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How many tools is enough?
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 9:03 am
by ndevans
I know you can never have too many, before anyone says it!
I have got probably hundreds of spanners and the like

. So what does the hive mind think is a sensible number? 2 of each size? Same with screwdrivers-2 each of Phillips, Pozi & flat, in a range of sizes?
Your thoughts please!

Re: How many tools is enough?
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 10:10 am
by sid
depends how many vehicles you are trying to restore/keep going,and how many garages/sheds full of old wrecks/classic vehicles you have! i've got 3 cars and 3 motorcycles and presently fitting a sidecar onto my 1958 Matchless..spanners everywhere

Re: How many tools is enough?
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 10:34 am
by ndevans
There must be a golden ratio of spanners, screwdrivers etc to cars.
Re: How many tools is enough?
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 11:30 am
by philthehill
The number and type of tool(s) required depends upon what depth of repair you are going to undertake and what car/vehicle you are repairing.
Most of the tools I have are as a result of needing them to carry out repairs. There are lots of tools I would like but would never use and therefore could not justify the outlay.
I always try and get good quality tools as they then last and do not distort. Britool tools are my favourite with Sykes Pickavant for the specialised tools.
Re: How many tools is enough?
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 12:08 pm
by les
Get a stall at a boot fair, you’ll never use that many !
Re: How many tools is enough?
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 12:21 pm
by jagnut66
I know you can never have too many, before anyone says it!
You've already answered you own question!
Best wishes,
Mike.
Re: How many tools is enough?
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 5:08 pm
by ianmack
You can’t have too many tools, the secret is to store them fairly methodically so you can find them when you need them.
Re: How many tools is enough?
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 7:18 pm
by philthehill
Now where did I put that L/H thread widget remover. Looks like the borrowers have been here again.

Re: How many tools is enough?
Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2020 7:48 am
by ndevans
ianmack wrote: ↑Sun Oct 04, 2020 5:08 pm
You can’t have too many tools, the secret is to store them fairly methodically so you can find them when you need them.
Yes, I guess that is the key to it. Organising so you know what you've got and where it is, then you don't spend ages looking for something you haven't got.
Re: How many tools is enough?
Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2020 9:05 am
by geoberni
ndevans wrote: ↑Mon Oct 05, 2020 7:48 am
ianmack wrote: ↑Sun Oct 04, 2020 5:08 pm
You can’t have too many tools, the secret is to store them fairly methodically so you can find them when you need them.
Yes, I guess that is the key to it. Organising so you know what you've got and where it is, then you don't spend ages looking for something you haven't got.
I only look for things that I've got.... the problem is sometimes a case of where did I put it after the last time I used it, when I decided to 'put it somewhere safe' to make it easier to find next time.....

Re: How many tools is enough?
Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2020 9:27 am
by Myrtles Man
Then of course there's the problem of the garage fairies who delight in hiding your tools and only reveal their whereabouts once you've gone to the expense of buying replacements...
Re: How many tools is enough?
Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2020 10:27 am
by Pete Bags
Myrtles Man wrote: ↑Mon Oct 05, 2020 9:27 am
Then of course there's the problem of the garage fairies who delight in hiding your tools and only reveal their whereabouts once you've gone to the expense of buying replacements...
I've definitely got some of those in my garage!

Re: How many tools is enough?
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 7:44 pm
by martin418
simple answer you can't have too many tools it's a man thing !! as a simple creature a box of spanners = happy therefore problem solved
Re: How many tools is enough?
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 9:34 pm
by les
If you’re saying you can’t have too many Different tools then maybe yes but you can have too many duplicate tools.
Re: How many tools is enough?
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 9:34 pm
by woodiesenfrance
martin418 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2020 7:44 pm
simple answer you can't have too many tools it's a man thing !! as a simple creature a box of spanners = happy therefore problem solved
Disagree, sorry, but only on the grounds that it is not a 'man' thing!
I enjoy sewing and cooking as well as moggying, and I have more kitchen and sewing bits and pieces, the equivalent of car tools and spare parts, than I need regularly. Ditto for those of my friends who knit or do whatever craftwork, or garden. I have two darning mushrooms, but would I throw the spare away even though I hardly ever do any darning? No way!
You always need spares of regular bits, even if the spares are sub-standard compared to your regular tools they can get you through a job when you snap the end off your thingummy trying to undo a whatnot on a Sunday.
Re: How many tools is enough?
Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2020 11:09 am
by martin418
it was meant as a joke just to try and raise a smile in this crazy world .it was not aimed at a specific gender group
Re: How many tools is enough?
Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2020 1:26 pm
by woodiesenfrance
No offence taken!

Re: How many tools is enough?
Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2020 6:19 pm
by moggiethouable
My problem is, just when I think I dont need anything else, someone invents something that "will come in handy even if it never gets used"
Re: How many tools is enough?
Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2020 7:38 pm
by philthehill
What does it do other than be the tool you need but never use?
Re: How many tools is enough?
Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2020 7:10 am
by moggiethouable
You put your ratchet in one end and attach a socket to the other.
I once needed to get at a gearbox mounting bolt and simply could not get in up against a bulkhead.
With this I snapped a socket on and drove it from the other end, it is very simply a toothed belt drive in a nice housing Phil.