Would you ever just throw away your extra tools?

[demarpaint]

I'd either sell them, give them away, or donate them to the VA. Unless they were totally useless, then they get scrapped or tossed.

 

[toddmorr]

I'd rather my kids be able to make good money in CS or any office job than be able to fix a lawnmower. But that doesn't give you the nostalgia of high school shop class, huh?

Fixing stuff is useful, but not critical. Using a computer is critical

false choice. and a typically elitist view of different skills in today's world.

 

[mike93lx]

false choice. and a typically elitist view of different skills in today's world.

Sounds good.

Not only have I never taken a shop class, but I can fix most stuff around the house just fine, plus I make enough money to afford to pay someone to do when when I can't or don't want to. I hope my kids end up in an even better position than me, and they won't be held back at all by a lack of shop class

 

[sk farmer]

You are comparing jewelry to old small hand tools? Seriously?

Why do you feel some wierd moral obligation to find them a good home? It's just a bunch of pieces of metal, not ancient Egyptian artifacts.

yes i am. the op cared enough to ask about them so they obviously mean something to him. they also mean something to many of the people who posted in this thread. there are many tools that when new cost as much as fine pieces of jewelry.

what is jewelry? umm.......pieces of metal that may or may not have some rocks attached to it. in the end, they are all things that cost money, probably not worth what they where when new and most of the value is sentimental.

now onto the weird comment. i don't see what gives you the right to call me morally weird. how is it morally weird to recommend someone to have their affairs in order and have their wishes known about something they value? if your wishes are known it is far less stressful to those left to take care of things. even if there is little value it is a favor to these left to clean up the mess. especially if it can go to someone who cares about them or can find value where others see none.

 

[Tallpilot]

i am with the ones who said selling lump sums on craigslist, ebay and the like.



now onto the real dilemma. the wife needs to be sat down and told in no uncertain terms.

"my tools do not go into the dumpster".

she may be kidding when she says that but you need to make sure that doesn't happen. if she or someone else in your family doesn't need or want them then it is your job to ensure what happens to them. make sure they get to someone who can appreciate them. what that may be is up to you. restore, habitat for humanity, a church group, a struggling young family, somebody, anybody. all it would take is a line or a paragraph in your will to make your wishes known.

i doubt she would want her jewelry or other items she cared about thrown in the garbage. make sure your tools get where you want them.

Don’t you think the better route is taking care of your own mess instead of dying and leaving it for her? I agree that the dumpster is about the worst place for viable tools although I’ve thrown my share of Chinese garbage in them.

The wife wasn’t joking, she was saying take care of this junk because I won’t. Can’t fault her for that.

 

[slow]

Get the large flat rate USPS Priority Mail boxes and fill them up. Put each box on Ebay for the flat rate plus fees as tbe min bid. 4 or 5 transactions instead of a hundred.

Sent from my garage.

This is what I came to say. I would rather dump my excess to somebody who may use them vs trash. Even a post on facebook market place, 1 big lot, for a couple hundred dollars and let somebody else piece it together.

 

[sk farmer]

Don’t you think the better route is taking care of your own mess instead of dying and leaving it for her? I agree that the dumpster is about the worst place for viable tools although I’ve thrown my share of Chinese garbage in them.

The wife wasn’t joking, she was saying take care of this junk because I won’t. Can’t fault her for that.

absolutely. my plan is to live to a ripe old age and see that my kids, friends and others get my treasured items. the sad truth is that i may not make it through this year, this month or this day. like i said, have your affairs in order for whatever may happen. at the very least let your wishes be known. that is not a weird obsession.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Donate them to a local community college or high school auto shop program (do high schools still have auto shops??) so some kid who can't afford to supply their own tools can still get the benefit of turning a wrench and learning a trade.

 

[CoogarXR]

Do you know any young people or less fortunate people? Put together a few sets and give them away. Craftsman stuff is still decent stuff, don't throw it away.

 

[chris142]

We had a kid helping us last year. I gave him a whole bunch of stuff like that. Then my boss scored him an older craftsman rollaway. Kid made out that summer.

 

[ForrestT]

Our local flea market is $10 for a spot. I am acquiring extras as I buy stuff in lots. I’m thinking of spending a Sunday at the flea market and setting up a table and liquidating some stuff.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[jeffmoss26]

hell no!

 

[brianh]

I find tools at our transfer station all the time, a lot of them I do not need already have them, but I grab them make sure they work or do a repair if it is minor and give them away to people that will use them.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have a small pile of older Made in the USA Craftsman 1/4" and 3/8" sockets. Not worth the price of mailing to anyone.

 

[bwringer]

I took a large pile of this stuff to Habitat ReStore last winter.

The folks there will know what to do with them, and will generate a few bucks for a good cause.

