Rob Keeble
Member
- Messages
- 12,633
- Location
- GTA Ontario Canada
Not wanting to hijack this thread i thought i would start another because Frank and Allen mentioned a subject that i think has merits in a debate.
There are two issues that hey raised.
1) Justification of tools
2) What happens to our tools after we pass and what will they be sold for bring up he issue of justification on spending too much for good tools.
I have taken a mental beating of my own doing on this subject, especially since i made a very loud statement in my subdivision by building what people see as a huge shop building and stocking it with machines.
I find myself constantly justifying it. So for a few of you that maybe are prone to feelings of guilt I offer my views.
I have friends that play golf in the summer and have much to do in winter.
Due to fees they spend in excess of $3000 per season and thats not including 19th hole and bets or extra clubs and balls or tips.
At the end of the season they have nothing to show and nothing to do in winter except for those that go to the dome to continue to practice. Very few and an additional cost.
I also have friends (back in SA) that inherited huge amounts of money from their parents. In less than 20 years that cash was gone. These were reasonably balanced and educated people all having a University education if thats anything to use as a barometer. The parents worked themselves to a standstill and both died at an early age by todays standards.
Now i just had my 52 birthday. I started buying my shop tools and machines about 6 years ago. Slowly adding to the haul and working in the basement. That would have been at the age of around 46.
I figured with winter being like it is and seeing many clients not having hobbies and not knowing when they should hang up their guns and retire, i would start early.
The money i spend on my tools has nothing to do with what my kids will do with them when i am gone because i guess they would do the same if left them the equivalent in cash.
I figured my tools over a 20 to 25 year period will still likely be around and in pretty good condition. In 20 years of golf membership my golfing buddy would still have nothing to show for it and would probably have turned over several sets of golf clubs.
In order to only by tools once i have tried where possible, not always stuck to it for crazy reasons, to buy decent quality tools. I aint a contractor or pro but i have experienced the difference between good and bad quality tools, just look at my lathe.
So i personally try not to feel guilty that i have set up shop to self indulge myself in a enjoyable hobby after working my butt off most of my life and providing for my kids and my family.
There is no way i can justify the investment in economic terms and at the same time i cannot take any money with me to the grave.
Now some have said to me i should have saved all this cash for retirement. And my reply there has been that to retire to doing nothing but sit in front of the TV would well kill me in a very short time.
There is an added bonus that comes with our tools and our shop.
Allen in your case you have provided your son with some real fine pieces of what i consider to be priceless furniture. He will be proud to have them in his new house. Money and buying them from Ikea or some other place would not have been the same. At the same time you got the pleasure and frustration along with the odd bit of injury in the making of them.
But you could never have done it without the tools.
I have helped many of my friends with all sorts of projects and it has given me great pleasure to be able to do so.
These are outputs that none of my golfing friends have been able to do. They often leave their families alone on weekends, then come home having had their fill at the 19 th hole and aint interested in going out with their spouse and have nothing to show for it.
So bottom line is guys dont feel guilty or worry for one moment about justifying your shop or tools.
Just my 5cents worth. Whats yours.
There are two issues that hey raised.
1) Justification of tools
2) What happens to our tools after we pass and what will they be sold for bring up he issue of justification on spending too much for good tools.
I have taken a mental beating of my own doing on this subject, especially since i made a very loud statement in my subdivision by building what people see as a huge shop building and stocking it with machines.
I find myself constantly justifying it. So for a few of you that maybe are prone to feelings of guilt I offer my views.
I have friends that play golf in the summer and have much to do in winter.
Due to fees they spend in excess of $3000 per season and thats not including 19th hole and bets or extra clubs and balls or tips.
At the end of the season they have nothing to show and nothing to do in winter except for those that go to the dome to continue to practice. Very few and an additional cost.
I also have friends (back in SA) that inherited huge amounts of money from their parents. In less than 20 years that cash was gone. These were reasonably balanced and educated people all having a University education if thats anything to use as a barometer. The parents worked themselves to a standstill and both died at an early age by todays standards.
Now i just had my 52 birthday. I started buying my shop tools and machines about 6 years ago. Slowly adding to the haul and working in the basement. That would have been at the age of around 46.
I figured with winter being like it is and seeing many clients not having hobbies and not knowing when they should hang up their guns and retire, i would start early.
The money i spend on my tools has nothing to do with what my kids will do with them when i am gone because i guess they would do the same if left them the equivalent in cash.
I figured my tools over a 20 to 25 year period will still likely be around and in pretty good condition. In 20 years of golf membership my golfing buddy would still have nothing to show for it and would probably have turned over several sets of golf clubs.
In order to only by tools once i have tried where possible, not always stuck to it for crazy reasons, to buy decent quality tools. I aint a contractor or pro but i have experienced the difference between good and bad quality tools, just look at my lathe.
So i personally try not to feel guilty that i have set up shop to self indulge myself in a enjoyable hobby after working my butt off most of my life and providing for my kids and my family.
There is no way i can justify the investment in economic terms and at the same time i cannot take any money with me to the grave.
Now some have said to me i should have saved all this cash for retirement. And my reply there has been that to retire to doing nothing but sit in front of the TV would well kill me in a very short time.
There is an added bonus that comes with our tools and our shop.
Allen in your case you have provided your son with some real fine pieces of what i consider to be priceless furniture. He will be proud to have them in his new house. Money and buying them from Ikea or some other place would not have been the same. At the same time you got the pleasure and frustration along with the odd bit of injury in the making of them.
But you could never have done it without the tools.
I have helped many of my friends with all sorts of projects and it has given me great pleasure to be able to do so.
These are outputs that none of my golfing friends have been able to do. They often leave their families alone on weekends, then come home having had their fill at the 19 th hole and aint interested in going out with their spouse and have nothing to show for it.
So bottom line is guys dont feel guilty or worry for one moment about justifying your shop or tools.
Just my 5cents worth. Whats yours.