value of old drill bits

[rockford33]

My mom and I finally got around to going through her garage and my dad's old tool boxes (he passed away 7 years ago). One of these tool boxes was an old wooden tool box that she believed was my dad's uncle or great uncle's tool box. There are a ton of drill bits in there, all in little packets.

These drill bits are from companies like Cleveland Twist Drill Co, Ace Drill Co, Whitman & Barnes, etc. I suspect many of these companies are no longer around, were bought out, etc.

In any case, a maintenance guy at the school my mom works at helped her get rid of some old tools after we had gone through some of the other tool boxes. He seemed really interested in this one with the drill bits though and keeps asking my mom if I have gone through them yet, because he really wanted some of the drill bits. Is there any serious value to these old drill bits? My wife thinks something is fishy, I just think he has a genuine interest in tools and (working for the maintenance dept) could actually use a bunch of drill bits. Most of these came in packets of one dozen, but only one or two sets were still a full dozen, most were 6-8 bits left. I am not breaking up full sets, but I have no problem giving him about half of the bits. I am more than happy to give them to someone who will use and appreciate them, but if they are worth serious coin, I may hesitate and question motive (my wife thinks he is being pretty pushy...).

Paranoid? More sentimental value than real value? Anyone know?

Thanks,
Neil

 

[Ign]

If they're truly unused there's some value there, but not a fortune.

For a VERY rough estimate (everyone who posts after me will disagree and have their own pricing scheme) I'd say $1/bit under 3/8", $2/bit over 3/8". S&D (reduced shank) bits are case-by-case, but I doubt he had these by the dozen.

This is assuming jobber bits. Screw machine, taper length, extra long or aircraft will likely up value a bit (no pun intended) in most cases.

 

[rsanter]

quality new(unused) drill bits have value no mater if they are 1 or 50 years old
they will make a hole
I agree with above but was going to sugest $1 a bit up to about 7/16 and then aboyr $2 a bit after that.
if they are large bits then they go up in value

bob

 

[RECox286]

Not to be in disaccord with the ^^^post, but I would suggest:

You take a stroll down the tool aisle at your local XYZ Hardware store

and glance at the retail pricing of new bits...you may be able to do

this online even. I would say, in bulk and in order for the "price to be

right" figure 50 cents on the dollar, and perhaps a slight bit more

discount if some one is interested in the whole shoot'n match as one sale.

Uncle Bob

NOTE: New drill bits don't loose value just b/c they are old. As long

as they are not Chinese bits, they should be worth someones' attention.

 

[larry_g]

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=2&PMCTLG=00

The above link is to the enco drill bit page, and a there are a few pages following. You can see the prices from cheap import to top quality bits. You have probably mid range pieces. So IGN is close. As far as breaking up sets, it sounds like you have bulk packages of the same size bits. If this is so then you don't have any worry about giving up singles from a package of bits of all the same size. However if you have sets that are from small to large size then you are correct in not breaking the sets.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[rockford33]

Thanks for the replies guys. I guess when I was thinking of value, I was thinking of that hidden treasure in the attic kind of value. I just was curious if an old Ace drill Co. 9/32" drill bit was worth something like $20 or something ridiculous like that because the company was out of business, or something that might make them special that I may not know about offhand.

If they are worth a buck or two, about the same you can buy a new bit for, I am more than happy to give some to the maintenance guy and they can use them at the school's maintenance shop.

These are all bulk packs, not sets of various sizes. There is a packet of a dozen 9/32, another packet of #5, etc. Literally about 200 drill bits or so in this tool box (it is heavy lol). I'm never going to go through them all, so might as well give them to a fellow tool man if they are not worth enough to get a new Porsche in my garage lol (I'd even settle for a lightly used Porsche )

Thanks,
Neil

 

[rancherbill]

She paranoid. She knows they had value to her Dad, and she is turning that thought into that they are worth scads of money.

They were of value to her Dad because he could do stuff.

Somebody posted a link to drill pricing, in bulk (10 packs) they are about 50% or less of the single piece.

Give the maintenance guy a heck of a deal or for free, because he has helped get rid of this stuff.

 

[KamiCrit]

They're just drill bits, not sticks made of gold. At the end of the day they're consumables. I think the maintenance guy knows that drill bits are handy. I'd say give em out for free.

 

[rockford33]

Yeah, I am just going to give them to him since he was helping my mom out by taking some of the old tools off her hands. My dad was a mechanic, so he had multiples of everything (how many screwdrivers can one person possible need?). I am keeping about half of the drill bits for my own use, or just to keep in the old wooden tool box as some of my family history. I think the percosets were working overtime on my wife's brain lol .

I know some old tools can be worth some value at times, but I agree drill bits are always a consumable item, which usually means not worth a whole heck of a lot I wish they were sticks of gold

-Neil

 

[Dave455]

Bear in mind, that many older drill bits are made to a much higher standard than the average drill but today.

Cleveland for sure, were good quality tools 20 years ago, and you'd have a job getting similar quality from a hardware store now!

If I found a box of old drill bit's (especially new ones) I'd consider it a bit of a treasure trove!

I certainly wouldn't be giving them away!

