I Could Fill A Tool Box......

[Lawdwaz]

With all the hand tools I see on the road.  Intersections, on-ramps, intersections etc. are littered with hand tools.

 

Over the years I've picked up (WHEN SAFE) a kinds of good tools and some junk that I wished I didn't stop for.

 

My best score was a Mac 3/8" drive spark plug ratchet.  Box ratchets, pliers, screw drivers (SnapOn, Mac, Craftsman etc) plus other odd ball stuff like gasket scrapers, hook tools and pry bars.

 

It's fun scouring the edges of roads for all the odd treasures.  I know for a fact I have found in the past 25 years 4 wallets (and all returned to their rightful owner within hours) and countless cell phones, also all returned to owners.

 

 

What's your best find on the roadside?

 

(EDIT TO ADD.......I know of two tools right now, one at the intersection of Maple & North Forest and one on the 290 that are too dangerous to grab.  Make sure use your head if you want to grab some of these goodies!)

Edited June 23, 2014 by Lawdwaz

[Paula]

My father use to stop all the time and if they were the life time warranty ones he would exchange. He then shared them with my brothers.

What I think was the oddest one was a screwdriver that was like 3ft long

[papabear]

My brother was working with my dad on our oil truck when the truck had some trouble so brother took the tool box out they got the truck running dad told him to make shore the tool box was put away since it was on my brothers side they got in the truck 5 miles down the road dad saw the side door swing open yep my brother never put the box in the truck turned around to get tool box yep again it was gone over $500 worth or ratchets sockets and other some one made out really good that day on the 495

[Lawdwaz]

My brother was working with my dad on our oil truck when the truck had some trouble so brother took the tool box out they got the truck running dad told him to make shore the tool box was put away since it was on my brothers side they got in the truck 5 miles down the road dad saw the side door swing open yep my brother never put the box in the truck turned around to get tool box yep again it was gone over $500 worth or ratchets sockets and other some one made out really good that day on the 495

 

Ouch.........

 

That is one of those times that the finder should go out of their way to locate the unlucky sole that messed up.

 

[ants]

I have to have over a dozen different (good) tools that I have found , on the side of, or in the middle of the road. Not to mention tie down straps, rope, bungee cords and a brand new 25' tow chain. I stopped for a pair of chest waders once…but they didn't make it.

[burmjohn]

My neighbor got a "used" commercial leaf blower that way, just had to replace the gas tank. 

 

[fasteddie]

I have picked up a 1/2" socket handle , vice grips , channel lock pliers , pruner shears , and a few other items . Found a purse in a shopping cart and took it to Service Desk at Tops in Baytown a long time ago . Found a 20 ga Remington in a wooded area near my SIL's property and gave it to the guy who owned the land .

[Nomad]

Marbles fixed blade knife from 1911 . Found at Main st and Wisconsin in the city.

[Dinsdale]

 

What's your best find on the roadside?

 

I picked up this smokin' hottie brunette along a roadside once......

Turned out she was looking to get paid to handle my tool.

[philoshop]

I carry one of those extendable-handle magnetic things in the front part of my truck (calling it a cab would be gracious) just for those occasions when you might be able to slow down a little but stopping would be verbotten.  With the right sharp-eyed and willing passenger and a little lane-changing I've snagged lots of little tool-type goodies over the years.

[turkeyfeathers]

I see tools all the time in intersections. Usually wrenches of some sort. 

 

Do you know they get there? Mechanics working on engine and leaving them on the engine block, forget about them, shut hood, driver drives car, car makes turn at intersection, tool slides off and presto...Lawdwaz has new tools

[wooly]

Oh this is a touchy subject for me.

I lost an entire pick up bed full of plumbing tools on the 990 one day on my way home from Amherst. Stupid tailgate dropped somewhere between the jobsite and home, and I had to reimburse work for some of their equipment that was on board at the time. All total, close to two grand in tools.

 

I did however find a complete bow package laying in the ditch a few years ago, so things are starting to even out!

[Jeremy K]

There was a nice fiberglass ladder on the 290 a couple years back but my life is worth a lot more then a free ladder.

[Lawdwaz]

There was a nice fiberglass ladder on the 290 a couple years back but my life is worth a lot more then a free ladder.

 

Could have been busted when it fell.  That one ain't worth the risk.........

