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

[Citydude]

The point of decision to trade my L2501 for an L4060 came when I started reshaping the 1600 foot road into my property. The L2501 just wasn't the tool for the job. The horsepower was there, the weight wasn't.

 

[Carl_NH]

I buy some new but search Craigslist and eBay for used tools - got a Powerarc 140 welder nearly new with tools and extras for $120. I needed a hammer drill 10 years ago and got a used Bosch 3/4" VSR Hammer drill and case including two boxes of bits on eBay for what the bits cost.

This week i needed to put up 500' of deer fence and needed to drive posts into rocky ground - got two new Dewalt and Bosch hammer bits -3/4x30" and 1.5" x18 total $60 for the bits and used the hammer drill to make pilot holes - made quick work to install the posts - so having the right tools makes the job go easier and faster.

 

[Scrambler82]

This thread changed to a Cell Phone Comment session... funny thing is the newer batteries have an option to check in on their charge level vis Cell Phone App.

I agree with the control of everyone could be in the Cell Phone but try to get along without one, that is IF you have been using one for a while. It is the type of thing the grows on you. I started out with a Flip Phone, it worked, got the job done, but the wife wanted something that she could Text with, get e-mails with... WTF ! We now have Android Based Phones, we text, we e-mail, and we check out the internet when necessary, all from the phone, especially when we are not at home. Funny, what did we do before Cell Phones.
Actually it is the best Navigation Tool I have... the Waze App, who would have thunk !

There was a program on TV suggesting Steven Jobs was in ca-hoots (sp), with aliens... LoL... funny stuff but maybe true.

The latest Cell Phones have more computing power than the computers that put a man on the moon, think on that one !
--------------- --------------------- ---------------
Back to the OP on Tools.
I purchased a 12 volt kit, two power tool and a few small accessories, a Drill/Driver and a small Reciprocating saw. Both of these tools have lasted as a good home tool but I went through the DeWalt Batteries in two years of use (Planned Obsolescence) and the 3 year old aftermarket batteries are giving some small problems, but the drill itself still seems to be a good tool at the right size and I am using the saw a little more now than when I purchased it.
The saw is an interesting tool, I thought is was going to be too small to get any work done, but on my remodel in SoCal it got in places where nothing else would, it also cut copper pipe without even knowing it was there, except for the water release when I got through the first side.
I now am thinking after reading some of the ReBar comments, that it would be a perfect tool for cutting the rebar and any other small metal needs in the field... except the thing about charging the batteries, that still is a problem, if I can't find 12 volts batteries !

Is there a Vehicle Charger for the 12volt power tool batteries, wait.. oh ya, DeWalt, in its infinite business wisdom, has stop making the 12 volts tools and the batteries will probably follow shortly. Why when a company finally makes a tool that is more than home use worthy, they decide to get rid of it... I'm guessing too much money to be made in the BIG TOOL business.

Lat comment, the DeWalt Batteries, they were working out well enough, as some have stated, charging one while working with the other... but that was for basic Home Use, when I took the tool to the Barn and started drilling through larger objects, steel and wood, and really put a strain on the tool and batteries, that's when the batteries started breaking down. So I'm guessing too or is that assuming, if I had left the Tool in my Wife's Tool Box, it would still be the perfect tool for home use.

Maybe I need to buy some 20V or the 60V Tool(s) and battery systems..., isn't that what the Tool Companies want !

Ltr

 

[4570Man]

The 20 volt Dewalt tools are infinitely better than the 12 volt of yesteryear. And the 18 volt line has been around at least a decade probably longer. It’s not that hard to get an adapter to use your same wall plug charger in a vehicle. Dewalt makes one for $30. I’ve never had the need for one but I’m sure you can get a generic 12 to 110 volt converter for a lot less. Find something else to whine about. Are you and your trusty 12 volt tools the same guy complaining that cordless tools don’t have enough power?

 

[downsizingnow48]

I keep an 18v Makita cordless setup at the Mendocino place where the work is heavier. I keep a 12v Bosch set at the Sacramento place where the work is lighter. Sometimes both are in the same place like this morning.

Both sets are 8-10 years old and work like new. Neither is bargain basement crud either.

I can't recall what I paid at the time, but the Bosch set (drill and impact driver) is available for a bit over a hundred dollars with two batteries and a charger, it is a heck of a deal. Totally reliable in steady homeowner use for years.

