What 1k in work tool boxes looks like.

[progressive hunter]

Bro I have tools that don't fit in those boxes lol. Table saws. Chop saws
Demolition hammers.
5 different wet saws.
Routers
Belt sanders
Air sleds for moving appliances on hard surfaces.
Etc on and on

I don't take EVERYTHING obvious. That is only 3 stacks.

best of luck to you,, remember you only have one body to waste,,

 

[occupied]

I remember when I first started in this business 30 years ago. Forgetting tools or simply not going prepared. Then having to drive for hours extra because I live in a large metro to go fetch what I left at home.

No more

Happens all the time. My stuff is usually spread out among two or three jobs and three different storage locations. I have a least two of everything and I have often wondered what it would all look like in one pile. Always having to run for something that's sitting elsewhere.

 

[LEFT=POISON]

Happens all the time. My stuff is usually spread out among two or three jobs and three different storage locations. I have a least two of everything and I have often wondered what it would all look like in one pile. Always having to run for something that's sitting elsewhere.

I mostly work alone now so I only do one job at a time now.
My days of running crews and putting out fires is over. Too stressful

 

[progressive hunter]

Happens all the time. My stuff is usually spread out among two or three jobs and three different storage locations. I have a least two of everything and I have often wondered what it would all look like in one pile. Always having to run for something that's sitting elsewhere.

I just moved out of a 3000 sq ft shop after 20 yrs into a home shop of 1200 sq ft so I can tell you what it looks like in one pile because thats what it is a pile,,

 

[occupied]

I mostly work alone now so I only do one job at a time now.
My days of running crews and putting out fires is over. Too stressful

Been running a crew for 15 years now. Never really wanted to but someone has to do it. As I speak I am fighting a bleeding ulcer. It may be time for a change.

 

[LEFT=POISON]

Day 1 next job

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

Meh....I have well over 15k in tools.
From machinist tools,metalworking tools to basic tools like wrenchs,air tools,welders,sandblast cabinet,cutting torches the list goes on.
Now that I'm retired I've been tempted to sell my machinist tools but I just cant bring myself to do it.

 

[progressive hunter]

Meh....I have well over 15k in tools.
From machinist tools,metalworking tools to basic tools like wrenchs,air tools,welders,sandblast cabinet,cutting torches the list goes on.
Now that I'm retired I've been tempted to sell my machinist tools but I just cant bring myself to do it.

in the grand scheme of things 15K is nothing,,
a good car mechanic needs minimum 30K and a machinist closer to 100K

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

in the grand scheme of things 15K is nothing,,
a good car mechanic needs minimum 30K and a machinist closer to 100K

I was a machinist for 30 years and no you dont need 100k in tools.
In fact I had more tools than any machinist I ever met. Machinist tools generally consist of measuring tools,the rest are just basic hand tools.
I.D. and O.D mics.,depth mics, calipers of various sizes a set of parallels,1,2,3 blocks ...etc.
If you drop 5k on machinist tools you're pretty well set. Dial Bore gauges are way to expensive and the inspection department covers that.
Could you spend 100k,most certainly,but it would be overkill to the extreme.

 

[LEFT=POISON]

in the grand scheme of things 15K is nothing,,
a good car mechanic needs minimum 30K and a machinist closer to 100K

Yeah I probably have around 30k

 

[progressive hunter]

I was a machinist for 30 years and no you dont need 100k in tools.
In fact I had more tools than any machinist I ever met. Machinist tools generally consist of measuring tools,the rest are just basic hand tools.
I.D. and O.D mics.,depth mics, calipers of various sizes a set of parallels,1,2,3 blocks ...etc.
If you drop 5k on machinist tools you're pretty well set. Dial Bore gauges are way to expensive and the inspection department covers that.
Could you spend 100k,most certainly,but it would be overkill to the extreme.

I guess I am thinking more along the lines of a self employed than an employee that depends on shop tools,, and the quality of the tools,,

 

[progressive hunter]

Yeah I probably have around 30k

I am bouncing around 150-200K but I have almost a complete wood and mechanic shop,,

 

[percysunshine]

Mike's toolbox...

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

I guess I am thinking more along the lines of a self employed than an employee that depends on shop tools,, and the quality of the tools,,

The machinist really only need OD mics up to six inches,ID mics up to the same and calipers up to 12 inches.
You'll also need several types of dial indicators and test indicators as well and the different type mounts to use them.
I had ID mics that went up to 36 inches and calipers up to the same. Plus I ran both lathes and mills which means you have to have different type tools for each.
If a shop was to cheap I'd buy tools for myself. After seeing how well they worked and how they sped up production and accuracy they usually paid me back for them.
It was one of the reasons I loved doing Aerospace work,while it could be a pain in the ass they never balked at buying most anything you asked for if you could prove to them it was needed.

 

[progressive hunter]

The machinist really only need OD mics up to six inches,ID mics up to the same and calipers up to 12 inches.
You'll also need several types of dial indicators and test indicators as well and the different type mounts to use them.
I had ID mics that went up to 36 inches and calipers up to the same. Plus I ran both lathes and mills which means you have to have different type tools for each.
If a shop was to cheap I'd buy tools for myself. After seeing how well they worked and how they sped up production and accuracy they usually paid me back for them.
It was one of the reasons I loved doing Aerospace work,while it could be a pain in the ass they never balked at buying most anything you asked for if you could prove to them it was needed.

I guess that would vary on the type of work youre doing also,,

saw a guy on youtube that got excited about a 36" machinist square he got for a 100 bucks until I looked it up

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/86401825

some of that bigger stuff can get crazy expensive,,

when I was turning wrenches I never liked depending on shop tools unless they were big or super expensive,, if I had to borrow something more than once I went out and bought it

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

I guess that would vary on the type of work youre doing also,,

saw a guy on youtube that got excited about a 36" machinist square he got for a 100 bucks until I looked it up

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/86401825

some of that bigger stuff can get crazy expensive,,

when I was turning wrenches I never liked depending on shop tools unless they were big or super expensive,, if I had to borrow something more than once I went out and bought it

Yeah...Starrett stuff is extremely expensive but it's one of the best tool makers out there.
I have a bunch of it myself the next best would be Mitutoyo they make some really good stuff but when I retired they'd started getting a little cheap when it comes to quality.
I did the same when I first started machining,if I had to borrow something it was obvious I was going to need it later.
I really hated lending my tools to others,especially things like micrometers and test indicators that when dropped were most likely fucked.
I let the person know right up front if they fuck it up they'll be buying me a new one.
We used to screw with the noobs when they bought their first set of calipers,we'd walk up and ask to check em out and pull a raged out pair frome your back pocket and drop em on the concrete. The look on their faces was hilarious.