Scimonetti
Well-known member
In retrospect, I probably should have titled this "miscellaneous" but that comes along with buying piecemeal old tools. Anybody looking to do an exchange?
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What do you do with your old wrenches and sockets.
- Thread starter Scimonetti
- Start date
drivesitfar
Well-known member
SC: personally i do the same and won't pass up on buying more tools at a good price even if i have most of them already.
i can say that eventually i'll have a set of Plvmb, Proto and Craftsman and i'll sell or trade the rest. i have a son, two step sons and a son in law so i might put together sets for them if they have any interest, but at this time they all are techies.
so if you have duplicates of sizes in brands you won't be keeping you might use them to trade for brands you want or outright sell them to give you some cash for more buying. of course you might not get much for them, but then what is the investment.
what brand(s) are your favorites?
i can say that eventually i'll have a set of Plvmb, Proto and Craftsman and i'll sell or trade the rest. i have a son, two step sons and a son in law so i might put together sets for them if they have any interest, but at this time they all are techies.
so if you have duplicates of sizes in brands you won't be keeping you might use them to trade for brands you want or outright sell them to give you some cash for more buying. of course you might not get much for them, but then what is the investment.
what brand(s) are your favorites?
rapid robert
Well-known member
Sell the extras on eBay and make some money to buy more of your favorites!
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Use them !
woody 73
Well-known member
Funny thing I have something called "A TOOL SICKNESS" don't think they have a cure for it yet. I have one neighbor that is always seeing little green men, and another neighbor that explodes at the sight of any animal poop in her yard, be it from a little squirrel, or a small cat. etc.
I could never walk away from old tools if the price is not to high then I buy them, what can I do with fifty of the same size wrench I have not figured that one out yet, but it is still fun to hold that history in my hands.
Am I crazy like my neighbors well only time will tell, at least I could sell them if I ever needed the cash, maybe I could make a killing selling them to those little green men my neighbor is always seeing???
Keep collecting them better to save them for the next generation to enjoy rather then seeing them turn into a pile of rust or worse having them show up in the junk yard scrap bin for later melting to make a dishwasher.
I could never walk away from old tools if the price is not to high then I buy them, what can I do with fifty of the same size wrench I have not figured that one out yet, but it is still fun to hold that history in my hands.
Am I crazy like my neighbors well only time will tell, at least I could sell them if I ever needed the cash, maybe I could make a killing selling them to those little green men my neighbor is always seeing???
Keep collecting them better to save them for the next generation to enjoy rather then seeing them turn into a pile of rust or worse having them show up in the junk yard scrap bin for later melting to make a dishwasher.
t4runner
Well-known member
bagged89s10
Well-known member
In retrospect, I probably should have titled this "miscellaneous" but that comes along with buying piecemeal old tools.
First off, yes this is a serious thread. I know that you use them.
Every time I see good quality old tools for mere pennies at garage or estate sales I grab them. Who doesn't. Sometimes even whole sets which I use as my everyday tools. I just cannot pass up great tools I don't have for cheap and love the history behind all these brands. I use specialty obstruction wrenches and weird box ends and keep duplicates by machines they fit with. I I haven't been collecting for that long so I still don't have huge amounts.
I know people collect certain brands and tool boards with the intent of making sets. I completely get that and do the same. What do you do with all the random sizes and brands though? I really started thinking about this when I got all these completely different brand and style wrenches of the exact same size.
Is this a stupid question? I have a feeling people do different things and want to hear.
I have a lot of old wrenches just like that. They always come in handy and like you said, you find them cheap at yard/garage sales. My father loves grabbing cheap tools at yard sales and often just gives them to me. I have a drawer divider in one drawer in my tool box with all the random sizes.
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drivesitfar
Well-known member
SC: T4 reminded me of a guy in South Dakota i'd like to meet and watch how he turns old steel into some amazing things. here's a few of his animals and do you see the wrenches in the deer's head? if i learn to weld maybe a few of my toasted tools might end up like this to put in my yard.
T4: i wonder how many wrenches were used to make your bull?
T4: i wonder how many wrenches were used to make your bull?
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t4runner
Well-known member
Not mine, just something I saw once. Another one I saw was a guy who made bugs out of wrenches it was pretty cool.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
SC: I'm not sure that imported chrome with hold a weld, but i do thank you for the offer and i do have a few grinders. 
Nooooooooooo!!! Let's trade them! I have a bunch of tools I got the same way. What are you looking for?
RivennHewn
Well-known member
When I was just starting out, several of the "Old Guys" outfitted me with tools.
When I can, I try to pass surplus tools onto the next generation.
Seems harder to find interested takers these days.
When I can, I try to pass surplus tools onto the next generation.
Seems harder to find interested takers these days.
I have a couple buckets full of similar stuff I need to sell. Here's another option to consider. On several occasions, I have put together some pieces into "sets" and given them to the local boy's home hoping some youngster finds a good use for them (and maybe a new love of working on things instead of playing video games).
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Holzarbeiter
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2014
- Messages
- 212
^^^^what he said^^^^^
many wrench or socket has been cut/ground/welded as the job required
JRC3
Well-known member
Old wrenches. There are some large wrenches in there that won't fit in my regular wrench drawer.
Regular wrenches.
Regular wrenches.
In my wrench drawer to the very left you see two of those. One is a 12mm I ground the box end down super thin so I didn't have to remove a plenum to change out a plastic T-stat housing on a Chrysler 2.7.
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Outlawmws
Well-known member
If they are already damaged, yes specialty tools fodder, but a lot of them get dropped in small carry boxes that also get picked up here and there often when I buy the whole box.
