Taking inventory of tools

[Zacharytanner]

WOW - talk about sobering- I just went out in the shop to putts around and I got the great idea to inventory my tools.
I stopped at a full yellow page and that was only my Festools. No stationary equipment or hand/power tools. I need help this hobby is not cheap!!!

Frank

 

[RDMuller]

Video all of them and make duplicate copies.  Store in different places in case of disaster such as fire or theft. 

 

[PaulMarcel]

+1 to the video.  Slow pans, open every drawer and pan them slowly.  In case of a fire, it's likely the only way you'll remember you bought a 4-pack cylinder of Bench Cookies  [tongue]

If you have a YouTube channel and can upload videos longer than 15 minutes, you can upload the video as a private video.  Cheap cloud storage for that inventory tape

 

[wow]

I keep my inventory in an Excel spreadsheet, and record:

Brand/Manufacturer
Model Number
Item Description
Mo/Year Acquired
New or Used
Serial Number
Qty
UOM (Each, Set, etc.)
Order Number
Acquisition Cost
Extended Cost
Category (Stationary Tools, Power Tools, Cordless Tools, Hand Tools, etc.)

I have tried to inventory EVERYTHING that I have. I have a single line entry for a set of drill bits if they came as a set, and a single line entry for one router bit if I bought it by itself. My inventory list is just under 800 items right now.

[eek]

I also plan to do a video but haven't gotten around to that yet.

 

[Sparktrician]

Great idea!!!  I have copies of all my Festool equipment orders stored electronically, but should borrow a video camera to get all the tools purchased over the last 50+ years.  Inventorying all of them individually would be a nightmare and take weeks, I fear, yet I know I should do it for insurance purposes, if nothing else. 

 

[dltflt]

I took pictures of all my tools and documented serial numbers and price paid in Excel/Numbers.

 

[tjbnwi]

Great idea!!!  I have copies of all my Festool equipment orders stored electronically, but should borrow a video camera to get all the tools purchased over the last 50+ years.  Inventorying all of them individually would be a nightmare and take weeks, I fear, yet I know I should do it for insurance purposes, if nothing else.  

Are you so far back in the stone age that your phone does not have a video camera??? [smile]

Tom

 

[Alli]

You blokes are mad, If I was you I would burn all evidence straight away......Why?.........because if my Mrs saw how much I spent on tools, especially Festool I'd be suffering earache for weeks to come  ;D

 

[wow]

.........because if my Mrs saw how much I spent on tools, especially Festool I'd be suffering earache for weeks to come  ;D

It all depends on what choices you made when deciding on the Mrs., not the tools. I am quite happy with both my Mrs. and my tools, thank you very much!

 

[Sparktrician]

Great idea!!!  I have copies of all my Festool equipment orders stored electronically, but should borrow a video camera to get all the tools purchased over the last 50+ years.  Inventorying all of them individually would be a nightmare and take weeks, I fear, yet I know I should do it for insurance purposes, if nothing else.  

Are you so far back in the stone age that your phone does not have a video camera??? [smile]

Tom

It has one, but the results are far less than satisfactory.  I much prefer the precision of the Nikon digital still camera for quality work.  The last time I tried video, the results would have been better as cartoons... 

[big grin]

 

[batcave]

If you add up the totals, I bet most are underinsured. Your tape will just be for memories!

Kevin

 

[peter halle]

2 years ago I changed my insurance to a company that offered replacement cost insurance.  I bought general none - scheduled coverage for all my hand tools which is based on depreciated value and then replacement cost insurance on all my Festool stuff and my expensive other tools.  I had to supply model numbers and serial numbers for those.

I was at a meeting just tonight giving a presentation on insurance and I passed on the suggestion here about videos and private youtube storage and people loved that idea.

Thanks GUYS!

Peter

 

[bkharman]

There are also several apps that will allow you to take inventory as well. I can't recall names but some are built on the same basic software foundation of FileMaker Pro and alike.

 

[hcoyote]

I've gotten into the habit of photographing tools with my iphone and then uploading the images to Evernote.  I usually do at least a profile image and closeup of the serial number tag.  Once it's up in Evernote, I can associate the purchase order information and receipt with the same note that the images are on.  Took me all of half an hour to photograph and upload for about a dozen different tools.  And it's all accessible from my phone or my computer (or anywhere I can get to a web browser, really).

And actually, if you haven't played with Evernote, you should give it a try.  it's worth it.  I've gone almost paperless since I started using it several years ago (although, I did purchase a high speed Fujitsu scanner to make all of this easy).

 

[sancho57]

This is good info guys. I've been renting a house since I moved ad recently got renters ins. to protect my tools.

Ive been wanting to inventory/document what I have in case I ever have to make a claim.