What to do with old tools with no value??

[JSGAuto]

Hi Everyone,

I spent last weekend helping my GF's Father clean out his parents house. He let me take whatever tools he didn't want....which was most of them. I filled up my full size pickup with boxes of stuff!

So now that I am going thru these boxes, I am finding both treasures to add to my collection, and old obsolete tools.

Old hand-crank drills, files that are dull, beat up screwdrivers/pliers/cutters ect....none of it has collector value according to ebay.

So what do you guys do with all this type of stuff that you aquire? Scrap pile? Something about throwing away another mans tools.....even if they aren't usefull....bothers me!

Thanks
Jim

 

[B17E1943]

Donate to Salvation Army or the like? I wouldn't just pitch 'em; somebody might have a use for them.

 

[CNGsaves]

3 words . . . . Pay It Forward.

Surely you have acquaintances with people who have nothing in the way of tools. Buy several $5 plastic tool boxes from CL and make up basic set of tools. Call the shop teacher at local high school or trade school and they'll easily give you names of people who could use some free tools.

DO NOT SCRAP OUT functional tools . . . worst-case scenario donate them to ReStore or local charities so they can make a buck or two.

Also, you know GJ just NEEDS PICS of this tool stockpile you mention.
"Pics or It Didn't Happen" . . . ha, ha !

 

[Danglerb]

Take pictures and post them, get a second opinion, give it a few weeks, then recycle the metal.

Salvation Army and Goodwill, at least around here are fussy about talking junk.

 

[CNGsaves]

Take pictures and post them, get a second opinion, give it a few weeks, then recycle the metal.

Salvation Army and Goodwill, at least around here are fussy about talking junk.

That "talking" junk might be VERY valuable !! ha, ha! Heck, there in SoCal you could make a new reality show out of 1930's widget that could sing a tune !!

 

[I van putski]

A couple times a year I sell a 5 gallon bucket full of useless import tools on cl for $20.

 

[JSGAuto]

Also, you know GJ just NEEDS PICS of this tool stockpile you mention.
"Pics or It Didn't Happen"

I should have taken a picture of when it was all loaded up! Now it is dispursed between the garage, shed, basement as everything is being sorted. But, no worries, I have a small pile of tools for the "What the heck is this" thread!

Salvation Army and Goodwill, at least around here are fussy about talking junk.

Same here....the GF's father asked if they would take it, and they aren't interested in old tools. We took a load of nice furnature over there, and they went over it really close before they let us unload. I was really suprised, but I guess they get a lot of people using them to dispose of trash. Then their "help" dragged the nice stuff across the loading dock.....

 

[Dave455]

If you have stuff that really has no value, then scrap it!

But... be careful! One mans trash is another mans treasure!

You mentioned hand cranked drills. These are seriously useful tools, and just because you don't use them doesn't mean nobody else does. The modern made ones are often very poor quality, so the old ones can be quite desirable. If you don't own one yourself, perhaps consider keeping one. Great when all you need to drill are a couple of 1/8 pilot holes and your cordless has a flat battery!

Dull files are still made of good steel, and a hobby knife maker would thank you for donation of 'em! Even old pliers can be useful - if you're heating some part with a blowlamp you don't want to be holding it with your new Snap On pliers!

So, no collector value, but still some user value!

 

[jeffmoss26]

Pics!!

 

[96snma]

There is a program through kms tools in Canada here where you can donate them and they will send them to less fortunate countries that are rebuilding. Maybe you could find a program similar to this

 

[ElectroLight]

Habitat for Humanity will take um, at least ours will. I seem to have no problem finding dead HF cordless tools listed for 2x the HF sale price at that place! Then again, I did snag a nice set of Craftsman 3/8 12point -V- sockets for $2.50 last week

 

[Kingcreek]

I pick up boxes and buckets of old junk tools for a dollar or 2 and then weld them into junque yard art and stuff. My 11 year old grand daughter has a blast pawing thru junk and "designing" stuff. She's pretty good with a cutting torch and grinder and getting better with her welding. We made a dinosaur out of some old wrenches and tools and a turtle and a crab with 2 old metal outlet boxes and some pliers.

