[Hal Copple]

I am a compulsive tool buyer. Like a woman who needs a chest full of jewelry to possess, i need toolchest filled with every kind of shiny wrench or gadget. Sort of an addiction.

I can't walk thru a kitchen store with my wife, without picking up utensils and things and wondering if there is some way i can adapt it to a garage purpose. Like an artist who can see something to create where others just see stuff, i can visualize a mechanical use for the most mundane object.

When i had my much modified turbo Eclipse, i had a vast assortment of tools, all metric. One of the most exciting things about buying my SPF was that much of the car was SAE, opening up vast new vistas for tool purchases.

I have tools that are so redundant, that i will never possibly actually use them. I just got my forth set of AN wrenches, yet i only have two hands to use them with.

I especially like German or French Facom tools, for their extraordinary workmanship and finish. I have started acquiring tools for my son's toolchest.

It just goes on and on. I just got another set of Facom Metric hex keys from Griot's Garage today. No wonder he has run a quote of mine in his catalogue for over a year, about my tool buying.

The SnapOn guy says that i am the only person from whom he will accept a personal check! Robin at Pegasus Racing knows my voice on the phone. If there were a TV show about buying tools, like there is for jewelry, i would wire it into my office for full time viewing. I could re-build an F-15 with what i have in my garage.

My office staff nonchalantly hids my larger purchases that i have delivered to my office, so that i can sneak them home later.

It is a sickness, and i couldn't enjoy it more!

Someday, when i own several of every usual tool, i will by some old English car, just to have the need to get into Whitworth tool acquistion.

All the best, especially to our Heroic Miltary on stand-by.