What will happen to your tools when you die?

[bczygan]

Many members here have spent a lot of money and endless time collecting their tools and outfitting their garages and work areas. How much time and effort have you spent to determine where your tools go, when you go to the big garage? Do you want your tools to be sold for pennies at some future garage sale? Have you made sure that the people you want to have your tools will get them?

Bill

 

[Sawbladz]

I just inherited a large portion of my grandfathers tools. There was no special way he wanted them distributed but he was certain he wanted nothing sent to auction. He didn't have a lot of nice tools but I will enjoy the ones I did get and I am very happy to have them.

 

[KCarGuy]

Simple...Every single tool and piece of equipment will go to my son.

 

[OneTon]

Y'all will be buying them at an estate auction! Damn vultures!

 

[brownbagg]

I,m going have my thrown out in the yard, let them rust and become fossils, ash to ash, dust to dust. that way who ever find them would be happy like a treasure hunt

 

[PCO6]

I responded to a Kijiji ad recently. It was for a particular item but when I arrived at the guy's house his garage was full of tools that were arranged in ailses, almost like you would see in a store. He was in his early 60's and retired. He was selling the tool collections of about 4 or 5 other guys who were in their 70's or 80's. He said he had several other guys waiting to get their stuff to him but he could only handle that number of guys at a time. He also said that he got constant e-mails and the phone was always ringing in response to his ads. That's an interesting way of off loading your tools but I wouldn't want to be doing the work that the guy I met was doing.

 

[MScott]

If I can't take 'em with me, I ain't goin'.

 

[nehog]

I've specified that everything (Cars, tools, equipment) be sold at the best possible price, and the money given to my wife. If she kicks before me, then the kids get it...

They are tools... My wife won't use them... My daughters (except the youngest) won't use them... The youngest probably would not use them either... (but she does know how to!)

 

[Gary S]

My Sons want most of my older tools. My Craftsman tools are about 40 years old and seem to be of much better quality than the newer ones my Sons bought for themselves.

 

[Denee007]

This is really a depressing issue, but as reality would have it~ that day will come! I thought I'd never give up motorcycle riding, but had to due to ringing in the ears, so the bike was sold to purchase a Maxjax! trade one thing of fun for another! I have all daughters and they don't even know what a ratchet is! My husband could care less for the tools (sad), so If I left the world abruptly, they'd be sold off cheaply I'm sure!
dne'

 

[vette]

This is a guestion I'v asked myself. I have spent my life collecting tools and machinery,being a racer coming from a father who was a racer, and I havent been blessed with children.Now I,m depressed!!

 

[richashley]

As a retired (recovering?) estate planning attorney, I suggest making a specific distribution in your will or trust to make sure they go to somebody you want to have them and don't just end up being sold for pennies on the dollar. Don't forget that vocational schools can often use tool donations. Many of you have collections that are too valuable to see them just evaporate. I'm going to have to deal with this issue myself soon because my kids (15 and 19) aren't really that interested in them ... at least so far.

 

[bczygan]

This is a guestion I'v asked myself. I have spent my life collecting tools and machinery,being a racer coming from a father who was a racer, and I havent been blessed with children.Now I,m depressed!!

Sorry!!!..................I didn't want to depress anyone!

It is a reality, though. I am just starting to acquire tools with a purpose, but being 60, I have to think of what the future holds. We are all just borrowing tools for a time.........and one of the joys of acquiring them can be deciding on when, where and how they will go to new users. I am going to try to decide which ones will go to family members, which turned to cash, which will go to schools or organizations or other individuals. My local EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) has a tool closet. Your homeowner association may have a tool loaner setup and welcome some tools. Some can even be placed right now. I'd like to find an interested young person who would appreciate some good tools, but who can't afford them himself.

It's fun and satisfying to have the power to make these decisions. You could even REQUIRE that your tools be sold at a flea market or garage sale to give future tool collectors an opportunity for a FIND!

Bill

 

[mpire]

I intend to live forever.

 

[madjack]

It's in my will as to who gets what. Various finished cars go to the daughters and nieces. Motorcycles and guns go to the boy and the nephews. Property like the rental storage units will go to a local charity to provide income to their food for those in need project.
My tools are another story. Over twenty years ago I was in the big Brothers/ Big Sisters program with two very fine young guys. They get the tool boxes and whats in them. They know the value of fine equipment and will take care of them, because They can borrow tools any time now and when they come back, the tools are cleaner than when they left.

 

[sirsloop]

IDK about mine, but I bought a bunch and some boxes off CL from some kid who has his father pass. Great deal too!

 

[MN4x4]

I intend to live forever.

Me too!

So far, so good...

 

[Tommydogg]

I'm going to be cryogenically frozen so I can be revived some time in the future when whatever might ail me is curable weather it be old age or disease. My tools will have to be preserved and stored untill such time.

 

[Robert Haas]

There is a local Tech School that has a fine automotive tech program. As in all things publicly funded they are flat broke. The students are mostly impoverished but are working hard to extract themselves from the life of their peers and build a real future based on a solid education.

I will be leaving everything in the shop to this school. It should help.