 

[Rickster]

Old hand-crank drills

Post them on Craig's List under "Cordless Drill For Sale"

 

[bad_idea]

I come across tools like that all the time. The processing is the PITA. I have a small tool box loaded w/ extra sockets and wrenches for cutting up to make 'special tools'. I give a lot of them away to less tool fortunate people. I enjoy having them sitting to the side and waiting for one of my friends/acquaintances to need one. I give them the tool that I have been sitting on and they are happy as can be.

 

[Airframer]

Old files = New knives!

 

[jjjrmx5]

Old hand-crank drills, files that are dull, beat up screwdrivers/pliers/cutters ect....none of it has collector value according to ebay.


Thanks
Jim

LOL.

I trust ebay for tool valuation and collectablity with about as much credibility as me asking my parents as to what music I should be listening to.

Old screwdrivers can be re-shaped or ground into picks or allignment tools.
Files can be sharpened.
Older hand tools can always find a use unless seized or no parts are availble.

I;ve got a local "high brow" flea during the summer that's once a month that I call "hipsters selling hammers" that sells all you mention at jacked up prices. Like beat to **** ball peens for $14 that they term "vintage". I laugh at them, Yet they move stuff.

My local flea sells that stuff all the time for 50 cents to a buck a tool if not more.

Don't want to deal with it, donate to charity or wait til' the spring and trade or sell off by the bucket to an open air flea vendor and they will then resell.

One man's trash... is very true and active. I see it every weekend.

 

[JimDon]

Those old hand crank drills (eggbeater style, not bit and brace style), are very very useful if you are doing a woodworking project and need to countersink some screws. You can either change bits all the time, or chuck a countersink into your eggbeater and have it dedicated to the few twists you need to set the screw beneath the surface. Same with drilling a couple different sized holes. Eggbeater gets the drill bit for the least number, while the corded or cordless gets the bulk of the work.
Jim

 

[fatfillup]

you can always drop them off at a local auction too. Won't get much but at least its something

 

[zkling]

Post up some pics. I bet some of the members on here would be interested. I know I might be.

Personally I turn old worn out tools into useable tools.
Screwdrivers --> Custom ground screw drivers (mostly hollow point) if the steel is good. If the handle is nice, pull off the handle and use it for something else.

Pliers and cutter --> sheet metal tools or other custom made high leverage tools. I'll weld things to the jaws, etc.

As mentioned, files --> Cutting tools, I use to do quite a bit of smithing and would use worn out files are practice or cheap work.

Really old wrenches --> Drawer pulls or handles.

Quite a few folks including myself like and use those old hand crank drills and braces. With custom made attachments they can be very handy for the mechanic. :thumbsup:

Post up some pics, just please don't scrap them.

 

[davesnothere]

I don't know about everyone else, but my matco guy will give me at least $5 in trade for anything towards a new matco one. He even takes pictures of tools in trade.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have a whole bunch of older (likely made in the USA) odd ball Craftsman sockets, extension, etc. Mostly 1/4" and 3/8" drive. Some SAE and some metric. No complete sets. Someday I will inventory the stuff. I would put the up on eBay, but I don't think they are worth the postage.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I have a whole bunch of older (likely made in the USA) odd ball Craftsman sockets, extension, etc. Mostly 1/4" and 3/8" drive. Some SAE and some metric. No complete sets. Someday I will inventory the stuff. I would put the up on eBay, but I don't think they are worth the postage.

I'm in the same boat...I've given a couple of my Cman rats to my 3 year old along with a couple of sockets...Eventually he'll loose em all or I'll find em with the mower.
While I may not get any $$ out of it, I get the satisfaction of seeing him smile & play with his tools.

