Moving, liquidating my whole shop ...would you keep ANY tools???

[GarageWarrior]

Currently liquidating my whole shop, with only a few weeks left. Have to clear it out to bare walls, so selling off pretty much everything - tools, cars, equipment, boats, machinery, electronics, bikes, household stuff. Past few weekends been busy busy with hectic selling and guys hauling off tools and supplies by the truckloads. Some stuff going for 50 cent on the dollar, some for less, but I don't plan on buying it back.

Question I'm pondering - should I keep ANY tools that would be practical to have? Cordless, sockets, screwdrivers, wrenches, what else?

For the background - too much stuff and years of accumulation. I'm tired of trying to keep up with fixing stuff and figured for how much I was spending in cost of time and cost of space to do things myself - I'd be ahead to just buy stuff that doesn't need fixing, rent toys, hire people for occasional jobs. Plus moving ...it's next to impossible with a big shop and a ton of stuff.

As of now all my machining/lathe/mill/metalworking/welding and most of the woodworking equipment been sold. Still need to offload a bunch of shop furniture, cabinets, material handling equipment and smaller hand-tools and fasteners, stock, shop supplies. Still have all the auto tools: mechanical, detailing, auto-body, painting; plus household: painting, plumbing, framing/roofing, electrical...

I will not have much free storage space, so the question is, should I keep any tools? I always did things myself, never hired people because I figured its cheaper to just buy tools... but with the cost of space and time, I think I'd be better of just hiring jobs out.

So before I sell off all my tools I'm questioning if there are any jobs that actually make practical sense to DIY? I don't think I'll be doing any more car repair, it's just not practical when mechanic can do a job 3 times as fast and has all the tools. I might buy a house in a year, but after counting how many hours I spent last time painting walls - I think it's cheaper to hire a painter. Plumbing/electrical I can do, but I'm not really fast at it with back and forth trips to home depot. Am I missing something? Advice?

 

[larry_g]

I look forward to the day that I can liquidate all this stuff and live without the burden. I would keep a few things that would make household stuff work, maybe enough to keep the yard tools going if you have that need in the future. Could even pass on a few keepsakes to the kids if they want them. Good luck with your new found freedom.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[crewchief888]

i moved cross country 2 x's. plus multiple local moves.

never sold a tool when i did.....

 

[airsanford]

Good luck finding any tradesmen worth a damn any more. I'll be fixing my own stuff the day I drop dead. Wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[rieferman]

While I see the logic in hiring out tasks in some instance, not all jobs are easily hired out. For instance, it can be difficult to find a reliable "handy man" especially for minor jobs (not "worth their time"). For that reason, I'd keep the basic hand tools, measuring implements, and maybe a cordless combo set that includes a drill/driver, jig saw, circular saw. That ought to be small enough to store but still help you out for small jobs when you can't get a return call.

 

[pop pop]

I wish for the same as the OP. I'm 69 and counting. Problem is, cars for instance, you carry one in for repairs and the repair is made functional, but collateral damage happens. After about 12 visits for normal repairs, you'll need another vehicle. For the repairs I know, I can do them and not leave a trace of collateral damage, or if I do, repair that too. Flat rate shops can't and won't.

 

[Rex_A_Lott]

Sounds like you are going through a big lifestyle change! A lot will depend on where you're going to be moving to...some places wont even let you do your own work w/o a license.
You went this far already, sell it all, buy back things if/when the need arises...if it ever does.
Good Luck!

 

[fivespdcat]

While I see the logic in hiring out tasks in some instance, not all jobs are easily hired out. For instance, it can be difficult to find a reliable "handy man" especially for minor jobs (not "worth their time"). For that reason, I'd keep the basic hand tools, measuring implements, and maybe a cordless combo set that includes a drill/driver, jig saw, circular saw. That ought to be small enough to store but still help you out for small jobs when you can't get a return call.

