What to do with old tools you never use?

[Hohn]

Yes, I know the thought of any tool leaving vs entering is potentially sacrilege around here, but the reality is that I only have so much space and I have a lot of tools that just don't earn their keep anymore.

On the one hand, these tools are perfectly functional. On the other hand, I can't imagine anyone wanting them enough to pay or exert any effort to acquire. I can donate them but that feels like it might just be making them someone else's FutureTrash™.

Some of the tools I'm a bit sentimentally attached to because I used them with my Dad growing up. But keeping a drawer FULL of those just because of that seems foolish. I think I'll keep a couple token representatives and get rid of the rest.

Lots of old Allied taiwanese wrenches, guessing from early 80s, soem raised panel Craftsmans, etc. Lots of 80s Craftsman sockets and ratchets.

As painful as it it to just throw away a serviceable tool, doesn't that end up still making sense here?

 

[Old Man Roger]

Never throw away tools. If you don’t know anyone that can use them, a free Craigslist ad will.

Or even a free tools sign placed on the curb.

 

[Kscardsfan]

I'm lucky. I have a buddy who I give all the stuff I can't or won't use when I buy lots at auctions, old toolboxes, etc. He uses them to make specialty tools, hold downs, fittings for his press, one time use, clearance issues etc. He loves soft, junky Chinese **** since he can weld, bend, heat grind it to what he needs so easily.

 

[PugetDude]

I took a big box of surplus/old/obsolete/duplicate tools to a thrift shop that supports Veterans yesterday. Old auger bits, sockets, drills, screwdrivers, etc.

 

[JAYoung]

Donate them to a Habitat ReStore.

 

[lardy1]

Donate to a church or organization that sponsors sales or a thrift shop. I can remember NEEDING tools. Those types of things can make a difference in a family's life.

 

[RTM]

Sentimental tools you keep around but would normally toss

We all have them. In a drawer. We will never use them but don't need them or don't even want them. For me it's the old poopy smelling handle screwdrivers I was given to by dear family. It's not even my first screwdriver set. I wore those out years ago and they were the Ace true value Stanley...

www.garagejournal.com

One of many similar threads

What tools did you get rid of today and why?

Tools sold, thrown into trash can, gifted even lost or stolen all counts. Love to hear your stories. Thanks! This is going to be interesting!

www.garagejournal.com

 

[bwringer]

Donate them to a Habitat ReStore.

This is what I do, assuming the tools are actually usable.

If they're junk that no one could use... be honest with yourself, be brave, and chuck 'em. Habitat ReStore already has PLENTY of worn-out Phillips screwdrivers, 11mm sockets, ancient Chinese trash, and rusty, rounded-off 11/32" allen wrenches.

For example, after my Dad passed, I had a lot of Craftsman inch sockets in rough to middlin' condition. (His stuff, together with what I had "liberated" from him as a teenager made a pretty big pile...) I rarely use inch stuff, so I only really need one set. I used some cheap socket rails from Harbor Freight to put together the best deeps and shallows into sets for myself, then put together the rest into several sets for Habitat ReStore. And they got all the miscellaneous leftover Craftsman sockets.

The cheeseball clunky no-name peeling rusty trash sockets went into the metals bin. I wouldn't wish them on anyone.

I also culled my wrenches; the horrible soft junky Kmart wrenches from my youth went into the metals bin, not the "donate" bin. The Craftsman and other good brands went into sets for myself, with the usable extras donated.

It's pretty liberating, once you get over the idea of saving junk "just in case". Just in case what?

Donating leftover usable stuff where it can do some good is much easier on the conscience.

 

[M635_Guy]

Donate them to a Habitat ReStore.

This is what I do.

 

[m6z]

I'd check ebay before I trashed/donated stuff. People will pay a surprising amount for tools.

 

[acer66]

After friends and family it gets donated.
Donating helps me a lot to get rid of things because I do not like to throw useable stuff away or sell things that just sell for a few bucks at the best.

This is another alternative to donate things.

Asheville Tool Library - Asheville Tool Library

Welcome to the Asheville Tool Library The Asheville Tool Library is a volunteer-powered, membership-based nonprofit that shares its tools and resources and offers educational opportunities to the Community of Western North Carolina. Subscribe to our newsletter Join us in the Sharing Economy...

ashevilletoollibrary.org

 

[WWheeler]

Never throw away tools. If you don’t know anyone that can use them, a free Craigslist ad will.

Or even a free tools sign placed on the curb.

This is why no one should ever follow me too closely on the road. You need to keep a safe enough distance for me to be able to lock 'em up because I'm definitely going to hit the brakes if and when I see any such sign just the same as if a toddler just crawled out in front of me.

