What To Do With Older Nostalgic Tools?

[oldschoolcraft]

I have a bunch of 90s era Craftsman Made in the US tools that quite frankly are not as good as the proto and knipex tools that dominate my toolbox. There's no way I want to get rid of them, but also I dont want to use them most of the time.

For a while, I was putting together car emergency tool kits with them. This might sound stupid, but since I was a teenager, every car I drive MUST have a pair of large 16" channel lock style pliers in it and a hacksaw. I feel naked without them nearby. I don't own a torch, so the large tongue-in-groove pliers and hacksaw are my "I'm not asking" tools.

I upgraded the pliers to 16" (400mm) Knipex Alligators. Partially because they're better pliers and also I was afraid of losing my US Craftsman 16" Pliers if my car got broken into.

I have my US Craftsman 3/8 mid length sockets in my car, which was my first sockets I ever owned. I'm in the process of finding a replacement, maybe Tekton, mostly because again I'm afraid of losing or breaking them.

So now I've just taken to putting my US Made Craftsman tools in a storage container, out of sight, where I can't enjoy them in any way. I'm thinking of creating some kind of display out of them. Wondering what you guys do with your old tools that have nostalgia but you have superior modern tools?

 

[theoldwizard1]

I kept a couple of tools from my Dad, but they live in my tool box. One, slip joint pliers, actually gets used regularly !

 

[ohhimark]

If I upgrade something and don't desire to part ways with the older item, it'll be relegated to a car or another room where it may get used/still be in sight. I just used the old man's tools to assemble a wheelbarrow.

I was young at the time, but it seemed like those mid length Craftsman sockets were available for a very brief time. Really wish I had bought them back then. They go for a lot more than expected ebay...ended up with the Snap On versions as they were actually less expensive at the time

 

[finn]

Donate them to Habitat.

Nostalgia is ok for some, but in my mind, it leads to clutter and hoarding….I suffer from both, but at least I recognize it for what it is.

 

[Ilikeike]

After building all the tool kits for various vehicles and other areas, I throw all my extra tools in a tub, and put them in a storage area, marked "extra hand tools" I occasionally need to dig through it or to modify a wrench for something.
I keep nothing that is not USA made, mostly old craftsman 1960s thru 90s the older stuff is my Dads.

My storage hoarding area is very small 4'x8', if it doesn't fit, it's got to go. Need to have boundaries and I can't stand mess.

 

[Renegade1LI]

What is bad about them? maybe the ratchets aren't the best, but other than that they seem to perform well. I use cman sockets and wrenches everyday, screwdrivers, all seem ok. What tools don't work well, just curious.

 

[txvwnut]

My older nostalgic tools are still getting used on a daily basis. I don't understand how a tool that is 20 or more years old is inferior to the identical tool made two years ago. I've got some Taiwanese made sockets and wrenches that I bought in the 80's that are still holding up to the punishment of day to day professional mechanic usage.

 

[zendriver]

Donate them to Habitat.

Nostalgia is ok for some, but in my mind, it leads to clutter and hoarding….I suffer from both, but at least I recognize it for what it is.

This

Ready to take my second truckload of excess tools etc. to restore

The space is more important

 

[Renegade1LI]

If you really want them gone ebay, craftsman usa gets top $$$.

 

[steel 35]

Best thing I have done was made her a tool bag for the projects in the house,
Has some of the finest in it so i don't have to go out and find things if I am under the sink Ect.

 

[richfinn]

Donate the tools you no longer use to a local charity that supports young people looking to learn some skills.

You only live once, travel light and pass it forward

 

[Boogerman]

sell them to Renegade1LI or someone like him with low expectations/needs; they'll get some use out of them. No way would I keep low quality tools that have been replaced with others that meet my needs better. Especially in emergency tool kits, where you should have best quality tools, not low quality ones.

What is bad about them? maybe the ratchets aren't the best, but other than that they seem to perform well. I use cman sockets and wrenches everyday, screwdrivers, all seem ok. What tools don't work well, just curious.

 

[Renegade1LI]

sell them to Renegade1LI or someone like him with low expectations/needs; they'll get some use out of them. No way would I keep low quality tools that have been replaced with others that meet my needs better. Especially in emergency tool kits, where you should have best quality tools, not low quality ones.

I wouldn't say low expectations, but I don’t think old usa craftsman are that bad. I buy hf tools for jobs because I know if it's hf or snap on it probably won't survive.

