Wives and Tools
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
From: everywhere and nowhere
i am not married, so i dont have these problems, but i am well on the way to havin a large portion of the tools that i will need for most anyting that i want to do, all i have to get now is a compressor, mig welder, band saw, drill press, and bench grinder, and i will be pretty much set, and the only reason that i dont have those is because i dont have a shop to put em in. have most hand tools that any one could ask for, just have a few odds and ends to get, but i will imagine that if/when i get married i am not goin to need to get too many tools, but you never know.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 788
Likes: 1
From: Hendersonville, TN
Fortunately, I had pretty much everything tool-wise before I got married. Even at that, my wife is very understanding about such things, especially given that she frequently hears of here friends and relatives mechanically-declined husbands having to pay ridiculous prices for auto repairs. Like the transmission job that ran $2000, that I could do for $450 and a weekend of being dirty and cussing. LOL! She also has a good concept of "you get what you pay for", and knows that I make our living with tools, so good ones are needed. The fact that she doesn't work also tends to minimize any complaints about expenditures. I can't recall what tools she may have bought me over the years, but I do remember her getting me a cam/lifters for one birthday, a hood scoop and a computer hard drive, so, yeah, she's a keeper too! She's also always said that she would never have married anybody without any mechanical ability. That's just not "manly" in her opinion.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
When my wife questions the cost of a tool I just remind her of the price of the repair if it was done in a shop.
Unfortunately this does not work for big ticket tools like lathes, welders, compressors, etc...
Unfortunately this does not work for big ticket tools like lathes, welders, compressors, etc...
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,628
Likes: 0
From: Baileyton, TN
I NEVER have to explain anything. If I want a tool, I go buy it. If I want a BIG tool, I go buy it. I am really glad I do not have what appears to be the average American wife. It would be terrible to have a wife that objected to me getting things I wanted. That would suck BIG time.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 615
Likes: 1
From: Smithville TX.
Originally Posted by theologian
I NEVER have to explain anything. If I want a tool, I go buy it. If I want a BIG tool, I go buy it. I am really glad I do not have what appears to be the average American wife. It would be terrible to have a wife that objected to me getting things I wanted. That would suck BIG time.
The question is, do you squak when your wife buys anything she wants, even big ticket items?
Michelle
Chelle's 56 Hauler
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
No matter what in the house needs fixing, let her see you using a new spiffy tool for it.
Will she realize you didn't really need to use a new micro-adjust torque wrench to fix the dryer? I recently justified the purchase of a brake line bender by using it to make hanging flower basket hangers. Good luck
Will she realize you didn't really need to use a new micro-adjust torque wrench to fix the dryer? I recently justified the purchase of a brake line bender by using it to make hanging flower basket hangers. Good luck
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
This forum makes me want to learn how to turn wrenches and then go buy some. Actually, I'd be more likely to go buy wrenches and then learn how to turn them! I'm the kind of guy who goes to the little shop to have his oil changed, so that's kind of a big deal.
Maybe it has to do with being 40, but lately I've wanted to have a big workshop all my own with all kinds of tools. I'd really like to be able to do things like change out an alternator, or even change an intake manifold gasket should the need ever arise.
By the way, on the subject of the tools themselves (not to hijack the thread or anything), are Craftsman tools pretty decent for someone who will never be attempting to earn a living with them?
Thanks for a lot of great information!
Maybe it has to do with being 40, but lately I've wanted to have a big workshop all my own with all kinds of tools. I'd really like to be able to do things like change out an alternator, or even change an intake manifold gasket should the need ever arise.
By the way, on the subject of the tools themselves (not to hijack the thread or anything), are Craftsman tools pretty decent for someone who will never be attempting to earn a living with them?
Thanks for a lot of great information!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,988
Likes: 14
From: Travelers Rest SC
Craftsman (hand tools) are great; can't beat the warrantee, and ya can replace 'em at any Sears. Other than a cracked socket or two (under severe abuse) I've never worn any out. Some of their ratchets are kinda cheap; you'll feel the difference just turning 'em with your fingers. Should have smooth, precise clicks, not crunchy like one of mine. I'd love to get the new laser etched sockets they have; at my age, it's gettin harder to see the sizes. Be forewarned; once you start buying tools, there is NO STOPPING!!!
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,628
Likes: 0
From: South...
Originally Posted by plilikoi
Every time you fix something call the dealer and ask what they'd charge to do the same work. Then say to her, "Wow, honey, *we* just saved $x00 on that repair".
You're the man. You're her man.
She's not going to **** and moan about the cost of tools.
You're the man. You're her man.
She's not going to **** and moan about the cost of tools.
I've used it in a pinch, but normally she doesn't question my tool purchases, because I HAVE saved us a bundle on repairs.
Regards,
Scott
New User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Redwood City
Right Tool
Originally Posted by f250freak
Hey guys,
I wanted to get your input on the eternal struggle of tools vs wives. I love my wife very much, but she just doesn't fully appreciate the importance of having the right tool for every job.
What strategies do you guys use to educate your wives as to the importance of continually augmenting the ol' tool collection?
I wanted to get your input on the eternal struggle of tools vs wives. I love my wife very much, but she just doesn't fully appreciate the importance of having the right tool for every job.
What strategies do you guys use to educate your wives as to the importance of continually augmenting the ol' tool collection?
I wil ask my wife to go to the kitchen and make me a sanwich,(or a Taco in my case), and I will take over the task.
ha,ha,(joke).
Have you notice that they use tha wrong pot or the wrong spoon too??
hard to understand why??
militos
New User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Hmmm wives?
What's wrong with your wives that you have to lie to them when you buy tools...?? Oh are they some kind of trophy wives that turn annoying once the ring is on the finger? When my husband buys tools, I don't mind at all. It's great to hear the stories of how the other guys at his work are jealous of his tool collection!
New User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by richardh247
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.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
From: in the springs
Originally Posted by Fordgurl
What's wrong with your wives that you have to lie to them when you buy tools...?? Oh are they some kind of trophy wives that turn annoying once the ring is on the finger? When my husband buys tools, I don't mind at all. It's great to hear the stories of how the other guys at his work are jealous of his tool collection!
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Klamath Falls, Oregon
Originally Posted by canzus
Two things,
Try to get her involved with your hobby, if you can
do that, she'll have a better understanding of why
you need the whiz bang hoozit...
If you can do this, she'll be better prepared to argue
with the idiot at the local lube place if they claim she
needs an engine flush...
I know this to be *TRVTH*, as Rockette came home
last night after getting her oil changed, They tried to
sell her a flush, and she said "Look sonny, I put that
engine in that car 3 months ago, It's had 3 oil changes
so far, do you think I *want* a flush??"
Try to get her involved with your hobby, if you can
do that, she'll have a better understanding of why
you need the whiz bang hoozit...
If you can do this, she'll be better prepared to argue
with the idiot at the local lube place if they claim she
needs an engine flush...
I know this to be *TRVTH*, as Rockette came home
last night after getting her oil changed, They tried to
sell her a flush, and she said "Look sonny, I put that
engine in that car 3 months ago, It's had 3 oil changes
so far, do you think I *want* a flush??"
But I have never tried to fool her with buying tools. Plus with her learning more and more about cars she is just preparing herself to deal with the twit selling an engine flush.