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Does anyone have any idea how much you are worth in tools you have purchased?
I my self was a maintence mechanic and we spent many a bucks on tools required for the job. I my self would be worth todays standards about $15000.00 plus the tool boxes. I have now at home another two tool boxes plus welders,compresser,cutting tools,drill press,sand blaster,spray guns etc. etc. all adding up to another couple thousand or more.
62Blue
Don

To go out and buy everything again in a short amount of time... it'd be a fortune.

I'd hate to put a number on my stuff. I've been putting it together for close to 50 years. I look at my stuff and appreciate using it and treat it like its part of my family. Its more to me than $$$$

way way way to many tools dont even remember what i actually have. dont even want to know how much ive spent. but i know one thing i will never quit buying more. ha ha MO

I'm with Mo, I'll never quit buying. Shh! Don't tell my wife, though.

Oh I am with MO to I will never quit buying tools they are just like my girl friend er" wife they all cost money! LOL!
62Blue
Don

...it just seems we always have to have more than one of everything. Short and long screwdrivers, short and long wrenches, short and long sockets, one of everything in a different drive size..... just to get started!!

Then the special sockets,wrenches, and of coarse,not only a set for work but a set for home..... .and don't forget the emergency set we ride around in the car with the spare serpentine belt, or alternator belt, or the used water pump belt for the long vacation drives.

....and lastly, the "little" set for wifey to keep in the house so she won't go plundering around in your tool box.

Achipmunk... I could not have said it better!!!

You just had to ask dint ya Don!
This July 01 I’ll hit the big seven O. You would think by now I would be looking for a
studio in an assisted living center where I could put my rocker outside the front door and
watch the world go by while I wait for the Grim Reaper.
But NOOOOOO…..I still feel the need more tools!!!!!

In my case I’ve really got all the hand tools and small power tools that I need or could
ever use. And as Alvin so noted, a spare set in every room. But now, late in life, I’m
getting down to the really Big tools that I’ve always wanted. This summer it looks like I
may be getting some of those really Big tools that I’ve always wanted but never felt I
could afford. What I’m talkin’ about are those really big expensive things that I think
I would classify as tools. When I look back I really regret not adding these to my tool box
when I was young enough to truly make use of them. I just never had the nerve to jump
into the deep water but now it’s time to take the plunge and cash in my chips.

This summer if all goes according to plan, I’m adding a low level ranch house instead of a
two story sky scraper to my life, that’s a tool that I’ll be using every day to make my life
easier. I’ll be doubling my workshop space, and that’s a tool that will make my life easier
cuz I won’t have to walk around side ways when I’m moving around the shop. I’m
finally gonna spring for a new Bend Pack 10,000lb lift and that’s a tool that I could have
used dang near every day. Been holding back but saving for four decades to get that really
big TP Tools sandblast cabinet, another tool that will get a bunch of use.
But the really, really big tool is my new spray booth. That is the 6.55 acres that all of this
other stuff sits in the middle of. A place away from the city where I can finally shoot
some paint on a fender without fear of being sued by my neighbors or where I can let the
grass grow up for a couple of weeks while I finish putting the engine back in without fear
of the city sending a cop out with a notice that they are gonna have the city crew come out
and mow if I don‘t do it twice a week.

So these are my “new” tools and I’m sure I’ll be adding a lot more to help with the
maintenance around the place and to make an old mans job a little easier. I don’t think in
my case tool buying will be over till it’s over.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Great commentary Denny. The ONE thing I regret not doing is building at least one side of my shop with a higher ceiling and putting in a LIFT. Its darn hard on my knees and back getting up and down, up and down. Just think how much more, and faster, you can get things done with a lift!!

Good luck Denny. All the best in your new world and if you really need me I'm wouldn't back down from coming up and helping you some. Just have the lady put on s pot of pinto's.

Tks Alvin, I'm sure you would if you were close enough. I got a lot of offers from the
guys here, only problem with havin' buddies on the internet is they’re all a day away from
where I live. Heck, Pete's always offering but even he's an hour and a half away, more
than that during rush hour.
I think all the Stovebolters that live with in walking distance are keeping a low profile, if
I found out they were close by they might really have to come over and help out.
I know what cha mean about crawling around the garage floor. My age is really starting to
hit home these last few years, that’s exactly why the lift is a must this time. I've been
sending the oil changes, brake jobs and such out since I hit retirement, just to much
trouble crawling around on the concrete. Maybe I can do enough of my own work again to
justify the two poster.

I'm gonna spring for a commercial blast cabinet and was thinking about putting an ad in
the local paper to blast anything that taint greasy or loaded with swamp mud and will fit
in the cabinet. The guys with the big blasters are getting upwards of a hundred bucks an
hour around here now. I think there might be a need for someone to do small parts at a
reasonable rate. You know, bring me you brake drums, backing plates and spindles and
get them back looking like new for a few bucks. I don’t need to get $100 bucks an hour
for my time.
Denny G

just added another tool today, picked up a metal band saw to try out. its vertical and horizontal so far its ok for an old craftsman model but i think its going to lead to a new model sitting in the garage and the craftsman back to storage.

Hey guys I know what you mean by crawling around on the cement. The old knees are just about wore out too after doing it for 41 years. There are times when I have to crawl over to the work bench to get off the floor. Have fun Denny enjoying the new tools.
62Blue
Don

With 6.5 acres to mow your gonna need at least a big ZT mower or maybe a tractor with a bushog. Now that'll cost ya' some coin but think of the fun you can haver blasting around the estate.

I had never even considered the farm machinery as tools until I see you guys start adding stuff in that won't fit in the toolbox unless the buildings are considered toolboxes. Oh darn.....now I'm in trouble cause I thing I just fried the adding machine.

Going back to Don's original question -- if you've invested in quality tools and equipment, I hope you know exactly what you own and how much it's worth -- for insurance and police (ID) purposes if nothing else I have photos of a lot of my higher end tools, as well. We track serial numbers, too, on our farm -- from the tractor to the portable water pumps and the weed eaters. Heck, even the Skil Saw and the air compressor.

Hopefully nothing will ever happen that I will need to show anyone the inventory or the photos, but it's peace of mind to know that we're prepared. And ultimately, it will help my grandchildren figure out just what they've inherited and not sell the Snap-on stuff for 25 cents at a yard sale ...

Some of the tools my grandchildren will receive will have been in the family for 6 generations at that point. Kinda cool! But how would you know if you didn't keep track?

Aloha,
John

That remonds me. I need to complete the inventory on my tools. My company won't cover any losses if I can't prove what I had. Back to the spread sheet..............

My shop is my largest and most expensive tool. I've been buying my tools since I was a teenager. Still doing it for after 40 some years.