Wives and Tools
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 215
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
Originally Posted by 85e150six4mtod
I must have married well. I knew life would be good when Mother-in-law gave me a roll away as a wedding present.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
From: in the springs
Now I'm trying to justify a MIG welder and sandblaster for home repairs. It ain't goin' down easy.
MR[/QUOTE]
well all i can say is go check over the vehicles real good and find a broken weld and then call a few local welding shops. if your just lookin to get a 120 volt mig it should be cheaper than having a "pro" do it for ya.
as far as gettin special tools for jobs i just ask her is she really needed that electric mixer, blender can opener, coffe pot, etc. she normally gives in pretty quick.
MR[/QUOTE]
well all i can say is go check over the vehicles real good and find a broken weld and then call a few local welding shops. if your just lookin to get a 120 volt mig it should be cheaper than having a "pro" do it for ya.
as far as gettin special tools for jobs i just ask her is she really needed that electric mixer, blender can opener, coffe pot, etc. she normally gives in pretty quick.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Madison, WI
These are great ideas guys, keep them coming.
Personally, I have used the "but honey, I will save $xxx by doing it myself, which will more than pay for the tools. We can either pay someone to do it, or "INVEST" the money in tools that I will then have for the future."
This seems to work pretty well for the small stuff, but gets more difficult with the large ticket stuff where you don't actually save more money than the tool costs.
How do you guys get the big ticket items (that in all honesty will probably not pay for themselves for most back-yarders like myself, but that are so dang cool to have)?
I use the gift thing too, and so far she hasn't said no to a purchase, but I haven't asked for anything more expensive than a Milwaukee Sawsall.
Personally, I have used the "but honey, I will save $xxx by doing it myself, which will more than pay for the tools. We can either pay someone to do it, or "INVEST" the money in tools that I will then have for the future."
This seems to work pretty well for the small stuff, but gets more difficult with the large ticket stuff where you don't actually save more money than the tool costs.
How do you guys get the big ticket items (that in all honesty will probably not pay for themselves for most back-yarders like myself, but that are so dang cool to have)?
I use the gift thing too, and so far she hasn't said no to a purchase, but I haven't asked for anything more expensive than a Milwaukee Sawsall.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
You gotta explain it on their level.
Tools are like shoes, purses and clothes.
You have to have certain tools (womens view outfit) for certain occasions.
She wouldn't dare wear filp flops to church.
It would be embarassing to have to remove an oil filter with a hammer and screwdriver. What if one of your ford buddies caught you OH the shame.
The right tool for the right job is the man code.
Tools are like shoes, purses and clothes.
You have to have certain tools (womens view outfit) for certain occasions.
She wouldn't dare wear filp flops to church.
It would be embarassing to have to remove an oil filter with a hammer and screwdriver. What if one of your ford buddies caught you OH the shame.
The right tool for the right job is the man code.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
My wife will not go in my shop because of an occasional red wasp. Red wasp = no wife within 100 yards of area period. I could be building a nuclear bomb in there and she wouldn't have a clue. So she really has no idea what tools I buy.
I respect her closet in the same way. Think she could be building a bomb in there?
I respect her closet in the same way. Think she could be building a bomb in there?
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,680
Likes: 1
From: Montreal Canada
i don't have to ask my wife's permission. i'm the boss. i do what i think is right and she's on board with that.
but i operate on the principles ofbenevolent dictatorship
when i want something big i don't just buy it and bring it home and see what she says cuz i know in the back of her mind she mght think i'm selfish
so instead i'll talk about how much i need a tool so i can fix the fence and not have to tie the dog to the tree which she thinks is mean. then before you know it she'll be checking the sales for me.
but it's a 2 way street. when there's a birthday/anniversary/valentine's she'll lay out the sears flyer with the 60% off bracelet thing that she wants. this year i got her the bracelet AND the earrings/ring set. even with the discoutns they cost me all of 200$ but some immigrants were trying to cut in and they were the last ones of each so i bought both out of spite
but i can't say she asks for much except for saturday which is our day together. we get in the truck with the A/C and drive around looking at garage sales, flea markets. no matter what i do or want to do, that's our day together. and monday we both work so i treat her to macdonalds
i guess i'm lucky.. she doesnt count every dollar i spend on tools and cars and toys.. just as long as i honour our saturday together and big mac every monday at macdonalds
but i operate on the principles ofbenevolent dictatorship
when i want something big i don't just buy it and bring it home and see what she says cuz i know in the back of her mind she mght think i'm selfish
so instead i'll talk about how much i need a tool so i can fix the fence and not have to tie the dog to the tree which she thinks is mean. then before you know it she'll be checking the sales for me.
but it's a 2 way street. when there's a birthday/anniversary/valentine's she'll lay out the sears flyer with the 60% off bracelet thing that she wants. this year i got her the bracelet AND the earrings/ring set. even with the discoutns they cost me all of 200$ but some immigrants were trying to cut in and they were the last ones of each so i bought both out of spite
but i can't say she asks for much except for saturday which is our day together. we get in the truck with the A/C and drive around looking at garage sales, flea markets. no matter what i do or want to do, that's our day together. and monday we both work so i treat her to macdonalds
i guess i'm lucky.. she doesnt count every dollar i spend on tools and cars and toys.. just as long as i honour our saturday together and big mac every monday at macdonalds
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake, VA
After remodeling our house for the last five years, and now my new found love for working on my truck, I have got her to believe that every job requires a new tool. For the bigger items (like my air compressor and assortment of nail guns) I let her do a project of her own with them, and she usually gets on board pretty quick.