 

[KSJeff]

I have a couple of 5 drawer US General carts from HF that I keep in places where I don't need them.

My main shop is detached and that's where my "production" tools are. I have a 5 drawer cart in my attached garage where I have overflow, and I have another 5 drawer cart in my office where I have overflow as well.

I tell my wife that those two boxes will be full soon and I'll probably have a full set of sockets/wrenches/pliers/drivers for each kid when they are established with a garage (probably a few years away from that).

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

 

[shakenfake]

Buy another box that is just extras and spares. If they are completely sentimental I would keep that box separated from everything.

 

[Higgins]

I have a bunch of 90s era Craftsman Made in the US tools that quite frankly are not as good as the proto and knipex tools that dominate my toolbox. There's no way I want to get rid of them, but also I dont want to use them most of the time.

For a while, I was putting together car emergency tool kits with them. This might sound stupid, but since I was a teenager, every car I drive MUST have a pair of large 16" channel lock style pliers in it and a hacksaw. I feel naked without them nearby. I don't own a torch, so the large tongue-in-groove pliers and hacksaw are my "I'm not asking" tools.

I upgraded the pliers to 16" (400mm) Knipex Alligators. Partially because they're better pliers and also I was afraid of losing my US Craftsman 16" Pliers if my car got broken into.

I have my US Craftsman 3/8 mid length sockets in my car, which was my first sockets I ever owned. I'm in the process of finding a replacement, maybe Tekton, mostly because again I'm afraid of losing or breaking them.

So now I've just taken to putting my US Made Craftsman tools in a storage container, out of sight, where I can't enjoy them in any way. I'm thinking of creating some kind of display out of them. Wondering what you guys do with your old tools that have nostalgia but you have superior modern tools?

here is a thought!

A friend of mine upgraded his garage cabinets. He found hid oldest, sad looking tools and drilled holes in them and installed them as handles on cabinet doors and drawer handles! Really came out looking sharp!!

 

[Andres26tnt]

I don't keep old tools, they eventually become clutter and or hoarder. I bough many tools over the years, kept the useful ones and mostly give away sets, or small boxes I've built to my younger co-workers.

 

[dnschmidt]

Depends on the tool. If its an old school Metablo Grinder or Hammer Drill it stays. If it's Craftsman it's likely in our landfill.

 

[MarkH]

Just like we keep Grandpa's old tractors, trucks and combines and keep them running for show purposes, we keep Grandpa's and dads tools. Given old equipment does not need as large a variety to keep them running they never they never acquired as much as we do now. We have one old tool box of the time that all these tools are stored in. If it comes time to use an old machine and it has a toolbox we put a few of them in there for display reasons.

 

[Shiftless]

Am I the only geezer here that read the title of this thread and was shocked to see that 1990 era tools are now older and nostalgic?

 

[lardy1]

Am I the only geezer here that read the title of this thread and was shocked to see that 1990 era tools are now older and nostalgic?

I still use Challenger and New Britain wrenches. I'm not an auto tech, though.

 

[txvwnut]

Am I the only geezer here that read the title of this thread and was shocked to see that 1990 era tools are now older and nostalgic?

No but I did say to myself, that **** aint old.

 

[CoogarXR]

80s-90s era craftsman are my daily drivers, lol.

That being said- Just keep what you need/use. No need to be sentimental about everything. It's OK to just have memories. Or take pictures and save the pictures. You don't have to keep objects around just to go "aww, I remember...". Then remember why you replaced them and don't use them anymore.

They are decent tools, so don't put them in the landfill (sheesh). But do sell them or pass them on to somebody who could actually use them.

 

[gte718p]

Old thread, but I retired some of my granddads tools. They hang above my computer and I see them every day.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/retirement-of-good-tools.200256/

 

[four.cycle]

Am I the only geezer here that read the title of this thread and was shocked to see that 1990 era tools are now older and nostalgic?

Would it be reasonable to assume you did not see the "Vintage Pittsburgh" tool listings on ebay?

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I have so few tools from my days as poor kid, '70s Craftsman, it's not a problem. A lot of the tools from that era in my life were garbage and have been recycled as scrap iron.

 

[VolvoRyan]

Old stuff goes in totes..... stored on the shelves next to all the good used alternators, starters, unobtanium body panels, etc.....etc.... etc...

....until you die.