I also have two heavy duty Milwaukee corded drills for really heavy work, a 1/2' Magnum (30 yrs old) and 1/2" Hole Hawg (15 yrs old). And a corded Makita rotary hammer.

Have to match the tool to the work. That usually means having several similar tools where you could probably "make do" with one, but at a cost in effectiveness.

Which I think is part of what OP is getting at.

 

[jjp8182]

In my opinion we have turned a corner on cordless tools in the last few years. Yes with the older nicad or NiMh technology batteries, that was one level of usefulness, but with the newer high density Lithium batteries we seem to have a whole new level of usefulness and a whole new bunch of tools going to cordless. As battery chemistry continues to advance they will only get better.

I have a lot of tools, and often several versions of each. I saw a report today on the news that only 30 percent of millennial's even own a single hammer. They said over 93% of "baby boomers" own at least one. Heck fire, I own so many I would be hard pressed to count them all. I buy a new tool when I get frustrated with what ever I am "making do" with isn't working to the level I expect of it. Either that or something catches my eye when I am in the store.

As someone who may (or may not depending on the years included) be a "Millennial" I'm having a hard time comprehending not owning multiple hammers: a claw hammer at a bare minimum (though a framing hammer can be handy to have as well), at least one engineer hammer/mini sledge, a dead blow hammer (preferably one with interchangeable/replaceable faces), a rubber/wood mallet, a full size sledge (or two) of at least 8lbs

.....and that's not even getting into the more specialized hammers/striking tools like rigging axes, and tinner's hammers.

Granted there are a large number of Millennial that probably wouldn't pick up a hammer even if they did own one.... though for that matter, I've also run across a fair number of Gen X'ers and Baby Boomer's that wouldn't either :thumbdown:

As for cordless, I've pretty much switched over to them for most hand held power tools. Nice thing is most of the major brands seem to have settled on their lithium battery designs so it's not likely a tool bought this year will be using a battery design that will be obsolete next year. In fact I think I've been growing my collection of Makita cordless tools for the last several years. I think the Makita LXT battery/tool interface has remained compatible every since it was introduced in 2005 (I had to look that up, since I didn't seem it could have been that long ago that LXT tools were available).

 

[4570Man]

As someone who may (or may not depending on the years included) be a "Millennial" I'm having a hard time comprehending not owning multiple hammers: a claw hammer at a bare minimum (though a framing hammer can be handy to have as well), at least one engineer hammer/mini sledge, a dead blow hammer (preferably one with interchangeable/replaceable faces), a rubber/wood mallet, a full size sledge (or two) of at least 8lbs

.....and that's not even getting into the more specialized hammers/striking tools like rigging axes, and tinner's hammers.

Granted there are a large number of Millennial that probably wouldn't pick up a hammer even if they did own one.... though for that matter, I've also run across a fair number of Gen X'ers and Baby Boomer's that wouldn't either :thumbdown:

As for cordless, I've pretty much switched over to them for most hand held power tools. Nice thing is most of the major brands seem to have settled on their lithium battery designs so it's not likely a tool bought this year will be using a battery design that will be obsolete next year. In fact I think I've been growing my collection of Makita cordless tools for the last several years. I think the Makita LXT battery/tool interface has remained compatible every since it was introduced in 2005 (I had to look that up, since I didn't seem it could have been that long ago that LXT tools were available).

I don’t think any of the major manufacturers have changed the main platform since the Nicad swap and that was a decade ago. They’re definitely not obsolete in a year like some here claim. I don’t think they’re going to make a major change anytime soon either. I’m sure improvements will come probably not at the rate of the last 10 years but making a major design change would be suicide for the company at this point.

 

[k0ua]

As someone who may (or may not depending on the years included) be a "Millennial" I'm having a hard time comprehending not owning multiple hammers: a claw hammer at a bare minimum (though a framing hammer can be handy to have as well), at least one engineer hammer/mini sledge, a dead blow hammer (preferably one with interchangeable/replaceable faces), a rubber/wood mallet, a full size sledge (or two) of at least 8lbs

.....and that's not even getting into the more specialized hammers/striking tools like rigging axes, and tinner's hammers.