This is a pretty good list, but once you own a house, you'll want to change stuff and then inevitably the DIY bug hits again. As for me, I do basics at home on the car and leave the heavy lifting for the pros. It just makes sense to me. For example, I dropped my car off at the dealership for the timing belt (yes, I said dealership). They gave me a fair price and excellent service, including a free rental for the time they had my car. They also corrected a pricing mistake after I approved the higher amount, all on their own. However, I prefer to do my own oil changes so I have those tools, plus all of the household tasks.

I'm also about to replace almost all of my carpet with wood floors. Hiring that out would probably be around 10k, so that is well worth my time to do on my own. At the end of the day it's up to you to determine how much you want to do, but things will break or stop working and it's always easier to walk out to the garage grab what you need and fix it now. I don't even know how people survive without being able to fix anything. I couldn't imagine calling a handy man for $100 every time the toilet clogged or the disposal stops working. Just my opinion.

 

[marinepride]

I think you should give me all of the tools. Jk! Good luck.

 

[bad_idea]

You come to GJ to ask if you should keep any tools? This is a joke right? Keep them all and buy more!

 

[csp]

I can't imagine being without at least a basic tool set.

What about those middle-of-the-night emergencies that you could take care of if you had the right tools, but you're helpless because they aren't at your disposal any longer?

 

[BellyUpFish]

Wow.. Sounds like you're working on some big changes..

 

[southalabama]

Sounds like a major life change.

I'd you've never hired help you're in for a shocker.

I've tried that route and have fired dozens after they fail to show on time or do crappy work.

 

[sberry]

The reason to have all the stuff is to work on all the stuff you got. I wouldn't do this unless I needed to. My neighbor that moved in had sold stuff for 2 years, has one decent car, a snowblower, a good golf cart, handyman garage with simple stuff , will buy something if he needs it. Got modest hard tools in a Sears cab.

Truth be told it doesn't take all that much to do most things. Now you can even buy used and sell when you are done. One I would farm out is the oil change, our local Ford dealer has a deal.

 

[sberry]

Sell all that **** and buy a couple nicer pieces in good condition you want to enjoy you aint got to rebuild. With prudent shopping it is way more economical. As they say, if you are going to sell it don't fix it and if you fix it don't sell it. Let someone else take the beating. I would really have to consider buying vs building a race car, saw one the other day some sap was selling for 8K, engine cost 2x that.

 

[sberry]

I already had my share of sandblasting parts, like I wanna retire and do it some more. Same for fixing cars and the only thing more boring is rebuilding a tractor.

 

[rsanter]

How about some screwdrivers, wrenches, ratchets and sockets, pliers and a hammer.
Are you going to call someone every time you want to hang a picture or tighter a bolt?
You need to keep something or you never should have had any of it in the first place

Bob

 

[Ohio Auto]

I remember when I shut my auto repair business down and went in a different direction. I kept my Snap on box and all the tools in it....so glad I did.

 

[rburke65]

I think I would keep some basic tools. I can't imagine being without them..... Good luck!

 

[Hinez Wengler]

Take 1 pallet of stuff.I have lived all over. Take your best books, your favorite kitchen things(if you cook) and your oldest hand tools.Nothing more.Think o it like this.
You woke up drunk on another planet. You want 100-500 kilos of something you had on the other place.

 

[mybuick6]

if you are not going to do heavy work then just keep the basic tools and sell the rest.

 

[CMJ]

I can't imagine getting rid of all the tools I have collected over the years. Do you have anyone to pass them down too? I plan on passing them onto my son one day, he's only 5, but he loves working in the garage with me.

 

[GarageWarrior]

I can't imagine getting rid of all the tools I have collected over the years. Do you have anyone to pass them down too? I plan on passing them onto my son one day, he's only 5, but he loves working in the garage with me.

That's interesting. My son is 6, but if he wants to go in to trades - I think he would be better off buying appropriate tools if/when he needs them, instead of getting a bunch of hand-me down stuff.

