I find working in an unfamiliar shop to be a bit difficult at times. Not sure were the tool I need is or how they want things done. Don't want to think about breaking or losing something! Seems like I spend more time interrupting the host with my questions rather than getting things accomplished.
Anyone else suffer this anxiety?
If anybody ever needs my help with their homeowner projects - I always bring my own sockets, drills, screwdrivers; overall all the tools I think I need. I hate struggling with a crappy screwdrivers or not enough extensions to fix something.
A good buddy lets me use his well equipped shop. I'm feeling more comfortable in there, using his stuff. It wasn't always this way.
Dad lets me use his. Im always nervous there. And being 30 miles from the family makes me feel rushed. Looking forward to getting the elky home to work on it.
My shop is a bit of a gathering place. Everyone is welcome to use my tools with the understanding that if they break it they replace it. This arrangement has worked out really well and it helps having extra hands around when I'm working on my projects.
at times? it sucks all the time. i even hate working out of my dad's garage on stuff with him and i lived/worked on stuff there for 20 years. i need my tools, my jacks, my stands, my parts stash, or it feels wrong. every friend i've ever helped has had random toolboxes full of jumbled sockets that i need to dig though, versus my 52" roller cabinet that has every hand tool organized, metric and SAE drawers, etc...
It's not really a shop, but I use my dad's garage sometimes. His tools are always all over the place, like down in the basement, outside in the backyard, in a drawer in the house somewhere, on his boat... I always bring my own now.
patgizz wrote: versus my 52" roller cabinet that has every hand tool organized, metric and SAE drawers, etc...
52"? It's just like a real tool box, only smaller. 
i hate using other people's tools.. just doesn't feel right- even if they are the exact same as my own tools. and they never organize them the same way i do.
I get aggravated really quickly by wasted time looking for my tools in my shop. Someone else's shop with different tool organization? Terrible.
It would drive me nuts. I am organized to the point where I, and maybe only I, know where stuff is in my shop. Working in anyone else's shop drives me nuts.
i find it difficult to work in my own garage. im always losing E36 M3 i had in my hand 2 minutes ago.
I refuse to use E36 M3ty tools.
Appleseed wrote: A good buddy lets me use his well equipped shop. I'm feeling more comfortable in there, using his stuff. It wasn't always this way.
I had the same deal: buddy who has a garage-mahal gave me free access to it. It took me a good year or so to get comfortable with using his tools and his space. Getting to know his mechanic helped speed things along.
I utterly loathe helping out friends who have a mishmash of E36 M3ty tools jumbled into random drawers or bins. Which for some reason seems to be the majority of them...
It's a pain to work on stuff for my friends with just their tools. Most of the time, I have better and more tools of my own in my car then they have in their entire garage. Heck I would rather work out of my wife's tool box than most of my friend's tools. 
i know someone who has a GREAT space for working, 3 bays, 3 big roll-up doors, 220, in-floor single piston post lift, etc. its a friggin MESS. 25 years working at ford assembling cars, he amassed a set of tools i would drool over. all top brand stuff, missing nothing, he has everything. it just takes him 10 minutes to find ANYTHING. "hey i need a 9/16 deep socket." 12 minutes passes *ah! here's my deep well rail, hmm, 9/16 is missing. maybe its in my truck..."
so aggravating. i don't have a fancy box, my tools are all middle of the road to low end stuff, but i know where everything is, all the time. i even a have a list of whats in my grab bag that lives in my vehicle (cause i drive fords and anyone who drives a ford without tools is a AAA member).
-J0N
jmthunderbirdturbo wrote: i even a have a list of whats in my grab bag that lives in my vehicle (cause i drive fords and anyone who drives a ford without tools is a AAA member). -J0N
Ah yes, the car's toolbag. Every parts failure means another tool gets added to the bag. Mine must weigh 40 lbs now.
yeah it even took me a while to get used to being able to use the lift at work after hours to work on my crap because all the tools are company owned and i fear breaking them.
I also drive fords with no grab bag or AAA membership, im not sure what you guys are referring too there
Hmm the only ford I drive is my service truck and it has a full compliment of tools, compressor, vise, fluids, spare parts.... should I go on? Seriously it has been a great truck with very few problems.. maybe due to the fact that I am prepared.
I tend to bring my own tools when working in someone else's space. Maybe I need to borrow one or 2 things but it's ntoa 20 minute seek and find for every tool and I have a little bag that has the tools that I count on the most.
The only time I am comfortable outside of my own workspace is at one friend's house. I picked out every tool he owns as a wedding gift, so I know exactly what he does/doesn't have and can plan accoringly.
Outside of that, yes, it is terrible, and I get distracted by not knowing where everything is.
I have a friend with an industrial building with a lift in one bay. He lets me use it on occasion, and he also sublets it to about 3 other guys. All have toolboxes there, all know each other, and supposedly everybody is good about letting you use their tools as long as you put it back in the same condition.
Despite there being 5 or 6 good sized drawer boxes around, I can never find anything that I actually need. I end up shlepping my field box over there and back every time, or else I waste hours looking for the simplest stuff.
Junkyard_Dog wrote:patgizz wrote: versus my 52" roller cabinet that has every hand tool organized, metric and SAE drawers, etc...52"? It's just like a real tool box, only smaller.
What is your tool box? Two ton diesel powered?
pushrod36 wrote: The only time I am comfortable outside of my own workspace is at one friend's house. I picked out every tool he owns as a wedding gift, so I know exactly what he does/doesn't have and can plan accoringly.
Hey pushrod old Friend! If I get remarried, will you buy me a bunch of tools too? I promise you can use them every time you're in town!
My wife has always wanted a second wedding service.
Your friend, Rupert
I bought and pulled an engine out of a wrecked Civic in a fellow SASCA members driveway. I was afraid of hurting the car, of fluid dripping on his gravel, making too much noise, accidentally swearing, not bringing enough beer, you name it. We got it most of the way out, but came to a point where we all decided a pickling fork was the answer. He handed me one he bought from Harbor Freight, but it might as well have been made from solid Platinum. I could barely bring myself to use the dang thing!
Ever since then I've stuck to pick and pulls. That way I can bang my knuckle, throw a fit of rage, kick something and everyone just thinks I'm normal
Good times.
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