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Jeff K
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« on: November 12, 2011, 03:13:02 PM » |
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I wanted a tool box out by my mill and lathe. I found a great deal on a brand new Craftsman tool box on CL, divorce sale! But, It is huge, and I only needed a small box in the "machine shop". So I decided to empty my small tool box and move it out, and keep the new big box in the "Bike shop", along with my other big tool box. It seemed so simple. It never is. I've been working on this for days. I decided to actually "organize" the tools as I shuffled them around. This is taking forever. AND I'm ending up with a pile of tools that just don't "fit". I hate to throw any tool away but something has to go!! And to top it all off the new wall cabinets I just put up a few weeks ago are 3" too low for the new box to fit under.  While emptying drawers I was finding all kinds of stuff I forgot I had, anyone need some intake gaskets for putting 351C heads on a 302??? ??? Plus doubles and triples of tools I thought I had lost and bought new. And why do I have 12 3/8" wrenches??? ??? Can a guy have too many tools, or tool boxes?  I would love to get to the point that I could close the lids? Really? Is that even possible?  |
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sugerbear
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« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2011, 03:32:24 PM » |
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sounds like a craiglist solution. you need at least three of everything though.  |
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Jeff K
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« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2011, 03:54:37 PM » |
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It seems I have an abundance of 3/8" wrenches Pounds and pounds of drill bits, most of which need sharpening Hole saws out the wazoo Oil filter wrenches of every type and size even though I can't remember when I ever need one taps, Boxes and boxes of taps More hammers than a hammer factory A variety of odd looking wrenches in very strange configurations Tool specific wrenches for grinders and saw of which I never used and most likely don't even own the tool anymore...  2 Plumb bobs? Why 2? Cuz I couldn't find the original under the hundreds of loose Allen wrenches that were piled on top of it. Why do I have hundreds of Allen wrenches??? |
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Grumpy
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« Reply #3 on: November 12, 2011, 04:18:30 PM » |
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I can relate to that, 4 tall boxes, 1 for the lathe and mill, the other 3 full of tools. As you say, 1 more then maybe I can close the lids. With all that, always seems like there is another tool I gotta have.  |
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 Life is like a hot bath. It feels good while you’re in it, but the longer you stay in, the more wrinkled you get. |
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #4 on: November 12, 2011, 04:44:03 PM » |
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Man you guys, I have tool envy.  Not counting a modest supply of carpentry-power tools stored elsewhere, my one box is smaller than any pictured, but I have pretty much everything I need to use on cars and bikes in there. I would like some 1/4" drive metric/sae allen sockets. |
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Jeff K
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« Reply #5 on: November 12, 2011, 05:03:20 PM » |
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Timing lights, yep I have two. Why? One dial back one without. Can a guy survive with just one? Screw drivers. I'll bet I could come up with a hundred of them. I keep buying new ones but the old ones "may come in handy" My biggest problem is the Craftsman screw drivers. Nothing wrong with them except... they smell like puke. Yep it's an issue with the plastic they used. They STINK. but I still have boxes full of them. I think it's a disease, Maybe I'm in a protected class? |
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #6 on: November 12, 2011, 05:09:32 PM » |
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My biggest problem is the Craftsman screw drivers. Nothing wrong with them except... they smell like puke Why Jeff, just put a little potpourri or scented candles in the boxes. 
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Jeff K
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« Reply #7 on: November 12, 2011, 05:14:08 PM » |
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My biggest problem is the Craftsman screw drivers. Nothing wrong with them except... they smell like puke Why Jeff, just put a little potpourri or scented candles in the boxes. No kidding! Google craftsman screwdrivers smelling I saw a post from a guy that took all of his back but the new ones smelled just as bad. If tools are going to have a smell they should smell like BACON!!  |
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BF
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« Reply #8 on: November 12, 2011, 06:18:44 PM » |
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I had a 1/4 drive socket set in it's own little grey box that stunk to high heavens. It smelled so bad that I finally threw it in the garbage. I did what your doing about 4 years ago when we moved to our current place. Finally got around to organizing 30+ years of my tools into one big box. I got a brand new Craftsman tall box with ball bearing slider drawers that most every hand tool I own fit in. It's six feet tall and I still can't get the lid closed. What I found to be a great drawer organizer that enabled me to make sets out of all of my sockets and wrenches was the red drawers from one of their plastic tool boxes. One of these......  http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_12602_00930792000P?keyword=plastic+tool+box&prdNo=6&blockNo=6&blockType=L6Those red drawers worked great. I already had a couple of those plastic tool boxes so it didn't cost me anything. I threw the black part of the box away and just kept the red drawers. The leftovers went to make a tool kit for my youngest son....or if they were really leftover, they went in the garbage. btw......I've still got my Craftsman timing light and dwell meter too. Don't have the heart to chunk 'em. |
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« Last Edit: November 12, 2011, 06:23:39 PM by BF »
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I can't help about the shape I'm in I can't sing, I ain't pretty and my legs are thin But don't ask me what I think of you I might not give the answer that you want me to  |
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The Anvil
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« Reply #9 on: November 12, 2011, 06:33:50 PM » |
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I've learned to minimize my tools. General Dynamics requires that mechanics keep strict inventory of all of their tools and shadow (cut out a foam imprint) them in the drawers. It's really nice in some ways because you can look in a drawer and instantly recognize when a tool is missing. On the other hand, it takes up space. I like to keep my box small because it sucks to roll a huge chest across two hangars or across a ramp in July to get to the plane you're working on so I've really had to get rid of stuff I don't use and be creative with how I arrange everything. My current employer (a General Dynamics subsidiary) doesn't require shadowing, but I'm loathe to toss out all of that hard work and I really do like it.
