At what point do you justify buying more tools vs making do with what you already hav

[4570Man]

Most of my stationary shop equipment has been acquired used over years. For hand held stuff with the exception of a wheelbarrow load of Makita stuff that I bought at an auction most of it has been bought new.

 

[searcyfarms]

every tool i own has been paid for by jobs i did that i didnt pay someone else to do, then i do another job and use that wrench or tool and am paying for it again, i scour garage sales/flea markets for those bargins you find once in a while as well as craigslist and family events or even neighbors when we have gatherings, its a heck of a way to get stuff and save money, i just repaired my wifes car with my torch the dealership wanted 1200 to 1500 to repair that was their estimate - how much did it cost me? a stick of brazing rod/oxy acet torch and about 2 hours labor start to finish - that paid for my torch about 4 times over. not to mention all the other jobs i have done with it in the past 25 yrs.

I have another job coming up that will pay for the tools i need for it also so i am taking my time finding deals and saving bday money and cmas money and getting gift cards all lined up HA!!! its like a true treasure hunt, i will also be scouring while on vacation this summer for those great deals

 

[JakeLS]

I occasionally buy a tool I forgot I had... usually I run across it 2-3 days after I've finished the job with the new one.

I occasionally run across a tool i forgot i had..

 

[MossRoad]

When my dad passed away, I went through his tools. I made 4 piles of many identical tools, kept 1 pile for myself, and gave another pile to each of my brother-in-laws.

I also have two 6 drawer toolboxes that are almost identical in content. One was for home, the other for my job. When I "got retired" (jobs outscourced) I brought my work tools home and there they sit right next to each other.

 

[aczlan]

I occasionally buy a tool I forgot I had... usually I run across it 2-3 days after I've finished the job with the new one.

I often experience that when I can't find a tool, it shows up a few days or weeks after I purchase it's replacement.

Aaron Z

 

[mikester]

Definitely buy more tools!

It will make you feel good and you can fill the garage to the rafters with feel good. Then build a new garage for more feel good.

Don't worry about buying more tools, when you die there will be a nice auction and your family will remember your collection. Cheap ***** tire kickers will come in like vultures looking to score a deal to fill their garages with feel good. Now the joy has doubled.

Better than cash in the bank. Embrace the circle of life.

 

[Jaylegger]

Buying a new tool motivates me to do something with it for a week or two. It's a small window so I have to work fast. Most jobs I do myself is justification to buy something else with the money savings. I now have a garage full of tools and 3/4 done projects./

 

[k0ua]

I don't think I'd even try to cut rebar with bolt cutters. Recip saw is my choice there. There's another thread about switching to battery tools and why people did or didn't make that choice.

Battery powered angle grinder with slitting disk works faster than recip saw. Makes more sparks though. But is easier on the operator.

 

[Gary Fowler]

If it痴 a easy choice of I need the tool to do the job I値l buy the tool and usually top quality. I also buy a lot of tools and have no issues with it. For this instance I already have the drill in the first picture but I want the drill in the second picture. I don稚 use the monster toque drill very often so I probably won稚 end up buying one. View attachment 607937View attachment 607938

Why would someone want a battery powered super heavy duty drill. Regardless of size of battery (assuming it is small enough to carry around on the drill motor), power drain would be enormous with a big drill bit thus limiting it to a very few holes per battery. I have seen a battery powered table saw, but is it worth anything to a professional or even amateur carpenter who makes hundreds of cuts per day. One would still need a generator or permanent power to charge the batteries (or pay a small inheritance to buy extra batteries), so why not just use a 120v saw to start.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I often experience that when I can't find a tool, it shows up a few days or weeks after I purchase it's replacement.

Aaron Z

I do that with small (non powered) tools all the time. I will search for them, knowing I have one but not finding it, then buy a new one, finish the task, then find the old one when I decide where I want to keep this new one. The old one is usually right there in plain sight when I do find it.