 

[Lawdwaz]

Oh this is a touchy subject for me.

I lost an entire pick up bed full of plumbing tools on the 990 one day on my way home from Amherst. Stupid tailgate dropped somewhere between the jobsite and home, and I had to reimburse work for some of their equipment that was on board at the time. All total, close to two grand in tools.

 

 

 

Wow, that had to be gut wrenching.............loosing some much in one fell swoop.  Damn..............

[Lawdwaz]

I see tools all the time in intersections. Usually wrenches of some sort. 

 

Do you know they get there? Mechanics working on engine and leaving them on the engine block, forget about them, shut hood, driver drives car, car makes turn at intersection, tool slides off and presto...Lawdwaz has new tools

 

I was a mechanic for 7 years before I bought my business in 1985 so I've BTDT.   Hence why I have such a sharp eye on the loot.

[Lawdwaz]

I carry one of those extendable-handle magnetic things in the front part of my truck (calling it a cab would be gracious) just for those occasions when you might be able to slow down a little but stopping would be verbotten.  With the right sharp-eyed and willing passenger and a little lane-changing I've snagged lots of little tool-type goodies over the years.

 

TFF..........carrying a tool like that for a quick score!

[Lawdwaz]

 

 

I picked up this smokin' hottie brunette along a roadside once......

Turned out she was looking to get paid to handle my tool.

 

TFFx100

 

 

 

 

Well, what'd it cost ya?

Edited June 24, 2014 by Lawdwaz

[Lawdwaz]

I have to have over a dozen different (good) tools that I have found , on the side of, or in the middle of the road. Not to mention tie down straps, rope, bungee cords and a brand new 25' tow chain. I stopped for a pair of chest waders once…but they didn't make it.

 

When is bungee season in your neck of the woods?  Sometimes the things are everywhere around here!

 

[fasteddie]

When I used to have a Chevy S-10 pu , I would place a drill , etc on the rear bumper when I was installing / removing Real Estate signs . A couple times I drove off and had it missing when I got to the next job . One time I put up a sign at a home in Pittsford where they were having a Garage sale . Got to the next job a couple miles away . No drill driver . Went back to the previous home and the guy had my drill on his table . I told him it wasn't for sale and took it .

 

[wdswtr]

Hammers seem to be the biggest finds for me.  I think I have picked up two of them over the years just getting my mail.  Sunday at the boat launch there were 20 dollar bills on the dock and floating in the water when we launched.  I didnt know anything about it till after I parked the truck and the boy was sooping them up with the net.  Didnt see who launched or loaded up before us either.  Asked a guy who was securing his boat and he said he didnt lose any money.  Couldnt even get my boy to give up 1 of the 20's for gas for the boat either LOL.  One time when pumping gas I found a credit card on top of the pump and a purse on the ground.  I didnt want to take it inside in case of a less than honest employee and it felt uncomfortale looking in the purse but there was a cell phone in it.  Looked at the last phone call made and called the number on my cell.  It ended up being the owners sister.  I told her I would wait with the purse for her to come get it.  She showed up with her sister who owned the purse and seemed displeased that I looked in it to find her phone and make the call.  Never even got a thanks. 

[wdswtr]

When we were kids we would walk down the road to the river to go swimming.  Every empty pack of cigarrets we would come across she would pick them up.  I asked a bunch of times why she picked them up to look at them as she didnt smoke.  Never got an answer till one day she picked one up and pulled out a 100 dollar bill from the foil liner.  SHe held it up and said this is why I pick them up. She said her mom smokes and always stick money in them and a lighter for some odd reason. 

Edited June 24, 2014 by wdswtr

[Red]

last year I was doing a job on main street at canisius college after finishing the job I leave and make it two blacks away and realize that the door to the side tool box had come open and my day old sawz all fell out I back tracked the two.blocks but it was already gone.note I lock ask if the tool boxes after each job

[JR60]

Found two Stihl chain saws in cases mile apart from one another , posted a add in Lost and Found , nobody claimed them .

[fasteddie]

Last year I found a watch in Lowe's parking lot . I gave it the gal at the service desk and told her where I found it . About 6 months later I had something to return . The same lady was at the counter . I asked her if anyone picked up the watch . She said no one had claimed it and handed it to me . She said it would be one less thing to clutter the Lost & Found Box .