Why Every Man Should Own a Toolbox (And What to Put in It) | | By Andy Snyder, Founder | | | | | | | | | Rooster's Crow | | | Some of the most popular tools on the market are those fancy "multi-tools" that draw men to them like bugs to a streetlight. They're neat, but they're also like carrying a big ol' compromise on your belt. Sure, they can do a lot... but they do very few things well. We suspect the bottom of the ocean is littered with expensive multi-tools that angry sailors heaved overboard with a cuss. There's no such thing as a do-all tool. Sorry. Instead, spend the money on a good pocket knife - and a sturdy box to put a few real tools in. | | | |
 Rooster's Crow
Some of the most popular tools on the market are those fancy "multi-tools" that draw men to them like bugs to a streetlight. They're neat, but they're also like carrying a big ol' compromise on your belt. Sure, they can do a lot... but they do very few things well. We suspect the bottom of the ocean is littered with expensive multi-tools that angry sailors heaved overboard with a cuss. There's no such thing as a do-all tool. Sorry. Instead, spend the money on a good pocket knife - and a sturdy box to put a few real tools in. What is it about that beat-up old box that makes us feel so good?
What is it about a man's toolbox that makes him feel like he can conquer the planet?
In a world where folks are angry, the media is ablaze with petty controversy, and you can't tune in to the news without hearing somebody gripe about how unfair things are, a toolbox is a solid reminder that our liberty and know-how are worth more now than ever.
Let's forget the unnecessary stress of politics and the news, and let's ponder something far more innocent... and far more worthy of our time.
If you don't have a toolbox, let me show you the rather odd reason you need one... and the essentials to put in it.
Your Treasure Chest
You'll be amazed at how owning a good toolbox makes you feel.
I remember my dad's toolbox - dark red, with two black clasps on each end. That thing went everywhere with us... road trips, offshore fishing trips and even a few day trips under the sink.
The contents in it are probably worth a few hundred bucks, but the money it saved over the decades is well into the thousands. And beyond that, the feeling of contentment those tools brought is immeasurable.
You can say my yellow, diamond-plate-clad version is a second-generation toolbox. Some of the tools and the stories that go with them have gone from one box to the other... a priceless transfer of knowledge and power.
There's no doubt a good toolbox becomes part of the family.
Over the weekend, we spent a dozen or so hours working to rebuild the shocks on my old Ford. I found myself treating my toolbox like a castaway treats a volleyball... talking to it, cussing at it and eventually thanking it.
"I finally got that $%#@ bolt. Thanks for the help," I told it.
Oh sure, that sounds weird to the guy reading it on the screen. For a second even I contemplated whether I needed to gather my stuff, find a couch and watch some football with the masses.
But, no, my gears didn't slip.
It's human nature to befriend our wrenches.
The Divine Ratchet Wrench
Man has a long history of personifying things that have a deep, fulfilling meaning to him. Mountains house the personalities of divine souls. The stars align to tell us stories of great heroes. The oceans, perhaps one of mankind's most wickedly powerful tools, have long been treated like a beast with a fickle personality.
There's not a sailor who's watched his hull cut through the sea without cursing or bowing to it... often on the same voyage.
Our toolbox - and the nearly infinite power it contains - isn't all that much different. As if it holds some divine power, it can make our day... or ruin it.
When I grab my toolbox, I grab a friend that's along for the journey. It has no emotions, but it sure can evoke them.
Getting that final rusty bolt unstuck... watching the light turn on (with no smoke or fire)... hearing the car fire up... or, the worst fear, knowing that your project is hopeless... they're all highly emotional feelings that evoke pleasure and pain we can't find anywhere else.
They're vital feelings for a man looking to live a fulfilled life.
What Goes Where
Obviously, it's not just owning a toolbox that matters. That'd be like having a winning lottery ticket and never cashing it.
Many men claim they don't know how to use tools (oh, the horror). Therefore they don't own a toolbox.
The truth is, I've yet to see a pair of pliers with a set of instructions. You don't learn how to use tools... you just use them. In fact, I used a pair of lineman's pliers as a hammer on Saturday. No alarm bells went off... and the bolt slid soundly into the hole.
Now, a man's toolbox is a lot like his underwear drawer. Both have three key rules... - Don't go digging around in there.
- Don't try to tell me what I need in there.
- If things are a bit dirty, well... that's merely a sign they're doing their job.
Each of our toolboxes has its own unique lineup. For instance, I have pipe flaring tools that are needed at our off-the-grid cabin that most men will never need. You, on the other hand, may have tools specific to your boat or old car.
But at the risk of breaking our second rule, there are some must-haves...
Screwdrivers, pliers, a tape measure, a utility knife, wrenches, a socket set, a small level, a pry bar, gloves and a flashlight are critical.
And some tools you may not have thought of that have saved my hide a time or two... - Voltmeter
- Stiff battery terminal brush
- Small pipe cutter
- Hacksaw blade
- Gasket maker
- Nail punch.
There's something quite personal about a toolbox. No two should ever be alike. They are living extensions of us and our lives... as our needs change, so do our tools.
No doubt, a good toolbox leads us to a better, more fulfilled life.
But the best part of our toolbox... it doesn't talk back.
Be well,
Andy
P.S. I'm a tool guy. Send me a note about your favorite tools or the unique tools in your toolbox. We may even share an idea or two. As always, you can drop me a line at mailbag@manwardpress.com. | | | | | |
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