I have been working nights lately which frees up my days. Gave me the chance to clean the garage and cellar and finally organize all the "stuff" I got when the parents sold their house. Some of that stuff included a very large collection of random tools - some were purchased by many were found by my father left around the power plant where he worked. I think I have more tools than I need. For example, I have 17 (yes, 17) 5/8" box/open end wrenches. They are all older and some are a little rusty but they are all high quality and made in the U.S. 99% are SAE sizes. I have about 20 pairs of channel locks, 16 monkey wrenches, etc. I have way more sockets than I even felt like counting. And this doesn't include my personal tools which I have plenty of.

So, how many are too many? Any suggestions what to do with those I decide to get rid of? I was thinking flea market, yard sale, craigslist, etc. Maybe make up a few tool kits which should be worth more than individual tools. I could probably make 8-10 complete sets of 1/4" to 1" box/open ends.

Anyone ever done anything like this? Any suggestions what a slightly rusty but high quality box wrench set might be worth? I don't need the money but I won't just give them away unless I find a really good cause or needy mechanic......

Thoughts?

 

Yes, you have too many. The fine is you must box up all excess tools and send them to your moderator.

You really are at an advantage over most people in this situation since you could sell a bunch of tools and still have four of everything.
Depending on the brand name, you might get $50-$100 for a set of combo wrenches. Cornwell and Proto don't really go for what they are worth anymore.

 

A fine idea.

Myself, if I were blessed w/ too many tools, would be to "pay it forward" and find some kid with aptitude and try and instill an interest in wrenchin'.

 

Jared, another 10 points for making my day

To the original question. It would seem that you have more tools than even most teenagers could lose -- so, you probably do want to get rid of some.

I'm faced with the same issue with other stuff that I've accumulated/inheirited over the years. I have finally realized that to get the value for something you must put in the effort to get it to those who'll appreciate it.

This pretty much means that it has to be organized and presented to the right folks. In your case, the average garage saler or craigslist customer is probably is not who you're looking for.

You might do OK with evilbay, or possibly you could get into a swap meet for a local car club. In either case, you might get a target audience that knew what they were looking at.

In my own case, it's not always about the money ( and maybe it's the same for you). However, I'd like to see the stuff put to good use. I'd gladly give a lot of my stuff to somebody who would appreciate it. However, it is often a bit of a problem to find them.

 

800-1000 pounds of tools shipped from Boston to Washington would be one heck of a freight bill. I'll ship them "postage due".

Agree with both of you. If I were to see a kid working on his bike with a crescent wrench or a channel-lock I think I'd stop and give him a set of box-wrenches.

Speaking of crescent wrenches, I have over 20 in various sizes. And a large tool box full of chisels, punches and drift pins. Fortunately Dad sharpened most of the chisels before he went blind or I'd be screwed since I can't sharpen one to save my life.

I also forgot to mention that I have a large collection of obsolete tools that I don't know what they do and some very interesting tools that might be valuable, might be junk.

I found an almost complete set of box/open combo wrenches in English and metric that have different sizes on each end. Confused me for a bit until I realized that it is almost like having two sets - you can hold the bolt with one box wrench and turn it with the open end of another tool - brilliant.

I'll try to get some photos of the stash posted.

Anyone have an opinion on whether I should try to clean them? WD-40? Wire brush?

And feel free to PM me if you are local and need something.

 

How about students at local vocational school??

 

you could always let me come and pick them up

pm sent!

 

I have given my neighborhood kids sets of tools and showed them how to use them.

Snap-On sets would go on E-Bay, no name or craftsman local on CL.

Two sets is enough, one for the shop, one for the truck.

 

I to have more hand tools that I could ever need/use, I tryed selling some of my snapon stuff but can't get a fair price for them so I will just keep them but with a lot of my craftsman stuff I gave to a friends step son and tought him how to work on bicycles with them.The same said friend wound up with a lot of them also as everytime I was at his house and we were working on something he never had the tools so I gave him a complete craftsman top box full with all the basic hand tools I would ever need myself so finding someone that really could use them would be a good thing. Do you have a friends that like's to barrow tools maybe one of the good kids in the neighborhood.