TerryB Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Did you ever get that question from your significant other as you went out to buy "just this one more wrench"? I did, but it helped that my father-in-law was a Snap-On dealer so he had all the right come back lines to share with me. Anyway, he would have been a poor soul if our significant others had seen this list in a 1921 tool and garage supply catalog. It seems we only need about 5 to get the job done. The catalog is Waterhouse & Lester Co in San Francisco CA who also were known for making wood wheels on the west coast. Terry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Frazee Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 How many wrenches do you need? How many socks do you need? How many pairs of underwear do you need? For each question, the answer would be "a drawer-full." 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hidden_hunter Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 The Cadillac shop manual lists something like 30 different tools required to work on your car (which of course you can't buy anymore) and most of them are tools to work around questionable design choices (e.g they put a stud in the way so you can't get a regular spanner on it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikefit Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 I told my wife it's like the Avon Lady you have to buy something each week or they will never stop again. Worked for me lol. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 One more. Always. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
61polara Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 I was at an estate sale looking at a large toolbox full of tools that was very reasonably priced. The wife came over and said "The only thing they suffered from was lack of use". I said sold. 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 I have no idea how many wrenches I have. I have some in the garage at home, more at the shop, keep some in the truck, more in the camper, and a number of other places. Lost count years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle_Buck Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 When I was in my role as Network Administrator for a large construction machinery manufacturer, from time to time there would be critical path outages. Invariably, as I banged my head, racked my brain and attempted to pull the rabbit out of a hat to quickly remedy the situation, staggering out of the corner offices would be a few VP’s to ‘assess’ the situation. Most were just doing their job, some even offered to help, if at all possible. But a few wore out their welcome by repeatedly asking the same question over and over again; ‘how much time until it is fixed’ ? This of course wasted precious time and diverted my focus. At the end of my patience with one ankle-biter VP - asking for the umpteenth time, ‘how much time until it is fixed’, I turned my my full stink-eye attention to him and asked firmly, ‘how much time do you have ? ... How many wrenches ? How many do you have !! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 6 minutes ago, Larry Schramm said: I have no idea how many wrenches I have. I have some in the garage at home, more at the shop, keep some in the truck, more in the camper, and a number of other places. Lost count years ago. I am a lot like Larry, and between all of the different places I NEED to keep tools, it is a very, very large number, but: How Many Wrenches Do You Really Need? SEVERAL MORE THAN I ALREADY HAVE, AND SOME OTHERS WHICH I DON'T REALLY NEED, BUT REALLY DESERVE, AND OTHERS I'D "LIKE" TO HAVE ! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Ask your wife how many pairs of shoes she needs. 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 3 minutes ago, Rusty_OToole said: Ask your wife how many pairs of shoes she needs. A litigation specialist once advised: Don't ask questions if you don't already know the answer! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe in Canada Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Never mind wrenches now a days how many different types of screwdrivers are there? I know I have 6different types in sets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlLaFong Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 (edited) I have every size that I need from teeny weeny to stupidly huge. I have a box, in storage, full of excess wrenches. I tried to count my sockets a while back and lost count at over 300. Three drill presses, three band saws, multiple grinders, welders, lathes etc., etc. Never met a tool that I didn't like Edited January 22, 2018 by CarlLaFong (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe in Canada Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 When you got 4 drills and a radial drill 3 lathes one with DRO and a mill with auto & DRO all the way to an automatic tapping machine. Plus two sons that are asking their mother when is dad going to stop buying tools that they will have to dispose of one day. I bought a 3,000 Lb. welding table and a 350 pound anvil after that and sent some pictures to them by email. Have not heard a word since. I retired in 09 at the peak of the financial crises and hit all the factory bankruptcy auctions and had a blast. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mark McAlpine Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 I agree with Ben Bruce--inevitably I always need one more wrench than I have, usually for a specific, unusual purpose, and that I'll probably only use one more time in the next 5-10 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conscideur Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 17 hours ago, Rusty_OToole said: Ask your wife how many pairs of shoes she needs. that's what i thought too: there's never too much but that's a really good allergory. hi everyone btw, i'm new here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plymouthcranbrook Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 My thoughts on how many wrenches I need is a follows: How many are there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted January 23, 2018 Author Share Posted January 23, 2018 3 hours ago, Conscideur said: that's what i thought too: there's never too much but that's a really good allergory. hi everyone btw, i'm new here Welcome to the forum! Hope you enjoy our many and varied discussions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipdang Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 I lost track of the times I said "There, finally, I should have all the wrenches I could ever need." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auburnseeker Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 It also depends on how good you are at putting all your tools back when you are done. I don't lend my tools out, except for a few very trustworthy people that probably have more than I in the first place, but tend to be in a rush to get things done and don't have enough clean up time, so they don't always get put away. I know I have several 1/4 inch socket sets and ratchets but for some reason I don't even know if there is one complete one in my box right now. Same with wrenches and screw drivers. Some day I'm going to have to really clean up so I can finally put everything back. I started at the door this winter and got a good 10 feet in. Then off to another project and more tools scattered about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captndan Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 At least two of most. Three of some. I don’t like wasting time looking a wrench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 Only answer I have is "I don't know" and is the answer to both "how many do you need" and "how many do you have". Each car has a kit, I like these where they fit (not in a SLK). Then there are a couple of tool boxes I can't see the top and some I can. Wheels with tires I can stack 8 high, bare wheels I can't. And carts, some with drawers.. Guess I have enough box end ratchets now in SAE, Metric, and Whitworth. Have a 6" spark plug socket for DOHC engines. Know the feeling well, every time I clean even part of one garage it's like Christmas. Last time found a 5-speed manual trans forgot I had. My problem is a lack of motivation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Walling Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 I don't have a single wentworth wrench and that is enough! