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LOSING TOOLS

John Peckham
Dear All


I have more tools than is healthy for all sorts of trades and I am a self confessed tool collector.


Just a moment but I will have to don my fawn anorak and tartan slippers for the next bit.......................................................................................


We all have favorite screwdrivers that we have had for years. I had also a favorite hammer which was a difficult choice between my Estwing claw hammer and a very handy 6 oz cross pein hammer. Ideal for cable clipping and knocking in small pins and nails etc.


Anyway the favorite hammer was lost. I looked in all my tool boxes (I have to many) down the back of the bench etc. I hunted high and low but could not find it. So in the week I scanned Ebay for a new/old one and found a very nice Stanley one and bid for it and won. It arrived on Friday. The head is a bit loose but I will tighten that up in no time. I think I must have left it somewhere doing jobs for family and friends or it is under the floor from addling some sockets a few months ago, farewell my friend you have served me well!


I was looking forward to my usual Sunday routine of laying on the sofa, reading the Sunday Times, drinking tea and listening to Radio 4. See men can multi-task! However the senior officer had other plans in that I could not read the paper until I had installed a new blind in the recently decorated back bedroom. 


OK soon have this done. Off to workshop. Collect SDS drill, 18V Makita, decent screws to replace the ones made of butter that came with the blind, red plugs and assorted screws. I left the replacement hammer on the bench for fixing later.


OK in to action. Careful measurement, marking of holes and drilling with Mr. SDS. All carefully supervised by the boss. Plugs do not quite go flush in holes and explain with a mild expletive I will have to go and get my new hammer. No problem says the boss you can borrow mine from my tool kit. She then retrieves a carrier bag from a secret location and low and behold it is my 6 Oz hammer. I look into the bag to see more long lost friends, screwdrivers, pliers, pinchers etc. I discussion takes place and the boss states "you have loads of tools and I thought I could have some for the odd small job. I finish of stating, "The man who lends his tools is on holiday".


The favorite hammer has been returned to it's tool box. Negotiations will take place on the return of the remainder of my tools and replacements.


  • 0
    I have really nice ratchet cable cutter, lovely for SWA, so much quicker and easier than taking a hacksaw to it.

    Anyway it went missing and paying over £250.00 for a new one would break my miserable heart.

    Hunted high and low, all toolboxes out and emptied, travelled round last jobs I might have used it (as though I could remember whether I had or not).

    Nothing.

    Eventually I decided to bite the bullet and get a new one (slightly less expensive model, just because).

    Day it arrived, I walked into my shed and spotted the original cutter on the bench.

    I'm OK now but a lot of tears were shed.

    regards

    George
  • 0
    So Mr Peckham. 


    What tool bag should an electrical inspector and tester have; and what tools should be in it?


    Andy Betteridge
  • 0
    I hate losing my favourite anything! Especially my favourite pen in the office... ?


    I have favourite screwdrivers under my sink at home (no I don't tell my other screwdrivers that I have favourites... ?. Bonus points to anyone who can tell me where that's from!) 

    I've had them since I left home and moved into my own place back in 1991. Not sure what make they are but they have a red and black handle. Lost one once and when I found it again it was like finding a lost loved one!


    The pink thing..... yes I'm with Senior Management there. Avoid anything pink 'for women' themed like the plague. 


    I also have a favourite tape measure which his knibs kept borrowing and lost. Then on one trip to our house in France, lo and behold I find it in the draw in the hallway... 


  • 0
    A good few years ago, when single with more time,  I went through a phase of spraying tools pink or orange and putting my initials on in black pen.

    Very few items of that era have wandered since then, though a few have failed professionally (or at least unprofessionally, as I have done silly things to them).


    I also have loan tools,  which are screwdrivers that can be used to open a tin of paint, cutters from silverline and so on

    and private tools, like the very fine bahco wire cutters - well anything by Bahco or Facom really, and good soldering iron tips.

    The latter do not leave the house unless under my escort.
  • 0

    mapj1:

    ... well anything by Bahco or Facom really, and good soldering iron tips. The latter do not leave the house unless under my escort.




    V. sensible. I have one or two Britool spanners which date back to pulling bicycles apart in my school days. I lost one for a while, but it was only when I took the bonnet off my XJ6 (which covers not only the top of the engine, but also the front) that I found it sitting on the subframe. Yes, much rejoicing and I still have it 25 years later.


    Right now I have misplaced my workshop dustpan (but not my brush). It is bound to turn up when I least expect it. ?

