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+-- Thread: Have you "paid" for your tools? (/showthread.php?tid=7327627)
Have you "paid" for your tools? - Randy C - 02-03-2017
Like most of you, I didn't get into woodworking to make/save money. I do it because I enjoy it.
But, the other day the thought occurred to me that I have more than paid for my tools with projects that I have done around the house. For example, I put in a pantry for my wife that saved us $3000.
I don't have a lot of tools compared with a lot of the people on this forum, but it does make me feel good that my hobby pays for itself. I can't think of many hobbies that have the potential for paying for themselves.
Anybody else feel this way?
RE: Have you "paid" for your tools? - Steve Friedman - 02-03-2017
Not even close for me.
Not sure I'll live long enough to have everything I make worth more than the tools cost.
But I'm OK with that.
RE: Have you "paid" for your tools? - R Clark - 02-03-2017
Nope. I gave up on "saving money building things myself" a long time ago. I'll never amortize the cost of the tools. Or the shop building.
Just like I didn't spend money on a fly-in fishing trip to British Columbia last summer so I could save money on salmon filets.
OK. So that last part was a gratuitous gloat. Neener neener.
RE: Have you "paid" for your tools? - overland - 02-03-2017
I love this argument. I'm going to try it out. Them I'm going to get cracking. Because I've got a lot of work to do.
RE: Have you "paid" for your tools? - toolmiser - 02-03-2017
I've probably paid for them, don't know if I've made money. I know we have nicer things than I would or could have paid for.
RE: Have you "paid" for your tools? - MsNomer - 02-03-2017
How do you put a value on enjoyment, peace, pride, satisfaction, etc?
RE: Have you "paid" for your tools? - K. L. McReynolds - 02-03-2017
I have three sets of tools.
My mechanics tools, which I had to have to earn a living. Since I now have a pretty good retirement from that area, I did ok with the investment.
Second set is my woodworking shop tools. I probably was breaking even before we moved here 9 years ago, when I added/upgraded. Probably behind the curve now, since a great deal of shop output is donated.
Third set is the second career tools for the remodeling business I started just before retiring from the first job area. The business paid for all those tools, plus the trailer I used to store/transport them.
When it was apparent I could no longer remodel full time, I sold the trailer and embarked on another hobby which is creeping up in the woodworking tool budget---guns.
I might need to start making a little profit out of the shop to afford that hobby a bit more.
RE: Have you "paid" for your tools? - Admiral - 02-03-2017
By doing home improvements, including two bath renovations with shop made cabinetry, installing $6k of trim millwork and interior doors, some flooring, closet renovations, redoing the deck, installing several exterior doors, and redoing a porch, all of which are really not what I like to build, I've saved enough to more than pay for all the tools in the shop. Not including savings on painting . . . . . I will always do my own painting.
RE: Have you "paid" for your tools? - K. L. McReynolds - 02-03-2017
(02-03-2017, 10:05 PM)Admiral Wrote: By doing home improvements, including two bath renovations with shop made cabinetry, installing $6k of trim millwork and interior doors, some flooring, closet renovations, redoing the deck, installing several exterior doors, and redoing a porch, all of which are really not what I like to build, I've saved enough to more than pay for all the tools in the shop. Not including savings on painting . . . . . I will always do my own painting.
My wife makes a point of needing to be convinced I now need a new tool(had a business and had all the tools kinda thing).
However, when she wants something done around the house(plus saving thousands by buying upgrading a repossession because of my tools and knowledge), she figures I will need a new one at some point.
I try very hard to not disappoint her.
RE: Have you "paid" for your tools? - Bob10 - 02-03-2017
Yes and I have a wide variety of tooling beyond woodworking that all fit that description.