Can a tool appreciate in value?

[visionguru]

of course, it has to remain in good condition.
What's your experience? Do you have a tool that is worth a lot more than what you paid?

 

[M_George]

Some if the vintage tools that are collectable bring a premium. One prime example is the old Stanley Bailey hand planes. The rarer the better, the old Stanley #1 hand plane can bring over $1000.

 

[packet]

A few outliers may, but the vast majority of tools are just that. They're tools. They're used to get a job done and that's it. If you're buying something to get a job done, why pay more for something that's X years old than something new?

Buy your tools to do things with, not as an investment to resell later.

 

[theoldwizard1]

A lot of people on eBay think that they do !

 

[TXpintail]

No. Never.

 

[measuredtwice]

Supply and demand.

It is very common with limited runs of particular brands of pocket knives. And there are lots of people who know it and try to profit from it.

Look at the prices for Craftsman and other USA made tools on Ebay. Lots of people asking high prices... and some are getting them. Lots of USA manufacturing has shut down so supply is low and the demand is high.

 

[LXCam]

Ya, strouty’s doing just fine for himself.

 

[Danglerb]

of course, it has to remain in good condition.
What's your experience? Do you have a tool that is worth a lot more than what you paid?

Very very rare, that they drop so much in value is why I buy Snapon used.

 

[56Mark]

Look at the price of anvils and old vices on CL. They are high.

 

[davethorik]

Speeder ratchets. Herbrand and Craftsman.

Anvil were always really expensive in my area, so I never got into them. 10 years ago vise prices were WAY cheaper than they are now.

 

[sberry]

Until recently there were a few welders held their value fairly well due to price increases on new models. That and the margins were slim when they were sold new.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

The price of anvils (and anvil like objects) has been going up for years.
I see people selling used Craftsman tools for more that I paid years ago.

15-25 years ago any plane in decent condition would bring $100 at auction. A yard stick with advertising might sell for $50. The past few years I've seen boxes with 4 or 5 planes sell for $2 and stacks of yard sticks sell for $1.

I paid $10 for an average table saw years ago. A few years later my brother was getting outbid at $50 for saws that weren't as nice.

 

[sberry]

I saw hf wrenches beat and used bring more at auction than they cost new. Mechanic named John sold a whole bunch of Hf for as much or more than he paid.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

I bought a set of green handle craftsman screwdrivers for $15 and sold it for $140. Maybe it appreciated in value, or maybe the mental acuity of the buyer deprecated - I am not sure.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I have plenty, but mostly because I underpaid at the start rather than the value going up." ill give you $10 for the whole box" can go a long way.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Tools almost always depreciate, especially with expensive high end tools where there are only so many people who want to pay the money or need the tool.

 

[Handyfarmer]

I don't know how much they appreciate in value much, but I do not think a quality tool drops in value as fast as many items, no I am not interested in paying more than needed for a tool,

I have seen some live auction stuff go for more than new, torches and wrenches sets seem to hold there value on most farm auctions I have been to, (I think some of that is people do not know what they could buy it new for), and they start bidding and get carried away,

any thing is only worth what some one will pay for it, a lot of it is how needed it is, or it rarity or its quality,

 

[rsanter]

It seems that for quality tools that they still make and are still on demand, they go down when you buy them but eventually they go up as the new price seems to keep climbing.

Snap on wrenches.
The ones that still are basically the same for the last 40 years. The ones I have seem to be worth more as used value than what I paid for them because new they are so much more than back then

 

[Dumber than lumber]

I think some of the limited production Bridge City stuff may have gone up in value.
Similar stuff from bespoke makers, maybe. Especially before the guys got famous.

 

[fourjeepin]

I sold a long ratcheting snap on screwdriver for over $80. It appreciated greatly over the $1 I paid for it.

 

[visionguru]

I posted the question because I was surprised that one of my tools purchased 6~7 years ago seem to have appreciated 500%!

Curious to see if there are other tools somehow appreciated in value(should be extremely rare).

