what to do with your tools after...

[waggie]

I recently have had the unfortunate opportunity to clean out a workshop that was owned by a woodworker/mechanic. He is in his mid 80's and hasn't used the workshop in about 13 years since he's got Alzheimer. There were a lot of great quality hand tools. A lot of old Craftsman sockets and wrenches also. I was finding duplicate sets after duplicate sets of sockets, ratchets, extension bars...

There was a point where i was just too overwhelmed at the amount of stuff, I just threw them all into a 5 gallon bucket. Then, another 5 gallon bucket. TWO buckets of sockets, wrenches, ratchets, extension bars, and other little hand tools.

Sorry to be such a downer today, but I think most of us buy stuff hoping it would last forever. If we made good investments in tools, they do at least out last us.

I think what would have made this process easier was some sort of instructions. If the owner was able to make decisions about the tools, I'll probably have an easier time. In my opinion, there's just no way to make respectable decisions about another man's tool.

So, one of these days, i'll be making a list of my tools, along with instructions with what to do with them once i'm "unable to use them" anymore.

 

[Bender78]

My kids are going to have one hell of a garage sale when I croak.

 

[Joe B.]

I guess this is why we see so much at Estate sales. Considering the life expectancy of most men and women, a good number of those tools sit around a few years after the man passes away before they make it to the market. People don't think to plan for their Estate when they are young (60s) and by the time it is time to do that they don't have the ability. The reality is that most people are not into the exact same things as their parents and could care less about the tools even though they loved their parents.

Waggie, I grew up in Upland. Nice town!

 

[automobiliben]

I have thought about keeping a "journal" of where I get my vintage woodworking tools from. Along the way I have met some great people.

One would hope that your offspring would be interested in the tools...

 

[Link-Belt]

In the meantime you can send the two five gallon buckets to me. I can take care of shipping costs and give them a good home.

 

[Joe B.]

My kids are going to have one hell of a garage sale when I croak.

I have thought that too! I'm not quite 40 yet but I have better stuff than I see at most Estate sales. Assuming I can keep it in good shape, there should be a post about the great deals at the sale in about 2055. 'You *****' will not be in short supply.

 

[Carguy99]

I don't think we own our tools. I think we are just taking care of them until the next owner takes over.
I have had this responsibility for too many of my friends and family to count.
That said, I have in my will some specific instructions about some of my tools. Most of these are tools I have gotten from others. these are the ones that are important to me. I have included a letter explaining why this was chosen for them. I also have a list of close friends (all tool guys) to assist with the sale of the equipment.
I feel it is too much money to leave it to chance. take care of it while you can...not for you, but for those you love.

 

[Brian_B_]

I made out a will in my mid 30s. I won't go into health problems, but lets just say a few. All my tools and equipment goes to my little brother (who is an avid home mechanic). I'm sure he will scrap the HF and other Chinese junk, but keep the rest.

 

[catsteve]

I have thought about keeping a "journal" of where I get my vintage woodworking tools from. Along the way I have met some great people.

One would hope that your offspring would be interested in the tools...

this is an interesting idea.
provenance adds to a vintage/antique items' value too.

 

[Moose02]

just hope my wife does not sell my stuff for what I told her I paid for them.



Men die before women because they can

 

[slip knot]

My tools are going to a local boys home to start a vocational program for them. My wife and I decided that we wanted to do something that would continue helping people long after we're done here. An estate attorney set it up and we have the money set aside for an endowment to go with the equipment so the home wont have much expenses involved.

 

[Zeke]

Good thread. The older I get, the more tools I buy. I'm going backwards. Thing is, I'm buying things cheap, but to sell them would not produce a profit. No reason to sell if that's the case.

AFA what happens when I'm gone, that is really a good question. I have no kids of my own, 1 stepson who hates tools and what they do, and a step daughter that could care less. To top that, I have quite a house full of beautiful things my grandparents bought for themselves or as wedding presents for my parents. Everyone is gone but me and those kids even hate fine china and silver.

I think I might take it all to Southeby's.

 

[premierplayer]

I don't think we own our tools. I think we are just taking care of them until the next owner takes over.
I have had this responsibility for too many of my friends and family to count.
That said, I have in my will some specific instructions about some of my tools. Most of these are tools I have gotten from others. these are the ones that are important to me. I have included a letter explaining why this was chosen for them. I also have a list of close friends (all tool guys) to assist with the sale of the equipment.
I feel it is too much money to leave it to chance. take care of it while you can...not for you, but for those you love.

