Sell your spares or ???

[WR250F]

When you guys pick up a new set of wrenches or sockets that are an upgrade from the wrenches you have owned in the past, do you sell off the old wrenches, or just make room and keep them, knowing they won't see much (if any) use ?

What about those among us who have more than say 20 screwdrivers ? A flat blade is a flat blade is a flat blade, how many 4" long 1/4" flat bades do you actually use ?

I understand spares, but when you have more than 20 or so good quality screwdrivers, I'm going to bet a lot of them are just taking up space.

If you are one to sell off old/replaced wrenches or other things like sockets or screwdrivers, is it better to seel them here or on EBay, CL etc ?

Given the fact that there are people on Ebay who will (sometimes) pay more than retail for an item just because of its perceived as 'vintage' or 'rare' (Craftsman US made or Snap On) would it be better to hold on to any Craftsman US made stuff until the hysteria sets on over Sears hardline tools all going off shore ?

I'm going to have 30-40 sockets and maybe 60-70 wrenches I would like to move within the next month or so. I can hang on to them, no real problem with that, but I've always been one to keep only what I need/use regularly.

They are all US Craftsman, and I really don't want to get into selling one or two sockets at a time. I would like to sell them as a lot and be done with them in one sale/shipment. Same with the wrenches and other stuff.

Better to just hold on to them for the possibility of needing a spare ?

I don't know if used (but well cared for) stuff like this will bring enough to make a trip to the post office to ship worth it.

I really don't know anyone to give them to that would get any real use out of them, and no way I'd toss them.

Is it worth the hassle to deal with trying to sell them, or is it better to just sit on them and forget about it ?

 

[nw2571]

I'd either keep as spares in my main toolbox or "demote" them to the truck/car/house tool box. Do you have kids? Another option is to put them aside for your kids.

A few things to consider regarding Craftsman tools... The used market is pretty well saturated, meaning you aren't going to get much out of them. If you believe the threads around here, Craftsman might be sending ALL of their production overseas. That means in several years, those USA Craftsman tools might sell for a premium.

 

[GoBlue]

I hang on to some of it...but i sell most of it to co-workers who i know need that particular item. An example is when i first started out i had a lot of Craftsman Rp ratchets. They worked fine but i soon wanted the nicer finer tooth truck offerings. I kept a couple of the Craftsmans for the home box but sold the rest to guys that needed a particular tool...like say a long 3/8 flex head or 1/4 stubby etc. I literally had every tool i owned at work and nothing at home so i set about building a home set.

Conversely i cant keep all my stuff at work due to space limitations and i dont want it all at home for the same reason. If i have a good tool in my home set and a good tool in my work set...the spare tool gets sold...end of story. Some guys are literally tool hoarders...im not one of em.

 

[GoBlue]

I'd either keep as spares in my main toolbox or "demote" them to the truck/car/house tool box. Do you have kids? Another option is to put them aside for your kids.

A few things to consider regarding Craftsman tools... The used market is pretty well saturated, meaning you aren't going to get much out of them. If you believe the threads around here, Craftsman might be sending ALL of their production overseas. That means in several years, those USA Craftsman tools might sell for a premium.

I have serious doubt about Craftsman ever selling for a big premium on ebay. The reason is saturation. There are soooooo many Craftsman tools that are floating around i cant imagine any getting scarce enough to inflate the prices. I have never had to look for more than a month or so to find even the most scarce Craftsman tools used.

This is why i kind of laugh when people get worried about not being able to find an American replacement if they loose a wrench or ratchet or break something. With Craftsman...you will always be able to find a replacement on ebay...sooner or later

 

[Scout Driver]

I am a tool hoarder.

Scott

 

[canuckian]

I've kept most of the stuff I've upgraded. They're mostly Taiwan or Chinese made Mastercraft so for me, theres no point in trying to sell them. They work fine and are in decent shape but theres not enough money in them to be worth bothering with. I'll just either used them as beaters, put the complete sets in with the set I'm building for my son or give them away when someone is in need of a tool.
A for the US made Craftsman stuff, I'd hold onto them to see if any kind of a market develops for them. They're not getting a premium now because there's just so much of it out there.

 

[tvfd911]

Do you have a second set of wrenches currently? I've pretty much settled on buying wrenches at this point having two sets in my main shop chest. A standard length and a long length. (not counting stubbies)

As I've purchased different brands of wrenches trying to decide what is the most comfortable or best fitting to me, the odds and ends filter down to my hand box that resides at my parents farm so I have a set of tools I can rely on when working up there.

Spares beyond that go away or if worth nothing, possibly stowed for modification to fit a special application. Either to family members that can get a good use out of, specific sizes that are commonly used on a tractor or implement going into that machine's toolbox or sold.