Around 2012 or 2013, I was ordering some watchmaker tools/materials for my watch hobby, to make the shipping cost worth while, I put this Swiss Army knife into the shopping cart for $60-ish. I basically forget about this tool until I was doing some organizing recently.

I looked it up on certain auction site, the last one sold was $335, and it was used.

For a tool to appreciate in value, (except collectible items), it seems that the tool may have to be discontinued, no similar products are being made, and not many were sold.

 

[Banshee365]

There was a certain set of Klein strippers that went discontinued and were subsequently selling for crazy money on eBay.

 

[impactims]

No. Never.

BS.

Yes they do.

I have had a few snap on ratchets go up in value. They were models that had unique features and went out of production. Demand was high, supply was low, value went up...way up.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Some do. Look at the old style plastic hard handle Snap on pry bar sets on eBay. They're selling used for about what they were new. NIB is usually considerably more, especially if they're a less common color.

 

[Jazz1]

None that I own which is why I left this in the half price bin at Restore
Tools generally don’t get tossed in garbage, they just get passed on or go out of circulation until someone takes a shine to it

 

[CR888]

This is why I am investing in Tekton ratchets & tools, they gotta go up in value in the future with all the good reviews I read here on them. I think if you bought a new pallet of vintage USA made Wilton Bullets back in the day, you could do well drip feeding the market with them 1 at a time these days. But generally tools are a very poor investment & it would take as much luck as it would skill to ever make money off them.

 

[Fedwrench]

Possibly, some tools like the Craftsman round head fine tooth quick release flex head ratchets have a cult like following and can sell for crazy money on ebay. The same ratchet branded KD doesn't sell nearly as well. Some US made Craftsman professional series tools seem to also go for crazy money. there's no rhyme or reason as what does well and what tanks.

 

[TXpintail]

BS.



Yes they do.



I have had a few snap on ratchets go up in value. They were models that had unique features and went out of production. Demand was high, supply was low, value went up...way up.

Is it possible to sell a tool for a higher price than you paid for it? Of course. I wouldn’t rationalize a tool purchase on the chance for appreciation though.

Tools are only an investment if you can use them to make money that exceeds the depreciation cost of the tools. Otherwise it’s just the cost of a hobby.

Nothing wrong with that, it’s just not an investment.

If you want to tie up your capital in hopes for a return I could give you a hundred asset classes that would be better than a buy and hold strategy on tools.

 

[seber]

I bought my draw knife new many years ago for a couple of dollars. That was probably the last year they were sold. Now they can bring crazy money. I'd sell it but it still gets used. I can make an axe handle as good as any you can buy in less than ten minutes.

 

[sberry]

This is exactly why I am a fan of the new cheap tools. The quality has went way up, the price way down making the roi huge and often so fast it can be returned on a single event. Don't have to save and wait to get stuff to do the work, no need to borrow common things.

 

[mr.lemons]

Prices on tool sets that came as original equipment in cars can appreciate in value. Example here is a Hazet VW set. I think there are a few vintage Hazet tools and sets that are considered collectable so hold and appreciate in value.

 

[jgromada]

Look at the Porter Cable 314 Trim Saw. Discontinued. Generally going used for at least $100 on ebay.

I don't think some of them cost that new.

Norm used one!

 

[TXpintail]

That’s my strategy as well. The thrill of the chase is a hobby in itself.

 

[skruft]

Many old woodworking or carpentry tools that are collectible are worth far more than they originally cost, and more than they were worth years ago, notably planes and levels. There are even folks who collect some old wrenches.

 

[sberry]

That **** is collectors stuff,,, not really tools,,, hahaha

 

[NoahG]

There was a certain set of Klein strippers that went discontinued and were subsequently selling for crazy money on eBay.

There’s a cult following for old Vaco 1900 stripper/crimpers.

Wish I had me a box of NOS green handle Diamond adjustables it double head Crescents. I’d be a rich man.

Certain Pony/Jorgensen clamps can go for decent money.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[GTO]

..not when your wife sells them after you're dead...