>So before I make the big leap, whatever that means, I thought I would ask those of you in similar circumstances for your opinion. The last few years I have managed to acquire a lot of nice tools. Nothing in my mind that would make a collector jump for joy but some awfully nice user tools. Well I'm way past what I need to get my woodworking needs taken care of and I'm tired of moving things around and storing all these tools so I'm thinking of selling off a good number of them. Mostly saws, chisels and planes with an occaisional spokeshave, square or brace.
Of course the concern for me is whether or not I can recoup what I have in them as most of the saws have been sharpened by Tom Law or myself. Chisels have been flattened, polished and sharpened and any new handles made as needed. And planes have been flattened and new blades added but the originals would be put back. Don't need to make any money but can't see giving them away. Any thoughts. Should I hold pat until I get by this horrible period, have an exorcism of these thoughts, or sell, sell, sell?
All thoughts and any reasonable offers appreciated.
>I think you need to keep them all, and start making tool chests and cabinets. If you make them with lots of drawers, you'll be able to hide most of what you dont need.
>Now, that's as well put as I have ever heard it. Get rid of tools??? They may stop makeing them! You are NOT a collector. You are a user who has prudently kept some tools in reserve just in case!
>You are really missing a major opportunity here Dave. Your thinking is warped and twisted by a guilt that you shouldn't feel. What you have is not too many tools ( there is no such thing), but rather too small a shop with not enough bench and storage space. Both of these problems are easily remedied. You need a new shop and the accompanying jointers bench, assembly bench, ultra-large saw till, multiple plane tills, and of course a dedicated sharpening bench. Don't worry, there's no need to pay me the standard psychiatrists fee, I don't have a license to practice anyway.
Seriously thoug, you might want to consider putting some of the truly surplus itmes in the WC Classifieds noting that the tools are fully fettled and restored and ready to use. Price them to at least break even. It would be a service to users seeking tools that have a relable seller and history behind them.
>It is indeed a problem. We here on the handtool forum always argue (I hope at least slightly jokingly) that one should never get rid of tools, and we're not alone in that - my uncle was a machinist, and his garage supplied two heavy-duty users and five less serious users with lots of tools, when we cleaned it out after his death.
I have way more tools than I'll ever NEED (though I'm still missing some I'd like), and my excuse is that, until I retire and have time really to understand which of my eight or so bench planes are the ones that work best for me, I should hold on to all of them. But it's kind of a selfish attitude, and I struggle continuously with storage problems in my shoplet.
If you're finding that possessions are getting in your way, you should trust your gut. It's better to have fewer tools than to be unable to get any work done because the piles of tools get in the way.
As others suggest, if better storage will solve the problem of being unable to work because your tools are in the way, then solve that problem first.
After that, if you still feel there's too many, it seems like the steps would be: a) mull over which of the tools work best for you, b) if you have children, ask yourself if there are some you want to hold back for passing on to them when they set up their shops (including those that you'll let them use during the apprenticeship years), c) examine whether there are any that you have an emotional connection to over and above (a), and d) get rid of the rest.
Easy to say.
I've just only barely done this a little: for instance, having finally realized I was never going to use my Record No. 151 spokeshave because I prefer the lighter, sportier (even if harder to adjust) No. 51 and 52, I put it up on the Benefit Auction page and raised a little money for Ellis. But, I do still have a No. 51, 52, 64, [whatever the round sole version of No. 64 is], 54, cute small Marples woodie, concave (is that right description? it cuts a kind of bullnose shape), and LV low angle (a generous gift from a Centralian that has been a great addition to my bottom-feeder collection). So I've not done too well on lightening my possessions.
>I think Bill said it pretty good. I only keep what I need and only users if it is fancy or collectable I let it go and smile about the fun I am having.
>Put a well rounded set of tools asside for each child and teach them how to use them. Sell the rest that do not get used or are redundant. I have one each of smoother, jointer, scrub, LA block and shoulder that I use. There are several other smoothers that have been given to me which have a family connection and my first jointer. Otherwise, I try not to have too many duplicates around.
Wait a minute...Don't listen to anything I've said. I forgot about my saws and braces. Oh well.
>Lots of good advice and none of it too surprising considering the audience I chose to ask. I was just thinking that a hundred or so hand saws and dozens and dozens of Witherby, Swan, PS&W chisels, etc. were a bit excessive. And like someone mentioned I seem to spend all of my time fettling tools instead of making furniture. Its about priorities. Not to say I'm going to stop looking just maybe refine the search.
So I can't interest any of you in a nice Disston 12" backsaw sharpened by Tom Law and put on the shelf next to the 30 or so others?
