Lost Tools Revisited

[The Medway Handyman]

Great post by Kevin, made me think:

It's not radiator keys with me, I sorted that by buying a dozen from Toolstation and secreting one in every toolbox or drawer I could think of. Doesn't completely solve the problem, but greatly increases the chances of finding at least one.

With me it's pencils. The very second I put one down it vanishes completely. I buy boxes of 50 from Staples, but I can still never find one.

Some manufacturers had the bright idea of making tape rules, stanley knives, levels etc in bright fluorescent colours so you could find them easily. I now have a toolbox full of brightly coloured tools and still can't find what I want.

I also solved the 'which power tool is plugged in where' mystery by attaching coloured insulating tape to each end of the flex. So the circular saw has red tape each end, the sander yellow/blue etc.

In another desperate attempt to get organised I keep each power tool in a suitably marked storage box. So the jigsaw box has all the bits; fences, blades, spanners, hex keys etc to go with the jigsaw. Manufacturers carry cases are often lacking in this respect. Plenty of space for the power tool, no room for the discs, blades, abrasive etc.

This Handyman malarkey has taught me a lot. Every job is different, needing different tools, nothing like doing a job at home. I solved this (hopefully) by having a 'standard' tool box with the stuff I know I'll probably need every day: level, tape, drill driver, adjustable spanners, screwdrivers, square, stanley knife, mole grips, saws, hammer, pry bar, clamps etc. This is supplemented by an organiser containing screws, fixings, drills, bits etc.

Then I have boxes for various tasks like plumbing, decorating, tiling, laminate flooring, electrics and such like.

I still occasionally arrive on site without the required kit, not too bad because I work in a fairly small but densely populated catchments area, so I can always go to a B&Q or back home if I need to.

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

So where's your car/house keys? never thought of putting one on the ring of the said keys?

You got small ears then?

You should buy a leather waist tool holder.

Considering you have a lot of tools? ever thought of making a wooden chest for all the large power tools,preferably on casters? makes life a lot easier saves the hassle of the customer getting miffed when you leave the job because you've left the kettle at home.

Dang! I hate disorganised workmen.

[Dave Fawthrop]

|With me it's pencils. The very second I put one down it vanishes completely. |I buy boxes of 50 from Staples, but I can still never find one.

I treat pencils, biros, and Morrisons plastic bags like air. We live in an infinite reservoir of air and breath it in and out as we need it. Similarly there is always a plastic bag, biro or pencil somewhere around to use. When I am done with them, I just put them down for the next person to find.

[Owain]

Kettle? I refer the Hon Usenaut to JCT Small Works Contract Form BA277/4 Rev 49A. Para G. 45.3.789 as undernoted:

"Welfare Arrangements: Customer shall supply not less than one litre of tea made with Extra Tannin Tea-Bags and six spoons of sugar per mug, and eight chocolate digestives or equivalent weight of custard creams or hobnobs, per hour per workman, with an additional one kitkat per half day per forman allowance. Customer failure to supply will be grounds for immediate removal of labour from site leaving bog disconnected with dire warnings about smells and rats."

Owain

[Guy King]

The message from "The Medway Handyman" contains these words:

When I had hair I used to park 'em behind my ear, but these days there's nothing to hold 'em in.

I used to know a bloke with an afro who used to park pens in his hair - and forget them.

[Guy King]

The message from Dave Fawthrop contains these words:

When I was a service bod for Rediffusion covering the West End I used to have a firm policy with biros. If the customer pissed me off I'd nick their biro. If they were pleasant I'd leave one behind.

At the end of a bad week opening the glovebox had to be done carefully in case I got washed away by the outpouring of biros.

[Guy King]

The message from John Stumbles contains these words:

I keep them on the back of the washing machine. They're out of the way, I know where they are and they're right next to where I might want to use 'em.

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

I see,so the MWH should do the same and go back home from a job to get the key behind the washing machine?

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

Have you tried the lug? should fit without any obstruction.

[meow2222]

I tried that with snap-off knives - and lost every single one!