In the last 2 years I spent ~$20K on maintaining shop in heat, rent, utilities, plus basically all the spare time trying to keepup with a bunch of DIY projects (to justify the cost of the shop). And I'm not getting my regular job rate doing DIY projects. Compared to the cost of time and space , tools are actually cheap... I'm still on the fence on what to purge and where to draw the line.

 

[volleyball]

Figure the stuff you will be doing in the future and the tools you'll need for that.
Maybe keep the stuff you won't be able to sell. Or toss it. Anything you have been hanging onto and not used in the last decade, get rid of.
You are a bigger man than me to get rid of stuff. Matter of fact, I've got friends nearby, I could stop over and take some stuff off your hands.

 

[bonneyman]

Good luck finding any tradesmen worth a damn any more. I'll be fixing my own stuff the day I drop dead. Wouldn't have it any other way.

As I get older I'm tending to buy MORE stuff and do MORE of my own repairs. Repair prices keep going up while competence and honesty levels keeps going down. Not a good situation.

 

[log man]

That's interesting. My son is 6, but if he wants to go in to trades - I think he would be better off buying appropriate tools if/when he needs them, instead of getting a bunch of hand-me down stuff.

My son went into the trades a few years ago and I supplemented his new box with tools from both my collection and my dad's. My rule of thumb was that I gave him anything old that was as good or better than you can buy today. He did upgrade some of them over time but it got him a start.

 

[DEnd]

It's not about what you are spending or saving, it's what do you enjoy doing.

Look at it like this $10K a year would finance a heck of a wreck errr... spec Miata season.

Me I would keep a basic household tool set: saw, hammer, tape measure, square, level, chalk line, pluming snake (a short one and the longest one you can get), box cutter, wire cutters, wire strippers, soldering iron, cordless drill, etc... The basic stuff to allow you to do the piss ant jobs that are just too damn simple to call someone out for.

Apply the same strategy for your automotive tools.

Regardless I would keep every single screwdriver you own (I probably have well over 20 or 30) because damn it you can never find a screwdriver or the right screwdriver when you need it.

Any tool you keep above that should either be to facilitate making you money, or to help you do a job you enjoy doing and would do somewhat regardless of it's cost or time commitment.

 

[lynnbilodeau]

I would keep about twice as many tools as you think you want.

If a year from now, you figure out I am wrong and you were right, and you don't really want the extras, you can always sell them

If you don't keep the extras, and decide you need or want them, it will likely cost you double to replace them.

 

[Danver]

I've recently given some thought to doing the same thing at some point. I currently don't have much stress in my life--I'm not rich but I make enough money that I don't have to supplement my income by working during my free time any more. My job is far from the greatest but I put in my time and leave it behind when I walk out the door at the end of the shift and I don't think about it until I have to return.

Truth is the only time I find myself feeling overwhelmed at all is when I think about all of the projects I always never seem to get to and the constant battle of always having too much stuff and not enough room to keep it or use it. I've always got a mess that needs cleaning up and multiple projects that seem to take forever because other things always seem more urgent.

When hobbies start to seem like a job something is clearly wrong with the process, and sometimes I find myself feeling guilty for what should be a relaxing afternoon in the garage. For a start I am hoping to convince myself to begin limiting the things that I keep around as future projects.

But for a little farther down the road I keep thinking it would be so nice to just eliminate it all and just enjoy doing other things when and where I want to. I've got one long-term truck project that I am determined to see through to the end, but after that I am thinking about pulling the plug and selling off the majority of my stuff.

I would keep a set of basic tools for minor household repairs and basic stuff, but no more collections of specialty tools and having every tool that catches my eye. At some point I know physically I won't be able to do many things I do now so I should plan for those changes in advance.

I've even toyed with the idea of getting rid of the house and workshop when I retire and just renting an apartment where I don't have to worry about maintenance or snow removal or lawn care. Being free of all the clutter in my life might free me up to do some more traveling and other things that I don't seem to find time for now.

Could I actually make that big of a change in my life? I have no idea. But it is something I will spend a lot of time contemplating.