Granted there are a large number of Millennial that probably wouldn't pick up a hammer even if they did own one.... though for that matter, I've also run across a fair number of Gen X'ers and Baby Boomer's that wouldn't either :thumbdown:

As for cordless, I've pretty much switched over to them for most hand held power tools. Nice thing is most of the major brands seem to have settled on their lithium battery designs so it's not likely a tool bought this year will be using a battery design that will be obsolete next year. In fact I think I've been growing my collection of Makita cordless tools for the last several years. I think the Makita LXT battery/tool interface has remained compatible every since it was introduced in 2005 (I had to look that up, since I didn't seem it could have been that long ago that LXT tools were available).

You forgot the little brass and plastic hammers for gunsmith and reloading in the "gun room" Also the little 8 oz and 16 oz claw hammers in the kitchen etc. Tractor toolbox hammer?

 

[Scrambler82]

The 20 volt Dewalt tools are infinitely better than the 12 volt of yesteryear. And the 18 volt line has been around at least a decade probably longer. It痴 not that hard to get an adapter to use your same wall plug charger in a vehicle. Dewalt makes one for $30. I致e never had the need for one but I知 sure you can get a generic 12 to 110 volt converter for a lot less. Find something else to whine about. Are you and your trusty 12 volt tools the same guy complaining that cordless tools don稚 have enough power?

Although I am more of a Corded Guy than a battery type, the 12 volt Drill/Driver unit I am using now, which is only one of three battery operated tool, an the one that I do operate the most, IF the wife let me use it, LoL, has a Can Motor with a 12 volts Max battery that is similar to the 20 Max volts batteries and uses the same charger, I think it may have been the first of the MAX Tools. Too bad I will have to give it up sooner than later because it can't last forever.

I didn't think about a 12 to 120 volt convert, thanks, I will take look at it !

Not falling back too much on the idea of Cored only... I will probably HAVE to get another Battery operated Drill when this one decides to pass on, I have heard the new DeWalt 20 volt and the Multi Max Batteries are far better and of course the new higher voltage drills have good sized Can Motors with full circular batteries... which are suppose to be better.

My third Battery Tool, the DeWalt Grease Gun, which I haven't mentioned before this but it is a great tool and operates off the 20V Max System. I got it because I needed something to grease the Tractor, sometime out in the field when I am using the Backhoe or even the FEL and the tractor starts talking to me and lets me know I forgot the grease or just more Grease Please. So rather than break down the setup, I go back to the barn and get the Portable Grease Gun. I use it with the Locking Head, can't pull the name out of the brain this AM, but no matter this DeWalt Battery Powered Grease Gun has more than enough OOppph, with the Locking Grease Head... to power through just about any greasing situation and blast through frozen grease fitting than I will ever need. AND as much as I don't like saying it... no cords to get in the way when you need to get under the Tractor or in-between everything else that hangs or lift, or just moves on the tractor.

Ltr

p.s. I found the Locking Head's name... "LockNLube Grease Coupler"... another great innovation, in the greasing world. Wait a minute, that ANOTHER tool !

 

[Scrambler82]

OK I need to add something... !
I re-read a few postings about the "Millennial", and my son-in-law, 36, is, but not sure, a "Millennial" but I think it still fits, and he doesn't own any tools except a 20 volt DeWalt Drill/Driver.
I offered him a used, but in great condition, Roll-Around Tool Cabinet, Craftsman, and he said, what will I do with that.:laughing:
My daughter on the other hand said yes, so I brought it to them and put it in their garage, six months later took it back home because they decided they had no need for it... because they had nothing to put in it. Funny how my daughter, brought up with tools galore, doesn't need more than one to get by, maybe that a good thing.
She does call me often to come fix things but will not take the time to watch what I was doing to do it herself next time, nor would her husband unless it is something that matter to him, but it is what it is. Growing up she never wanted to come in the Garage too dirty, or now in the barn she walks in, avoiding everything that might be dirty, says hi and leaves. She too is 36, that must have been the start of the "Millennial" evolution !

Although I don't understand not needing some tools, I do understand if they don't fix things, why bother having tools.

Me, I couldn't get along without them, my Granddaughter brings all of her toys to me to fix, she calls the Barn the "Toy Fix-It Shop", :cool2:, OK by me.

Thanks for reading again.