I'm not convinced it would work. Most of us have lots of tools already, which arent fluorescent, and the fl ones are always extra-priced. I think its just another sales trick in the end.

clever. I used to write on the plug with a permanent marker.

do you buy those ali flight cases for that?

how do you deal with tool overlap? Many tools are useful for several skill areas.

NT

[Guy King]

The message from [e-mail] contains these words:

I had to label all mine recently 'cos it was getting silly sorting out which was which. But what I don't understand is why power tool makers all use black plugs. White plugs with a matt finish patch would be ideal.

[S Viemeister]

I've been using an inexpensive Brother label maker (bought from Costco). There's a choice of type size and style, and with a wide tape, I can even fit 4 lines of text.

[Owain]

No, he should take the washing machine with him along with the kettle, just in case the designer overalls get grubby.

Owain

[Lobster]

Yes, a tuit came home to roost at my place at the weekend - attaching labels to the ridiculously enormous pile of low-voltage wall-warts we've now accumulated (after offspring #2 almost managed to blow up a mobile phone by shoving the jack from the wrong PSU into the earphone socket...)

David

[Dave Fawthrop]

|Guy King wrote: |> The message |> from [e-mail] contains these words: |> |> |>>>I also solved the 'which power tool is plugged in where' mystery by |>>>attaching coloured insulating tape to each end of the flex. So the |>>>circular |>>>saw has red tape each end, the sander yellow/blue etc. |> |> |>>clever. I used to write on the plug with a permanent marker. |> |> |> I had to label all mine recently 'cos it was getting silly sorting out |> which was which. But what I don't understand is why power tool makers |> all use black plugs. White plugs with a matt finish patch would be |> ideal. | |Yes, a tuit came home to roost at my place at the weekend - attaching |labels to the ridiculously enormous pile of low-voltage wall-warts we've |now accumulated (after offspring #2 almost managed to blow up a mobile |phone by shoving the jack from the wrong PSU into the earphone socket...)

I have taken to writing Camera, Phone, STB, or whatever on the back of all wall-warts, just in case.

[Dave Fawthrop]

|Guy King wrote: |> |> I had to label all mine recently 'cos it was getting silly sorting out |> which was which. But what I don't understand is why power tool makers |> all use black plugs. White plugs with a matt finish patch would be |> ideal. |> |I've been using an inexpensive Brother label maker (bought from Costco). |There's a choice of type size and style, and with a wide tape, I can |even fit 4 lines of text.

I stick able-lables

onto *Everything* which may leave the house, get lost or anything at GBP4 per 1000 they are excellent value. We are now on our 10th thousand or thereabouts.

[meow2222]

black plastics are the cheapest, and I suppose its not a selling point.

NT

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

What a load of tosh,its because it compliments the cable ie if they used white cable they would put white plugs on and B&D use orange plugs to compliment their orange cable.

[Bob Eager]

"Hello, Mr Cable. May I say how nice you are looking today...so...Orange!"

:-)

[Matt]

I resorted to single letters

J for Jigsaw C for Circular saw M for (Fein) Multimaster O for orbital sander H for half sheet sander

Everything else is either cordless or big enough not to get mistaken for anything else.

Bosch jigsaws, the tool is great but the cases are absolutely bloody useless.

1) Designed so unless you add additional marking to the outside of the case so that 95.46% of the time you *will* open it up when it is upside down and spill the contents. 2) Designed for Euro mains plugs so cramming a UK 13A one in is always a struggle 3) Designed so the cable bends sharply just beyond the strain relief grommet 4) Designed so a Bosch 10 pack of assorted blades won't fit in unless it is carefully positioned on top of the mains cable but not too far over as a flimsy moulding in the top half of the case will stop the thing from shutting. 5) Designed so single jigsaw blades drop into small cavities and the only way to retrieve them is to turn the whole lot upside down (see 1) 6) Designed so the adjustable fence accessory won't fit in the case without very careful alignment otherwise you'll snap it in half.

Designed right the case would have tons more usable space inside, protect the tool better and not be any bigger externally.