never-used Snap on 1/4 ratchets, its starting to feel like a drug addiction

You're fitting right in here.

 

[GDA]

I just enjoy having the tools to be able to accomplish all sorts of tasks whether it is automotive, yard and garden or home repairs/upgrades. It is a great feeling to be able to grab the proper, high quality tool for the job and finish it right.

 

[Roots]

I'll also add, that for my home box, I seem to have a horrible addiction to the tool trays that come from Matco and Snap On. Even to the point, that sometimes when I buy a set of tools, I'm actually disappointed when they don't have a nice tray to store them in.

As for my work truck... I certainly don't have the real estate to even consider such things.

 

[nahudson]

BD30
"I don't typically buy doubles but I definitely buy stuff I will probably never use" just incase" I do need it one special day....."

I tell my wife this all the time. I will buy a tool that is onsale with the just in case I need it attitude. It used to drive her crazy. Several years back I bought three large Kolbalt putty knifes for like $5, which was cheap considering there were about $10 each at the time. A few years go by and we need to put up some plaster and I have these putty knifes and they came in handy and have been used other times as well. So she does not say much when I put a tool that is a "just in case" tool

 

[woody 73]

Tools...yes they are very addictive!

 

[route246]

Basically, I have four "kits" of tools.

My large kit is my cabinet(s) in the garage/shop. One or more copies of everything.

My medium kit is a large tote bag. I use a Veto XXL-F and it weighs a lot but it can be hauled around.

My small kit is a Veto OT-LC open top bag which has all of my essentials. It weighs quite a bit but every unnecessary tool has been removed and because it has a small square footprint it works well for most small jobs. It also includes a small impact driver with bits.

My portable kit is a Klein 19-pocket electrician's tool pouch which has screwdrivers, pliers, cutters, tape and other small stuff routinely needed here and there.

 

[Sparkfarmer]

The best fix you can get is needing a very specific tool for a tough job, having it, and accomplishing the task elegantly... mmmmm


...well, I'm off to go buy a gear puller

 

[Mike14k]

Up on a corner of my shop, I have a pegboard with a group of old Proto, SK, SnapOn, Indestructo wrenches along with punches, pliers, taps, drivers and assorted other tools. About a 4' x 4' area.

They were my wife's Uncle George's who was an aircraft mechanic in WWII and the best Chevy mechanic in our Oklahoma town for 40 years. I got them from his widow as a gift.

They represent a snapshot of what it took to work on a car in the '70's.

I occasionally do a small project with them, but mostly I just enjoy the memory of a good guy.

He sure would of liked this group.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

I must be the exception to the rule on this one.

I prefer to have a fucntional set and a back up set with out many double triple quadruples.

I amn having a hard time holding onto tools that were "gifts" but unusable i feel the space is worth more to me

 

[pipsters]

I must be the exception to the rule on this one.

I prefer to have a fucntional set and a back up set with out many double triple quadruples.

I amn having a hard time holding onto tools that were "gifts" but unusable i feel the space is worth more to me

I feel the same way. I can't stand having something that is useless, no point to it, a waste of space and clutter. I don't even like doubles. Guys that have 4+ standard 3/8" ratchetsfor example make me scratch my head.

 

[pipsters]

The best fix you can get is needing a very specific tool for a tough job, having it, and accomplishing the task elegantly... mmmmm


...well, I'm off to go buy a gear puller

That is a great feeling, after spending countless hours winging it doing various things on my car, I now have the ability to go out and buy the specific tool needed and shave hours off a job, and make it almost enjoyable.

 

[nahudson]

"Up on a corner of my shop, I have a pegboard with a group of old Proto, SK, SnapOn, Indestructo wrenches along with punches, pliers, taps, drivers and assorted other tools. About a 4' x 4' area.

They were my wife's Uncle George's who was an aircraft mechanic in WWII and the best Chevy mechanic in our Oklahoma town for 40 years. I got them from his widow as a gift."

Good stuff Man!

I will use some of my grandfathers old industro or williams tools when I can

 

[warmpancakes]

I have tools to fix tools, next step tools to make tools