Air tools, keep just in case or sell/give away.

[RegeSullivan]

Two decades ago I cleaned up and reorganized my tool boxes so this week it was time to tackle that again. I really hate the learning curve so I rarely reorganize and especially tools unless necessary. As a result of my reluctance to move things around air tools I once considered indispensable were just taking up valuable space. Many I haven't used in years because I reach for a battery-op alternatives. I kept accessible a 3/4" impact (for trailer hitches), a couple die grinders, a chisel/hammer, a few different chucks and several size/types of blow guns. I cleaned, oiled packed assorted grinders, impacts, ratchets, sanders and grease guns to put on a shelf. But now I wondering... keep them just in case or sell/give away or leave them on the shelf to for my kids to find when I am gone???

 

[NUTTSGT]

I prefer to keep tools, especially if they are paid for. I've always thought the only reason to sell a tool is too feed your family.

 

[ford33]

I've kept my air tools and still use them in my shop. I like my battery operated drills and small impact/driver but I am believer that going to all battery tools in my shop forces me to upgrade tools frequently as batteries die and buying a new tool with battery is cheaper than just replacing the single battery. Throwing the old tool away is wasteful and puts more stuff into a landfill. I also think I would spend more money over time replacing battery powered tools just to have the same capability I have with a long lasting air tool.

The above comment works for me in my shop. If I had to work at different job sites, then I would be all battery. Lugging that air compressor and hose around is more hassle than a simple battery powered tool. Fortunately, I primarily work in my shop.

 

[b-boy]

I give my old tools to my kids. It's a good way to help them get started, plus they won't borrow all my tools.

 

[rlitman]

I prefer to keep tools, especially if they are paid for. I've always thought the only reason to sell a tool is too feed your family.

Ditto. Air tools don't go bad on the shelf. If I needed it once, I'll probably need it again.

I really don't sell much in the way of tools. When I bought my Milwaukee M18 drill, I sold off my Dewalt 18V stuff, because I figured that I didn't need to store old battery tools, since cordless batteries do have a limited shelf life. Now that an adapter plate to run these off my M18 batteries has been released, I regret that decision.

Still, I've got a handful of things I just have too many of that I will let go of extras from time to time. Mostly to save space. For example, I've had close to a dozen plasma cutters go through my hands over the years as I've bought upgrades for cheap and then sold off the last one at a profit. As I've upgraded vises, I've either found a space to mount the old one, or sold it off. My garage may look like I'm a hoarder, but I'm really not (at least in my mind).

I give my old tools to my kids. It's a good way to help them get started, plus they won't borrow all my tools.

There's that. My kids are on the young side to be tooling up too heavily, but I've still bought them stuff when the deals were good enough.

I've been known to lend out stuff long-term for "off site storage" too.

 

[unslow1]

I keep them because they still work. Occasionally the battery isn't charged or won't last long enough for something. Then sometimes space on a project is an issue. One I can thing of was drilling a spot were the cordless drill was to large but an air is much smaller and fit. I have a couple of the totes with the bi-folding tops that I keep seldom used things in. You know just as soon as you no longer have it you will really need it.

 

[sberry]

If its a money deal then its money parked you can use but a few things out of the way,,,,,, out of the way you can go find in the event you need it is not a bad thing. Some can pay with an occasional event. I got stuff like that. Too good to toss but I don't want to rummage thru it to get to something I use regular. I got a cab dedicated to hand tools, I can go there and get an 11 mm if I really need one but don't need to rummage thru those. I have stripped out the 3 or 4 pieces I use. I can walk over and get it. I got about a thousand sq ft shelves in one building and another basement with 600 or 1000 ft and a couple mobile homes with **** like that.
S6tuff not in the shop or working spaces in storage building, up out of the way. Lights strung up. We throw some, we sort a little and got some idea where stuff is. I scored a furnace blower a while back, it looked familiar, no **** needed a motor for one the other day and had it in stock. If I scored it free or salvage I don't hesitate to use it, not "saving".

 

[nikerret]

I don’t even get rid of tools that I’ve upgraded from.

I have several quality levels in the same tool and a bunch of examples.

 

[RegeSullivan]

Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts... So up on the shelf with the timing lights, dwell meter and 1/2 dozen distributor wrenches from the last reorganization 20 years ago. No of which have I touched since.

My youngest son is a Tesla technician. I wonder if he will go through those like an archaeological find or just load them right into a dumpster when I am gone?

 

[crewchief888]

In my service truck I use cordless stuff most of the time. There are times when I need air tools, I still have a bunch of them, 1/2" 3/4" dr impacts. Air hammer, angle grinders, die grinders.

In the garage I'll grab a cordless drill, or impact driver, sometimes break out corded drill, grinders, Sanders, saws are all corded. I have all my spare air tools. Grinders, Sanders, D/A, impacts, die grinders.

I may use the spare air tools again one these days

 

[Showkey]

Not sure there’s much of market for used air tools ?

As for keeping stuff.......just to keep or collect stuff........sooner or later someone is going to have to deal with the mess.

 

[rsanter]

Are they cheap ones or good ones?
Are there duplicates?

Cheap ones, dosent matter if you get rid of them.
Good ones, keep them
Duplicates? Keep the better ones and get rid of the dups

Bob

 

[Benw455]

As soon as you sell it or give it away you will need it.