 

[Nick Danger]

At least keep a toolbox of basic tools. My elderly mother still has screwdrivers, pliers, hammer, sockets, and so forth. They fit in a fishing tackle box. She can't lift the box, but she can still tighten a loose screw.

If you consider space costly but tools inexpensive, get rid of them. Buy new ones as needed. You don't need the clutter.

 

[wornoutoldman]

Congratulations, sounds like you only need two tools. A phone and wallet full of folding money.


Myself, I will relinquish all of my tools upon my death. Until then maybe I should PM you my phone number.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Currently liquidating my whole shop, with only a few weeks left. Have to clear it out to bare walls, so selling off pretty much everything - tools, cars, equipment, boats, machinery, electronics, bikes, household stuff. Past few weekends been busy busy with hectic selling and guys hauling off tools and supplies by the truckloads. Some stuff going for 50 cent on the dollar, some for less, but I don't plan on buying it back.

Question I'm pondering - should I keep ANY tools that would be practical to have? Cordless, sockets, screwdrivers, wrenches, what else?

For the background - too much stuff and years of accumulation. I'm tired of trying to keep up with fixing stuff and figured for how much I was spending in cost of time and cost of space to do things myself - I'd be ahead to just buy stuff that doesn't need fixing, rent toys, hire people for occasional jobs. Plus moving ...it's next to impossible with a big shop and a ton of stuff.

As of now all my machining/lathe/mill/metalworking/welding and most of the woodworking equipment been sold. Still need to offload a bunch of shop furniture, cabinets, material handling equipment and smaller hand-tools and fasteners, stock, shop supplies. Still have all the auto tools: mechanical, detailing, auto-body, painting; plus household: painting, plumbing, framing/roofing, electrical...

I will not have much free storage space, so the question is, should I keep any tools? I always did things myself, never hired people because I figured its cheaper to just buy tools... but with the cost of space and time, I think I'd be better of just hiring jobs out.

So before I sell off all my tools I'm questioning if there are any jobs that actually make practical sense to DIY? I don't think I'll be doing any more car repair, it's just not practical when mechanic can do a job 3 times as fast and has all the tools. I might buy a house in a year, but after counting how many hours I spent last time painting walls - I think it's cheaper to hire a painter. Plumbing/electrical I can do, but I'm not really fast at it with back and forth trips to home depot. Am I missing something? Advice?

Good working hand tools and specialty tools are a p.i.t.a. to replace for similar cost (that you paid). Though I don't own a ferrari so I don't know if that's a concern. I figure ferraris still got bolts.

Joking aside: the point your missing with doing it yourself is the pride you can take it doing it yourself. Pride, is of course, a cardinal sin but from the experience you can increase the types of jobs you do in the future. It's not a necessity in the western world if you can afford to pay someone to do it but sometimes circumstances change so it's always good to have the knowledge even if it's generalist knowledge.

 

[LeeG]

What any of us would do is irrelevant. You need to decide what you want to do with your time. There are opportunity costs for every decision. Any resource you use (time, money, both, etc) on one thing is something you cannot use on another.

If maximizing money is your goal, then your decisions are easy. If you can work as much as you want, then any job that needs done should be hired out if it costs less than you would earn in the same time it takes you to do the job. So if you make $50/hr, and say replacing a patio roof yourself will cost $100 in materials and 6 hours of time, it will cost you $400 to do it yourself (time you will not spend earning money). To hire someone, charge yourself $50 for each hour you spend finding a handyman, checking references, arranging time for the work,etc, and add in his price. The difference there is your actual cost (or savings).

If you want to maximize enjoyment, then you need to account for the fact that while you are paying someone else to do something, you are also spending other resources doing something else. If you make enough that you can pay someone else to do what you need to have done and still have enough to do what you want to do, then you are set.

For me, life consists of finding a balance between the two. I almost always do myself the things I enjoy doing or where I am being well compensated for my time if I dislike it. If I dislike a task, and and it is relatively cost effective, I hire it done.