I have piles of these tools. Lots are hand-me-downs from a mentor..... and I'm sentimental about them. Good friend that took me under his wing. Some tools had been handed down through *his* family over the years. There's a Snap-On No. 1 from 1927-ish? That still lives in my tool box. I don't use it, but I can't bring myself to stash it.

-Ryan

 

[GaryM909]

Kids never leave our house empty handed. They are going to get them all anyways.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I kept a couple of tools from my Dad, but they live in my tool box. One, slip joint pliers, actually gets used regularly !

I gave those Dunlap pliers with red plastic grips to my 5 year old grandson. Actually his Dad (my son) is holding them for him.

I hope someday he will appreciate them.

 

[bonneyman]

I've got a socket set of old G-code sockets, extensions, and a couple of Craftsman rats with new rebuild kits in 'em. Have it in the wife's SUV (as well as some older basic hand tools) so if it hits the fan and my shop, house, and work truck all burn down I still have a set of tools to survive with. Craftsman might not be top of the line but were the standard for decades among the general populace. If stuff goes apocalyptic I figure they'd be good enough to scrape by with.

 

[cb750plumblife]

I recently went through all my sockets, ratchets, etc . I built up the main box, built up a metric roadside emergency box, organized the work box. Anything that was a duplicate tool got boxed up and taken to work to be distributed amongst the other tradesman . I have some sentimental tools but if I can’t use it or don’t see myself ever using it , the tool is just taking up space .

I recently had this discussion with my aging father about tools and we both came to conclusion that the memories were nice but we bought the tools to use and while I probably could have sold off all extras I thought it would be better to give it to people that could use it.

 

[nadogail]

Can't you find someone who will regard those under appreciated tools as Treasure?

 

[Higgins]

I have a bunch of 90s era Craftsman Made in the US tools that quite frankly are not as good as the proto and knipex tools that dominate my toolbox. There's no way I want to get rid of them, but also I dont want to use them most of the time.

For a while, I was putting together car emergency tool kits with them. This might sound stupid, but since I was a teenager, every car I drive MUST have a pair of large 16" channel lock style pliers in it and a hacksaw. I feel naked without them nearby. I don't own a torch, so the large tongue-in-groove pliers and hacksaw are my "I'm not asking" tools.

I upgraded the pliers to 16" (400mm) Knipex Alligators. Partially because they're better pliers and also I was afraid of losing my US Craftsman 16" Pliers if my car got broken into.

I have my US Craftsman 3/8 mid length sockets in my car, which was my first sockets I ever owned. I'm in the process of finding a replacement, maybe Tekton, mostly because again I'm afraid of losing or breaking them.

So now I've just taken to putting my US Made Craftsman tools in a storage container, out of sight, where I can't enjoy them in any way. I'm thinking of creating some kind of display out of them. Wondering what you guys do with your old tools that have nostalgia but you have superior modern tools?

Try using them as door handles on cabinets. Select the weirdest or ugliest wrench drill two holes in them and use them for cabinets or drawers

 

[liliysdad]

Everything Craftsman went on eBay, where nostalgia pays more than common sense.

 

[rust in the eye]

They are still good tools even if you prefer others. Somebody will buy, especially if you have complete sets.
I've sold off a bunch of old Craftsman without much effort.
Channel locks I understand but hacksaw?

 

[rust in the eye]

Would it be reasonable to assume you did not see the "Vintage Pittsburgh" tool listings on ebay?

REALLY?

 

[PittsburghTim]

My son started working in the commercial HVAC business about 8 years ago and I was able to pass on the Craftsman tools of my youth and many other hand tools (not all the best, but all made in USA) to get him started out with all of the basic hand tools. I took the opportunity to replace them with high quality tools (Proto socket sets, Wright wrenches, Felo screwdrivers, etc.) that are a joy to work with. Did I need them? I could afford them and it was good to see my old tools go to good use. I have kept a few of my dad's tools (a Stanley brace and bit set and a few promotional tools from the vending machine industry as he owned and ran a vending machine business for 35 years. Everything else was provided to either the Salvation Army or the St. Vincent DePaul Society. The tools resold by them make their way into hands that can use them and the charity benefits as well.

I would recommend selecting a few special tools to display in your garage or game room/man cave and donating the rest if money is not a big issue. It can be hard to give away things that have sentimental value, but at some point you cannot keep everything. Good luck!

Tim