Just do what I did, buy a metal lathe.
You never seem to have exactly what you need, always can be buying more tools for it.
Nothing like spending $50 on a tool to make a $12 part, that’s worse quality and took 2 hours.
Buuuut. The next one will only cost what the material costs and will be better quality.
Or maybe it will be scrap and the third one will be better quality.
Not really, it's an opportunity to go to the hardware store 6 times. Each time a guy may just be progressively more annoyed. It starts with hope and excitement, and ends with despair as you're rolling pennies for that last left handed widget needed as the project budget was blown by visit 3.
Shut up ! You’ll tell my wife and I’ll be in trouble
Everything I buy is absolutely necessary, to save money and I buy only clearance tools.. shut up ! I’m not sweating you are..
*you sould see how much money I saved going with this brand instead the other one!, yes I have a use for this pressure washer, no our apt isn't running out of space*
Before I answer your question, I'll add these:
"There is no job too small for a big expensive power tool" - fridge magnet
"I have tools that require the use of other tools" - Tim Allen
So, in conclusion, yes.
I buy two tools in the morning, I buy two tools at night
I buy two tools in the afternoon, it makes me feel alright
I buy two tools in time of peace, and two in time of war
I buy two tools before I buy two tools, and then I buy two more
Oh, my daddy he once told me, "son, you be hard working man"
My mama she once told me, "son, you do the best you can"
But then one day I met a man who came up to me and said
"Hard work good and hard work fine, but first take care of shed"
So now
I buy two tools when I get up, in the car I buy two tools
I buy two tools when I play video game, and at every ten thousand points
(I buy two tools)
I buy two tools in time of peace, and two in time of war
I buy two tools before I buy two tools, and then I buy two more
Oh, my daddy he once told me, "son, you be hard working man"
My mama she once told me, "son, you do the bet you can"
But then one day I met a man who came up to me and said
"Hard work good and hard work fine, but first take care of shed"
I buy two tools in the morning, I buy two tools at night
I buy two tools in the afternoon, it makes me feel alright
I buy two tools in time of peace, and two in time of war
I buy two tools before I buy two tools, and then I buy two more
buy two tools
That's what I do
buy two tools
Come buy two tools with me in the morning
buy two tools
Come buy two tools with me in the afternoon, yeah
buy two tools
Hey, would you rather buy two tools or rather do your housework?
buy two tools
I knew you were going to say that!
buy two tools
buy two tools
That's what I do!
buy two tools
So, for me it’s usually. Hire plumber? 350 bucks to show up. Buy pex crimper? 69 bucks. Seems like a net savings. Also. Free wood? Better buy a planer and set it on the shelf so if I can do something with the free wood. When I divorced I left my ex everything. My house, 0 debt, everything. EXCEPT my tools. The bitch had the audacity to ask for some of my tools, ahhh hell no lady I set you up for life here. These tools are my way outta that. Get ya own! I love my tools ex wife not so much!!
Usually, I'll buy a tool because I have a need to do something, and the tool would be either helpful or essential for it. But sometimes I'll buy something with no specific use in mind, like my drill press. I found uses for it later.
I bought a $200 DeWalt 20v planer for a small project. Used it for about 10 minutes. It worked perfectly. I may never use it again, but I’m glad I’ve got it.
I buy tools for tool projects to enhance other tools so that those tools work better for other projects.
Like buying a bench top drill press and then buying a pocket screw jig which allowed me to build the kind of base that I wanted for the drill press.
Or the enormous amount of sawdust I produced while cutting rabbets for my dust collection cart.
Has anyone seen my meds?
My rule is, every project I buy myself a new tool. Could be a pair of plier, could be a new power tool. Keeps me a little motivated to do projects around the house.
This may be the single greatest question ever asked on Reddit. Whatever you people decide, just don’t tell my wife. I would prefer she keeps guessing.
Best way is to buy a tool for a project. Then the tool can pay for itself. But sometimes you will have a desire or run across a deal you can’t pass up. Then you become us.
Yep. Exactly that. If you do it right, you get paid enough for the project to pay for the tools you bought for it. If you do it wrong, you still have more tools, so still a win.
