I think the difference is in parts/supplies, not tools. In order to work efficiently, parts need to be available. My bike tools take up the space of a shoebox. However, my bike parts take up a 10 gal plastic tote. Now, I could go down to the bike shop and get a part everytime I needed one, but that would be 100%+ more expensive. I could also order just the parts I needed when I needed them but that adds 2-3 weeks to every fix.
The same for woodworking. Aside from the toolbox seen in the previous blog post I also built a crate to hold my planes. My store of scrap wood (stored vertically in a moving box) takes up far more space. However without that store, I wouldn't be able to tinker and I'd have to run over to the lumberyard all the time.
Minimalizing parts either costs time or money.
This is something I've struggled with myself. It's a trade-off between being able to move/relocate/travel easily and being self-reliant (the technical/maker dimension). There's a lot of psychic benefit to being able to pack up one's stuff within an hour and relocate in a car or even in a suitcase. On the other hand, there's also a lot of satisfaction in nearly always being able to build a home-made solution and being able to repair everything.
I find inspiration in boat living. This is pretty much how I organize my stuff. I'm minimalizing both aspects. I want enough to get the job done but nothing more! Someone in travel-mode who's willing to pay for fixes can get away with less stuff than I can, but I'm still pretty low on stuff. I can't fit it into a car, but I could fit it into a van sans bicycles and furniture.
To avoid "maximalism" requires some vigilance. There's, in my opinion, no need to store things "just in case". That's over the top. Store things that you can currently see a future use for, but not in the "this might be useful" category.
Minimalism vs maximalism
I guess we are somewhat extreme minimalists. All of our possessions were stored in a 3' X 5' storage locker the last time we traveled.
I've found that if I am creative I can ask around and find a solution to problems that require space, tools, equipment... that are equally economical and often even more so than if I had controlled the item/space/gear myself.
It is often just a matter of finding the right person with the right thing. Today so many people have so much stuff that they don't use, it has become easier to make the connection. Does anyone know anyone who owns an X I could borrow? It's amazing how many garages are full of unused Xs.
Some of the windows and tools he used in his projects remind me of dumpster-dive, thrift-store or flea market treasures. We look at the dumpster, thrift-store and flea market as our own person storage shed junk pile, only we don't have to own it until we need it.
When all else fails we do the swap-meet, craigslist, ebay short-term rental by purchasing a high quality item second-hand then reselling it before the end of its useful life.
For instance, I just bought a high-quality second-hand triathlon wetsuit at the swap meet which I will use for this coming season and sell on ebay before we travel again.
Edit: It does require planning. Without doubt having the exact bike part on hand when needed has a value.
I've found that if I am creative I can ask around and find a solution to problems that require space, tools, equipment... that are equally economical and often even more so than if I had controlled the item/space/gear myself.
It is often just a matter of finding the right person with the right thing. Today so many people have so much stuff that they don't use, it has become easier to make the connection. Does anyone know anyone who owns an X I could borrow? It's amazing how many garages are full of unused Xs.
Some of the windows and tools he used in his projects remind me of dumpster-dive, thrift-store or flea market treasures. We look at the dumpster, thrift-store and flea market as our own person storage shed junk pile, only we don't have to own it until we need it.
When all else fails we do the swap-meet, craigslist, ebay short-term rental by purchasing a high quality item second-hand then reselling it before the end of its useful life.
For instance, I just bought a high-quality second-hand triathlon wetsuit at the swap meet which I will use for this coming season and sell on ebay before we travel again.
Edit: It does require planning. Without doubt having the exact bike part on hand when needed has a value.
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jennypenny
- Posts: 6910
- Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2011 2:20 pm
*Since I have the room* I keep and store a lot of things "just in case." I don't think I've ever thrown out a glass jar or coffee can. I don't keep so much that it gets out of control, but I am much closer to TG's lifestyle. I usually find a use for everything. (last year my garden looked like it was sponsored by Chock full o'Nuts) I also take advantage of the room to stockpile including two refrigerators, three freezers, and shelves full of food.
We travel a bit, so I also know how to live out of one bag. I could easily see myself doing that, or living in an RV or boat. The only thing I would struggle with is giving up my food stockpiles. I'd have to keep a stash of GU or something.
>>Minimalizing parts either costs time or money.
It also costs resources. I like keeping parts of things around so I can reuse as much as possible.
We travel a bit, so I also know how to live out of one bag. I could easily see myself doing that, or living in an RV or boat. The only thing I would struggle with is giving up my food stockpiles. I'd have to keep a stash of GU or something.
>>Minimalizing parts either costs time or money.
