Sunday, September 18, 2022

How many drill bits do you need?

Don is, by his own admission, famously absent-minded. He came stomping into the house a week ago, fuming. He was in the middle of a project, you see, and once again he had misplaced a critical drill bit he needed.

This isn't unusual. He is forever misplacing things; and if it's something small – like a drill bit – he can generally expect never to see it again.

So, riding that wave of frustration, he got online and ordered eight new sets of drill bits.

They arrived yesterday, and he's delighted.

We laugh about it, but in fact having eight sets of drill bits may not be such a bad idea. Not just because it's helpful for absent-minded people; but because drill bits, like fasteners (screws/nails/bolts) are something everyone should have in abundance to tackle whatever project might become necessary. These days, with supply chains the way they are, having extras is wise.

Still, Don wonders how long it will take him to lose all the critical drill bits he uses on a regular basis. (As he jokes, "If I could remember where I put that death ray, I could rule the world.")

17 comments:

  1. LOL! I broke a very thin drillbit using my pen vise today and almost ordered another, larger set of bits. I guess I should go ahead and get them now.

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    1. I order bits that I loose or break by the half dozen from Grainger or McMaster-Carr

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  2. Magnets are my friend. I stick 1-1/2", "donut", ceramic magnets on the steel of my garage and doors. That is where park my drill bits, torx drivers and needles.

    Your mileage might vary.

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    1. Wow! Eaton Rapids Joe - Man I love your blog. You're just about the smartest guy in the bogosphere (Coincidentally we almost always agree.) The only time I get ticked off at you is when you make one of your dead-on logical arguments and it frosts me that I didn't think of it first. Don

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  3. Drill bits wear out and break. As the widow of Master Certified Auto Tech and all-around maintenance man (Navy Hull Tech), farm kid, Certified Diesel mechanic, machinist & electrician I have drill bits and tools. Multiple sets of tools - because you need a set in each building. Oh - and magnets too. The kind you can drag across the ground to find lots of stuff on a 100-year-old homesteaded dairy farm/ranch. You can't have too many tools.... :-)

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  4. Drill bits are easy to lose, so I am very careful with them. I get anxiety if anyone does not place one back into the box where it goes. However, there are other things I am not so careful to keep in a certain place. He should be good for drill bits for a while.

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  5. LOL! Got a good chuckle out of this because that is exactly what goes on in our house! Sometimes the "misplacement" is because I have moved the tool or item that was left in an inappropriate place (like my kitchen counter). Often, he can't find something because he sets it down in an illogical place (like setting it on the dresser when he gets his socks, but then walking away leaving the tool there). Makes life interesting! Definitely agree it doesn't hurt to have extras of certain things, especially nowadays.

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    1. EXACTLY what happens in our house! Misery loves company. :)

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  6. you can always tell which drill bit/wrench/socket a man uses the most.
    it's the one that is missing from the set.

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  7. I purchased 2 drill sets and then purchased a number, 6-8, of the ones I used the most. That was a number of years ago and I have still not run out.

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  8. Patrice, I knit and have a bracelet with a magnet on it to hole cable needles and other things handy when I am knitting. Perhaps a "bracelet" with a large magnet could be made for Don for the same purpose. It could hold all the drill bits or other small items he is using on his current project and then they would all be there to put away when he is done with the project - or just lay aside to put on for the next day of work. I could even envision a magnetic strip attached to the bib on overalls to hold tools and small bits. Makes me grin, but, heh, there might be a huge market for something like that!

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    1. I was just going to say this is me and knitting needles. I lose one, misplace them, have them in projects and forget what I have. I have started trying to keep a list. A magnetic bracelet is a good idea but I would misplace it...

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  9. I shared this story with my husband and he was happy to hear he's not the only one!

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  10. The skill to properly sharpen drill bits is worth learning.

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  11. 10 mm wrench next ?? i also hoard drill bits, living out here in the boonies !

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  12. Ditto Flashlights, tape measures, scissors and (strangely) hammers! The great thing is all those make good stocking stuffers

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  13. Drill bit are like clamps and ammo: you NEVER have enough of either.

    m

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