Can you have too many tools?

[themechanic]

 

[fine69]

I’d say the short answer is no. We’ve all used the wrong tool for the job at some point and know what a pain in the *** it can be. But then you go to the store and pick up a certain tool that you might only use once but you have peace of mind knowing that if you need it, you have it.

 

[toolmanmike]

Nope

 

[Darter6]

After 50 years of doing this you do accumulate quite a inventory. Not long ago I started selling tools that I no longer use at bargain prices.
Around $5K I recovered . I still have a long way to go and say to myself "Not Today. Got back to the I may need this later."
I do look for younger guys starting out and give allot away when I can.

 

[tonysrt]

The new cars make you buy a new tool. Rear brakes on a Honda use a tool to screw the piston in, no more clamp to get it to go back in. 83 Chrysler, 2.2 to replace PS pump needed a 17mm claw tool to remove lines. And now with all this computer BS need special readers to find out what's wrong. I just had to replace front calipers on a 05 Ram that was frozen and new, actually rebuilt has plastic pistons so won't get froze up. And don't forget the assh that wanted us to go metric back in the mid 70's, so now we had to buy metric tools to do anything on a car. They left the oil pan plug standard thread on Mopars. I think that eventually went metric. A 10 mm is the most common size, lose it and you can't do anything. Politian's are really stupid.

 

[Darter6]

A 10 mm is the most common size,

My brother was a tear down guy in a body shop.Take the wreck apart, when body and paint done he put them back together.
His most used tool was 10 MM socket,wrench and gear wrench. He said he could take apart 80% of new cars.

 

[Cranky]

And the vid at about the 1 minute mark shows a Jeep (I think) that is on 2 jack stands and at a harsh angle. I've done that before and the vehicle slipped on the stands. Wheels were not chocked and doesn't look like it in the vid either. Yeah, the floor jack helps but still not good enough.

 

[tonysrt]

Harbor Freight actually addressed the 10MM problem with a set of only 10mm sockets with a few assorted types for I think $10. I did buy it a while ago.

 

[Rishi]

I think you can have too many duplicate tools. One day, I counted 7 of the 12-inch channel locks, and 10 of the mid-sized vise grips. I offered some to my son, and he said "I already have two of each you gave me a few years ago!"

 

[WileE]

After 50 years of doing this you do accumulate quite a inventory.

For sure, most of my tools are 50+ years old. Except for late metric tools as they became more in use. Is it strange to feel an emotional bond ? I was just a teen when my older brother-in-law ( R.I.P ) to be, gave me my first torque wrench. The beam style, which I still have and use to this day. And when I do, I think of him. An older brother that I never had.

 

[Runcharger]

Lots of my stuff has the chrome worn through and the copper showing. They've paid for themselves over and over. My son will use them when I'm gone, all 6 toolboxes full. Nowadays I still pick up some used Snap-on when I find them. No chinese/taiwan stuff in my boxes.

 

[493 Mike]

The new cars make you buy a new tool. Rear brakes on a Honda use a tool to screw the piston in, no more clamp to get it to go back in. 83 Chrysler, 2.2 to replace PS pump needed a 17mm claw tool to remove lines. And now with all this computer BS need special readers to find out what's wrong. I just had to replace front calipers on a 05 Ram that was frozen and new, actually rebuilt has plastic pistons so won't get froze up. And don't forget the assh that wanted us to go metric back in the mid 70's, so now we had to buy metric tools to do anything on a car. They left the oil pan plug standard thread on Mopars. I think that eventually went metric. A 10 mm is the most common size, lose it and you can't do anything. Politian's are really stupid.

Yes! We should have gone metric about 1850.
Mike

 

[493 Mike]

WHAT!!!!!
Mike

 

[Cranky]

I think you can have too many duplicate tools. One day, I counted 7 of the 12-inch channel locks, and 10 of the mid-sized vise grips. I offered some to my son, and he said "I already have two of each you gave me a few years ago!"

Same here until I sold most of the tools that I had at least 4 of each or more lol

Lots of my stuff has the chrome worn through and the copper showing. They've paid for themselves over and over. My son will use them when I'm gone, all 6 toolboxes full. Nowadays I still pick up some used Snap-on when I find them. No chinese/taiwan stuff in my boxes.

Used to work estate sales with friends of ours. My 'place' was the garage because they knew that I knew something about tools. My pay was usually in the tools that I wanted for myself. Picked up a lot of cool stuff from a guy that raced midgets but 'moved' on from life on earth. None of his surviving family wanted anything from his shop. NOTHING and I mean nothing came from outside of the U.S!

 

[Cranky]

Yes! We should have gone metric about 1850.
Mike

Sure would have made things easier maybe but why didn't the rest of the world go SAE?? lol

 

[Runcharger]

Metric does make more sense, graduations of 10's are so much easier to deal with than these crazy Imperial fractions. Figuring out the insane fluid graduations in Imperial drives me nutz. Why the puck are their 12 units in one big one rather than 10 units in one big one and so on.
The only thing sillier than Imperial is having to deal with both and that's where we've been at for several decades now.

 

[jimbosride]

Got tired of the tool box game.... Opening and closing draws.... walking across the shop... Take them out put them away.
I guess if your in the business snap on maybe the way yo go.... but If I need a socket that I don't have on a Saturday??

I still own a large tool box but the need to go in it is a lot less these days

 

[451Mopar]

You can't have too many tools, they keep growing legs and run off, or find the universe black hole in the garage never to be seen again. Or left them in the car door to be found years later when replacing the window motor

 

[Charles Cook]

Harbor Freight actually addressed the 10MM problem with a set of only 10mm sockets with a few assorted types for I think $10. I did buy it a while ago.

Me too, now I can’t find any of them. Lol

 

[j-c-c-62]

After 50 years of doing this you do accumulate quite a inventory. Not long ago I started selling tools that I no longer use at bargain prices.
Around $5K I recovered . I still have a long way to go and say to myself "Not Today. Got back to the I may need this later."
I do look for younger guys starting out and give allot away when I can.

Me too, except for the $5k part. 2 years ago, I tried to get rid of my 10hp 15" Sheldon lathe in good condition. No luck, got $150 scrap for it, weighed like 3000 lbs.
People are cheap or clueless, not sure which one.