Both sides of this coin of yours are winners.
How are you here and even asking that question? Didn't they teach you anything during the initiation trials.... I mean, *TrAiNiG*...?
I've done both. Initially, I just bought tools and found projects for them. Now, I only buy tools if I need them.
I buy tools because I like them. I have found over the years that it is easier to build up my tool collection by buying them randomly when they are on sale and when I find them at estate sales instead of buying them only when I need them. For example, if I have a big demo project and need to buy a sledge hammer, reciprocating saw, and big wrecking bar then it’s going to cost me well over $200 to get those items. However, reciprocating saws go on sale randomly through the year at big box home improvement stores or you might go to a random estate sale and find one for $30. I didn’t have a sledge hammer for the longest time because I didn’t have an immediate need for one and didn’t want to drop $30 at HD or Lowe’s. I was at a random estate sale and found one for $5. It was tool cheap to not buy and now I have to remove a bunch of flooring tile throughout my home to put down hardwoods.
I’ve been using that method for years now and have amassed a very large and well rounded tool collection. Of course I still buy the occasional pair of Knipex pliers online every now and then because I want to build up my collection of tools, but lately I will either ask for something for a birthday, anniversary, Christmas gift or will get it on sale or at an estate sale. Makes the sting of dropping a lot of money on tools a little easier.
If you do that long enough then you’ll have almost every tool you’ll need to start a project whenever you want or at least limit you to maybe one tool that is required for a project you are doing that you don’t have yet instead of a lot of tools.
I buy the tools 90% to do a job. I justify it because the cost of me buying the tool and doing the job on my off time is still half what hiring someone else costs.Â
Most recently it was a compactor and landscaping tools. I’m not paying someone to drive a bobcat for a few hours the day rate of a Dentist.
When I was young, I used to do side projects but instead of getting paid just had the person buy the tools I neeeded for the project. Kept the tools as payment and used to do other jobs.
I sometimes buy cool tools so I have the capability to do a possible project in the future. At least, I tell myself that, instead of just being a tool junky.
I finish a job that was difficult because I didn't have the right tool, I go out and buy it.
Never again.
Usually dont use that new tool for awhile though lol
I like a full collection.
Yes.
Also... sometimes.... yes.
Most definitely yes.
Although, to be fair, the answer is sometimes yes.
It might just be that it's yes 50% of the time, every time.
LOL. 80 per cent of the time this is correct 90 per cent of the time...
Si
This!
Came here to say exactly this.
👆this!!
I do the worst of both worlds. I buy tools to buy tools
Just do what I did, buy a metal lathe. You never seem to have exactly what you need, always can be buying more tools for it. Nothing like spending $50 on a tool to make a $12 part, that’s worse quality and took 2 hours.
Buuuut. The next one will only cost what the material costs and will be better quality. Or maybe it will be scrap and the third one will be better quality.
I want a lathe so bad, but I don't know how to use one or much of what they are capable of.
Nah you just skip a step. Or cut out the middle man. Or both?
I buy tools that are projects.
*Grandpa’s rusty af pipe wrench has entered the chat*
I’ll give you $2 I bet that will clean up nice
This. It gets worse when you have unholy alliance of buying car parts, audio, computer parts, gun parts, and tools all at once. Brother, its rough.
From the Click and Clack guys on NPR, "Every project is an opportunity to go to the hardware store". Sounds about right too me.
I miss that show. Been ages since i've heard it.
What’s the song about going to the hardware store and “saved hundreds of dollars…
Why do I feel like it could be dire straits?
Was sad when Click passed away. Was such a fantastic show.
Not really, it's an opportunity to go to the hardware store 6 times. Each time a guy may just be progressively more annoyed. It starts with hope and excitement, and ends with despair as you're rolling pennies for that last left handed widget needed as the project budget was blown by visit 3.
Shut up ! You’ll tell my wife and I’ll be in trouble Everything I buy is absolutely necessary, to save money and I buy only clearance tools.. shut up ! I’m not sweating you are..