I don't know that I'd take tools to Goodwill; odds are they'd end up scrapped. Damn near all my clothes come from Goodwill, but I've never seen a bin of wrenches or sockets at Goodwill. I suspect they toss 'em.

It's amazing how much faster I can find the stuff I need when all the **** I don't is not in the way.

 

[CoogarXR]

I've never seen tools at Goodwill. I do see them at the ReStore, and at Volunteers of America though. I bought a big tub of screwdrivers for 6.96 at the VOA thrift. It was taped shut, but I could see some good stuff in there. I got outside and it was probably half whia, craftsman, xcelite, vaco, facom and more! Damn good score in my opinion.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Why would you throw money away? I never understand these kinds of threads. Dropping the whole lot off at a pawn shop or similar for some cash, even though they are going to give you the minimum they can is still better than throwing them away for nothing. Or take them to your local tech college and give them to the mechanic program students I would happily have taken a large batch of tools to sort through and build some sets for myself- I got most of my tools starting out from the flea markets and eBay. There is bound to be at least one financially struggling student who appreciates any help they can get for tooling up.

 

[ezover]

Dave, I’m with you on this. I’ve got a ton of tools I have no need need for but I don’t really have the time or inclination to do much with them. The wood box and the pile on the floor are just part of what’s taking up space in a small garage. This is all US made stuff, no Chinese nonsense.

Wish you guys were closer I would buy it get what I need and pass it along.

 

[ezover]

Find a kid, offer to pay him to sort it then give him the option of the money or tools. Had a niebhor who would help me and give me a few tools when I was younger it has turned in to a 40 year friendship and he still gives me tools lmao.

 

[MarineScott]

I give my "extras" to the younger mechanics, getting started.

 

[Ton ton]

I take my unwanted tools to a local thrift store.

 

[Aileron]

I'd rather my kids be able to make good money in CS or any office job than be able to fix a lawnmower. But that doesn't give you the nostalgia of high school shop class, huh?

Fixing stuff is useful, but not critical. Using a computer is critical

Really? So who do you think fixes the chillers and electrical systems supplying the data centers that the servers reside in. I've never seen anyone be able to wave a ipad over one and bring it back online yet. Lose the cooling in one with almost a billion in equipment not including data and see how critical fixing stuff is. I guess using the computer is critical to be able to look up someone that can fix stuff since there isnt a yellow pages anymore.

 

[richfinn]

I'm about to donate some old tools to a local charity that fixes up old bicycles etc for underprivileged kids (they also teach ex drug addicts/convicts some repair skills) in the UK, my Brother in Law is a barrister and keen cyclist and supports their work

If somebody can use them for a good cause, I'm all for passing them on

 

[mike93lx]

Really? So who do you think fixes the chillers and electrical systems supplying the data centers that the servers reside in. I've never seen anyone be able to wave a ipad over one and bring it back online yet. Lose the cooling in one with almost a billion in equipment not including data and see how critical fixing stuff is. I guess using the computer is critical to be able to look up someone that can fix stuff since there isnt a yellow pages anymore.

So my kids need to know how to fix a chiller so they can use their computer?

I didn't mean to imply that no one needs to know how to fix stuff. My point is that not everyone needs to know how. It is not critical for all kids to take a shop class.

People having varying skills and abilities. I am sure I do stuff that you can't and you can do things I can't. I'll keep my office job and skill sets, you can do whatever you want to do. Deal?

I hope my kids enjoy whatever they end up doing. More than likely, that will be an office-type job, based on what my wife and I do. But if it isn't, it's fine by me.

 

[richfinn]

I always say to our kids, find a job/career you enjoy doing it doesn't matter what field, your going to be doing it for 50 years plus.

We need IT/finance guys

We need Lawnmower and auto mechanics

We need fighter pilots/soldiers

We need Doctors/nurses

It doesn't really matter if you find your calling in life

 

[PFSard]

I don't know that I'd take tools to Goodwill; odds are they'd end up scrapped.

I've rarely seen tools at Goodwill. I know one person who worked at Goodwill. Said a lot of good stuff never reaches the shelves. And not into the scrap pile.

 

[BFBOB]

I never just throw them away. When I buy lots that include really worthless/useless tools I scrap them. I generate enough scrap copper in my business that it's worth while to scrap the steel too. A hundred or two pounds of steel scrap by itself isn't worth the gas money or my time!
Excess, usable tools I sell on eBay, and if that doesn't work, I donate to Habitat Restore.

Oh, yeah, and some select few end up as Secret Santa gifts.

 

[BFBOB]

Really? I guess using the computer is critical to be able to look up someone who can fix stuff since there isnt a yellow pages anymore.

WAAAAAYYYYY TOO TRUE!!!!