Husband died and I'm left with lots of tools

you can post them at the Arkansas Craigslist for sale forums

as far as pricing them – you can google each one and see what it sells for either on eBay, or craigslist, or other places (used) or you can post the model numbers here, and I’m sure folks could help you price those accordingly.

sorry for your loss.

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Hello Wendy
I’m so sorry for your loss. I would be careful about selling tools that you don’t know about many people tend to look for ladies who are in your situation. If you can look on e bay for similar tools that’s some what of a gauge of what things cost but some Items tend to sell way below market value. Another way is to check the price of the new tool of the same brand and ask 75% of that. With out knowing what you have it’s very difficult. some big items have little value an some small Items are very valuable. I would say if you can post some photos of what you have here on LJs all of us can help. another thing to look out for is including things that my seem like they should go with the tool your selling. As an example I was at a garage sale and a lady sold a used router for $80 that cost about $110 new that’s fair but the buyer asked if she would include all of the router bits and she did .Just before the fellow scooped them up I looked over and there must have been 50 router bits and many probably were over $100 each when new and I would guess what he got for free was worth around $400.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture ,maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com

Also if you just want to part with them, you could donate them to a woodworking shop at a high school in memory of your husband. A lasting tribute.

-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.

I know on there is a service on ebay that will give you a rough idea. I’m not sure if you need to be registered, I am so I couldn’t tell you. cllick here to see ebays service
under the big blue button there is some text that says whats it worth. This might give you a rough idea. Tag sales always work, especially if you put it in the paper.

Good luck

-- Woodshop supplies at bulk discounts. www.getneds.com

The donation to a school is a great idea. If that doesn’t appeal to you, the shop teacher at the school may be able to put you in contact with people willing to give you a fair price.

It’s really sad when we loose a fellow woodworker, my condolences in you loss.

First thing to do is a detailed inventory of the most significant tools and machinery, with Brand Names and models. you can post pictures here,so we can help.

Pay special atention of some and vintage hand tools (if any) , like handplanes, spoke shaves, handsaws, chisels, braces, stones, etc, many of these tools have a high value because they are collectibles.

-- Francisco Luna, San Francisco Bay Area.

I’m sorry to hear about your loss as well. Here on lumberjocks we are always willing to help. If you wanted to post a list of your tools I’m sure people will tell you the price you are likely to get. I hope you are not taken advantage of in this aweful time.

-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~

My condolences.

I agree that listing them individually on craigslist starting around 75% of retail is a good idea. Pictures and model numbers are key to getting the most value. Good luck.

-- "We are what we repeatedly do; excellence then is not an act but a habit." ---Aristotle

I also agree that if you were to post pics and names here….or even just what they are with the name brand if you can’t load the pictures. We would be glad to help with what they are worth.

-- Don S.E. OK

Wendy, there are a lot of members here who would be willing to help you get a ballpark figure for your tools. Here is Grizzley’s web site and you should be able to get pricing for new tools from it. With the tools you are going to sell, model, approximate age, any upgrades and condition, are some of the important factors that go into pricing a tool. With used tools, if they are in good to excellent condition, I generally expect them to go for at least 50% of new value.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

Sorry for your loss. I do not know about auctions in Arkansas but here in Iowa, tools go high at auctions. You do need to advertise in the surrounding area papers well in advance to the auction. The only good thing about an auction is that in one day you are done selling everything. Just a thought.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

Sorry for your loss as well… With the auctions be selective as to which ones you decide to do business with since 1/2 of them will want to buy the entire lot of tools from you in one lump sum.. which won’t work out as favorable for you. Negotiate a flat commission percentage w/ them if you go that route. Again, take your time and seek help from LJ’s if you have any questions.

-- Scott, Colorado

Wendy, I am truly sorry to hear of your loss. I hope that you take a moment and consider perhaps keeping a few of your husband’s tools to pass on to your children. My Grandfather suffered a stroke while I was overseas many years ago, and in my absence, all of his tools were sold off at auction. I would have loved to have had just a few of his hand tools, but they were gone. I know it may seem like you would be carrying around a bit of his old junk but perhaps you could let your child choose one or two that may have had some special meaning or memory. If I can ever be of service, please feel free to contact me. Take care and God Bless.

