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Wives and Tools
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
my wife just bought a $9000.00 sewing machine for her hobby,she bought me a $600.00 craftsman roller bearing 3 tier box for my birthday last week,and $200.00 in tools. $9000.00 - $800.00 = $8200.00 i have to spend for tools before i catch up to her
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Tucson Arizona
Anything under $100 I just buy and put in the garage. Anything more than that takes a good explanation and justification speech. Then I wait for her to want something (the $100 thing goes both ways) and we both get what we want. Although, if the tool is required for a repair I just get it.
Freshman User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
My wife has come to the understanding that I am a tool junkie. Five different tool trucks stop at the shop. So I can usually get decent deals on stuff. The wife just says that if I need it for work get it. And we're good like that.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 143
Likes: 2
"I'm the boss in my house and I have my wife's permission to say so!"
If she needs something done or built, I tell her the tools I will need. She is real understanding about it all. She has worked side by side with me on several projects and understands the need for the proper tool. Large dollar items we discuss and pick out together, I usually start out on the high end side and she on the low end. Normally, we end up in the middle somewhere, most of the time at the tool I would have bought in the first place. If I need the tool now and can't wait, buy it and watch the weather channel.
If she needs something done or built, I tell her the tools I will need. She is real understanding about it all. She has worked side by side with me on several projects and understands the need for the proper tool. Large dollar items we discuss and pick out together, I usually start out on the high end side and she on the low end. Normally, we end up in the middle somewhere, most of the time at the tool I would have bought in the first place. If I need the tool now and can't wait, buy it and watch the weather channel.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,214
Likes: 13
From: New Jersey
Actually, I've never really had a major problem with my better half inhibiting tool purchases. In fact, I've been wanting a mechanic's rollaway for about a year, as most of my hand tools are in shoeboxes that are stacked, and falling apart. So last weekend, I was picking stuff off the garage floor (tools mostly, see shoebox comment above) and my wife came into the garage, asked if she could borrow a hacksaw, and we must have spent about 20 minutes looking for one.
Anyway, she said "go get the rollaway" on her own accord without my prompting. She's definately a keeper. Of course I was limited to what I could spend, I had to keep it less than $800, so that limited the rollaway choices to mediocre stuff. But, while at Home Depot, I noticed their top of the line, largest, 6' high combination, was on sale for $300 for the top, and $400 for the bottom... so that left another hundred for an auto-take-up air hose reel and a new air line water trap/filter since mine decided to split like a banana.
Worked out well.
Anyway, she said "go get the rollaway" on her own accord without my prompting. She's definately a keeper. Of course I was limited to what I could spend, I had to keep it less than $800, so that limited the rollaway choices to mediocre stuff. But, while at Home Depot, I noticed their top of the line, largest, 6' high combination, was on sale for $300 for the top, and $400 for the bottom... so that left another hundred for an auto-take-up air hose reel and a new air line water trap/filter since mine decided to split like a banana.
Worked out well.
New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
I've found the best way for me to pickup the things I need is to agree to build her a new engine and do the body and paint on her car. This way it's for her.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
Assuming that your wife does the sterotypical jobs of a housewife. I ask you do you allow her to buy the $250 mixer, $300 vacum sweeper, $2000 set of washer and dryer ? The tools they usually use, or do you just tell her to get by with the cheap inferior stuff.. I don't care if it is my spouse or me , you have to have the right tool for the job and you generally get what you pay for. I tend to go without somethings so she can have what she wants and I expect the same in return. A 50/50 give and take-- I have never been a rich guy but I try in all cases to get the best product for the job- otherwise you are just going to pitch the inferior one in a few years. I rent the tools that I only use occasionally- saves on room in the garage as well. I will add I try to use craftsman hand tools, dewalt power as they seem to be the best quality in my case. I just simply explain that they are good quality , and that I have a need for them. I let her make her own judgement calls on her purchases- if she don't complain , I don't complain. She needs hers and I need mine.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,162
Likes: 1
From: House Springs, MO
Originally Posted by wdsmithjr
I'm currently in the process of building a detached garage, wonder what that's going to cost me.....
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,988
Likes: 14
From: Travelers Rest SC
My wife never complains (about tools,LOL) I do all the home repairs, and most of the automotive, so it pays off. The lulu was when I brought home a Bridgeport milling machine, and she didn't notice! I had to point it out to her! As long as she knows where I am at night (in the garage) she's cool.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 615
Likes: 1
From: Smithville TX.
Tools and this woman
Allright guys, I see the secrets are coming out, some of you are treading on thin ice. 
The truth is most of us have you figured out and because we love you we let you buy tools and we play dumb. Now on the other hand, if you were married to a woman like me, you and I would be in constant competition to see who could collect the most tools and have the biggest tool box. I had rather buy tools than clothes. That is why I have a 2,000 sq foot house and a 2,300 sq foot garage, or at least it will be as soon as it is completed in October. Don't you guys know that it is silly to have a house bigger than your garage, what a waste of space. www.michellesfords.com
Michelle
The truth is most of us have you figured out and because we love you we let you buy tools and we play dumb. Now on the other hand, if you were married to a woman like me, you and I would be in constant competition to see who could collect the most tools and have the biggest tool box. I had rather buy tools than clothes. That is why I have a 2,000 sq foot house and a 2,300 sq foot garage, or at least it will be as soon as it is completed in October. Don't you guys know that it is silly to have a house bigger than your garage, what a waste of space. www.michellesfords.comMichelle
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Usually bring the wife along on tool shopping expeditions. But she knows how much car maintenance costs and knows that usually buying a _good_ tool is cheaper than paying the shop to do it as a side benefit you have something to show for your money.
She did her first tuneup on her car the other day and was so pleased at _not_ spending the $400 the dealer wanted to charge but she also appreciated that we had the correct tools to make the job easy. Definitely a keeper
She did her first tuneup on her car the other day and was so pleased at _not_ spending the $400 the dealer wanted to charge but she also appreciated that we had the correct tools to make the job easy. Definitely a keeper