 

[PugetDude]

Load 'em all in a couple of buckets and then leave them in the back of your truck in front of the closest convenience store some night.. Odds are good they'll be gone when you come back out...

 

[Ign]

You can send em to me in a large flat rate box. Happy to pay postage but not much more. The wife will turn the old files into ***** toads, sockets tend to be eyes or feet, she loves the handles of pliers for legs and tails. At least they'll be put to use and what little we don't use goes in a scrap run so its recycled.

 

[woody 73]

Load 'em all in a couple of buckets and then leave them in the back of your truck in front of the closest convenience store some night.. Odds are good they'll be gone when you come back out...

That one made me remember the following story...

A long time ago in NY they had a garbage strike and it would seem the guy in an upstairs 20 story building always got rid of his garbage, when the rest of the building stunk of it. Well one day during the strike his neighbors asked how in the heck are they taking your garbage when they will not take it for anyone else?

Easy he says with a big smile, I just gift wrap it up in a box, put a bow on top and leave it in the lobby

 

[Ign]

Few examples. Tin snips are apparently good for scorpion parts, files = ***** toads. This is 100% her; I don't have an artistic bone in my body. She does sell at craft shows but only this time of year and its pure hobby; as the guy who keeps the wood stove stoked, wire tips and gas stocked, abrasives and band saw blades in good working order......I can tell you it's no money maker; just a way for her to have fun & I never get nagged about tool/shop purchases.

Ok just one example as phone will only attach 1

 

[JSGAuto]

Thanks for the options guys.

Sounds like I should post this stuff up here after I go thru it.

I took a couple of pics of stuff that is in the basement.

Of course I also have a pile of garden tools (Nice USA stuff....axe, mauls, wedges, professional pruning stuff, general yard stuff, ect)....But I know that's not the interesting stuff. He even gave me a fold up utility trailer (looks similar to the HF one, but much older)......and my personal favorite.....2' of RR track!

So here are a few quick pictures......

Jim

 

[JSGAuto]

And a few more....

 

[zkling]

I see some good stuff in there.

 

[WallynSC]

I see numerous items I would pay money for.

 

[woody 73]

Pure gold my boy pure gold...

 

[WhoWhatNow]

I would pay for that light and possibly the C clamps. Some good stuff there.

 

[trainman1385]

I'm interested in the handplanes if you want to sell them to me

 

[Deskmechanic]

That articulating lamp is a gem -$200 or more at the hipster flea market. There are a number of other good items too. Some of it will be worth your while to sort and photograph.

 

[billybudge]

There is a lot of nice things in there buddy, I would keep the lot, that's a hobby all by itself, restoring all those old hand tools, that would keep me quiet for weeks, nice.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Yep.

C-clamps never go bad.

The files may be dull but even the wooden file handles are worth coin.
Pull off, glue in a new dowel and redrill. Good as new.

Hammers. especially the cross peen , just needs some TLC and maybe a new handle.

The Wiss shears can be re-sharpened and are as good as new with a wipe down with WD40 or a soak in evaporust. Bam.

I bet 10% of that shown is unusable and even that can go to the artsy hotties that weld and reuse even the unuseable bits. Hey--I'm an artsy type. I can say that . LOLOLZZZZZZZZ

Lots of goodies there.

 

[Farmall450]

Post them on Craig's List under "Cordless Drill For Sale"

Hehehe

 

[alinc100]

The wood bodied planes clean up nice with Murphy's Oil Soap,does not hurt the patina nor the value,would easily sell for $5 each,the larger metal bodied ones would clean up as well.
I see lots of treasures in those boxes,sadly shipping costs would negate some of the value.

there are aloso some nice looking awls in the box with the screwdrivers.Older ones are hard to come by and woodworkers like me like vintage ones.

 

[Arne73]

Looks like you're going to need some Evapo-rust-

 

[thundermug]

Dibs on that articulating lamp.