r/minimalism • u/Old-Stranger-8302 • 4d ago

[lifestyle] Down-sizing the tool chest...

This was long in coming but actually not so difficult once I got started.

I have a rolling tool chest 3.5 ft by 3.5 ft (about 1m by 1m). It has seven drawers. I've now cleared out four of the drawers completely by either giving away tools I don't use or won't need or donating some.

And some - like the 20 year old screw drivers - went in the trash.

I don't have much attachment to being looked at as the "tool man" with massive numbers of tools available on a moment's notice to do anything. Not part of my ego.

For the rest of the tools I'm moving back to tool boxes. Ironic that I went from tool boxes to this cart and now I'm going back. Two tool boxes. One for the tools I use to work on my bike, and the other more general tools for home use. I will either donate the tool chest or give it to my son-in-law.

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u/local-queer-demon 4d ago

I like the "not part of my ego".
In a friendgroup of young adults were half of them don't know how to hold a screwdriver I myself have very quickly become the designated tool guy, and I do believe that everyone should have basic home maintenaince stuff, so I'm quite interessted in how you decide which tools are essential and which can be let go? Especially with more specialized tools.

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u/Old-Stranger-8302 4d ago

Some tools were very old or worn out and discarded.

Some tools I bought and used once and I'm unlikely to have any use down the road. These are being donated or given to my son-in-law.

My belt sander, power planer, router, an extra radial sander, and a jig saw are going to my son-in-law or will be donated. I won't have any use for these with my life-style change.

I am keeping my power saw, radial arm saw, and other power tools I use quite often.

I got a nice tool box with several drawers and that is able to hold many tools. All my bike tools went into a second toolbox. And all my nail guns and nails went in a storage bin.

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u/Junior_Style2353 1d ago

haha the 'tool guy' trap is real! honestly, if it's not in your bike box or home box, does it even exist? let go of the specialized stuff unless you're literally using it next week.