Welcome to my Roadtool Museum.
The collection includes almost all the tools I have found, primarily while out training to race bicycles.
As of 2026-05-02 the roadtool collection comprises 1236 tools recovered and cataloged since 2013‑12‑31. Some of the tools date to earlier times, before I began inventorying them.
In addition over the same period I have found $171.84 and fifteen mobile phones, a few of which I have been able to return.
The inventory of the museum is in a spreadsheet that categorizes metadata such as the find dates, the size, the find location, and a condition assessment. But they don't have accession numbers or any other proper museum-quality information.
The tools in the collection naturally fall into four grades:
- tools that live in my workroom tool cabinet,
- a second set of tools that I keep in a waterproof tool box in my car trunk,
- useful tools that do not have a place in the cabinet, and which live in a tool bag, and
- duplicated, poor quality, damaged, or otherwise unusable tools, which I have retained for their value to the collection.
The most common size, by far, is 10 mm.
In addition, but not shown, I have a collection of individual drivers (Phillips, Torx, and nut drivers), which I not longer count toward the total number found.
Class 1: Usable roadtools from the tool cabinet
Sockets
The collection of usable sockets that made it into the tool cabinet includes nearly complete sets of
- 1/4 in. drive metric short and deep sockets,
- 1/4 in. drive US Customary in short sockets,
- 3/8 in. drive metric short and deep sockets,
- 3/8 in. drive metric impact sockets,
- 3/8 in. drive US Customary short sockets,
- five individual 1/4 in. drive socket handles, and
- a wide range of 3/8 in. and 1/4 in. drive extensions.
Unusual elements of the socket collection include
- 1/2 in. drive ITL electrical-rated socket handle (orange in the image below),
- three large shallow sockets for removing various automotive oil filters,
- two torque-limiting impact extensions for automotive lug nuts (blue and white in image 2), and
- a 3/4 in. drive 1-5/8 in. socket.
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| Metric sockets of sufficient quality to store in the tool cabinet |
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| US Customary sockets from the tool chest. |
Wrenches
More an more of the wrench set are the ratcheting closed-end models.
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| Wrenches from the tool chest. US Customary on the left; metric on the right. |
Pliers
Slip joint pliers are a very common find, and are generally in good condition. The pliers on the right, as well as the pry bar, are Snap-On.
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| Pliers from the toolchest |
Knives
Most of the knives are the typical Walmart grade, but the collection includes several reasonably expensive models, whose loss certainly caused previous owner distress:
- CRKT skinning knife (black handle), and
- Kershaw (silver with belt clip in the center), which I use every day.
Scissors, Punches, Screwdrivers
How do people lose so many scissors? Screwdrivers seem to have difficulty surviving the roadside--only a few were worth including in the tool chest.
Drill bits
I carried the Irwin spade-bit set for miles before makingit back to the car. Drill bits usually are too damaged to be of any use.
Electrical
I rebuilt the Klein wire stripper, and have used it for many home electrical projects.
Class 2: Car tool box
Sockets
It includes mostly complete sets of 1/4 in. and 3/8 in. drive metric and US customary sockets.
Wrenches
The 3/8 in. drive socket handle is the only one I have ever found in usable condition. The tool roll came from the trash can at work.
Screwdrivers, etc.
Class 3: Tool bag
Hammers, screwdrivers, automotive trim tools, and vise grips
Of note are the three different automotive trim removers on the left. The cylindrical object on the right next to the vise-grip clamp is a grounding-rod driver for a hammer drill that I carried for almost 60 miles. The engineer's hammer (blue head) also rode in my jersey pocket for several hours.
Class 4: Duplicated, poor quality, damaged, or otherwise unusable
Sockets
Many of the sockets are either damaged or corroded, particularly the impact sockets on the right. In addition, many are "Brand-X" sockets of low initial quality.
Wrenches
I no longer count the flat, stamped wrenches (on the left) that come with Ikea kits. Most of the wrenches are also Brand-X, though the adjustable wrenches are all servicable.
Pliers
The collection of slip-joint pliers represents only a part of the total number found, as I have given away several as well.
I have no idea what the Frankenstein, home-made lineman's pliers with the sockets welded to the handles could possibly be used for.
Automotive tools
Apparently many people lose the key for their locking lug nuts. The black-handled tools are tire-plug insertion tools. And the fuchsia tool is for some part of a Cadillac.
Scissors
Scissors often don't survive the ejection, and defintely rarely survive being run over.
Screwdrivers
So many are in poor condition or were poor quality to begin with.
Razor knifes and toenail clippers
Apparently many people multitask while stopped at traffic lights by trimming their fingernails or toenails. Possibly they lose the clipper while trying to shake out the nails. I have several other undamaged ones in regular use, after ultrasonic cleaning and disinfection.
Razor knives rarely survive.
Hammers
And chain-saw tools.