 

[rsanter]

thats my daughters problem
I have already told her that she is under no obligation to save, keep, store...etc anything.
the tools, cars, trains, etc are my hobby not hers
keep them, sell them, dosent really matter to me
sell them and buy a house..........

on the other hand I have told her that she needs to be carefull about who she marries because he may be marrying her just to get my tools. she just rolled her eyes as I laughed

bob

 

[Aberdale]

Why should I care? I'll be dead. Although it might be interesting to think about, there are far more important things than worrying about where my tools go after I'm gone.

I have no kids or relatives interested in turning wrenches so there's no sentimental value.
I'm sure they'll find a good home where someone will continue to get use out of them, whether they're sold at auction, or my wife gives them away. I'm not losing sleep over it.

 

[Vic1964]

I recently started attending estate auctions. I see lots and lots of tools go to the highest bidder usually at pennies on the dollar. At my first sale, I picked up a small, wooden, no-name machinist toolbox for $12.50. It needs a little work but will make a good winter project.

The point is that I also started wondering where my tools will end up and it is pretty depressing. I have 2 youngish sons but who knows what they will do with them.

 

[imok]

If I live long enough I plan to sell all of my tools when I am no longer able to use them.

If I leave the world suddenly then my kids will sell them all since they have no use for them.

Charles

 

[snapmom]

A collector friend has asked, in a personal way, if he could purchase my collection after my passing, so I am going to honor his request and sell most of my collection to him. I would like them to go to a collector I know.

 

[SPDMETL]

Maybe I'll have my survivors bring them to the Wake so everybody can help
themselves ?

Maybe when I get to Heaven (ha !!!! ) I'll have all the money back from cars/tools/expenses. Let's see; 30+ years worth of being a Gearhead...I believe I'll stop thinking about this now !

 

[hilld]

I want to be like the Egyptian Pharaoh's and be buried with my treasures (tools).

 

[mooman]

Hopefully get used more than when I had them.

 

[red baron]

With my high rate of income, and advances in science, I should easily be able to live to be 300. Did you hear they implanted a pig heart into a human? He didnt live, but its amazing that they are trying that.

sorry, jokes over, I have no idea whats gonna happen with any of my stuff.

 

[Kenwc]

I just hope my wife does't sell them for what I told her I paid for them.

 

[bazzateer]

Simple...Every single tool and piece of equipment will go to my son.

This ^^^^

Plus all my Grampy's tools (already mine) and my Dad's.

 

[Groovy]

My kids will craigslist them, my wife has no idea the value and will "loan" them to her brother the second my heart stops, my girlfriends will enshrine them and fight over them, the only one of the herd with any sense is my dog, so knuckles will be the richest dog on the Island. He can say he got em from his paw

 

[mslisaj]

Well I have Willed all my tools and equipment to my sister's son. He is a serious gear head and while he has all his own stuff I'm "hoping" he will take an interest and clean everything out. I have a fully equipped 3600 sqft building behind my house. My father and I owned a Service Station and then a Garage for a total of 50 years so we got some stuff. But it is a fair question and it's something we have to think about and deal with. God willing I have another 25 years left to enjoy it...............

 

[mad57]

Well i have 2 daughters and if i go now while there young everything goes to auction...how i bought most of it any way but i gave her the number of a pitbull auctioneer guy who to this day sells **** on line and i cant even get that price in real life, so all hot rods and tools propertys ect go up for highest bids, if im older and my daughters are married they can see what the hubbys want and sell the rest pretty simple.

 

[Colonial Cobra]

I have three boys and a wife that loves to do projects. The tools will be well used. I'm sure the battle over the cars will be much more interesting than the one over tools.

 

[supertooljunkie]

I have a couple of friends who get first pick. Then they will sell the rest and give the money to my wife.
Though I do have a grandson due next month. I might turn him into a gearhead and pass them to him.

 

[g0ldfing3r]

Ive been to alot of estate sales and its kinda sad to see a man's life collection of tools and equipment being sold in a fraction of what they cost. Are their kids not interested on their dad's stuff? Thats why I talked to my kids and told them to keep and value my tools and guns when I passed away. Im only in my mid 30s and my boys are 15, 13 and 7. But who knows what will happen tomorrow...

 

[Jack Olsen]

I'm afraid that if I did take them with me they would quickly melt in the relentless, eternal and blistering heat.

 

[a-fordable]

this is a great searching question!--I have started down sizing by seeding into the lives of a couple of young mechanics who are dedicated and interested in tools. The true measure of a person is not in what he has, but in how much he shares. If our true measure were in the abundance of what we posses, then tool companys would be great! That title is reserved for mankind who has helped others!

 

[djd99]

Hmm I'm 38 and have in my will my parents get everything I own If I should pass at a young age otherwise someday I'll have to change my will.

 

[mikester]

Sad to say but my sons going to be 21 and he really isnt into cars or carpentry like his old man. When I was 20 I was building old Jeeps and cars for fun. Im not saying I was a great mechanic but I did have fun. It was a learning experience. I never built a complete motor but I did take a few things apart to have them done. I used to do everything in an old barn with a wood floor and no heat. Now Ive got a nice heated garage with plenty of light and a box full of tools and a son that doesnt even like to check the oil in his car. Its not like I didnt try to get him interested. He came with me to car shows and cruise nights since he could walk. Funny how things work out. My wife will probably sell all my stuff when I croak and park her truck in the garage.