7 Tools I Will Always Have Duplicates Of
Buying tools is an addiction to some. The seemingly endless utility of these objects designed to enhance our lives and abilities can be intoxicating. Hence why even when we don’t need them, new (and new to us) tools find their way into passenger seats, truck beds, and backpacks as the artfully organized cache in my workspace grows and grows. I could probably just name my toolbox Audrey II, though my garage is only occasionally full of horrors, and the ‘box feeds on tool steel and carbide rather than human flesh.
My toolbox is not overflowing, but that only speaks to my self-restraint and judicious control over how often the solution to a problem is using the credit card versus my brain. We all want to own one of every tool. They are just fascinating. But even with one of everything, we would likely still want more. Some jobs simply require duplicates. Or at least I have convinced myself that occasionally having two of the exact same tool is the solution to my problems. Whether the logic makes sense or not, here are seven tools that I must have two of inside my shop:
Vice grips/clamps
Despite years of trying and a few consultations with my doctor, I have yet to grow a third hand. Something about evolution taking millions of generations just really puts a damper on me getting the extra holding power I could use most days.
Luckily, not only does a solution exist, but it’s affordable and easy to store. Years ago I resigned that anything that is locking or clamping should be purchased in pairs. This realization followed a discussion with a fabricator friend who hammered into me that it is impossible to have too many clamps. He was right.
Screwdrivers
To be clear, I’m dialing in the discussion of duplicates to exact duplicates. Two of the same tool. My drawer full of screwdrivers is surprisingly full when you consider there are relatively few popular styles and a minimal number of usable lengths.
Maybe it’s my use, but I always fear damaging a screwdriver tip just as much as damaging the hardware. A damaged screwdriver stalls a project as once the head is stripped the options for removal get destructive quickly. A spare screwdriver is a security blanket I shouldn’t need, but won’t wrench without.
10mm
You thought I wouldn’t include a 10mm joke? Impossible. A lot of my projects these days were built in countries that believe in base 10 measurement systems. If you have a more American bent to your tooling needs this might be the 1/2″. Regardless, not having a 10mm socket or wrench could easily stop a few of my projects in their tracks, thus duplicates make sense.
Extensions
The easiest to justify on this list might be the extensions for a socket set. Stack them on each other to reach the depths of the engine bay that was previously reserved for engine-out services. It’s also convenient to have multiple to so I’m not constantly disassembling my tooling mid-job.
Wire brushes and cleaning supplies
Cleaning parts is one of the tasks that I do not seek out and only after some time have I figure out that any tiny roadblock in the process will flip the switch in my brain that says “not worth it. Just reinstall the part as is. It’ll be fine.”
But I want to do higher quality work than that, so having a surplus of cleaning supplies and materials has helped eliminate the feeling that cleaning things has a barrier that must be met. I keep these brushes and supplies around to not only remove the perceived barrier but ensure that it does not return unexpectedly.
Flashlights
Having worked on cars in situations ranging from ideal to downright dangerous, I’ll say one thing I have never heard is, “Wow, it’s too bright. I can see everything I need and it’s frustrating.” No, more light is often a cure for frustrations while working on cars. Small LED flashlights have gotten downright cheap, so a few in various sizes, shapes, brightness, and magnetism are just downright handy. It’s a struggle to work on something you can’t see, so light up your project.
Drill bits
They break and dull, and when you need one there is pretty much nothing else that will do the job. Drill bits are wildly affordable for the function they serve and having a duplicate set, or even just a few of the most commonly used sizes in your shop, allows a certain peace of mind that your projects will move forward even if an unfortunate happenstance breaks a bit. Good setups and usage will make drill bits last a very long time, but it’s not if things go sideways, it’s when. Preparation for that takes a lot of frustration out of your projects.
This is just the list for my shop and, of course, every shop is unique. I typically only have one major project apart or being worked on at a time and the tools go back into the box after each working session. In a larger shop or for someone with many projects running it might make sense to duplicate common tools just so things don’t get lost in the shuffle. What tools do you have to have duplicates of in your toolbox?