>Like Dave Anderson said,put some of those up on the WC classifieds and see what happens. I'll bet a few people would appreciate buying from a fellow poster rather than a complete stranger.I think people here would appreciate a ready to use tool.---Jack
>Let's here the numbers. I have 20 or so saw's. I've given away several "starter" planes to people who showed a interest. I have 3 or 4 full sets of chisels and a few strays I could honestly see buying a few more before they plant me. Personally I think selling thru the classifieds here would be fairly simple e-bay could be quite stessfull. I do have about 100 brand new brace bits I bought out of a old hardware store that I honestly could do without but probably won't sell.
I sell LOTS of tools but I make a distinction between MY tools and tools that I buy to get sold. Once something becomes Mine it doesn't get sold. Normaly I make the decission as soon as I buy it though somtimes something sort of grows on me so that I keep it but never the other way around.Have been known to give away or trade something of mine to a friend. Today I think back to many things I sold which I sort of liked and boy I wish hadn't sold them now , today it is pretty rare for me to have this happen
If you need the money or the space....sell. If you don't put them away in a box and I bet you will be glad that you did.....Hey you can always sell them in the future and they will probably be worth more,[tool prices are kind of low right now], but if you sell them now they are gone....Todd
>Hey Dave, go for quality, not quantity. Keep the best examples of each and, maybe a spare. Sell at least at 10% over what you have in it. I, however, usually later regret having let things go.
>Gee I thought I was the only one "fighting" this issue. When I started buying tools, I bought just about everything I could get for $10 or less. I'm mostly a $5 or less guy, so $10 is high for me, except on a few occassions where I've really splurged. Sooooooooooo as a result I've got a goodly number of Braces- around 20 and bits for them-100's,saws-50 or so, and chisels-100's, not to mention planes with 4's and 5's approaching a dozen each.
I thought about selling off the excess many times, but always talked myself out of it thinking that when I'm long gone one of my future generations might either enjoy having them, or profit from them financially.
what I've done now is as was said before--refine the search. I've passed on many saws, #4's and 5's, chisels and braces ever since I made this decision. At first it was PAINFUL, but it's much easier now. I now mainly look for various bits and pieces, odds and ends, and otherwise unusual stuff, old tool/hardware catalogs and specialty tools that I need. I find it much nicer to go to the flea markets now that I've gotten over the "buy everything I see" syndrome.
I've never been a c@!!ector per se, but was a heck of an "accumulator" as Todd H.puts it. I've passed thru the collecting block planes stage, the brace, stage, the saw stage, the chisel stage, the sharpening stone stage.(well not completely, but almost)
It's been a fun wild ride up to this point, I just find it's time to slow down and be more focused on fewer things/tools.
>Of course the concern for me is whether or not I can recoup what I have in them
Probably not. On occasion I've put 4-5 hours into a 1.00 GBP chisel and turned it into a 3.00 GBP chisel.
As a paying job, that makes no sense. But it's not a paying job; it's a hobby I greatly enjoy. And those 4-5 hours of enjoyment cost me 1.00 GPB. And the chisel is mineI/i> in a way no mint chisel, bought at high cost, could ever be.
>And the chisel is mine in a way no mint chisel, bought at high cost, could ever be.
---Amen BugBear, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAmen!!
Nothing like rescuing a tool from a shameful rusty death is there.
I've zapped many an old tool and it sure gives me a warm and fuzzy to bring it back to useable condition. Wish I could do it for a living.
Last weekend I bought two rusted to the point they would'nt work Quick-Grip clamps for $0.50 each, yesterday I zapped 'em and now they worth perfectly. Granted these really aren't an "antique", but I was 1)surprised that they cleaned up, and 2)that the zapping process didn't hurt the plastic parts any. I'd been wanting some of those clamps in that size, but always choked on the price of them. Can't fiqure what makes them so expensive.
Wish the heck I had followed Dougs advice above this morning. I passed on a nice Type 11 or12 #5 corrigated sole, unbroken handle, and very clean for $20. As it turns out I only had $20 on me, and just as I was getting out of my truck at the flea market, my rear-view mirror fell off, so I knew I'd have to spend a few $ on the adhesive to put it back on. the seller wouldn't come of the $20 for nothing either. I think that would of been a great " this isn't just any ordinary #5 plane to have in the co-leck-she-on. advocate of having tools in glass cases, there does come a point where you only need so many #5's (or any other tool) out in the shop. hope he has it next week, tho I fear that a rust hunting buddy of mine (and WC Lurker) will have read this by than and try to beat me too it.------you know who you are. ;~)
