What to do with assorted Craftsman Wrenches and Sockets

[lars]

So a little over a year ago my father who owned a used car lot, lent his mechanic some money. The guy put his tools up for collateral and flaked out. We picked up the tools and my father gave them to me under the agreement of what I didn't need I would sell and put to my son's college fund. Before anyone gets any image of grandeur, there were a few gems but a lot of junk.

At this point I picked over what I wanted and added it to my box. Anything that is sellable has been listed on ebay. Most of the cheap tools have been thrown into a junkyard box, lend to your neighbor box or kid box that my son can use/lose before he learns to respect my personal tools.

So what I'm basically left with is a mixed lot of Craftsman sockets and wrenches including:

25 or so USA raised panel wrenches in metric and SAE, probably 4 short of making a 3/8 to 7/8 set.

40-50 1/4 and 3/8 drive USA sockets - metric, SAE, 6-point, 12-point, standard, deep, etc

15-20 1/2 SAE and 10 metric sockets, again of all types.

There were a lot of bad sockets in the mix so out of those listed above I probably have 25 or so new ones still on the tabs.

Anybody have a good suggestion for what to do with all these (aside from shiping them so someone for free)? I really don't want to put them in a box where they will never get used nor do want them to get lost by my son. Eventually I do want to get him a nice set of tools but since it will be a somewhat sentimental gift I'm really not looking at giving him a hodgepodge of tools. I've though about making a SAE set out of the wrenches and throwing it in my carpentry box but that about it.

So do I keep em, ebay, try to use them as trade fodder at a flea market? Any ideas?

 

[1950mercury]

Put the sockets on the free socket thread

 

[nine4gmc]

Throw them in a cheap box and put them on craigslist, someone needing tools will call.

 

[beatcad]

what to do w/ extras(doubles/triples)??? I still have this problem
put together a decent complete starter set for yer son(that's what my dad did).
yes, you could set up a table at a swap meet or flea market but they usually cost 15 to 25 bucks or more for a space and at .50 for a socket or a buck a wrench it'll be hard to break even.
or take 'em all to salvation army/goodwill/hapitat for humanity. it wont be much of a tax write off. I bet it wont make a dent in yer taxes, but it will make you feel good.

or, these things aren't huge. you could put 'em in a shoe box and put 'em in the attic and be surprised when you find 'em in 20 years

 

[Exceller8]

I have hundreds of sockets that I'm just too lazy to organize. One of these days I'll make a few sets and sell off the rest. Lucky for me most of my extra sockets are all US made.

 

[southalabama]

Bulk lot ebay and see if you have any takers. Perhaps someone looking to jump start a set will bite. I wouldn't want craigslist buyers contacting me though I buy on craigslist myself. My buddy seems to attract a lot of nuts from his craigslist sales.

 

[gearhead1]

I'd be interested In a bulk ebay buy for example....I think people will buy them because they are US made. That's how I get most of my tools.

 

[sloppy]

I have hundreds of sockets that I'm just too lazy to organize. One of these days I'll make a few sets and sell off the rest. Lucky for me most of my extra sockets are all US made.

Same here...

A 5 gallon bucket seems to store them just fine... Sometimes I use them to press out a bearing

 

[nicksnothereman]

So a little over a year ago my father who owned a used car lot, lent his mechanic some money. The guy put his tools up for collateral and flaked out. We picked up the tools and my father gave them to me under the agreement of what I didn't need I would sell and put to my son's college fund. Before anyone gets any image of grandeur, there were a few gems but a lot of junk.

At this point I picked over what I wanted and added it to my box. Anything that is sellable has been listed on ebay. Most of the cheap tools have been thrown into a junkyard box, lend to your neighbor box or kid box that my son can use/lose before he learns to respect my personal tools.

So what I'm basically left with is a mixed lot of Craftsman sockets and wrenches including:

25 or so USA raised panel wrenches in metric and SAE, probably 4 short of making a 3/8 to 7/8 set.

40-50 1/4 and 3/8 drive USA sockets - metric, SAE, 6-point, 12-point, standard, deep, etc

15-20 1/2 SAE and 10 metric sockets, again of all types.

There were a lot of bad sockets in the mix so out of those listed above I probably have 25 or so new ones still on the tabs.

Anybody have a good suggestion for what to do with all these (aside from shiping them so someone for free)? I really don't want to put them in a box where they will never get used nor do want them to get lost by my son. Eventually I do want to get him a nice set of tools but since it will be a somewhat sentimental gift I'm really not looking at giving him a hodgepodge of tools. I've though about making a SAE set out of the wrenches and throwing it in my carpentry box but that about it.

So do I keep em, ebay, try to use them as trade fodder at a flea market? Any ideas?

If it still turns bolts it's not bad. You mean rust? If it's cosmetically bad the price goes down significantly but they're still salable.

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Whats your eBay user ID? I'll give them a look and see what I need.

 

[allinon72]

I throw all my extras or "inferior" tools in a separate tool box. You never know when you'll need them, or someone else needs them.

 

[Davefr]

We should set up a "Free Pile" thread somewhere in the classifieds that anyone can add to. I also have a bunch of surplus/orphan tools + related parts I'd like to find good homes for.

(Ex)
- Item(s) must be totally free except for shipping costs
- Only active GJ members can participate (100+ posts)
- Owner can limit quantity to any one requester. (to prevent hoarding/reselling abuse)

Any interest???

 

[ecotec]

Maybe you can build a set of tools your boy can use and abuse while he is a kid. maybe just a metal hand box with a nice assortment of estate sale tools you will not worry about.

I think it is cool that you want to build a good set for when he is older. I want to do that for my boy.

 

[mustangsean]

Id be intrested in buying or trading for a bulk lot, I don't have many tools yet and the more I can get at once the better!

 

[lars]

Thanks for all the ideas. I didn't know there was a free socket exchange. I will definitely have to put some of my odds and ends up there.

Most of the sockets are still good, although some of the 1/2 sockets were beat on with a impact gun pretty well. It's unfortunate, but the last guy that used these tools was really rough on them. My favorite was a 20 mm that had a lugnut wedged in it. I wailed on that thing with a punch and hammer and it never came out. So if you're wonder if Sears warranty's tools with the faster still in it...yes they do.

 

[Sonorous]

Thanks for all the ideas. I didn't know there was a free socket exchange. I will definitely have to put some of my odds and ends up there.

Most of the sockets are still good, although some of the 1/2 sockets were beat on with a impact gun pretty well. It's unfortunate, but the last guy that used these tools was really rough on them. My favorite was a 20 mm that had a lugnut wedged in it. I wailed on that thing with a punch and hammer and it never came out. So if you're wonder if Sears warranty's tools with the faster still in it...yes they do.

In the same spirit as the free socket exchange, I've completed many smaller sets that are missing sizes or options. I have a decent set of sockets and wrenches in each vehicle and sometimes it's helpful to add a few odds and ends to them to make them more useful. Same goes with friends and family. I often help out with things and if I notice some empty spots or overlooked sizes I'll give them spares I have.

The ebay auctions on "assorted sockets" (etc.) tend to bring in so little money that the personal satisfaction of completing sets is a better option for me, whether in person or online. Of course the leftovers end up in a tote bag (one for each metric and standard) and are ready to be hacked into some sort of specialty tool as required!

 

[Pumpman1968]

I have some oddball Craftsman sockets I'm looking for to fill my roadbox. I would gladly pay for at LEAST the shipping..........or whatever. I will have to buy them anyway.....might as well put a couple of bucks in your pocket.