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Like many of you, I have two sets of box/open end SAE and metric. I have at least two sets of drill bits, plus extras of bits I tend to dull or break frequently. Same with sockets, I have at least two SAE and two metric, plus three sizes of socket drive. I keep two cordless drills, plus an extra battery. I have several chargers for each battery type, though I’m not entirely sure how that happened, a drawer full of screwdrivers. Don’t even get me started on the hardware I have in stock. I have 5 or 6 Stanley 25 drawer storage trays along with other storage systems. I know we’re not talking fastners, etc. but without “tools” to organize our hardware, we will buy way more hardware than we need because we cannot fined what we need. I used to use clear plastic jars (glass jars when I started out), but the organizer trays are better. And for the record, I’ve come to think of these items as tools as much as a box-end wrench is a tool.
Was working on dismantling the IROC the other and I had no 19mm open end. Socket did not fit. It was late and tired.
I took out all of my opened wrenches and made a list of what I had and what was missing. I had five 5/8″ open ends, four 1/2″ and about 2 or 3 of all others including metric but no 18mm. Went to Lowes and brought a new set metric and SAE open ends. Wife asks do I need all those and I said “did you hear me cussing last night when I could not find the 18mm?” She said “yes but it is one you need”. I then stated “they do not sell them as singles.” She then muttered “ok these are the window blinds I want” while pointing to the priciest ones.
We both walked out of Lowes happy. Of course blinds needed to be put up once we got home.
Well I thought for years I was a car collector, but the truth is I am a closet tool collector. First was the air tools of every kind, then the corded power tools and now everything is battery powered.
Four big double crest tool boxes, last one two weeks sh as I decided I should have just a box for all metric stuff LOL
So now I have no room left for the cars, please help, is there a tool anonymous group somewhere. LOL
I do have at least duplicates of these seven tools. I bought my v first socket and wrench set from Monkey Wards in 1971 when I got out ofvthe Army. I still have some of the them. Now, mostly Craftsman tools. I keep the appropriate socket wrench, extension vars and dockets in my seven classic cars in case of changing a tire. Beats the 4 star Ines crate more precise and store neater.
I have found some great tools by visiting estate sales too. How about an all steel Craftsman 10″ table saw for only $100. Now, almost all of the big box saws are made in China as are so many of the tools we covet. Look for the forever brands.
You must have at least four 1/2 9/16 wrenches.
The Dreaded 10MM
Extendable mirror and magnet to pick up screws, bolts or nuts that gravity has chucked down between the frame and God knows what. Extensions and battery drills for sure. Torque wrench are a necessity.. And, of course, all the above comments.
Side cutters. I have a Model T that has cotter pins on darn near everything. Nothing takes out a cotter pin like a good pair of side cutters.
This is a bit silly; it’s not so much duplication but specialization. One P2 Phillips? No way! Gotta have a snubber, a standard, and a long reach. But two of each type? Absurd unless you are building tool kits for home, farm, truck, camper, etc. Then perfectly fine.
None of this considers the “carry-on” tool bags that you stuff into your project cars in case something breaks when you are out on a cruise. I kept trying to figure out why I was missing tools/sockets from my shop tool boxes until i remembered the tool bags that I had assembled for “just in case” emergencies and kept in my “toy cars”.
kyle, thanx for another simple yet enjoyable article. i won’t bore everyone with all the duplicates in my tool boxes…but i’ll put you to sleep with the following:
about those 10 mm sockets. i work on asian more than older american iron, and the 10 mm nuts/bolts seem to dominate. i probably have a dozen of this size spread around, mainly in 1/4″ drive. and since it’s a smaller size, they don’t break as often. so the cheap ones work well enough and i don’t fret quite as bad when it’s permaently lost between frame rails & inner fender wells.
another tool i have well over 2 are batteries for my cordless tools. i have 2 6-pak battery charger/maintainers. some of the lithium batteries are now 10 years old and still hold a charge for a decent time.
I noticed you store your drill bits drill side up, many years ago the old mechanic at our shop said store them drill end down, why!!! The shank end sometimes gets gouged from a slipping grip or drill press clamp and then they are hard to get back in the size holder, damn that is true.
It is truer than true!