Going thru Dads garage Any Advice

[Fueler]

I did my dads shop after he passed. He was of the era of throw nothing away.
He was a farmer and farm mechanic on the side. As such he had a healthy amount of tools and equipment in addition to the farm equipment.
Fortunately it helped growing up there that I pretty much knew what every single piece was

After siting back and looking at it for a few days I had a plan.
1: Cleaned out all the stuff that was scrapable and called my favorite scrapper. He was pleased and helped me do some of the sorting and cleaning.
Looking better.

2:Cleaned every tool and wrench. Layed them out on tables to sort.
Mom was handy so I made sure she had enough basics to cover her needs.
Fixed up the siblings and grandkids with a few things though they have no interest in such things. They got to pick out whatever meant something to them.

3:Still had a lot of hand tools.
Sorted them into bunches I thought would sell easier.

4: Cleaned everything else big and small to make it ready to sell.

All in all it took 6 weeks of spare time.

5: Called the auctioneer.
They hauled everything large and small to their auction house. Did not have to do a thing after that.

Result: Got mom a sizable chunk of change. A heck of a lot more than I would have piece mealing it out via garage sales and CL. Then there is the aggravation and grief of doing that needs to be avoided.

Auctioneer said all the sorting and cleaning brought much higher bids than normal.
He was right. I looked through the sale list they give you afterwards. Some stuff went a touch low, some normal and some went high enough that it makes you wonder. Typical auction.
I prefer to think dad's rep had something to do with it.

I didn't bother to go to the auction as it would have been too hard and likely would make me crazy.

My advice is the above is the shortest and financially the best way to get through this situation.

 

[23ford]

Dealing with the everything has to be done by yesterday....

 

[23ford]

Guess what i found .............the holy grail of gaskets.......some complete nos sets and some partials.............Chevrolet...Ford.....Chrysler....Packard etc script head gaskets and more.........

How much are metal parts cabinets worth? some cheap @$# came by as he saw the door open and wanted them for 50 each.......ran him off!

 

[930dreamer]

Look on eBay for a similar cabinet and go from there.

 

[firebirdparts]

"parts cabinet" is not specific enough. $50 might be a good offer depending on what they are.

 

[ffemtdisp]

Dad died in 2008, Mom went to nursing home in 2015. We went to cleaning out the house. I am the only one left, with my sister passing in 2006. I grew up in a small house, one car garage in the basement.

My wife and in laws (God bless them!) helped. Mom's neighbor, a fella who has had his brushes with the law, and lives in a rough trailer, and his sidekick were a huge help.

The neighbor duo cleaned out the shed and the attic. I asked for them to save tools and tractor parts for me. They found, I think, every piece or part I needed, including an old Plow wrench I hadn't seen since the Reagan presidency. I gave them scrap metal plus some $$ per hour and it was worth it. YMMV.

While looking through the basement, the stuff I found. "what is that under the steps?" my wife asked. Found an old Erie pipe vice. Found a bench grinder, a vice (nothing to write home about, but works for me), and a box of old rusted tools that must have belonged to my grandparents. What a surprise!

I've cleaned them up, and they live in my toolbox. Had an auctioneer come in and take care of the rest. As someone said above, not a real moneymaker. However, it is gone and off my list.

Mom passed in March, never really knowing what happened due to dementia.

Good luck to the OP and anyone else in similar circumstances

 

[23ford]

The pasrts cabinets are:
really perfect EIS green large cabinet
Autolite 2 door cabinet with divers for points, plugs etc
Wagoner seal cabinet
Firestone cabinet

 

[carol palmer]

I'm a very emotional person who likes to preserve anything and everything associated with my dear ones. Having said that, I understand your difficulty.
I'm not sure if it can be termed a "bulk trash" given the emotional feelings associated with it.
But nothing is trash, remember the old cliche "someone's trash is another man's treasure".
I would suggest you keep a few sensitive things and dispose of the rest of the items after sorting.
Usually, bulk trash includes appliances, furniture, gardening equipment, mattresses and water coolers (courtesy: https://www.junk-works.ca/locations/blog/2017/04/10/what-is-considered-bulk-trash/).
I guess you can donate it to a good cause, or rather sell them. But you might need expert help in getting heavy ones moved.

 

[maitman99]

Had the emotional pleasures of sorting out my passed fathers garage.
He was a mechanic at a local mine by trade, but an absolute pack rat by nature.

That aside and all the challenges that mountains of junk can bring. the most amazing find was an old kitchen stove with an oven full of dynamite.

My father worked for a mining company and his solution for all landscaping or construction issues was just blow it up. No matter what the obstruction, he always appeared with some dynamite, a cap, wire and a battery, the rest was obliterated history.

So I suppose we should not have been surprised when we uncovered 24 sticks of mine dynamite in an old stove oven.

Now you talk about a disposal challenge. You folks with paint and solvents have a cakewalk in comparison to a couple dozen sticks of dynamite.

 

[Gary Anderson]

Just so you know, paint is really easy to dispose of, you pour it out onto cardboard and when it dries, throw it out.

BEST IDEA!!!

AND totally LEGAL!!!

Your Pal, Gary

 

[unslow1]

I feel for you. Four years ago my family started on my Grandfather's stuff. Three houses and large garages with attached paint/restoration shops. They also had stuff from two antique shops. We have mostly taken a break this year. It looks like we we have to do the final house and garages soon. My Grandmother went into assisted living last month. My sister's and I still have totes all over our house from the first two places. I'm thinking I'm going to take the rest of the bodywork supplies and run them over to the local community college.

 

[23ford]

Well been awhile had to put Dad in assisted living due to 2 falls cracked pelvis and broken right arm.
Got thru the garage with my son and nephew they got to pick some of the things they wanted.
My son got a Craftsman wood lathe, wood vise and turning tools.
Took all the antiques and USA Made tools to storage will sort out later and post pictures
later.
Cool factor was a flat belt armature lathe from the turn of century.
Estate sale people there now organizing for a sale when the crazyness is over.....they said we win the prize for most new gloves and screws.

 

[Higgins]

Had the emotional pleasures of sorting out my passed fathers garage.
He was a mechanic at a local mine by trade, but an absolute pack rat by nature.

That aside and all the challenges that mountains of junk can bring. the most amazing find was an old kitchen stove with an oven full of dynamite.

My father worked for a mining company and his solution for all landscaping or construction issues was just blow it up. No matter what the obstruction, he always appeared with some dynamite, a cap, wire and a battery, the rest was obliterated history.

So I suppose we should not have been surprised when we uncovered 24 sticks of mine dynamite in an old stove oven.

Now you talk about a disposal challenge. You folks with paint and solvents have a cakewalk in comparison to a couple dozen sticks of dynamite.

WE live in TN and sure could take care of those "Sticks" !! LOL

Went thru cleaning out 2 estates. Not fun!

> What I did learn, if using an auction company, have the items auctioned of at their auction house, as the pricing will be higher.
> After you have made the initial sweep thru the property and cleaned up the stuff "Tools" then have the family members take a look at the stuff again. Had kids select a tool that they saw grandpa using, or working with and took that item as a remembrance of him. Several of the tools have been put on display!

Cheers !!! - AL