Machinist tools - what to do with them??????

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Machinist tools - what to do with them??????

Posted: 12/4/2001 7:55:05 AM EDT

I need some help, guys.
My father passed away in 1996. He was a very gifted and talented machinist. He has a three tiered tool chest chocked full of tools.

Some he made and others purchased. There are calipers, of several kinds, punches, dies, referance books, hammers - you name it. This is a machinists dream chest.

Would any of you all, especially DFW, members have any idea what we could do with them. We would be willing to sell them, as a whole set. We could donate them to a quality machinist school, we could ebay it.

We just don't know what is best.

If interested in buying, I found a replacement list and at the time the list was compiled, in 1995 or '96, there was over $4000 in tools plus chest. That does not cover all the handmade tools and cutters.

If anyone has any idea or suggestions, please contact email.

Thanks!

Pakrat - OUT!

Posted: 12/4/2001 8:05:13 AM EDT

[#1]

If you list the tools as a group on Ebay, you are looking at 10 cents on the dollar. Home made tools are worthless on Ebay.

A good Gerstner chest will bring a better price, but not by a whole lot - maybe 300 bucks tops if it is in cherry condition. A riser much less, and the roller chest - ?

Save them for his Grandkids, or find an old friend who might want them. I wish my dad had saved Gramp's old tools - a foreman with a Waukegan steel and wire works.

Posted: 12/4/2001 8:10:58 AM EDT

[#2]

My brother, years ago, bought a retiree's Gerstner box and the tools for about half of their value new. It was a good deal for him and the guy. You will have a long, hard time selling them individually. Keep in mind, some little thing that you don't even recognize could be worth hundreds of dollars. The box, if it is a Gerstner, usually white oak with little drawers, felt lined, is very valuable ( several hundred dollars).

Posted: 12/4/2001 8:14:32 AM EDT

[#3]

I'm looking for a Machinst Bible, if you have onr and are willing to part with. (Don't know what they'er worth, but willing to purchase if reasonable)
Borg

Posted: 12/4/2001 8:26:10 AM EDT

[#4]

Save them for your grandchildren. You'll regret their absence later.

Posted: 12/4/2001 8:57:05 AM EDT

[#5]

pakrat: You might have better luck listing them on a proffesional auto mechanics web site. Try proautotech.com. It is set up like this board only a little less high tech and somewhat slow. There are mechanics from all over the USA who post there regularly and you have a good chance of selling the whole set especially if you compile an itemized list. Try it, I am sure they will take them off your hands, or at least set you up with someone who wants them. If you need help there, I have been a member there for several years, just email me and I will be glad to assist you in any way. I also think that donating them to a school is a great idea too. Good Luck.

Posted: 12/4/2001 9:01:24 AM EDT

[#6]

Go buy a good quality Lathe And USE THEM!!!

Posted: 12/4/2001 9:25:54 AM EDT

[#7]

How much space are the tools taking up? If you absolutely gotta get rid of them due to space concerns, I could understand.

But if you have plenty of space, I suggest keeping them. Your father spent a lot of time and energy to accumulate the set, and it sounds like it would be a shame to break them up.

Besides, you never know when you or someone in your family might need them.

Posted: 12/4/2001 9:46:36 AM EDT

[#8]

use them to make a few hundred ar15,s..

you can get 80% castings at [url]www.homestead.com/TANNERYSHOPINC/index.html[/url] not shure about the link so it might not work.

it should be easy for you with the right tools. i have heard of it being done with a simple drill and other simple hand tools, so for these tiils it should be very easy.

edited to add: oh you would have to keep em for yorself unless you apply for and recive class 2 ffl, and then you would have to fill out paperwork and slap a serial # on each one.

Posted: 12/4/2001 9:52:02 AM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
Save them for your grandchildren. You'll regret their absence later.

View Quote

I've got to agree. Keep the stuff.

Posted: 12/4/2001 11:07:58 AM EDT

[#10]

im wondering how it is your father managed to pass on without sharing such a unique skill with you. if it's in any way possible, i'd encourage you to learn how to use the tools and then pass them and the skills along to the grand kids.

no amount of money can substitute for a gift like that.

Posted: 12/4/2001 11:42:03 AM EDT

[#11]

My mom was a machinist. Nothing interested me less. I was going to school for electronics. Now 30yrs later words like Starett, Mitutoyo, Clausing, South Bend, lath dog are in my daily vocabulary.

Eventually doing the same hobby as job gets old. Electronics as a job. Ginding metal making concentrated evil is a hobby.