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plyroadking Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 My aunt bought me a 3 piece craftsman tool box set when I was 13. I thought I'd never fill it with tools. 19 years later and it weighs almost as much as a car and I'm needing to upgrade to something bigger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dei Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 I have just about every wrench I need both metric and SAE since my son bought his BIG multi drawer rolling tool box with wood top and has stocked it well. I no longer have to hunt for mine as I put the ones I'm using back in there for fear I wreck our father and son relationship! Funny how before he bought this thing, Dad's wrenches were never where I last put them... (Hmmm... guess I might have done that same thing to my Dad ) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlLaFong Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 2 hours ago, Roger Walling said: I don't have a single wentworth wrench and that is enough! I don't have any wentworth wrenches, either Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Stoneberg Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 1 hour ago, CarlLaFong said: I don't have any wentworth wrenches, either I do when you need them nothing else will do. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plyroadking Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 1 hour ago, dei said: I have just about every wrench I need both metric and SAE since my son bought his BIG multi drawer rolling tool box with wood top and has stocked it well. I no longer have to hunt for mine as I put the ones I'm using back in there for fear I wreck our father and son relationship! Funny how before he bought this thing, Dad's wrenches were never where I last put them... (Hmmm... guess I might have done that same thing to my Dad ) My father claims he had tools before he had three sons, hasnt seen them since. I keep finding tools with his initials on them in my box. I think he's planting them there to make a point.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlLaFong Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 41 minutes ago, Bill Stoneberg said: I do when you need them nothing else will do. I do have a few Whitworth wrenches Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bush Mechanic Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 I don't have any wrenches. But I do have an excellent collection of spanners! And Whitworth still gets a fair workout around here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 8 hours ago, Roger Walling said: I don't have a single wentworth wrench and that is enough! I wouldn't have a wrench in my garage that got a song stuck in my head while I was working. (Don't remember this) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejboyd5 Posted January 27, 2018 Share Posted January 27, 2018 On 1/23/2018 at 12:47 PM, CarlLaFong said: I don't have any wentworth wrenches, either Nor do I. Perhaps because I've got all those Whitworth wrenches. Perhaps someone can supply a picture of a Yeti holding a Wentworth wrench - very rare! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted January 27, 2018 Share Posted January 27, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimy Posted January 27, 2018 Share Posted January 27, 2018 On 1/23/2018 at 11:36 AM, Plyroadking said: My father claims he had tools before he had three sons, hasnt seen them since. EXACTLY what my late father used to say! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyler Posted January 27, 2018 Share Posted January 27, 2018 i have wrenches i never use[ those ones that ratchet] and then there are those that get used over and over. now i only look for ones that are an unusual size or shape. i recently bought an electric adjustable wrench. really cool, mostly a conversation piece. $1 at a yard sale.i have old wrenches from my grandfather that i now see at flea markets with crazy prices on them.i tried to sell mine at a yard sale. nobody wanted them, even at cheap prices.every wrench[except the ratchet ones] i have will eventually get used at least once, and then i am glad i have it..tools are an extension of your hand, so if you are handy you need them. skyler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejboyd5 Posted January 27, 2018 Share Posted January 27, 2018 Bloo: Thanks for the Yeti. Where did you find the "Wentworth" wrench? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dictator27 Posted January 27, 2018 Share Posted January 27, 2018 The easiest way to find a lost wrench is buy another one. The "lost" one will magically reappear. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Simmons Posted January 27, 2018 Share Posted January 27, 2018 Ah mechanically willing and able sons are a blessing and a bother. The blessing is they work on their own cars in your shop/driveway thus the tools and the mess are yours when they are done. That is if you can find all the tools they've used and put back in the wrong places or didn't. The bother is the mess left behind after the car has repaired and has been for a few days or weeks with the promised cleanup waiting until they get a chance to do it. Back to the tools. My oldest son and my nephew a couple of decades ago worked on one of their cars at my place. A few days later I discovered a wrench that I'd gotten from my dad at his passing was missing a double end box wrench. So I took them both to task about the wrench,both said it was put back. Fast forward about a year or so and while digging along the parking strip on the side of my place I found the "returned" wrench buried in about 3 inches of dirt. The finish a bit worse for the time in the dirt but cleaned up it functions well to this day. Yes as most of the rest of us I have several boxes full of tools in my shop/garage, truck box, at the place of one of my project cars rests and that's just hand tools. This in no way includes the power tools electrical or air operated. This tool thing I have is like an off shoot of my old car disease I just can't seem to stop collecting them. I echo the saying of " I never met a tool that I didn't like" I'll add or possibly might have a use for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 On 1/27/2018 at 12:01 PM, ejboyd5 said: Bloo: Thanks for the Yeti. Where did you find the "Wentworth" wrench? Something the cat dragged in....... 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 Dictator has it rite, when you have enough is when you can always find what you need. My problem is freebies, can only use so many flashlights, tape measures, and DVMs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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