What To Do With Excess Tools?

[kngelv]

I know it is a crazy thought on this site but I think I have too many of various tools. My Uncle passed away a few weeks ago and I inherited everything in his garage. Most of his sockets and wrenches are standard with only a few metric items. I did get another Craftsman block grinder and a small Reed vise plus some Petersen Vise-Grips and and a bunch of various pliers, c-clamps, taps and dies plus some vintage belt sanders, chisels and block planes. My dilemma is that I'm overwhelmed with some of this. I must have five or six of every Craftsman raised panel wrench from 1/4 to 1 1/4 and probably ten of every shallow and deep 3/8 drive socket up to 1 1/2 inches. These are all older USA brands. In total I probably have five to six hundred sockets and wrenches I don't foresee ever using. My 13 year old son is into tools in a big way so I set him up with a bunch of stuff for his mom's house but nearly everything he works on there is related to Mountain and BMX bikes and nearly all of it is metric - he has his own little repair business. I have him every other week so he uses my stuff when here. He is pushing for me to let him have the bench grinder at his mom's but I'm uncomfortable with him using it without my direct supervision. We work mainly on dirt bikes and bicycles here. Again all metric for the most part. I don't think I want to sell it all a tool at a time on eBay and don't see using Craigslist with all the social distancing going on. Looking for suggestions. Thanks.

James

 

[LNKMK8]

You could take the next couple of weeks while on lock down to sort out some sets or at least similar items then have an epic garage sale when the state reopens. If you were closer I'd stop by and make you an offer on all of it.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Donate the extras to your local community college shop program... You'll be helping the next genertations of mechanics and shop rats, especially the kids who have the drive, the gift, but not the money for tools...

 

[kngelv]

Donate the extras to your local community college shop program... You'll be helping the next genertations of mechanics and shop rats, especially the kids who have the drive, the gift, but not the money for tools...

That is not a bad idea.

James

 

[Formerjeeper]

The Craftsman USA seems to be highly valued on ebay, may make sense to assemble into a few mini-sets and sell that way instead of one piece at a time.

 

[gloy]

To me "excess tools" is an oxymoron.

 

[humpty]

The local tech school is a good idea, they may have some low income students who could use the tools for class and beyond.

Do you have any young relatives that are interested in wrenching on stuff? A decent starter set might plant the seed for a long time.

I went through all of my "extra" stuff a few years ago and set my step-son up with a decent starter set. He is 17 now but he still drags that box out any chance he gets to wrench on something.

humpty

 

[engineer2]

I inherited a lot of no-name sockets and wrenches from my dad. Some went into road kits in the spare tire well. If they get stolen, so what. Some of the mild steel chinese sockets will go into the drawer with my hydraulic press tooling.

Oddball stuff will get tossed out the window while driving so GJ members can post about their roadside finds and complain about how some cheapskate must have owned it.

 

[STANG302]

Just went down this rabbit hole. Sorted though everything I had. Kept the best I have which is craftsman. Mainly had excess sockets & wrenches couple ratchets and screw divers of misc. no name brands. Filled up a good size box and posted it on FB for free. Lasted a day and they went to Dad looking to give his kid his first set of tools. I was happy with that.

 

[Shiftless]

I know it is a crazy thought on this site but I think I have too many of various tools. My Uncle passed away a few weeks ago and I inherited everything in his garage. Most of his sockets and wrenches are standard with only a few metric items. I did get another Craftsman block grinder and a small Reed vise plus some Petersen Vise-Grips and and a bunch of various pliers, c-clamps, taps and dies plus some vintage belt sanders, chisels and block planes. My dilemma is that I'm overwhelmed with some of this. I must have five or six of every Craftsman raised panel wrench from 1/4 to 1 1/4 and probably ten of every shallow and deep 3/8 drive socket up to 1 1/2 inches. These are all older USA brands. In total I probably have five to six hundred sockets and wrenches I don't foresee ever using. My 13 year old son is into tools in a big way so I set him up with a bunch of stuff for his mom's house but nearly everything he works on there is related to Mountain and BMX bikes and nearly all of it is metric - he has his own little repair business. I have him every other week so he uses my stuff when here. He is pushing for me to let him have the bench grinder at his mom's but I'm uncomfortable with him using it without my direct supervision. We work mainly on dirt bikes and bicycles here. Again all metric for the most part. I don't think I want to sell it all a tool at a time on eBay and don't see using Craigslist with all the social distancing going on. Looking for suggestions. Thanks.


