What will happen to your tools when you die?

[crewchief888]

wife knows who i'd like to have 1st choice in the "freebie" category, and a few select things going to certain people
if her son didnt want what was left, i 'spose the stuff will get sold at auction.

most of what i have, i had before we got together, and she really doesnt feel it "belongs" to her in anyway.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Hopefully by the time that I kick the bucket, I have a grandson* that would appreciate them.


*Disclaimer; by no means is this wish for one of my daughter to get pregnant in the near future.

 

[GN4WHLN]

MY son has little mechanical skill and doesn't take care of things so he gets nothing. My daughter (11YO) is learning so my stuff will probably go to her or a "qualified" grandchild. Other than that, they can be sold. The same for my guns.

When I get to the pearly gates, I'm going to ask "Which way to the shop?" I assume heaven will have a fully outfitted shop. If there isn't one, maybe some of us can get together for a build because without a shop, it's more like the other place. I bet Hell has a shop, but it's outfitted with Chi com tools that constantly break, air lines made of PVC, a lift that slips, and a hot-headed guy who keeps screaming for the work to be done faster. Come to think of it, wasn't there a post that describes one of the member's place of employment like that?

 

[rodm1]

Detroit, armpit of the midwest

Aint that the truth!

 

[Mario]

Interesting tread!

I'm quite "young" (36) so my wife would probably keep all of the tools if I die early. The 41" toolbox was made by her father when she worked as a mechanic 10 years ago. So I assume this would stay in the family.

We will see in 30 years when i'm old but now my oldest daughter (10 soon) seem interested in mechanic. She drag race with her small electrical motocross since 7 years old. I would like them (2 daugthers) to have the tools but then again, I will be dead so...

I have a LOT of tools and I have a feeling I will receive my father's tools in a short while. He lost a great deal of mobility and rarely use them anymore...

 

[Kev442]

My wife is going to take one helluva long cruise with her boyfriend on my tool dime!

 

[mmb617]

Our son is an only child so he would get everything. He's a Ford tech so he already has a lot of tools, but all his good stuff is at work. I've already warned him that if he sells my car I'll haunt him.

 

[Concrete B]

I want my tools smelted into a casket and vault for me, and lined with the material from my favorite chair. Then, bury me with jerky and a loaded shotgun (with extra ammo), so when I come back as a Zombie, I can defend myself against all of the still living.

 

[Steevo]

I am going to develop a test to make sure that whoever lays claim to my tools and equipment is qualified to have them. Should all of my descendants fail that test, they will be donated to a vocational training facility where some good will come of them.

 

[cowboyjosh]

I don't give a rats ***, I'll be dead.

 

[Finley]

to my 2 sons.

 

[Rentawrench]

Well I say we should sell off what we have ENJOY life NOW.

Then go the the Tool truck an buy the BEST an Newest an let them repo them , when we pass.

 

[Tommydogg]

On the other hand, we might need them to pay Charon to cross the River Styx!

 

[mmb617]

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

On the other hand, we might need them to pay Charon to cross the River Styx!

Sounds like I'll be meeting up with some other members in the hereafter!

 

[wornoutoldman]

When my son was born I had his initials pinstriped on my toolbox (beneath my own) fast forward 20 years and try as I might he has no interest in using tools. Sure he loves fast cars and motorcycles but try as I might to get him to learn about or work on one.... Same thing with my daughter she's 18 now and although we've done lot's of projects through the years she doesn't want them either. Now my 15 year old nephew on the other hand calls me out of the blue (with regularity) and asks if I'm doing anything out in the garage or going to the dragstrip and can he please (yes this kid says please) come over and help work on something. He's spent countless hours lending a hand and doing the dirty thankless work and he loves it! You can guess where my tools are going.

 

[sfm1951]

My boys will get them. I told them when they come by and find me tipped over to take what ever they want before they call the corner. Even it takes a week , just prop me up in the corner ,or step over me. They are both millwrights and do bodywork on the side, so I know they will be appreciated and put to good use. Steve

 

[HemiRambler]

I have some sentimental tools - that my aunt saved for me until I was old enough to appreciate (take care of) them - belonged to my great grandfather. My stuff will all go to the kids - I hope they save the sentimental stuff - which leads to a great question!! Will my survivors know which item is which??? Time to start writing stuff down...

