How much do you spend on tools a month?

[JOEPRO]

How much do you squander spend invest in tools per month on average?

I spend about 200- 500 on average. Sort of thinking I need to cut back... but its all good stuff that I will use. Also what is your use level? Hobbyist or is self employed etc. I am a hobbyist.

Tomorrow I'm going to hopefully buy a large 220L blast cabinet so that's an example of where this month I'll be spending £500 or so all together. I do try to recoup some of that. For example I'll sell on my current small bench top blast cabinet and get a little back.

 

[Richiew]

 

[JOEPRO]

Can you add an option for <50?

Yes added that there it went to bottom of list can't move it just.

 

[Bobtail4x4]

if you count reloading tools this month is around £400

 

[KimB]

I have got to a point where I avoid buying tools but I don’t need that much anymore so I only buy what I need now. It isn’t a lot, I have double or triple of most things

 

[Hopefuldave]

When I'm not skint, less than I'd like - same when I am skint! This month's purchase is only a new bandsaw blade, and that was a bargain but i had to think whether I should..

 

[daleyd]

Depend who’s asking - if it’s the missus, then almost nothing.

Anyone else - usually enough to furnish the debt of a small African country.

 

[tom2207]

I have got to a point where I avoid buying tools but I don’t need that much anymore so I only buy what I need now. It isn’t a lot, I have double or triple of most things

Im the same , unless its something I really want or need , and then that could be in thousands , but not every month any more.

 

[Richiew]

The material spend is high as well. It's not like we're all professionals charging materials out to the customer. Everything I cut, weld, turn, or machine I have to pay for too. I know it's all for me or the scrap bin, but it is a major part of the cost of buggering about.

 

[AdventuresInMetal]

I voted £400+ because it's probably just about my average, some months it might be half that, some it might be double it, but if i looked at it over a 12 month period it's probably £4500 - £5000. It's excessive for a hobbyist, but i'm slowly gearing up to make it far more than a hobby. I don't drink or smoke or really buy much household junk, so the vast majority of my spare cash goes onto tools. I consider it a far safer option than taking out a 20 to 30k loan to start a business and worry where the hell the payments are coming from in the first few months, i'd rather just start out doing hobby stuff and occasional bits and peices for friends and family and go from there.

For the most part what i'm doing now is mostly hobby projects and just advancing my own skills, so it seems like I'm spending far too much on tools, but I think future me will thank myself for it later.

 

[Maker]

I spend about 200- 500 on average. Sort of thinking I need to cut back... but its all good stuff that I will use. Also what is your use level? Hobbyist or is self employed etc. I am a hobbyist.

We can't tell you the correct spend for your hobby, it depends on your level of interest, disposable income, etc.

Just had a look back on eBay, I think the last time I bought any tools, I spent 300 quid in April 2021, so I suppose that averages out around £10 a month, if you want to look at it that way. I've had other hobbies since then though, earlier this year I was spending about £150ish a month on film photography, bored of that now though so back to spending nothing.

I've been thinking for a while I'd like to get into jewellery making, so maybe soon I'll spend a few hundred a month on Valorbe files and Lindstrom pliers (Before I lose interest...).

 

[brightspark]

it depends if theres good gear at autojumbles cheap il buy it tools for work i buy new if i have to .can get the allowance on them anyhow

 

[ATGNI]

We can't tell you the correct spend for your hobby, it depends on your level of interest, disposable income, etc.

Just had a look back on eBay, I think the last time I bought any tools, I spent 300 quid in April 2021, so I suppose that averages out around £10 a month, if you want to look at it that way. I've had other hobbies since then though, earlier this year I was spending about £150ish a month on film photography, bored of that now though so back to spending nothing.

I've been thinking for a while I'd like to get into jewellery making, so maybe soon I'll spend a few hundred a month getting that set up (Before I lose interest...).

Yep disposable income is the key. Although as they say you dont have to spend a lot of money to have a good time. My biggest sin is probably buying tools I dont need because they are cheap etc.

 

[Barking Mat]

My spending is variable, when I bought my mill, or lathe, or tig, it was big spends, but that's not every month.

After 20 years of tool hoarding, I've pretty much got everything I need, yes I'd like loads of cordless tools, but I don't really need them.

All depends on disposable income.

Some tools have been bought for specific jobs, but most is just general.

Milling tools I could still spend a fortune, but I don't use it that often, but indispensable when you do need it.

 

[Munkul]

I spent quite a chunk last month one one tool...

I try to spend at least 2/3rds to 3/4s of what i bring in from my side business, on tools and upgrades. The tax man would just take his cut otherwise.

 

[mike os]

Last few years I've not spent much at all.. I have pretty much everything I need.

 

[Pete.]

Probably a couple of hundred on average. I've never thought to work it out or keep track. Recently I've been buying brake clenaner and thinners by the gallon for de-greasing and paintng. If I see something good at the boot fair then that's a bit more.

This month I've bought the missing piece for my mill and paid to ship it from Slovakia plus I expect there'll be VAT and a handling fee to pay. All of that will take care of 150-200 quid.

 

[sparkysy]

I spend a lot on tools nearly every month and get ear ache for it from my Accountant SWIMBO!
I tend to always buy quality. Most of it for my work, anything that makes a job quicker, easier or safer!
Saying that I have nearly every tool I need for work, and most things for the workshop although I would love a horizontal metal bandsaw and a mill just lacking space for one!

 

[Tom O]

Unfortunately I can walk through the tool store and nothing really catches my eye I’ve got almost everything that I’ll ever need and space is now getting to be an issue. Although I still watch for deals on equipment and such, even if my son rolls his eyes to the back of his head he’s never had a problem that I haven’t said here use this!

 

[Welderpaul]

Not too much this month today

Flippin good gear.