Can I have your vise?

 

[Darby9]

I see you're in Detroit. There's a technical training HS on Hubbell that likely has automotive training classes. Other public high schools and Wayne County CC probably have them too. If those don't pan out, here's a great list of programs related to skilled trades job training that might have students who could use a leg up on their first toolboxes:

https://detroitmi.gov/departments/y...hool-programs/post-high-school-skilled-trades

 

[Shiftless]

A fellow GJ member bczygan is active in the adult education for the trades there in Detroit. Maybe send him a PM.


BTW, if one of your old belt sanders is a Porter Cable for example, it might be worth more than just a few bucks, even if it isn’t working.
Here is a fellow member’s collection.

 

[jabberwoki]

What is an excess tool?

 

[MJO]

I like to give tools away to locals.

Howdy neighbor.

 

[Alpine4x4]

I'd assemble sets and post on Ebay or even here. Shoot I might even be interested in some of the larger SAE wrenches I need to fill out my set from 15/16" on up.

 

[Professional Tool User]

I'm in the same boat. The person who handed down the tools to me loved his Craftsman tools. I never got around to giving away stuff in my junk pile. I would go place an ad on the cork board of your local trade school or get in touch if said trade school has any construction trades, heavy equipment, or heavy truck programs if you are planning to give it away later on.

 

[Locker537]

I like to give them to family and friends who don't have them.

 

[yatg]

I'd assemble sets and post on Ebay or even here. Shoot I might even be interested in some of the larger SAE wrenches I need to fill out my set from 15/16" on up.

Ditto. Post them here. I've lost a few of my Craftsman sockets and wrenches over the years and would be interested in replacing with matching series pieces.

 

[matt_i]

One could always sell stuff they don't need and use the funds to acquire stuff they do need...there's some work in there and its not as generous and beneficial to society but would help you make a move on some kind of project. Everyone has a project stalled for lack of funds....

 

[Jack84]

One could always sell stuff they don't need and use the funds to acquire stuff they do need...there's some work in there and its not as generous and beneficial to society but would help you make a move on some kind of project. Everyone has a project stalled for lack of funds....

This is what I do with my surplus tools.
Sometimes I buy a lot of tools, keep the stuff I need/want and sell the rest. I make a profit too doing that or break even.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[bczygan]

I know it is a crazy thought on this site but I think I have too many of various tools. My Uncle passed away a few weeks ago and I inherited everything in his garage. Most of his sockets and wrenches are standard with only a few metric items. I did get another Craftsman block grinder and a small Reed vise plus some Petersen Vise-Grips and and a bunch of various pliers, c-clamps, taps and dies plus some vintage belt sanders, chisels and block planes. My dilemma is that I'm overwhelmed with some of this. I must have five or six of every Craftsman raised panel wrench from 1/4 to 1 1/4 and probably ten of every shallow and deep 3/8 drive socket up to 1 1/2 inches. These are all older USA brands. In total I probably have five to six hundred sockets and wrenches I don't foresee ever using. My 13 year old son is into tools in a big way so I set him up with a bunch of stuff for his mom's house but nearly everything he works on there is related to Mountain and BMX bikes and nearly all of it is metric - he has his own little repair business. I have him every other week so he uses my stuff when here. He is pushing for me to let him have the bench grinder at his mom's but I'm uncomfortable with him using it without my direct supervision. We work mainly on dirt bikes and bicycles here. Again all metric for the most part. I don't think I want to sell it all a tool at a time on eBay and don't see using Craigslist with all the social distancing going on. Looking for suggestions. Thanks.