I need to do something like this. Good on you!

just hope my wife does not sell my stuff for what I told her I paid for them.

Priceless. This is signature line material.

 

[tribbles]

My grandfather passed away last week and my brother and I went through some of his stuff. His kids couldn't really care less about his tools and most of his possessions, they're too busy acting out decades worth of inter-sibling drama. It seems like it's only me, my brother, and a couple of our cousins that care. I came home with his old vacuum tube tester and a big cardboard box full of tubes, both NOS and good used pulls, from the 80s when he had a barber shop/TV repair business. I used to help him test tubes when I'd visit him in the summer as a kid, so getting the tester really meant a lot to me.

Before his health started deteriorating, he also gave me his Dillon 550B reloading press and a milk crate full of dies, along with a crapload of various powders and brass. I guess I'm in charge of them until the next person on down the line.

 

[toymn6366]

told my wife i was going to leave her $350 bucks to rent a rolloff with so that she could throw away all of my books video games toys and any other **** i would be gone and want give a **** then but until then i was keeping it.

 

[Jarhead0408]

I don't think we own our tools. I think we are just taking care of them until the next owner takes over.
I have had this responsibility for too many of my friends and family to count.
That said, I have in my will some specific instructions about some of my tools. Most of these are tools I have gotten from others. these are the ones that are important to me. I have included a letter explaining why this was chosen for them. I also have a list of close friends (all tool guys) to assist with the sale of the equipment.
I feel it is too much money to leave it to chance. take care of it while you can...not for you, but for those you love.

^^^^^Nailed it Dude!^^^^^

I'll be leaving a detailed list so all my "Buddies" go to a good home.

 

[djkeev]

I've wondered about what happens to my "treasures" after I pass on. I've got two son in laws, one has about zero interest in tools, the other does appreciate tools but lacks the knowledge needed to effectively use them.

I do have three grandsons, I hope one of them will fall in love with the concept of being able to fix and build things. If not? Some future GJ member may stumble upon one heck of a yard sale someday!

Dave

 

[spongerich]

I'm going to leave instructions to have me set out in my barn and have the whole thing filled with concrete... Egyptian style.

 

[LutzTD]

its going to be a real fire sale if I die before my wife. She will sell them for what I TOLD her I paid for them, someone going to get some bargains....... already said earlier, but it bears repeating.

 

[Wes Tex]

The comments about what happens to your tools when you are gone are really thought provoking. I feel so lucky that my son shares my interest in tools and mechanics. I also have a daughter that can do repairs around her home and can make simple car repairs when necessary. We have even discussed what should become of certain tools and equipment when I am gone. I think I will stress this even more in the future.

 

[e-tek]

I buy most of my tools to use while I'm here. I could give a **** what happens to them when I'm gone. Pretty sure Mrs E-tek will have an auction sale, which is fine by me.

Of course there's always an exception, which would be my Dad's original Snap On box with his name engraved on it. I'll ask my wife to keep it for my youngest son.

 

[flht1997]

My oldest boy gets the snap-on bottom and the youngest boy gets the snap-on top. Told the wife when they put me in the ground I want a 1/2 snap-on combo wrench and my black handle snap-on philips #2 in my back pocket, and she knows I am serious. I would'nt feel comfortable without a few tools.

 

[kald]

I'm 41 and hope I have some decades left but since I have an infant daughter and just found out another is on the way I'm thinking getting ride of some stuff I haven't used in while and no longer need. I figure I can get more for it now then my wife can get for it at a garage sale hopefully decades down the road. And setting up a fund for the babies makes me feel a little better than some dusty tools and thought of one of you guys getting a "you ****" on some of my gear.

 

[Farres]

My dad passed away last year at the age of 84. He was a contractor who had accumulated a life time of tools. He retired at 55 and slowly began giving away tools to people that needed them. That said, there was still a huge amount of tools filling every nook and cranny of his garage. Last month I made the 500 mile drive south. I filled up my truck, taking only what I needed and will use. The rest I hauled and donated to a second hand store that benefits abused women. Dozens of drills, saws, sanders, hand tools, etc. I'm sure some were collectable and valuable, but I'm okay with that. Hopefully some guys who need or enjoy/collect will get a killer deal. And the cycle begins again...