 

[Ign]

Yep, Larry's on target w Enco which is roughly how I based my suggestion. Local hardware store is a bad idea - they'll sell **** at highly inflated prices for a single bit. Master Mechanic or even Irwin....who knows who makes 'em. They tailor to the homeowner who needs a single bit for a quick job & doesn't think about quality. Machine shops would go broke if they bought their cutting tools at Ace or Home Depot, both because of high pricing and reduced tool life. Even ditto for Grainger and McMaster - maintenance depts might shop there just because they have an account (at least the quality will be better) but machine shops shop at dedicated machine tool suppliers like Enco/MSC, Travers, Penn Tool etc

 

[2oolhound]

Re: value of old drill bits
I guess that depends on how many you already have

I've always snapped them up at garage sales and swap meets, usually in a tin box holding 30 -50 drills up to 1/2" for $20 - $30. Over 1/2" are less common so $1 or $2 ea and taper shank I've paid $5 - $7 for. I have so many now I'll pass them up unless they are giving them away and they are larger sizes.

Apart from dull or improperly sharpened drills you see a lot that have spun in the chuck scoring off the size markings and even making a burr so make sure you don't get left with too many like that.

 

[dutchgray]

Decent quality unused or great condition drill bits are something I always look out for, usually found in the bottom of a box of mostly junk or in small tins, you just don't get the quality now except from proper machine tooling suppliers.

 

[404]

These old drill bits are very high quality. A new 1/4 bit is about 2.50 each for quality HSS. If these are cobalt they are worth more. Pics would help.
Box could cost thousands to replace. I would not give them away.

Regards,
404

 

[Tig Master]

These old drill bits are very high quality. A new 1/4 bit is about 2.50 each for quality HSS. If these are cobalt they are worth more. Pics would help.
Box could cost thousands to replace. I would not give them away.

Regards,
404

I seriously doubt any of the bits are high in value(thousands) but they will be good quality.

T

 

[Ign]

Also here's one of the pages of the current Enco Hot Deals that lists 118 jobber drills, but from PTD which is one of the best IMO. Prices are based on ordering in quantities of 12, which is about the only way I ever order. I also generally wait for free ship, 20% code or both so in most cases I pay less than these prices (Enco allows discount codes on sale prices but MSC does not) and shipping is moot.

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMKANO=384&PMPAGE=33&PARTPG=INLMPA&PMCTLG=01

 

[SweetD]

One of my mechanical engineering / machinist friends once told me that the older bits, while having a "cool" factor, are not really worth anything special, since the overall quality of the steel used, including HSS, has only gotten better over time. I have a bunch of old drill bits from my great grandfather - and I love them. But they're not funding my retirement!

Dave

 

[404]

I seriously doubt any of the bits are high in value(thousands) but they will be good quality.

T

Not the individuals, I meant all added up in value. We don't have a pic yet.

The person "helping get rid of tools" sounds fishy to me. I don't like the sound of it but that is just me.

Regards,
404

 

[404]

Here is an example of an "old tool in a wooden box"

Looks dingy doesn't it!

Guess a value before looking at the ad.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WOHLHAUPTER...AD-FACING-MILL-FOR-MACHINE-SHOP-/190748060552

A person who had factory envelopes of drill bits was not an average Joe. He may well have items like the one above.

Regards,
404

 

[Danthemanhandy]

New to the forum, but I also have a question about my drill bits bought them at a farmers market and just hoping someone can tell me their value or brand name? Nothing is on them I checked the whole box inside and out. Thanks in advance
Theyre bronze auger drill bits for carpentry.

 

[MShaw]

Some of the best drill bits were made by Pratt & Whitney (not the aircraft co.) When most companies were making drills from M-2 HSS P&W were making theirs from M3 Type 2. P&W is long gone but the tools are still top notch.

 

[tarbellb]

To the original poster, found a box of ~200 older nice (and some used) bits =$50 to someone who shows interest. Keep a full set for yourself.

The guy with with "bronze wood augers", very good chance if there is no markings at all they are cheap imports. Typically the higher quality mfg will put their name on them.

Value- uh, maybe $50 for the set. Just look up Ebay or Amazon for a similar sized import set.

 

[leg17]

An older quality packet of bits would be worth about a fourth of what a new packet costs today from MSC or McMaster. Probably bundle them together for another discount on top of that.

 

[jimreed2160]

New to the forum, but I also have a question about my drill bits bought them at a farmers market and just hoping someone can tell me their value or brand name? Nothing is on them I checked the whole box inside and out. Thanks in advance
Theyre bronze auger drill bits for carpentry.

They are bronze auger drill bits for use on wood. They look well made and are nice and long. As for the bronze, check with a magnet. It looks like a coating. Just pick up a brace and you can go punching holes in all things wooden.

 

[6PTsocket]

Not to be in disaccord with the ^^^post, but I would suggest:

You take a stroll down the tool aisle at your local XYZ Hardware store

and glance at the retail pricing of new bits...you may be able to do

this online even. I would say, in bulk and in order for the "price to be

right" figure 50 cents on the dollar, and perhaps a slight bit more

discount if some one is interested in the whole shoot'n match as one sale.

Uncle Bob

NOTE: New drill bits don't loose value just b/c they are old. As long

as they are not Chinese bits, they should be worth someones' attention.

You might be comparing apples and oranges. I wish I had a local hardware store or any local store that stocked bits as good as Cleveland. Those are industrial grade bits.Price them in an industrial catalog; they are still around.

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