 

[oldwino]

I'm working on a "what it's worth" or "what I paid for it" list that will be locked up in MY safe deposit box until my demise (she doesn't need to know right now what I've got ******* in tools although most were mine before we got married). My daughters' don't have any interest so will probably go to auction or ebay.

 

[trbomax]

My wife and I have discussed this at length and who ever goes first gives everything they own to the other. When we are both gone it just goes into the estate and the two boys can just fight it out. There is more than enough to go around,propertys,tools,cars,boats,guns,............. More than either of us want to list and decide who gets what.The only thing that is specified is that all the animals are to be put down. I'd like to be able to see how this works out though because they fight and bicker all the time now over nothing,but as long as I'm here I dont give a flying f*&^#!

 

[ar2stp48]

Most likely not a single tool will go to an auction or sale of any type. My son will have first choice of tools --wood shop, mechanics tools and boxes, and metal shop. Anything he doesn't claim will be quickly claimed by two wonderful son in laws. The same will apply to the old cars, trailers, and guns. Very proud they enjoy working in the shop and appreciate all the goodies.

 

[Thumper]

My youngest son (25) gets every damn thing I own. He is in school for aircraft mechanics (paying for it on his dime) and he knows how to use everything I got. He won't sell them but will have one hellofa home shop.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Hopefully by the time that I kick the bucket, I have a grandson* that would appreciate them.


*Disclaimer; by no means is this wish for one of my daughter to get pregnant in the near future.

That one made me laugh! I feel the same way - disclaimer and all!!
2 daughters with no interest in mechanical stuff....I have no idea what will happen to my stuff.....they're gonna have a job ahead of them just hauling it home....


Working as a pro equipment tech, I have seen some bad situations when a guy checks out early leaving a big box full of tools at work. It can be bad since it's "work" and not at home - brothers / cousins try to "claim" the stuff from the shop....the widow usually just wants one or two items for memory sake and then the big pro tool collections usually get sold for cheap back the the tool truck guys.....

God willing, I'll make to retirement and take my stuff home myself. Then I hope to give some key items to grandsons or even son-in-laws and when I'm unable to really do the work anymore I really like the donation idea - I'd give the box and some tools to the Vo-Tech school in our county.

 

[bgott]

Working as a pro equipment tech, I have seen some bad situations when a guy checks out early leaving a big box full of tools at work. It can be bad since it's "work" and not at home - brothers / cousins try to "claim" the stuff from the shop....the widow usually just wants one or two items for memory sake and then the big pro tool collections usually get sold for cheap back the the tool truck guys.....

Around here if a guy dies half his stuff disappears before his family can come get it.

I had my one of my tenants die last week. He was a bus mechanic. I thought about asking if his tools were for sale, but, being that I was trying to get the family to clean out the house quickly I kept my mouth shut so I didn't complicate things.

 

[Chuckw]

Most likely they will go to an estate sale, my two boys never picked up on tools, bikes or bullets so I guess they will get cash.

 

[Rickster]

Told my boys to take what they want. Set the wife up with a houshold set of tools. Call my younger cousin over (gearhead) to take what he needs. Sell off the rest and party with the proceeds.

 

[Jack90210]

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

Well said.

If anything that I own has sentimental value to someone in my family, then I would want them to have it. Anything that's unwanted should be unloaded for $$$.

 

[chief ben]

O.K. what is going on here, 4 pages and not one picture, So jerry lea said it was time for a picture and told me to get hot and put up a picture or I could not use his tools, I guess he thinks I'm already Dead.

 

[ultgar]

At 58 years old, I've started selling off a lot of the items I've accumulated over the years. A move to a new home or business locations will force you to do this. Unfortunately I have no kids to leave things to and my brothers and sister have no idea how to use any of this.

I'm a hoarder with OCD....here are a few pics of stuff for an upcoming garage sale ....

Photo of the top shelves...there are rows of storage (8' high) loaded with a very eclectic mix. This space is 1000 sq ft....there's another 3000 sq ft among 3 other locations with just as much stuff. A lot of this will end up in dumpsters when I'm gone.