One has all US made Craftsman, others get then by type, (obstruction, DOE, DBE...)
every so often check to see how close to a set you have. Its surprising how easy it is to make a set. a set is far more valuable as a user than a bunch of singletons or pairs...
Two types I'm semi focused on are small obstructions and tappet wrenches. Those to me are more interesting that the average combo or DOE. On the specific brand/ere I collect I'll often take the previously modified wrenches, nothing wrong with preserving someone else's expediency... in some ways more interesting than "merely" a pristine set...
Tip on the small carry boxes, they actually stack quite nicely if you place 1X4 or 6 "blocks" on each end before stacking the next box... The tool density goes way up.
One has all US made Craftsman, others get then by type, (obstruction, DOE, DBE...)
every so often check to see how close to a set you have. Its surprising how easy it is to make a set. a set is far more valuable as a user than a bunch of singletons or pairs...
Two types I'm semi focused on are small obstructions and tappet wrenches. Those to me are more interesting that the average combo or DOE. On the specific brand/ere I collect I'll often take the previously modified wrenches, nothing wrong with preserving someone else's expediency... in some ways more interesting than "merely" a pristine set...
Tip on the small carry boxes, they actually stack quite nicely if you place 1X4 or 6 "blocks" on each end before stacking the next box... The tool density goes way up.
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JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN
Well-known member
I hoard the brands I find and want to collect and the other cheap USA tools I pick up I either give to my dad to add to his collection or help my childhood friend out who's in school to be a tech and has limited funds.
rick carpenter
Well-known member
Great call McFarmer! Passing on to other members is good, and so is setting up your spouse's and kids' tool collections. Otherwise, please donate to a good cause (Goodwill, churches for mission teams, senior citizens centers, food banks, Habitat chapters, homeless shelters, women's & children's shelters, mental health independent living communities, hospice, disaster recovery organizations, etc). They're pretty cool looking, but I just hate to see sculptures made out of tools that somebody could use.
MikeF2316
Well-known member
One other idea, around here we have a "tool library" and they take donations. Maybe there's something similar in your area.
http://torontotoollibrary.com/
Mark in Indiana
Well-known member
I too can't pass up good tools at a cheap price. Normally I eventually collect enough to make complete sets. Every few years, what ends up collecting dust gets sold.
I have been working on cars from the 1917 era up to cars made in the 50s for more than 50 years and collecting tools as I find them.
I was unaware of the Snap-on snobs until I broke one of my fathers 1950 Barcalo Buffalo and found out about AlloyArtifacts. At that point I learned that my tools had been made in the 1917 to 1950 eras!
All of these old wrenches were excellent quality. My most recent find is a 1937 Blue Point Supreme LTA-1618.
I was unaware of the Snap-on snobs until I broke one of my fathers 1950 Barcalo Buffalo and found out about AlloyArtifacts. At that point I learned that my tools had been made in the 1917 to 1950 eras!
All of these old wrenches were excellent quality. My most recent find is a 1937 Blue Point Supreme LTA-1618.
Perry
New member
I just came across this thread. I have many old tools of my dads, craftsman sockets, V, VV, and some others, as well as many wrenches, and other quality brands as well. i would love to sell them for some nominal amount, or send them for postage to someone who would use them for something worthwhile. These where my fathers tools when he was a mechanic for TWA, he passed away in 1979 and they have not been used much since. Now I am getting up in age and want to see these tools used again. So if you give tools to the next generation, or do charity work, or are just starting out and struggling, please let me know. It would mean a lot to me to see my fathers tools used once again, and not sit in the draw. They are all in great condition, no rust or damage. Thank you.
Perry
Perry
Old tools are in gross surplus to de.and for them in most areas.
I know shipping would kill but get them into under developed places in the world to really find them an appreciating owner.
Pre 1950 tools are usually in little demand among current users and most well worn.
As a collector of early tools this hurts to type out but its true.
Most have lived out their useful lives. Tech has changed and they don't fit a modern world well.
They are not worth a billion dollars each either. Weld some up into sculpture and scrap a bunch here and there more will be discovered in some old shed somewhere and replace those lost. For a few decades more to come at least.
l suspect Asain stuff as generic as it has become is the new standard among young guys getting into wrenching and will become the new collectables in a future time as they recall getting started.
I know shipping would kill but get them into under developed places in the world to really find them an appreciating owner.
Pre 1950 tools are usually in little demand among current users and most well worn.
As a collector of early tools this hurts to type out but its true.
Most have lived out their useful lives. Tech has changed and they don't fit a modern world well.
They are not worth a billion dollars each either. Weld some up into sculpture and scrap a bunch here and there more will be discovered in some old shed somewhere and replace those lost. For a few decades more to come at least.
l suspect Asain stuff as generic as it has become is the new standard among young guys getting into wrenching and will become the new collectables in a future time as they recall getting started.
My daughter just moved out of the house. So, I gathered up a large set of box-end wrenches both standard and metric. Also did the same on sockets. Ended being a great starter set. Most likely will last her( being single ) a long time. She loved it.
j789139
Well-known member
Hey there, Perry...
Thanks, for the post! I tried to Private Message you but not sure, if it went thru. I'm building on, my father's old craftsman USA that he left me, when he passed away in 2003. My signature, below, shows the flare nut wrenches I'm looking for, to finish a current project but I'm also looking for other wrenches, ratchet & socket sets, etc...Look forward to hearing from you.
Sent you a PM.
ProGun3400
Well-known member
I keep a bucket handy for when my grandson is visiting. He can't resist touching grandpa's tools. I'd rather he misplace an old beater than the more expensive stuff....
BuddyC01
Well-known member
When I end up with a bunch of wrenches, I couldn't resist but also couldn't sell individually, I lay them out in a group and sell them pretty quick on eBay.