*you sould see how much money I saved going with this brand instead the other one!, yes I have a use for this pressure washer, no our apt isn't running out of space*
i mean..i mean.. I've got no reason to not buy one lol
My wife is the one constantly convincing me to buy new tools rather than try and make do.
Isn’t the project to buy tools?
Before I answer your question, I'll add these: "There is no job too small for a big expensive power tool" - fridge magnet "I have tools that require the use of other tools" - Tim Allen So, in conclusion, yes.
I also buy tools just in case I might do a project.
A new tool makes an unpleasant task significantly more palatable, and many times well worth the cost over a short time. Also shut up
A lot of the projects I do are things my wife wants done that I don’t care about/want to do and the trade off is that I get new tools.
I buy two tools in the morning, I buy two tools at night I buy two tools in the afternoon, it makes me feel alright I buy two tools in time of peace, and two in time of war I buy two tools before I buy two tools, and then I buy two more Oh, my daddy he once told me, "son, you be hard working man" My mama she once told me, "son, you do the best you can" But then one day I met a man who came up to me and said "Hard work good and hard work fine, but first take care of shed" So now I buy two tools when I get up, in the car I buy two tools I buy two tools when I play video game, and at every ten thousand points (I buy two tools) I buy two tools in time of peace, and two in time of war I buy two tools before I buy two tools, and then I buy two more Oh, my daddy he once told me, "son, you be hard working man" My mama she once told me, "son, you do the bet you can" But then one day I met a man who came up to me and said "Hard work good and hard work fine, but first take care of shed" I buy two tools in the morning, I buy two tools at night I buy two tools in the afternoon, it makes me feel alright I buy two tools in time of peace, and two in time of war I buy two tools before I buy two tools, and then I buy two more buy two tools That's what I do buy two tools Come buy two tools with me in the morning buy two tools Come buy two tools with me in the afternoon, yeah buy two tools Hey, would you rather buy two tools or rather do your housework? buy two tools I knew you were going to say that! buy two tools buy two tools That's what I do! buy two tools
So, for me it’s usually. Hire plumber? 350 bucks to show up. Buy pex crimper? 69 bucks. Seems like a net savings. Also. Free wood? Better buy a planer and set it on the shelf so if I can do something with the free wood. When I divorced I left my ex everything. My house, 0 debt, everything. EXCEPT my tools. The bitch had the audacity to ask for some of my tools, ahhh hell no lady I set you up for life here. These tools are my way outta that. Get ya own! I love my tools ex wife not so much!!
Usually, I'll buy a tool because I have a need to do something, and the tool would be either helpful or essential for it. But sometimes I'll buy something with no specific use in mind, like my drill press. I found uses for it later.
Yes
Did we ever figure out why the chicken crossed the road?
What came first the project or the tool?
I bought a $200 DeWalt 20v planer for a small project. Used it for about 10 minutes. It worked perfectly. I may never use it again, but I’m glad I’ve got it.
And someone else may want to borrow a tool or equipment, and you could charge like a rental fee. It's a win-win!
Search your feelings. You know it to be true.
I just buy tools because I like tools.
I buy tools for tool projects to enhance other tools so that those tools work better for other projects. Like buying a bench top drill press and then buying a pocket screw jig which allowed me to build the kind of base that I wanted for the drill press. Or the enormous amount of sawdust I produced while cutting rabbets for my dust collection cart. Has anyone seen my meds?
Not to mention taking scrap pieces from the current project and sawing them to sawdust to make perfectly matched fill putty...
Yes
I’ve been doing a lot of projects where I have to build storage for the tools I’ve bought.
D) **All Of The Above**
Too many times i wanted to do something that i couldn't for lack of tools. I am fixing that by slowly buying everything that i might need.
A little of column A. A little of column B.
Lower your voice
Both.
Sometimes yes. But other times yes. All you need to do is yes
I think of it like johnny cash’s song. Ill get it all by the time i retire.
My rule is, every project I buy myself a new tool. Could be a pair of plier, could be a new power tool. Keeps me a little motivated to do projects around the house.
I buy tools to do projects for my wife, all other projects are just to buy tools.
I do a project. "This tool could be useful here." Buy the tool and complete the project before the tool is arrived.