Specifically, I hate changing oil and it only costs a few bucks more to have my mechanic do it than it costs me, so I have him do it. I don't mind replacing brake pads so I do that myself. I don't care for plumbing work, but it is usually quick and saves quite a bit, so I do it myself.

 

[Playwme]

I'd at least hold onto a small but comprehensive set of sockets,spammers and screwdrivers, cordless drill with some bits, and perhaps a few other power tools that you may use for small quick jobs around the house. Basic stuff like a tape measure and spirit level will always come in handy too.

 

[king nero]

kudos to you - I'd probably die from a heart attack. In fact, just reading this makes me feel unconfortable.

I hope you won't regret your decision later.

 

[Jackfre]

I sold some of my big stuff prior to moving X-country. I agree that if you've done the work in the past it will drive you crazy if you don't have the basic power and hand tools to address the little day to day things. That can be a pretty basic list, but your space will determine its make-up. You can rent bigger tools if you decide to get into something you hadn't anticipated.

I remember 30 yrs ago when I got out of working with the tools for a living. I thought it was great. Since then all I do weekends and nights is work with the tools. It was one of those,"be careful what you wish for things".

Good luck on the move and the change.

 

[SASORacing]

Keep a tool box with tools.

 

[rmmiller]

I wish for the same as the OP. I'm 69 and counting. Problem is, cars for instance, you carry one in for repairs and the repair is made functional, but collateral damage happens. After about 12 visits for normal repairs, you'll need another vehicle. For the repairs I know, I can do them and not leave a trace of collateral damage, or if I do, repair that too. Flat rate shops can't and won't.

I don't follow this, if I took a car in for repair and it came back damaged you can be sure it will be repaired to the condition it was in before on their dime, not mine. No way in hell a shop will get away with damaging a car and not making it right.

It's not about what you are spending or saving, it's what do you enjoy doing.

Reading his posts it sounds like the enjoyment is no longer there. When you reach the point you feel you have to come up with projects to justify keeping stuff the fun is gone and it becomes work.

 

[timbitca]

If you don't want to do the work anymore, then by all means get rid of everything. But I hope that that car in the avatar is yours and you also have many more. It's going to cost you an arm and a leg to farm out everything.

That's interesting. My son is 6, but if he wants to go in to trades - I think he would be better off buying appropriate tools if/when he needs them, instead of getting a bunch of hand-me down stuff.

I find this bit sad a little bit. I've read of so many guys on here that said "gee I wish my Dad hadn't gotten rid of his tools" or "I wish I had my grandfather's tools"

My grandfather was a handy man and while his tools include barely any Snap-On (about 5 rusted sockets) or any other truck brands, I still wouldn't trade them for the world. Even If and when I can afford to have a full set of truck brand tools I'm also 100% certain most of my Grandpa's stuff will have their spot in my toolbox's.

 

[kent_323is]

Definitely keep some basics as others have stated... Screwdrivers, wrenches, cordless drill driver, bits etc.
Seems a bit excessive to sell everything tho, you must have enjoyed working with those tools at some point.... Perhaps just trimming down on projects to just the ones you enjoy, and farm out the tasks you dont like?
Passing on tools is also something to think about for your son... My dad passed away when I was 14, he was 50, and so my twin brother and I inherited all of his tools and equipment. Some of them were crappy, but most were good/great. Some we have gotten rid of as they wore out, and added lots more tools as needed. They are a good memory of my dad, and that I'm glad of. And also the memories of working on stuff as a kid, dad started getting sick long before he passed, so we didnt get as much father/sons time as we would have liked. Turning wenches with dad is a good way to bond... With a 6 yr old son, it seems like he'd want to learn and hang out with dad.
I've got a 4month old daughter, and I cant wait to have her help in the shop and be my little tool monkey!
Anyway, best of luck to you, hopefully you find the spark and enjoyment again of this hobby we're all infected with! Or you find a new hobby that you enjoy!