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 2
From: S/C Texas
I gave my wife a nice red toolbox. Its in the laundry room. Its packed full of tools. She's welcome to fix anything she likes. She's welome to buy any tools she likes for her toolbox. If she cant fix something with the tools she has.....she leaves it alone for me to try and fix. Thats our agreement. Works very well.
Like today, the cold water handle off in the shower. I asked her to grab me a screwdriver. She says...."Go ahead on to work, I'll get it later." Awsome.
Like today, the cold water handle off in the shower. I asked her to grab me a screwdriver. She says...."Go ahead on to work, I'll get it later." Awsome.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
From: NW
When I wanted a floor drill press, I ratholed some cash for a few weeks, then decided I couldn't wait any longer, so had the clerk accept the cash I had hid back, and only show the remaining balance on my credit card purchase. To my wife, I only paid 99 bucks for a $450.00 dollar floor drill press.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,415
Likes: 0
From: Lower 48
I guess over the years -22 to be exact- my wife has come to trust the fact that I'll try any number of methods before I'll buy a tool, and then when I do I buy a good one that will last. She also has her own tools both at the house and in her truck, that nobody is allowed to touch. If she hasn't got it there then she's free to go into my tool box. Over the years she's bought me a Craftsman (Poulan) chainsaw, Dremel tool, Radial Arm saw, jacks, sanders, impact wrench, etc. She is usually the recipient of the tool purchases either directly on indirectly with reduction in maintenance costs or directly from my building of furniture and doing repairs around the house. Keep her in the loop and show her the results of having the correct tool to do the job. Get her a drill and show her how to use it, even if she never uses it, she'll know that it's there if she ever needs it for hanging pictures, curtains, etc.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 215
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
Originally Posted by Trail_Rider
I guess over the years -22 to be exact- my wife has come to trust the fact that I'll try any number of methods before I'll buy a tool, and then when I do I buy a good one that will last. She also has her own tools both at the house and in her truck, that nobody is allowed to touch. If she hasn't got it there then she's free to go into my tool box. Over the years she's bought me a Craftsman (Poulan) chainsaw, Dremel tool, Radial Arm saw, jacks, sanders, impact wrench, etc. She is usually the recipient of the tool purchases either directly on indirectly with reduction in maintenance costs or directly from my building of furniture and doing repairs around the house. Keep her in the loop and show her the results of having the correct tool to do the job. Get her a drill and show her how to use it, even if she never uses it, she'll know that it's there if she ever needs it for hanging pictures, curtains, etc.
The Pacifier
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,245
Likes: 7
From: Cloverdale, BC
Originally Posted by Trail_Rider
Get her a drill and show her how to use it, even if she never uses it, she'll know that it's there if she ever needs it for hanging pictures, curtains, etc.
The first time she came to visit me at my job, she was looking at my impact gun, asking what it was, what it does, how it works, etc. It was just sitting on a truck tire, hooked up to an air line. So I told her to give it a squeeze. "Harder!" I said, because it takes a little more effort than she applied. She was squeezing the trigger between her thumb and forefinger like she was picking up a quarter off the floor. But when she finally gave it enough pressure, she jumped back about 4 feet.
New User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
ok, guys, there is a universal question here with a universal answer: question is why do women have smaller feet than men? The answer? It is a natural genetic modification that allows them to stand 5" closer to the sink. My point... same thing goes for the garage... want your wife to understand tool expenditure? Give her a stubby wrench and ask her to turn that lil 10mm water pump bolt - poof... you now have permission for that MAC extended handle wrench set!
My girl's favorite thing is to "surprise" me when I am needing some additional tools... in other words, she visits the local Harbor Freight, finds the cheapest thing that remotely resembles what I need, and then brings it home to my supposed chagrin. Since she watches (closely) what I do to her truck, it is not hard to ask her to help with the wrong tool, which shows her the relevance when I purchase the right tool for the job, and the Harbor Freight 9.99 special goes back! Get the wives involved and, like any project, the importance of a well designed tool will show through.
My girl's favorite thing is to "surprise" me when I am needing some additional tools... in other words, she visits the local Harbor Freight, finds the cheapest thing that remotely resembles what I need, and then brings it home to my supposed chagrin. Since she watches (closely) what I do to her truck, it is not hard to ask her to help with the wrong tool, which shows her the relevance when I purchase the right tool for the job, and the Harbor Freight 9.99 special goes back! Get the wives involved and, like any project, the importance of a well designed tool will show through.