It also costs resources. I like keeping parts of things around so I can reuse as much as possible.
jacob
I agree that the parts and supply requires a much greater ratio of space.
For instance, I want to teach myself masonry one day. A trowel, a string level and most of the other tools needed will fit in a wheelbarrow. A load of sand and a dump truck of used brick take up a proportionately larger space. I know you have spoke of welding. I too want to weld. Again, a set of gauges, a small welder, maybe even some tanks don't take up much space. On the other hand collecting stock to work with and form into projects may take up 10 times as much space.
I appreciate your "boat living" ideal. You did some good living, boat living on land! (in the RV.)
My problem is indeed "just in case." After accumulating items like I mentioned above, it would be tough for me to get rid of them even though the return on investment would be nearly 100%. (the tools) Despite my own perceived psychic benefit of having very light baggage, I find getting rid of tools or even supplies difficult if I have procured a useful skill that accompanies them.
Ego
Even though I have not swam competitively in nearly two years, I still hold on to my full tri wetsuit that was purchased used! You also make a good point about community. Many times I am the guy sought after with an X to lend. Most times when the X is lended, the knowledge to use it is also given or bartered.
Another good example of one of my just in case tools is a reliable chainsaw. Currently, I do not depend on it for cutting wood or trimming trees. It is cumbersome and not easy to store. I hold on to it for a couple of reasons. I dont think I could replace it for what I could sell it for, it is ready to use if I could somehow help a neighbor, and I would like to use it to cut my own wood someday.
I agree that the parts and supply requires a much greater ratio of space.
For instance, I want to teach myself masonry one day. A trowel, a string level and most of the other tools needed will fit in a wheelbarrow. A load of sand and a dump truck of used brick take up a proportionately larger space. I know you have spoke of welding. I too want to weld. Again, a set of gauges, a small welder, maybe even some tanks don't take up much space. On the other hand collecting stock to work with and form into projects may take up 10 times as much space.
I appreciate your "boat living" ideal. You did some good living, boat living on land! (in the RV.)
My problem is indeed "just in case." After accumulating items like I mentioned above, it would be tough for me to get rid of them even though the return on investment would be nearly 100%. (the tools) Despite my own perceived psychic benefit of having very light baggage, I find getting rid of tools or even supplies difficult if I have procured a useful skill that accompanies them.
Ego
Even though I have not swam competitively in nearly two years, I still hold on to my full tri wetsuit that was purchased used! You also make a good point about community. Many times I am the guy sought after with an X to lend. Most times when the X is lended, the knowledge to use it is also given or bartered.
Another good example of one of my just in case tools is a reliable chainsaw. Currently, I do not depend on it for cutting wood or trimming trees. It is cumbersome and not easy to store. I hold on to it for a couple of reasons. I dont think I could replace it for what I could sell it for, it is ready to use if I could somehow help a neighbor, and I would like to use it to cut my own wood someday.
As someone who spends a lot of time working on varied stuff, and tends to associate with hobbyists of a similar mind, I've had the "spare parts" burden of my own to carry, as well as that of friends who I've helped move. (Either home, or shop).
I've found it worthwhile to get rid of most parts/spares. Getting rid of this stuff frees money, space, and mental bandwidth to get things done.
But I finally broke down and put together a large nut/bolt/small parts tray rack after resisting for a decade a few years ago. I got the rack from work for free when they cleared out a lab and I have filled it with dumpster trophies and a nice assortment of very high quality hardware found at a salvage shop. I've had to move it twice, and it is in fact an obnoxious item to move. However, it actually takes less than an hour to pull the drawers out and load on to a van. It doesn't take many trips to the hardware store to more than pay for that time alone, to say nothing of money or being able to find what I do have.
I've found it worthwhile to get rid of most parts/spares. Getting rid of this stuff frees money, space, and mental bandwidth to get things done.
But I finally broke down and put together a large nut/bolt/small parts tray rack after resisting for a decade a few years ago. I got the rack from work for free when they cleared out a lab and I have filled it with dumpster trophies and a nice assortment of very high quality hardware found at a salvage shop. I've had to move it twice, and it is in fact an obnoxious item to move. However, it actually takes less than an hour to pull the drawers out and load on to a van. It doesn't take many trips to the hardware store to more than pay for that time alone, to say nothing of money or being able to find what I do have.
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dot_com_vet
- Posts: 603
- Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:07 am
Very true.
I'm into year six of home ownership, and that really maximizes things. Tools are consolidated into a 14 drawer tool cabinet. It's very efficient, but it takes a lot of tools to DIY!
I think I know what breaks now to have the optimal amount of spare parts. HVAC, lawn equipment, light bulbs, and batteries. But, it really adds up.