  • 0
    Andy


    More than one needed depending on the job. I am not doing much testing now more design and consultancy.


    The main bag is a Kline Tools rolling bag. Big kit bag with less used and spare kit that stays in boot. IET beach bag with safety helmet, googles, gloves and high viz. If railway job then orange trousers and high viz.


    If a big panel job then big Stanley rolling chest contains insulated socket socket set, insulated spanners torque wrenches, insulted screwdrivers and hex drivers, bonding leads, LED floodlight etc.


    Klein bag contains. Extension lead, long lead for insulated test pole, screwdrivers, side cutters, long nose pliers, wire strippers, combination pliers, Stanley knife, 1000V dentist mirror. Bunch of FB keys, bunch of DB keys, multi function 10 way panel key, tape measure, vernier gauge, cable samples, multiway Allen key set, 3.5mm tap, insulation tape, glasses, lift door drop key, voltsticks, 2 pole tester. Depending on the job Megger earth leakage clamp meter, Megger LTW 335 loop tester, Megger LRCD combined loop/RCD tester, Megger BM 2500 IR/continuity/voltmeter, Robin 4120DL loop tester, zip pouch of assorted leads probes and clips, Kewtech socket tester and Kewtech socket adapter. Torch, Clip board, survey charts, survey forms, pens, marker pens and labels etc.


    Depending on job Megger LT300 high current loop tester, Robin large jaw earth leakage clamp meter, laser spot thermometer, earth resistance clamp meter, 3 wire earth resistance test meter plus bag of test spikes and leads, Megger 1741 MFT, Kewtech KT65DL MFT. Megger DLRO ductor etc etc .
  • 0
    I bought the big Klein shoulder bag at Elex several years ago, it’s still in pristine condition as it has had little use because if you fill it up it’s flaming heavy.


    So for daily use I use a Facom maintenance bag, bought from one of my neighbours who has a van sales franchise selling tools to mechanics.


    I also have a Festool sack truck, boxes and totes, but I found I wasn’t taking the truck out of the van and I was carrying the totes and boxes. The boxes and totes are still in use, but the truck is currently in my garage, they are all rather battered from use and grubby.


    Today I failed to resist temptation, I called in a local tool shop and came out with a Wera maintenance kit, something else to carrying around.


     Andy B.
  • 0
    My brother in law helped me relay an oak strip floor. He quickly accessed my ability to lose pencils and bought me a box of 40 carpenter pencils. I immediately lost the full  box! Having bought and lost many more pencils, a year later I found the box. For the moment I now have lots of pencils but as the new pencils are not sharpened I can only ever find the unsharpened ones. I don't know how many of the little pencils I have acquired from Screwfix but I can never find one.


    When it comes to tools I keep on telling myself I am a user not a collector but I recently counted 8 Stanley/Record type planes. This excludes shoulder planes, rebating planes, moulding planes and woodies etc. Is there hope for me?


  • 0
    I have a number of various Lindstrom pliers and cutters, mostly made about 40 years ago. These are the miniature electronic type. The oldest ones an end cutter (ideal for finger nails as well as wires) and some side cutters were superb and as new. Unfortunately I lost the side cutters when doing some phone work in the loft of a new house which I had just built, possibly down a cavity somewhere. I still miss them despite having bought a replacement at huge cost. The quality of the newer items is unfortunately significantly less good than the old ones, which I suppose is progress. The original cutters and pliers are still as good as new despite many years of use, but the newer cutters have worn significantly. A great loss which I still feel.


    I, like JP also collect tools (sometimes called addiction), which can be a snag. I have had to sell some of the big stuff when I left NI, the Colchester Mastiff ( capacity 18" x 72 inches) and 6"CNC lathes, a radial arm drill, A large Elliott milling machine, car lift etc. (and all the kit to use them properly like drills to 3"" diameter) simply because I could not afford the space to keep them! A great pity and again I still feel it often. Then of course there is the electronic test gear and Amateur Radio and television kit! Need I say more.....
  • 0
    David


    Yes I still have a pair of Lindstrom side cutters that were GPO issue, known as "nippers diagonal cutting 5"", The arm of one handle passes through a slot in the other arm not like standard cutters with one arm riveted over the other.


    KFH


    That is only a mild addiction to planes I have a chronic addiction to Stanley and Record plans. As for pencils I favour 2H for woodworking I lost the ones I had a purchased a pack of 10 Staedtler 2H pencils on Ebay for a couple of pounds.

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