Taking inventory of tools

Zacharytanner

Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
569
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
 
Video all of them and make duplicate copies.  Store in different places in case of disaster such as fire or theft. 
 
+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 :)
 
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.
 
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. 

 
I took pictures of all my tools and documented serial numbers and price paid in Excel/Numbers.
 
Sparktrician said:
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
 
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
 
Alli said:
.........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!
 
tjbnwi said:
Sparktrician said:
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]

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

Kevin
 
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
 
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.
 
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).
 
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.
 
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