Greg

-- Greg - Charles Town, WV

I have always sold everything I have listed on Craigs List. List everything with good pictures and you will probably clear the tools out pretty quick. Using Craigs List will eliminate having to ship anything.

-- I don't make mistakes, only design changes....www.dgmwoodworks.com

Wendy – I think that there is a lot of good advice. It will be painful but do the homework online via Craigs List, which you can do at your leisure.

One piece of Advice – tell any financial advisors to call back in 6 months. Right now the sharks are going to be after you and this is Twice as bad with the economy such a wreck. If you have to liquidate things – just drop it in the bank (I know the interest is almost non-existant) but just place it in a safe spot until you get your bearings and figure out your next move be it out of state or not. The guys combing the obituaries for sales leads are not your friends, they are just looking for fat commisions.

On a lighter note – I recall the woodworkers prayer – - “Please don’t let my wife sell my tools for what I TOLD her I paid for them”

Hang tough – it will get easier.

-- Its never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

Wendy

I have never heard of any auctioneer offering to buy your items in one lot sume. Here they work on a percentage of the total sale. I agree that you should not sell it to an auctioneer but agree on a percentage.

Tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

Hello Wendy,

First of all, I’m sorry for you loss.

Regarding your husband’s tools, all the above advice is very adequat but be very careful. As it’s been said before, some people are on the prey, even here, such a friendly community. Read the last paragraph on this blog entry before giving any personal details to anybody, just in case.

Here is a transcription of what it says:

”If anyone wants to make a donation in Mark’s name (he had told his wife that he wanted no flowers but set up a fund to help others)

She was confronted by someone representing themselves as a LumberJock, and that they were there to help.
They physically threw her to the ground and scratched her when she yelled. A neighbor came to her assistance the this person disappeared. So she doesn’t want the last name shown, her name or their son’s or city and state.”

-- Jojo, shopless in Kyoto · http://twitter.com/kagushokunin

Thank you for the condolences. Ray was 67 and diagnosed with Parkinson’s. It got to where he couldn’t hold a screw gun safely. Forget about mitering angles for moulding. About a year before we moved here we had a garage fire and it took out all of his tools so these replacement tools are all about 15 years old, dusty but still working good. As for any antique tools he would have had were burned up in the fire – that was a VERY sad day. All three sons were here for the funeral and they took whatever they wanted when they left. None of them got their dad’s woodworking addiction. In the last several years I was buying him tools that I knew that I would like. None of Ray’s fishing equipment was taken either – I guess he burned them out taking them fishing as teenagers. There were several projects we never got around to starting but everything was finished. O and Dave? I know how much he spent on tools because I went shopping with him after the insurance paid off on the garage fire! Take care everyone. Be back soon

-- Wendy

Wendy – so sorry for your loss.
I’d like to add that you not be pressured into moving faster than you are comfortable with. You might consider an auction as wood working tools at auction around here go for real good (for the seller) prices. The advantage of an auction is that you don’t have to worry about shipping, credit issues, etc, and it’s over in a few hours.

I live in the other corner of Arkansas. Please feel free to send me a PM if you would like to explore the possiblility of me driving over some day and giving you my opinions, for what they are worth.

-- Joe

Wendy,

Like everyone else, my heart goes out to you.

The one piece of information that I don’t remember seeing covered is that you typically will get more money through ebay than through craigslist, but you could list in both and reserve the right to cancel the listings.

Best wishes,

Rodger

Wendy, sorry to hear about the lost of your Husband, maybe you can try E-bay or Craigslist.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

I’m very sorry to hear about the death of your husband.

I searched and found the following website for Arkansas Woodworkers. They have an area on the site that lets you post your tools for sale. You might want to look into this, but be careful (like everyone else said).

http://arkansaswoodworkers.forumup.us/forum-5-arkansaswoodworkers.html

-- "A goal without a plan is a wish."

Wendy,

Our heart goes out to you and yoiur family. You all (includung your husband) will be in our prayers.

-- There is no such thing as a mistake. Its called a design modification Rick Kruse, Grand Rapids, MI