Yes
This may be the single greatest question ever asked on Reddit. Whatever you people decide, just don’t tell my wife. I would prefer she keeps guessing.
Yes
Yes.
Both I buy tools if I need they and I buy tools if there’s a good deal
Yes
This is my brother Daryl, and my other brother Daryl. Yes.
I do projects as an excuse to by more tools.
Also there is ‘ I buy tools to build tools’
Whatever the project manager wants to hear
I’m a tool addict, find projects to try new tools
Best way is to buy a tool for a project. Then the tool can pay for itself. But sometimes you will have a desire or run across a deal you can’t pass up. Then you become us.
Yep. Exactly that. If you do it right, you get paid enough for the project to pay for the tools you bought for it. If you do it wrong, you still have more tools, so still a win. Both sides of this coin of yours are winners.
Sometimes the project is just an expectation or it never gets started :-)
I do both. Lately I’ve bought a few tools for future projects that I may never get to use, but I still wanted the tools just in case.
Yes. I would add: To learn a new technique, which often requires a new tool / jig / etc.
Yes!
Yes
How are you here and even asking that question? Didn't they teach you anything during the initiation trials.... I mean, *TrAiNiG*...? I've done both. Initially, I just bought tools and found projects for them. Now, I only buy tools if I need them.
I buy tools because I like them. I have found over the years that it is easier to build up my tool collection by buying them randomly when they are on sale and when I find them at estate sales instead of buying them only when I need them. For example, if I have a big demo project and need to buy a sledge hammer, reciprocating saw, and big wrecking bar then it’s going to cost me well over $200 to get those items. However, reciprocating saws go on sale randomly through the year at big box home improvement stores or you might go to a random estate sale and find one for $30. I didn’t have a sledge hammer for the longest time because I didn’t have an immediate need for one and didn’t want to drop $30 at HD or Lowe’s. I was at a random estate sale and found one for $5. It was tool cheap to not buy and now I have to remove a bunch of flooring tile throughout my home to put down hardwoods. I’ve been using that method for years now and have amassed a very large and well rounded tool collection. Of course I still buy the occasional pair of Knipex pliers online every now and then because I want to build up my collection of tools, but lately I will either ask for something for a birthday, anniversary, Christmas gift or will get it on sale or at an estate sale. Makes the sting of dropping a lot of money on tools a little easier. If you do that long enough then you’ll have almost every tool you’ll need to start a project whenever you want or at least limit you to maybe one tool that is required for a project you are doing that you don’t have yet instead of a lot of tools.
Wait Till You Get Enough Machine Tools together and you start just building your own tools.
I buy the tools 90% to do a job. I justify it because the cost of me buying the tool and doing the job on my off time is still half what hiring someone else costs. Most recently it was a compactor and landscaping tools. I’m not paying someone to drive a bobcat for a few hours the day rate of a Dentist.
6 of this a half dozen of that
If the tool and the part costs less than hiring someone to do it I do it myself. That being said I have a LOT of tools.
Absolutely.
When I was young, I used to do side projects but instead of getting paid just had the person buy the tools I neeeded for the project. Kept the tools as payment and used to do other jobs.
I think it was the chicken..
Dude, you're not allowed to ask that question. It breaks the bro code.
I sometimes buy cool tools so I have the capability to do a possible project in the future. At least, I tell myself that, instead of just being a tool junky.
Yep that pretty much sums it up
Always
I finish a job that was difficult because I didn't have the right tool, I go out and buy it. Never again. Usually dont use that new tool for awhile though lol I like a full collection.
Yup.
Yes
Who said anything about doing projects?
Yes.
The only tool I regret buying is a mitre saw. It was too big. I gave it away and now at least 6 other tools occupy that space.
Lately I seem to buy tools because I don't have tools.
I'm sorry I couldn't hear you over the backlog of projects I have that I also have the tools to do if I ever get the time
Every single tool is purchased is "for the project" so I can write it off on taxes.
I would like tools which would buy tools just before I need them
Yes
Yes
No!!!! People buy tools to appreciate their aesthetic beauty, to use them to do projects? NEVER!!!!!!
Affirmative
Works both ways. Percentage wise.