I'm into year six of home ownership, and that really maximizes things. Tools are consolidated into a 14 drawer tool cabinet. It's very efficient, but it takes a lot of tools to DIY!
I think I know what breaks now to have the optimal amount of spare parts. HVAC, lawn equipment, light bulbs, and batteries. But, it really adds up.
Sometimes I find myself daydreaming about a minimalist fantasy where I own 100 things etc. and have practically zero responsibilities. Other times the daydream is a nearly self-sufficient urban homestead with practically zero dependence on the money economy.
So I go back and forth on this as well.
On parts vs. tools: I posit that parts are bigger than tools for ERE-compatible activities, but that there exist activities where the tools are bigger. Back when I was into modifying cars (sigh) the tools felt like a bigger burden than the parts.
I'm not sure what the best answer is.
My current thought is that maximalism should be viewed as a sometimes-necessary evil and only used when necessary. That would be in arenas that are used daily and where downtime >1 day is unacceptable: housing, food, basic transport, primary (a)vocation. By definition other things can wait for parts. This is pretty much what I'm doing now in real non-fantasy life. But sometimes I feel burdened by the need to e.g. keep 8+ different kinds of "oil" stocked.
So I go back and forth on this as well.
On parts vs. tools: I posit that parts are bigger than tools for ERE-compatible activities, but that there exist activities where the tools are bigger. Back when I was into modifying cars (sigh) the tools felt like a bigger burden than the parts.
I'm not sure what the best answer is.
My current thought is that maximalism should be viewed as a sometimes-necessary evil and only used when necessary. That would be in arenas that are used daily and where downtime >1 day is unacceptable: housing, food, basic transport, primary (a)vocation. By definition other things can wait for parts. This is pretty much what I'm doing now in real non-fantasy life. But sometimes I feel burdened by the need to e.g. keep 8+ different kinds of "oil" stocked.
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ICouldBeTheWalrus
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2011 3:00 am
I struggle with this too. It doesn't help that in addition to basic house and car maintenance, I have some hobbies with very little overlap, as far as tools/parts go. Besides having a somewhat restricted amount of space to store things, the thing that bothers me most is that it feels like every thing that I have incurs some ongoing overhead to keep it properly organized.
I think there are some factors that make it worse today than it once may have been:
- metric AND imperial units! (in the USA at least)
- modern manufacturing has a lot more choices when it comes to parts than it once did, so if you're repairing things, there are a lot more possibilities.
- consumerism is good at encouraging us to acquire every last tool or part.
I think there are some factors that make it worse today than it once may have been:
- metric AND imperial units! (in the USA at least)
- modern manufacturing has a lot more choices when it comes to parts than it once did, so if you're repairing things, there are a lot more possibilities.
- consumerism is good at encouraging us to acquire every last tool or part.
I think the best way to retain the psychic benefit, as MikeBOS says, is to be willing to leave everything behind. And the best way to do that is to purchase stuff cheaply so you don't feel like you're taking a loss.
But even if you're willing to leave it behind, it can still start to add up. For instance, a workshop worth of tools, lumber, etc, can be difficult to dispose of in a responsible way. Do you just throw all that stuff out? If not, you have to find someone willing to get scrap wood, old screws, etc.
But even if you're willing to leave it behind, it can still start to add up. For instance, a workshop worth of tools, lumber, etc, can be difficult to dispose of in a responsible way. Do you just throw all that stuff out? If not, you have to find someone willing to get scrap wood, old screws, etc.
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George the original one
- Posts: 5406
- Joined: Wed Jul 28, 2010 3:28 am
- Location: Wettest corner of Orygun
I have a collection of tools & parts.
I'm of the "leave it behind" philosophy if moving in a hurry. After all, if I'm moving in a hurry, then my life is definitely at risk and I value that more than what I leave behind.
Less of a hurry? Then sell via craigslist/ebay/specialists. Plenty of time? I'll move at least a portion of the stash.
Raw material (e.g. logs/timbers or unformed sheetmetal), is not worth moving any significant distance (50-100 mile radius). Specialist parts made of unobtainium have a much larger radius.
I'm of the "leave it behind" philosophy if moving in a hurry. After all, if I'm moving in a hurry, then my life is definitely at risk and I value that more than what I leave behind.
Less of a hurry? Then sell via craigslist/ebay/specialists. Plenty of time? I'll move at least a portion of the stash.
Raw material (e.g. logs/timbers or unformed sheetmetal), is not worth moving any significant distance (50-100 mile radius). Specialist parts made of unobtainium have a much larger radius.