Selling your tools before age defeats you.

[John Saxton]

I am currently selling tools as i catalogue what i have moreover due to having issues with arthritis in my hands ,I want to do this before it becomes something my family might have to deal with in the event I cannot do it .

None are keen on having the tools so I find it's best to deal with it whilst I can .Over the years I have doubled up with the Stanley's as well as L&N's & Veritas Lee Valley more recently when I retired quite a number of years ago.My Stanley's are the users I generally go to having bought a lot of nice tools on retiring before it was announced,
we were going to see the world on a number of cruises when my better half retired.

Hence quite a few of my (nice) tools are unused being offered here for members benefit first before using other means.
Whilst I still would endeavour to have a presence with hand tools as comfort allows it is often I have to use the machinery to task out a job.
This might explain why some of the tools I offer up are unused.

We all approach an age where practical decisions need to be made more for others benefit rather than yourself.

[verawood]

Gday JS

I know about age and arthritis.
Just wishing you the best.
Good luck with your tool sales.
cheers
Keith

[rod1949]

Yep its something I've thought about for a few years now "leave all my tools to the kids (after I've passed) to sell and in not knowing their value sell for a pittance" or I sell and squirrel away the benefits.

[Fuzzie]

John, damn arthritis among other things post 60! I've got it in my thumbs at the moment and wondering what more the next few years will reveal. It might only be me but nobody in my family gave me much of a heads up about aging, even with the benefit of googling there still seem to be lots of gaps on what men in particular can expect and when, seems to be much more info out there for the ladies.

We're moving house soon which will downsize on the maintenance at least, and I've got a new workshop planned that I'm hoping gets a bit of a decent workout before I have to start moving on the some of the stuff. My wife is wanting me to catalogue my tools now so she has some idea of what they are and what they're worth if I drop off the perch unexpectedly.

Take care.

[justonething]

I've been telling my family that I will sell all my tools before I meet my maker and spare them the agony of having to get rid of them. But I'm still reasonably healthy and am still enjoying this hobby.
Will be watching this thread with interest, as to how people decide when is the right time to sell up.
Stay well.

[BobL]

When our son left home he left his room in such a mess that I've told him we're leaving the whole house in a mess for him to today up. In terms of downsizing on tools machines etc, if I have not paid anything or much for a specific item I'm tending towards giving it away to worthwhile home rather than haggle over this sort of stuff and dealing with the endless stream of tyre kickers. In some ways finding a good home is harder than selling but I'd rather things get moved on to where they are going to, at least in the first instance, be used/repaired/maintained as opposed to sold to make a few $.

[truckjohn]

I think this is a great idea.

In my mind - get rid of everything except your favorite stuff and use the heck out of that... There's nothing like the joy of using your favorite tools.... It's unlikely you will manage to actually wear it out anyway...

It also gives you a much better opportunity to get some actual $$$ back out of your "extra" tools.

I have seen too many people wait too long and then they don't have the energy/interest to deal with their collection or worse. Then their kids pile it all up and bin it... They don't even sell it in most cases...

If you do decide to leave it to your kids - I think it would be worthwhile to attach information for tool friendly auction houses or tool resellers if they decide to sell it vs simply binning the whole thing... At least they would get something vs nothing....

[Chesand]

It is something that has been exercising my mind also.
I have made a list of my machinery and tools with purchase prices and also my stash of good timber but I hope to use that before too long.

[TTIT]

I bought this subject up with the other half just last week but she insists she won't be selling any of it if I drop prematurely - 'sentimental value', even though he doesn't even know what each machine does! - just gonna leave the shed locked as it is she reckons. Now I have the job of convincing her it is better off sold so she can benefit from the value of it but I really do have to put that list together - one day!!! If the arthritis gets me before the reaper arrives, I'll probably sell it all off, give the wood to the club and just wander off into the sunset

[Mobyturns]

This thread brings back some memories,

A friends father was well into restoring motorcycles and had well over 60 in various stages from fully restored & running, partially restored, through to basket cases and buckets / boxes of bits. He kept a ledger of all the bits originally then had updated to an Excel spread sheet.

His wishes were pretty well set out with recommendations on who he would like to have first option to purchase, who may be interested in parts, right down to "never to go to these ba$tards." We all knew of the ledgers existence and often made fun of it, & whether we were in the good or naughty column. Joke as we may it certainly helped the family move a lot of stuff to good homes and to restorers who really appreciated the parts.

[bueller]

Pretty much my plan @Mobyturns - got a spreadsheet all ready to go with replacement values (insurance) and will be adding a column for instructions should I pass. Will include these with my will.

[SilentButDeadly]

Do whatever makes you comfortable. However, remember that the dead don't really care.

We own lots of nice stuff and if you can be arsed to come to the clearing sale when we eventually fall off the perch then you might get a bargain... otherwise, it's just scrap. Best not to pretend otherwise...

[woodPixel]

It slightly ironic, I needed to do the exact opposite.... give up all my lovely machines and use nothing but hand tools.

Life can be unpredictable and cruel....

[riverbuilder]

He who dies with the most tools.... Wins.

[Chesand]

He who dies with the most tools.... Wins.

Even if you could take them with you, i doubt there would be much space to use them.