 

[merkyworks]

Old tools get added to general purpose tool kit that I’m okay with friends & family borrowing. That way I’m not a jerk for not lending a tool but also I don’t care if they F it up.

After that kit is full it donate to a charity of your liking.

 

[thr3squared]

Never throw away tools. If you don’t know anyone that can use them, a free Craigslist ad will.

Or even a free tools sign placed on the curb.

This is what I do as well. Sometimes I'll also send a text to a group of friends who may want them, and be very clear they're free.

Free at the end of the driveway is almost always gone within a matter of hours.

 

[BrandonV]

Give them away... honestly if people actually recycled tools, we'd probably need another #2 screwdriver or 10mm socket to be made for the rest of humanity.

 

[finn]

Another vote for the Habitat ReStore.

The donations that are anywhere near useable seem to be sold quite quickly. The marginal one outright unusable stuff does linger.

 

[subroc]

I donated an old Craftsman corded circular saw and drill to goodwill. They had long since been replaced by multiple Dewalt cordless versions.

As far as when to get rid of something, how much space does it take up and what would I use the empty space for?

 

[bbrins]

Anything that is still good, but I just have no use for, or no desire to keep, I will occasionally gather up and set out at the curb with a "free tools" sign. I live in a pretty quiet neighborhood, so sometimes stuff sits out there for a few days. Stuff that may be collectable or is of higher value gets passed on to a friend or relative, or sold.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have a good collection of Craftsman 1/2" drive. Standard and deep, SAE and Metric, even impact. Along with breaker bars and ratchets. All a vintage 70s and 80s. They are in the bottom drawer of my rollaway, waiting for my son and grandsons.

 

[bonneyman]

Never throw out usable tools. Never!

Assuming there's no family members who need/want the tools:

1) Put them in the classifieds here. Something you don't need might be the holy grail tool for someone else.
2) List them on the 'bay. Worldwide advertisement can find homes for alot of tools.
3) Find the local tech training school for the occupation that uses that tool and donate them. We can't find enough workers these days - and tools are freaking expensive! Gifted tools to a noob technician starting out could be the first step in producing a journeyman.
4) Donate to Goodwill, Habitat Store, or your favorite auto shop. Better than throwing them in the trash.

 

[Sumboodie]

This is what I do, assuming the tools are actually usable.

If they're junk that no one could use... be honest with yourself, be brave, and chuck 'em. Habitat ReStore already has PLENTY of worn-out Phillips screwdrivers, 11mm sockets, ancient Chinese trash, and rusty, rounded-off 11/32" allen wrenches.

For example, after my Dad passed, I had a lot of Craftsman inch sockets in rough to middlin' condition. (His stuff, together with what I had "liberated" from him as a teenager made a pretty big pile...) I rarely use inch stuff, so I only really need one set. I used some cheap socket rails from Harbor Freight to put together the best deeps and shallows into sets for myself, then put together the rest into several sets for Habitat ReStore. And they got all the miscellaneous leftover Craftsman sockets.

The cheeseball clunky no-name peeling rusty trash sockets went into the metals bin. I wouldn't wish them on anyone.

I also culled my wrenches; the horrible soft junky Kmart wrenches from my youth went into the metals bin, not the "donate" bin. The Craftsman and other good brands went into sets for myself, with the usable extras donated.

It's pretty liberating, once you get over the idea of saving junk "just in case". Just in case what?

Donating leftover usable stuff where it can do some good is much easier on the conscience.

Inch drive sure handy when working on big equipment

 

[ecotec]

I give away some to friends, donate some, but I have thrown away plenty of tools.

 

[whitesco]

I'm probably a hoarder but I almost never get rid of any tools... I probably should in some cases but I figure one of my boys will inherit them one day, they may have kids that inherit them, etc.. Most of my tools to start out with were my two grandfathers. I'll toss or donate it if it's broken, or a cheapo that I have a better quality version of now but that's not even a guarantee. I usually go through a process of - could that be useful to leave in one of the cars or the camper? Might I misuse that to beat the **** out of one day, or if I'm ever feeling obligated to loan something would that be a good sacrificial lamb?

 

[crewchief888]

i dont really have any "****" unusable tools.
i do have tools i bought for a specific job or use, some have been used a couple times (ex: weatherhead sockets) some have never been used, (multiples of MM 12pt sockets). they are still in my garage boxes, i have no use for them in my work boxes.
it's strange, wife and i just had this conversation this afternoon, "what tools/stuff belong to you in your service truck, i have no idea"
o took her out to the truck and now she knows.

 

[rancherbill]

I have taken tools to the Re-Use center at the dump. I go back a week later and they are gone. I have also gotten some great items.

 

[saltwater4life]

I’ve been setting my less mechanically inclined brother up with a very nice set of tools as I’ve been upgrading.