Sockets- I don't keep any duplicates of sockets. I do own multiples. Said farm hand box has a random collection of sockets to get the job done. Beyond that, they get the same fate as extra wrenches.

If the sets you're replacing are complete, they're worth more to sell. Looks sell too. Do they clean up nice? If its a complete set that isn't all rusty, beat on, chipped chrome etc, you'd probably have no problem getting a justifiable amount selling them. If they're just a mix of randoms, you won't get as much out of them and might just be best off stowed away in case you screw up your primary tool in a time of need.

 

[mayhemman]

if you sell them lmk, i can always use some craftsman tools to add to my other sets.

 

[WR250F]

I have a trunk tool box that pretty much covers anything I am likely to need/use. I have mostly (higher quality) chicom stuff in it and so far it seems to be just about as complete as I need it to be.

Northern Tool wrenches and sockets, Titan and HF ratchets, HF and CMan screwdrivers, pawn shop pliers (decent quality) and no name extensions, swivels etc.. This lineup was chosen because it is of usable quality and because it being mainly chicom or store brand stuff if it gets ripped off it isn't like losing a box full of truck hardline tools.

I have kids, but neither have any interest or aptitude for working with hand tools. My nephews are into working with tools, but they have found or been given enough to cover their needs.

I really don't have anyone to gift these to, and most likely won't use them often if at all in the future. I'm not dying to get any $$$ out of them, and I have the room (at present anyway).

I'm not looking to fleece anyone on a sale, but if all they'll bring is $30-40 total, that isn't worth the effort to get them cleaned up, packaged and mailed off. My local post office is a thing to be believed, more hassle than anything in this life ought to be.

I can sit on them until the US made Craftsman demand goes up (if it ever does) but I'm not holding my breath on that.

 

[LSU]

I've got a couple of sets of wrenches, etc. Plenty to pass onto to the kids. When I kicke the bucket there will be no shortage of tools to split between the kids and 99% of them will be US Made.

I know a couple of young men (guys who are married to daughters of my friends or guys who I met through church/scouts/mission trips) that are sort of starting out. They're family guys who are DIY's or just household handy men. Typically they don't have the money to put down on quality stuff because they're buying diapers, formula, etc.

They've got tools but they were like the tools I had 30 years ago. They'll have a set of Task Force stuff and a crappy tool box that never stays close. They used this stuff but I'm sometimes ashamed when I show up with my tool box and these guys drool on my stuff.

If these guys have worked with me on projects and seem to be really into this stuff, I will frequently offer them my extra tools.

I've never had anyone turn me down. The tools I give away are being used for a good purpose, I'm rewarding young men who seem to be on the right path and my "extra" tools are not sitting in a box rusting.

Anyone who has ever had to clean out a garage of a relative knows that it can be sad to find stuff that was never used.

I'm of the belief that tools were made to be used and used by good people for good purposes.

So that's what I do with my "extra" tools.

 

[slip knot]

You mean having 16 1/2 in wrenches is not normal.

I don't normally sell any tools. I got a cresent wrench everywhere I think I "might" need one around the farm. Got a toolset in every piece of equipment and still have an excess of tools laying about. I still buy every US made tool I run across. I dont think they will ever be worth much money but I do think there will come a time when good US made tools will be harder to come by.

 

[JASTECH]

I have my main set in MC, then a set for each 4x4 according to their equipment. I do have a pic of some of my non-Snap-On wrenches like BH ect. that need cleaned and figure out where they go.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I've got a lot of spares. I've got separate tool bags for voice/data, audio, and cable tv so there is duplication, not counting my main Craftsman box. I do give quite a few tools away to friends/family.

 

[pipsters]

If they are complete sets and clean up I would hold on to them. Complete sets of things, especially tools, really sell well on ebay. You will get your $$ for them, if you market them right. I sold 7mm-18mm missing 16mm and 1/4"-3/4" RP wrenches on ebay for $40 + shipping. Nothing special about them. If you have bigger sets you will get at least $100 or more out of them.

Me, personally, hate having an overcluttering of tools. I want the stuff I need, and nothing else.

 

[WR250F]

If they are complete sets and clean up I would hold on to them. Complete sets of things, especially tools, really sell well on ebay. You will get your $$ for them, if you market them right. I sold 7mm-18mm missing 16mm and 1/4"-3/4" RP wrenches on ebay for $40 + shipping. Nothing special about them. If you have bigger sets you will get at least $100 or more out of them.

Me, personally, hate having an overcluttering of tools. I want the stuff I need, and nothing else.

Any suggestions on how to market these right ?

 

[pipsters]

Sure.