James

James,
Here you go:

Bill Czygan
11603 Grayton Street
Detroit, MI 48224-1643

Let me know how much the shipping is!

Bill

 

[Semi-hole mechanic]

Ditto. Post them here. I've lost a few of my Craftsman sockets and wrenches over the years and would be interested in replacing with matching series pieces.

Ditto ditto...II have all of my dads old raised panels up to 1" mostly -v- or =v= and would like to replace my old chinese larger wrenches. Just bought a =v= series DOE wrench to complete dads DOE set.

 

[kngelv]

James,
Here you go:

Bill Czygan
11603 Grayton Street
Detroit, MI 48224-1643

Let me know how much the shipping is!

Bill

I don't know man. It looks like your an East Side guy. Brightmoor kid here. Not sure we would click. Kidding of course. Give me a few weeks and I'll figure out what I want to get rid of. I hauled out another two totes of stuff from his garage today including a sweet old Erie Pipe vise that was hidden in the rafters, plus a mystery portable tool box that is locked with no key but must weigh 75 pounds. It will take me another three or four trips to get everything. A little more backstory. Some of these tools were my Grandfathers who passed away in the late 80's while I was overseas in the Army. My dad, uncle and cousin split the tools. My cousin and Uncle both passed and this is the tools they inherited plus what they acquired on their own. My grandpa was a tool/die maker at Ford from 1923-1965. Some of this is super cool and not really useable but will look cool hanging on the walls. There is also an old air compressor that has a big "Frigidaire - Made by General Motors" tag.

James

 

[Lucid Moments]

Excess tools? WTF are those? Just kidding. I might keep any duplicates, but find a good alternative user for any triplicates or more.

 

[king nero]

I know it is a crazy thought on this site but I think I have too many of various tools. My Uncle passed away a few weeks ago and I inherited everything in his garage. Most of his sockets and wrenches are standard with only a few metric items.
(...)
Thanks.

James

Isn't metric standard?


Condolences on the loss of your uncle.

 

[Parrothead]

... My 13 year old son is into tools in a big way so I set him up with a bunch of stuff for his mom's house but nearly everything he works on there is related to Mountain and BMX bikes and nearly all of it is metric - he has his own little repair business.

...I don't think I want to sell it all a tool at a time on eBay and don't see using Craigslist with all the social distancing going on. Looking for suggestions. Thanks.

James

Have your son start his eBay business and teach him how to set it up properly. Spend time sorting the sets and research sold listings. Get the excel sheet and show him how it works so he can see his profits and losses. At 13 he’s probably proficient enough to do it already. Let him keep the money to fund his BMX and tool habit. As you said, he’s already running a small repair business. What a great way to grow and encourage that entrepreneurial spirit!

Go look up sold prices of USA Craftsman, there’s a decent profit there. Sometimes more than decent. https://www.ebay.com/itm/254496230705

 

[DFB]

Maybe SAE will make a comeback in the US in the near future


Honestly if they are USA Craftsman there are certain people in some "collectors forums" buying them like there made out o gold or something...I'm almost sure have no problem selling unless really hi-balling the price

Yup I'd take a look into that

 

[PhantomEB]

I built a little kit so far for moms place. My spare tool box is gonna be moved over there and I will build a little bench for her place too.

 

[Davefr]

Have your son start his eBay business and teach him how to set it up properly. Spend time sorting the sets and research sold listings. Get the excel sheet and show him how it works so he can see his profits and losses. At 13 he’s probably proficient enough to do it already. Let him keep the money to fund his BMX and tool habit. As you said, he’s already running a small repair business. What a great way to grow and encourage that entrepreneurial spirit!

Go look up sold prices of USA Craftsman, there’s a decent profit there. Sometimes more than decent. https://www.ebay.com/itm/254496230705

Great idea!! Could be a win-win!!

 

[finn]

Habitat store is one option. A use tool consignment shop opened near me. They take 40% off the top, but you don’t have to deal with Craigslist or eBay, so it’s well worth it.