 

[IndyGarage]

This is something to think about. My FIL passed away a couple years ago. He had tons of tools. Some of it was really good stuff and some just plain junk, He was an engraver and has probably $100K of old manual engraving equipment and supplies - mostly sitting in the place it was where he worked on it the day he died. I did use it once to make a plaque for my daughter, but it took forever. Problem is most professionals long ago went to CNC type engraving.

I felt bad taking stuff, but I've taken 2-3 truckloads out of there. Heck I found boxes of old tools that my wife's grandfather had when he died 25 years ago, and I'm sure it was never touched. Now my MIL is slowing down and she wants it gone - however she is afraid to advertise it and sell it to strangers - so she's having trouble getting rid of it. I think I'm going to have to get some more and sell it for her.

 

[bams50]

I've been working on exactly this, except not on tools- yet. I'm 51 and in good shape overall. I just finished getting rid of about 50 cars I had in a yard that I was "saving from the crusher" and "going to use for parts". I realized what a mess I was leaving for my family if I croak, so some were sold and the rest went to the crusher this week. It literally broke my heart since I truly love cars. But I know it was the right thing to do.

I had a friend in WV that just passed last month at 74. He left his wife with about 100 old cars to deal with. Maybe a half dozen are decent and usable, a few more are restorable, the rest are parts cars/scrap. So here's this elderly woman who is grieving the relatively sudden loss of her lifemate, and she has to figure out what to do with all this junk. On top of it, local zoning is putting the heat on her. I decided I did NOT want to put my family through that. I got rid of the cars, am downsizing everything to what I really am using, and am building the retirement garage/home combo that brought me to this site. I have two goals:

1. To make it simple for my family to liquidate everything I had at the time of my passing and

2. Avoid the stress of thinking "My God, how am I gonna clean up this mess now?" if my health fails me and I become incapacitated.

Yes, lots of people tell their family to just 'have an auction' or the like when they die since they won't care once they're gone, but to leave a big mess is simply not loving their family well.

At my passing, I want to give a final gift to my survivors: an easy estate to liquidate.

 

[DCarr]

First my Wife & two Sons will go through and pick what they want. From there I have named two friends to help sell off everything else ( first making sure my Wife has all the basics ). Sadly one of the two friends passed recently so I am naming one to replace him and picking two others as " alternates ".

 

[Steevo]

I have instructed my wife to contact a local auction company that we trust, and have them handle the entire liquidation of my tools, projects and equipment when she wants things cleared out.
That saves her worrying about dealing with any buyers, or trying to price anything.

I have no relatives who I would give anything to. My daughter and son in law live thousands of miles away, so they wouldn't want to transport anything, nor do they have any place to put anything, nor would they know how to use any of it.

 

[BWS]

Our equip and tools is no biggy.....keep,sell,do whatever.

The problem for our 4 boys is gonna be the furniture.Alot of which is 200 years old.Seriously.....sell Dad's(me) equip,make some good money.But how do you sell family heirloom's?I sort of became the repository for all things mechanical in our whole family......bein as no one else wanted it.The furniture all ended up here for a cpl other reasons.Between the "scale" of some of it and the general downsizing of homes......they gonna have some real issues?Haha

 

[James E]

just hope my wife does not sell my stuff for what I told her I paid for them.

This is spot on, but I can't get into it without incriminating myself. I plead the fifth.

I've started labeling things in my garage to indicate what is junk and what is actually worth something.

 

[Eloquaint]

I just helped a friend with an estate sale for his late grandmothers belongings. It just killed me to see a lifetime of beautiful, quality, carefully selected items liquidated for a pittance. Her house must have looked like an antique shop.

In terms of my own things I'm not as worried about where my stuff goes as much as how my family can get the most money for it and how they can get the most out of my half finished projects.

 

[GarageEnvy]

I recently had the unfortunate task of helping a daughter and son-in-law clean out a machinest's shop. It was also and Alzheimer deal and most of the shop was picked through. It was an imposition for the relatives as they lived out of town and had to bring a flatbed, load, haul, unload and store things. I ended up with a Diacro rod parter, hydraulic hossfeld bender and a few fire extinguishers out of the deal. They had no clue on some stuff. The old Craftsman engine block grinder and rockwell drill press they were thinking of scrapping but their son took them (or I would have). They asked me what to do with the 4" block of steel in the corner that was actually granite. They had piled reams, mills, gears and cutters into a bin so deep I couldn't make heads or tails out of what was in there.

The point is some of your/our tools are so specialized and/or look so old that people may have no idea what they're worth. If you care, you'd better be specific about values and your wishes.