Of course at the time I went to college we sold all here stuff. I can't afford the quality she has to it's chineesium tools for me.

Posted: 12/4/2001 12:05:33 PM EDT

[#12]

If you enjoy that type of thing, take a few courses at the local Tech College to learn how to use them.

Posted: 12/4/2001 5:08:41 PM EDT

[#13]

Keep them.

I hope that I get my father's tools and chest when he passes on, as well as my grandfather's.

A gift like that is priceless. Good tools will always make you money.

TR

Posted: 12/5/2001 8:47:01 PM EDT

[#14]

It seems the consensus is to keep them.

The bottom chest is a roller. The Whole set is of dark metal with felt lining in the upper cabinets drawers.

How come I didn't take up his trade? My math skills are terriable and his math skills, would make your head spin. In order to be in this line of work, you got to know your figuring skills. Never took a liking for the job, the public servant thing is where my calling was. But let me tell you, I would go to his shop at UTA and watch him make the chips fly. Seeing him work a huge lathe to make the coolest things, was just mezmerizing. He was able to send several projects up into space, as part of the Star Wars project/rail gun bust.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I guess we'll figure something out.

Posted: 12/5/2001 11:45:03 PM EDT

[#15]

Pakrat,

I'll agree WHOLE-HEARTEDLY with the rest of the gang. Keep 'em! I don't care how bad your figger'in skills are, it can be taught relatively quickly/easily.

I do this stuff for a living, and NOTHING gives me more enjoyment than having someone ask me "How the HELL did you make THAT???" When in reality it's fairly simple.

If you do take it up, for a hobby anyway, be prepared to have EVERYONE and their mother asking you to fix/build/engineer something for them. And in return you can make a pretty penny!

Good luck, and BTW, KEEP IT! [:D]

Posted: 12/5/2001 11:56:19 PM EDT

[#16]

Keep 'em! Learn how to use them, get a lathe, and a milling machine, and you're all set! You'd find yourself tinkering around with it just to see what you can turn out. A friend of mine has all that stuff, and you know those billet aluminum trim parts for show cars that cost big bucks, like door/window knobs, shifter knobs, etc? He makes 'em for about $10 worth of aluminum, and a few minutes' time. Keep the tools.

Posted: 12/6/2001 12:44:02 AM EDT

[#17]

I'd keep 'em, myself, but then, I attempt to machine things.

If you really have no use for them, and still want to sell them, I'd suggest posting in the Usenet newsgroup "rec.crafts.metalworking". Some of the guys in that group would probably be happy to drop by and see what you have; depending on where you live, they might even have a get-together planned.

Some people sell tools at the local gunshow; you could also try that route.

Posted: 12/6/2001 1:43:23 AM EDT

[#18]

I'd strongly suggest that if you have the room, keep them or you'll probably wish in 10 years that you had.

Watch out for guys wanting to buy just one or two items. In no time you will have a picemeal collection that isn't at all complete. Then if you want to rebuild the set, it will cost you a bundle and you've still lost the sentimental value.

Even if you think you can't learn it, take a math claass or two and give it a try.

Finally, even if you don't use them, think about your own kids who may arrive on the seen in a decade or so. Your description of him sounds like you had a lot of respect for his skills.

Your future young adults could benefit from this legacy.

Posted: 12/6/2001 1:44:51 AM EDT

[#19]

I'd strongly suggest that if you have the room, keep them or you'll probably wish in 10 years that you had.

Watch out for guys wanting to buy just one or two items. In no time you will have a picemeal collection that isn't at all complete. Then if you want to rebuild the set, it will cost you a bundle and you've still lost the sentimental value.

Even if you think you can't learn it, take a math claass or two and give it a try.

Finally, even if you don't use them, think about your own kids who may arrive on the seen in a decade or so. Your description of him sounds like you had a lot of respect for his skills.

Your future young adults could benefit from this legacy.

Posted: 12/6/2001 2:10:29 AM EDT

[#20]

My grandfather came from Italy...settled in pittsburgh..changed his name so he could get work as a carpenter..
When I was young and stupid I didn't care much..now that I'm older I wish we had saved more of his tools..
As it stands I use his tool box with his name on it , and a few other hand tools today.
Keep the tools..maybe not for you..but to someone down the line it will help kindle a sense of family.

Posted: 12/6/2001 2:26:50 AM EDT

[#21]

I wish I had my dad's tools. He's still around, but... wait a minute. He doesn't have any tools because he never fixed anything!

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Machinist tools - what to do with them??????

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