 

[Old Moparz]

I have loads of tools that will probably stay right where they are in both the basement & the garage. Rollaways & chests full of hand tools, a table saw, a radial arm saw, a dozen other hand power tools, & more. I'm the only one that uses them.

My 11 year old daughter can have them if she wants, but I don't know if she will be interested in much. My wife can also have them, but she has one of those hammers with the screwdrivers inside the handle that she uses to break & strip things with, so she probably won't bother with them.

 

[DCarr]

My Wife and 2 Sons will go through everything and keep what they want and then I have designated 2 friends ( if still around ) to help sell off Machines, tooling and tools my Family doesnt want. Same thing with Firearms.

 

[UncleJoe]

I am not a lawyer but I learned something about wills and last wishes when my best friend died 8 years ago. He had a will but he refused to get specific and that caused a lot of problems when his family turned into assholes over his stuff.

He had always said that he wanted his hunting gear to go to his sons. Well they began fighting over individual guns and who got what. It got very ugly and no one ever would have suspected it.

He had a cabin in the woods that he did not clearly state who the ownership transferred to and since he had been married more than once there were all kinds of issues about what was "promised" in divorce settlements. Since some items were not spelled out people felt like he meant for them to have things I know he would not want.

The bottom line is if you want something to go to someone be very specific. Another thing I learned is NEVER say in a will I leave this to my children. Do you know who all your children are. How about you wife having to deal with someone "claiming" you are their father and thus they are entitled to stuff. From what I understand if you name the heirs directly, John, Mary, Bill, then any ******* child has no claim and it is quickly dismissed.

One last thing. If you have anything of real value get an attorney that specializes in estate law . There is a famous story of a Supreme Court Justice who figured he knew everything, after all he was a US Supreme Court Judge, and he used a computer program will software to draw it up to save time. This lack of knowledge in the details of estate law cost his son the heir $800,000 in additional taxes that could have been avoided with a few simple changes to the will/estate.

 

[V-10 Killer]

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.

Nice, I like that idea.
I figure, if it's carpentry stuff, I'd probably have it donated to Habitat for Humanity.
General wrenches/hammers/screwdrivers will stay with the wife.
Sockets and powertools will probably go to my sons.

They can auction off whatevers left.

 

[Lkdelta]

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

and based on observations here so far, first thing he will do with mine, is get out a can of turtle wax. He wipes off the project tools and puts them away nicely.....I've even noticed a few that were cleaner than when I used them.
No worries here

 

[Old Patriot]

I'm having everything put in the casket with me. You never know, the pearly gate may need a little work done to it.

 

[Old Patriot]

ultgar, would you like to adopt me?

 

[Old Moparz]

I am not a lawyer but I learned something about wills and last wishes when my best friend died 8 years ago. He had a will but he refused to get specific and that caused a lot of problems when his family turned into assholes over his stuff.

Good advice, I saw similar things happen with people I knew.

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.

What a great idea! I know that my family can keep whatever they want, but realistically they won't know what to do with most of it. I think a local school can make good use of it.

I'm having everything put in the casket with me. You never know, the pearly gate may need a little work done to it.

LOL.....

 

[Brad1234]

My son & daughter are both still in high school. My son is a senior & headed to college to study mechanical engineering. It's hard to tell right now if he will want all of my tools or not when I go. If not, my goal is for my estate sale to one of those that every guy wants to go to. I know that my most of my fathers tools will wind up in my garage when the time comes. He is still a toolmaker & has a beautiful oak Gerstner box that will look real nice on my workbench. No hurry though.

 

[woody 73]

I am sad thinking about this post,I have two yong boys,and they have no interest in my tools,my wife would love to park her car , but the garage is full. I might have to one day sell them and maybe see the world...

 

[dankicksass]

At 58 years old, I've started selling off a lot of the items I've accumulated over the years. A move to a new home or business locations will force you to do this. Unfortunately I have no kids to leave things to and my brothers and sister have no idea how to use any of this.

I'd like to find a Facom Ferrari set at a garage sale.

 

[e-tek]

I don't really give a **** what happens to it....

But the wife and I have discussed the possibilty of her giving the boys what they want, then auctioning off the rest and splitting the money with them.