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Boxer rebellion, the Holy Child. They all pay their rent.
But none together can testify to the rhythm of a road well bent.
Saddles and zip codes, passports and gates, the Jones' keep.
In August the water is trickling, in April it's furious deep.
1997 Valk Standard, Red and White.
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Chrisj CMA
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« Reply #10 on: November 13, 2011, 05:02:47 AM » |
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So NEAT! Wouldnt you rather have them all where you can see them..........that way you dont have to search endless drawers and those plasic tray things, who has time to put them all back each time...LOL  |
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The Anvil
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« Reply #11 on: November 13, 2011, 06:31:19 AM » |
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So NEAT! Wouldnt you rather have them all where you can see them..........that way you dont have to search endless drawers and those plasic tray things, who has time to put them all back each time...LOL That makes me nervous just looking at it. |
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Boxer rebellion, the Holy Child. They all pay their rent.
But none together can testify to the rhythm of a road well bent.
Saddles and zip codes, passports and gates, the Jones' keep.
In August the water is trickling, in April it's furious deep.
1997 Valk Standard, Red and White.
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R J
Member
Posts: 13380
DS-0009 ...... # 173
Des Moines, IA
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« Reply #12 on: November 13, 2011, 06:55:52 AM » |
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Jeff you made me go look in my big ole box and kinda take a visual inventory.
I pulled open a drawer that hasn't been open in years....
In it I still have the old Model T and Model A tools I inherited from my great grandpa when he gave me a Model T for my 1st car.
Wife will probably pass them on to a grandson when I croak.
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44 Harley ServiCar   |
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Chrisj CMA
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« Reply #13 on: November 13, 2011, 08:04:30 AM » |
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Jeff you made me go look in my big ole box and kinda take a visual inventory.
I pulled open a drawer that hasn't been open in years....
In it I still have the old Model T and Model A tools I inherited from my great grandpa when he gave me a Model T for my 1st car.
Wife will probably pass them on to a grandson when I croak.
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greggh
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« Reply #14 on: November 13, 2011, 10:37:48 AM » |
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I know exactly what tools I have and were they are at.
It is just when I let my kids use them is when I get nervous and cant find it when I need it.
They mean well but they just do not have my mind set when it come to my tools.
I guess they are just lucky the did not inherit my neuroticisms.
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Fathertime
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« Reply #15 on: November 13, 2011, 08:09:18 PM » |
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Personally, I have two "rules"
1) The need of a tool is directly proportional to when you tossed a "junk one out and inversely proportional to the last time you saw it.
2) There is no such thing as too many tools!
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sugerbear
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« Reply #16 on: November 13, 2011, 08:54:56 PM » |
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how's this for an idea?
gather the tools that are in excess but usable, find a fellow vrcc'r who is just starting and has a limited budget, and make them a Christmas present.
i'm sure we have extra socket sets(i have two or three) to donate.
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Hedgehog
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« Reply #17 on: November 14, 2011, 02:31:26 AM » |
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It doesn't matter how many you have, whenever you want a PARTICULAR one - it'll vanish. All the ones you don;t want will be there, but the one you need..? Nope. Now why is that?  |
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Dave King
Proud owner of Honda Valkyrie F6C 1997 Standard
& owner of BigBikeMad.com
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hubcapsc
Member
Posts: 16789
upstate
South Carolina
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« Reply #18 on: November 14, 2011, 04:36:00 AM » |
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Why do I have hundreds of Allen wrenches???Find all the ones that fit the screw that holds on the center of the rear fender. Cut the short part halfway off, and sell them to people with rear-fender racks. I'll take one  ... -Mike
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #19 on: November 14, 2011, 08:24:49 AM » |
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When I rode a Harley, I had a fairly huge tool roll with almost everything I could possibly need (probably weighed 20 lbs).
When I got the Valk, I took the OE tool kit and put it in a small zipper bag, and added a few metrics, knife, tape, zip ties, bulbs, fuses.
And the only time I have used those tools is to help guys on Harleys and a BMW.
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