Keeping track of tooling

[KC2IXE]

Ok, another one of those threads I'll kick off "just because there might be a better way"

How do you keep track of what tooling you have?

Last night was really the first time I've had some serious "Me" time in the shop in probably, oh, 3-4 years. Yeah, I've been down there, and did things, but ever since Mom got sick, I really didn't have time to do "Hobby" shop work. It's either been repairs, a paying gig (the 1 recurring gig), or the like.

I started to look for one tool I knew was in my parts bins, when I ran across some (properly labeled) bins that had a LOT more tooling in them than I remembered. A quick for instance - I came across 8 brand new 1/4-20 elecralube coated taps (aka NOT cheap). It was a "Oh yeah, I remember buying those - that was for that project where I had 100 holes to tap, and it took a lot fewer taps than I thought". In another bin, I found about 25 brand new TPG-22X inserts of various grades. I haven't been using them because I've mostly switched to CCMT tools, but..

I spent some time cleaning up the Gerstner too - get all the taps in the "tap" drawer, all the lathe tooling down into a drawer in the riser, etc etc. I looked at my end mill collection, and found I had a lot more than I remembered (almost all HSS, but I forgot I was given a whole stack of sub 1/4" end mills by my old boss when he was shutting the plant)

I also found that I was totally OUT of #2 center drills/counter sinks - OUT - had ONE, and it was totally dull (Thanks to ebay, I'll have a box of 12 KEO brand in a couple of days, $17 including shipping)

So, how do you keep track of what tooling you have? (and as importantly, what you need to order/what's on the want list)

BTW, I looked at fishing lure boxes last weekend - they all have one HUGE problem - they are too deep! I'd love to find something that fits in the shallow gerstner drawers

 

[Torque1st]

Just keep a "want book". Keep a small spiral notebook in the shop and list what you are low on or need when you identify the need. Example; when you use that next to last center drill. Slip the book into your pocket when you go to the tool store. Mark off the items when you acquire them. Tear off the pages when you have fulfilled all the items on them. This want book is NOT a place to write down materials for a project or plans etc. Keep that kind of stuff somewhere else.

Don't even try to keep an inventory unless it is for insurance reasons.

 

[modamag]

My toolings are label by cabinet & bin.
The stuff I use often are purchased with duplicate/backup (eg 1/2" endmill).

Then there is the "want" list.
I let Enco and eBay keep the list for me.
I just wait till a sale or when I really need it then bite the pocket.

If you own a lathe, the want list is relatively small and dwindle quickly.

However if you own a mill, that thing grows and grows

 

[Torque1st]

I didn't think we were talking about a WISH list here, that thing could be huge!

 

[KC2IXE]

Well, I'll give you a "for instance"

I was going throung my end mills - I found I had two 1/2" 2 flute end mills, a 4 flute that was almost new, a 3/8" 4 flute, two 3/8" 2 flute double ended mills, 2 3/8" 4 flute end mills (1 new, 1 used), a 3/8" rougher and a bunch of others

Of course this was before I bought 1/4 and 1/2" carbide end mills

 

[KC2IXE]

Bringing up an old topic

I know some of you are running a small job shop - if there was a piece of software out there to track tooling for the small shop - what features would you want?

 

[fludunlimited]

I need to get organized, my problem is seting somthing down on top of the mill or some other place then spending 20 min looking for it.