You need to decide if you want to go SAE and MM together or separate. I would suggest together because typically the bigger the set, the more bids it will get. Also, SAE is a dying breed and you won't get very many bids on just SAE.

What are your wrenches stamped? If they are V^ you are in luck and they are made by Armstrong. Say something like "Made in an Armstrong Tools factory according to stampings on back, which has made the Craftsman wrenches from 1992".

Clean 'em up, take nice big pictures, and put 'em up under something like "Vintage Craftsman complete wrench set made by Armstrong" or something similar.

 

[85camaro]

Ah, just take em' to the pawn shop.

 

[WR250F]

I probably bought them at a pawn shop

 

[WR250F]

Sure.

You need to decide if you want to go SAE and MM together or separate. I would suggest together because typically the bigger the set, the more bids it will get. Also, SAE is a dying breed and you won't get very many bids on just SAE.

What are your wrenches stamped? If they are V^ you are in luck and they are made by Armstrong. Say something like "Made in an Armstrong Tools factory according to stampings on back, which has made the Craftsman wrenches from 1992".

Clean 'em up, take nice big pictures, and put 'em up under something like "Vintage Craftsman complete wrench set made by Armstrong" or something similar.

Duly noted, THANK YOU Sir for the advice.

 

[pipsters]

Good luck!

 

[geologist]

I never sell hand tools. I might sell power tools if I'm upgrading, but I usually keep hand tools.

 

[DENALIAKITAS]

I have a lot of spares and they reside in my "loaner" tool chest. There are always friends and neighbors wanting to borrow something so if its in the loaner chest they are welcome to borrow it and if it never makes it back no big deal ( not telling them that) but no one is allowed to borrow anything from "my" chest unless i go along with it. These rules also apply to the wife.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

i have tons and tons of spares depends on what i have at the time i've been know to sell donate or just flat out give away tools

i scrapped 243lbs or taiwanese **** last month didn't think it would be worth it to give it away to some poor *******

 

[wornoutoldman]

Put a price on them and toss them in the classifieds here. Plenty of guys/gals that will want/need them and you avoid the ebay/paypal hassle. I always feel like I've just been violated after they get all their fees. I'd rather sell em here and make a fellow GJer happy. Toss em into a flat rate box, print your postage from home, address the box and let your mailman pick them up at your place. Hardly gets easier than that.

 

[ol'Red]

Its always nice to have throw away wrenches. I have wrenches that I have bent for a job or cut a slot out of the box end on a 15/16 once because I didn't have a line wrench that size. I cut a 7/8 to about 6 in and made a stuby o2 sensor wrench. No offense to rp's by calling them throw aways the are good wrenches
Just an idea

 

[crewchief888]

i dont sell "extra " tools.
i dont buy tools, just to say i have tools.

through some trading, scavenging and dumpster finds, i ended up with way too many extras of CM screwdrivers, nutdrivers, small wrenches, and a set of wards powerkraft boxes.

i gave them to a friend of mine, he never had anything bigger than a CM rally box, and brely enough tools to fill it.

he was happy, and i didnt have to store/move the stuff

 

[-Brent-]

i dont sell "extra " tools.
i dont buy tools, just to say i have tools.

through some trading, scavenging and dumpster finds, i ended up with way too many extras of CM screwdrivers, nutdrivers, small wrenches, and a set of wards powerkraft boxes.

i gave them to a friend of mine, he never had anything bigger than a CM rally box, and brely enough tools to fill it.

he was happy, and i didnt have to store/move the stuff

Yep, I'm with ya. I've got a small collection of stuff (extras) that I know I won't use. It's all going to go to my father-in-law. Once I find him a decent, inexpensive box, I'm going to fill it up and put it in his garage.

 

[byoungblood]

I have filtered out most all of the cheap imported tools that I acquired over the years and they're now in my yard sale/give away bin.

Now if I get any duplicates, they go into a bin for tools I'm collecting for my 5 month old, so he'll have a good set of tools when he's old enough.

 

[Deafautotech]

I am a tool hoarder.

Scott

me too... but better than tv show as hoarder!

 

[Deafautotech]

i had not sell a tools that i dont use in past time BUT now i own a property so i am prefer to have some tools to be in the building for reason like the common screwdrivers, pliers, and some of tools to keep house for any plumbing or else in house, my Shed has many small engines around so i keep small box of common tools to do repairs or work on it. my major of tools in big boxes in my garage for automotive repairs or side jobs... so i dont need to search in one place...

 

[Roots]

I used to drop them off at the Salvation Army, the tax write-offs are pretty worthwhile to me. I'm sure a few people have thought they found the Holy Grail, when they found them there.

 

[Scout Driver]

me too... but better than tv show as hoarder!

I hear ya!

Scott