As for me, keep it, sell it, I don't care. I hope my wife would get as much money out of it to help her financially.

 

[Flavert]

I cleaned out my Dad's garage and workshop after he passed. He had his tools, his fathers tools, his grandfathers tools, my Moms' father's tools, my Moms' grandfathers tools, etc. Took me 3 weeks to get it all sorted out. I kept most of it, my sister didn't want any of it. The stuff I didn't need, duplicates, etc. I gave to friends.

I don't have any kids and neither does my sister, so there is going to be one heck of a tool estate sale when I pass.

 

[e-tek]

I've been working on exactly this, except not on tools- yet. I'm 51 and in good shape overall. I just finished getting rid of about 50 cars I had in a yard that I was "saving from the crusher" and "going to use for parts". I realized what a mess I was leaving for my family if I croak, so some were sold and the rest went to the crusher this week. It literally broke my heart since I truly love cars. But I know it was the right thing to do.

Yer a good man.

Yes, lots of people tell their family to just 'have an auction' or the like when they die since they won't care once they're gone, but to leave a big mess is simply not loving their family well.

At my passing, I want to give a final gift to my survivors: an easy estate to liquidate.

Good point. Kinda: Don't make the last memory of you a ****** one.

 

[Duck72]

When my grandparents finally passed about 5-6 years ago, My dad and my aunts and uncles just auctioned the old place off. My grandpa had a shop full of tools, scrap lumber, parts and stuff. What wasn't sellable was trashed and the other items were all just tossed in tubs in groups and auctioned off by the tub or bucket load. I ended up buying many that I knew I wanted and ended up with some stuff I didn't want as well. I treasure the estwing hammers my grandpa used as well as some of his power tools.

After seeing the mess of that auction I swore to myself I would never leave that for my family to deal with.I think my grandpa thought he had another 20 years in him to deal with it but cancer took him pretty quick. I do have some collectible items here and there and probably should have some kind of spreadsheet with all of it listed with pricing, where to go to get it valued and who can help my wife get rid of it that I trust.

 

[65gregg]

The distribution of my stuff will be easy, it will all go to my son who has an appreciation for what I have collected. In fact when I buy something I tell him "I bought you a new set of wrenches or whatever". I also have an inventory and pictures of everything in my boxes in the event I had a loss form theft or some other disaster.

 

[GN4WHLN]

Hey Waggie,

Looks like I live right by you in Alta Loma. I hope my son or daughter (or a grandchild) will want them when I'm gone. I'd prefer they go to family, but in the end it's just property. I have some things that were my grandfathers but unfortunately a shithead uncle of mine got in there and took a bunch of stuff to sell when my grandmother passed. If someone comes to mind who would really appreciate them, I think I will add it into my family trust. I would prefer they go to someone who will use and appreciate them and not someone who will go directly to a pawn shop.

 

[vlpronj]

I recently had the unfortunate task of helping a daughter and son-in-law clean out a machinest's shop. It was also and Alzheimer deal and most of the shop was picked through. <SNIP>The point is some of your/our tools are so specialized and/or look so old that people may have no idea what they're worth. If you care, you'd better be specific about values and your wishes.

I'm in this boat right now. My father is about to go into a care facility, due to a number of health isses. Most prominent is the severe dementia. He was a tool and die maker for most of his life. One of the boxes holds a prototype he made - I have no idea if this is worth something, or was a one-off that is only valuable as scrap. Due to the dementia, sorting will be difficult; he had access to this stuff up til a year or so ago, so many things are mixed together or stored for no reason.
I'm going to have to start a thread, SOON, with pix of stuff, begging people to identify or evaluate the many items.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Having two daughters, I know neither one will want much if anything out of my garage, although I could be wrong. The guy the oldest one is dating, is a good guy, the type you hope your daughter marries. The youngest daughter, well, I think her baby father is a POS, which he knows how I feel. I doubt the youngest ever has another and the oldest acts like she doesn't want any. So, I have a granddaughter that probably won't want any tools.

I pretty much have no idea where my stuff will go.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

All of my tools are going to the Smithsonian for display in the Worlds Greatest Sober Plumber Collection. It was between me and some other sober plumber that they found in Nebraska living in a coal mine. He would have beaten me out for the honors but upon getting out of the coal mine he ran to the nearest town and got liquored up, blewd, screwd and tatood.

So now I am the only sober plumber in the World.

I get a trophy that looks like an *** crack.