I don't think I've ever mentioned to the group that my Grandfather died
about 1 year and a half ago. He fought a good fight but because he had
diabetes, the doctors couldn't do much to help him with his congestive
heart failure and kidney failure, apparently the medicines for each of
those things make the other worse. So he decided to not get further
treatment and go peacefully in his own home. The best and worst thing
I ever did was stand next to that bed and watch him shake when the time
came. Still have nightmares.

The reason its relevant to this group is because my Grandfather was the
man who got me interested in woodworking. About 9 years ago, right
after my wife and I got married and not having much money, he taught me
how to re-finish a beat up bedroom set that I had. Same set that my
son now sleeps on.

I'd show up on the weekends at 7:30 in the morning and he'd already be
waiting impatiently with the garage doors up. Wasting work time and
all. Every time I was there, he'd start the day the same way. He'd
make some sort of dramatic pause and say "you'll have to excuse me
while I put my flag up". He was a proud WWII vet. He'd raise the flag
and then come back over to me and say "I guess I'm the only American on
the block", looking up and down the street for signs of another flag.
I've flown mine ever since.

We'd work the whole day, but it always went by so fast. Sometimes you
just have a different conversation with your Grandfather when no one
else is around. After finishing that project, we built Adirondack
Chairs, then cabinets, finished a basement...I caught the bug, and ever
since I haven't been happy on the weekends unless I'm covered in
sawdust. Can you believe some people actually golf?

I guess I just wanted to thank him for what he did for me.

Anyway, the reason I'm writing this now is that I have been summoned to
go through his tools, decide what I would like to keep, and salvage the
rest. My Grandmother wants me to find people who will use his stuff.
I'm not exactly sure what I'll find, but I know I've been given Disson
Saws, Stanely Planes, etc. He only bought good stuff.

My question/concern is how do I figure out how much this stuff is
worth. Is there a good book I should get? Is there a good website?
Of course, if I'll post the good stuff for the Neanders here, just
looking for someone who will use them.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Chuck

I'm sorry for your family's loss. My Grandfather, too, was a big part
of my interest in woodworking. Has someone gone through the personal
papers of your Grandad? Possibly he recorded his expenditures
somewhere. HTH. Tom

Great suggestion. Thanks Tom. I wouldn't have come up with that on my
own.

Chuck

On 02/02/2006 4:30 PM, Woodchuck34 wrote:

My question/concern is how do I figure out how much this stuff is
worth. Is there a good book I should get? Is there a good website?
Of course, if I'll post the good stuff for the Neanders here, just
looking for someone who will use them.

One indication of what you might get for them (as opposed to what
they're worth is completed eBay auctions for the same items in
similar condition.

You're a lucky person; I never had a grandfather; both of mine were gone
before I was born. One struck by lightning and one in a logging
accident. Hasn't ever kept me from spending a lot of time in the bush,
however :-)

Woodchuck34 wrote:
Anyway, the reason I'm writing this now is that I have been summoned to
go through his tools, decide what I would like to keep, and salvage the
rest. My Grandmother wants me to find people who will use his stuff.
I'm not exactly sure what I'll find, but I know I've been given Disson
Saws, Stanely Planes, etc. He only bought good stuff.

My question/concern is how do I figure out how much this stuff is
worth. Is there a good book I should get? Is there a good website?
Of course, if I'll post the good stuff for the Neanders here, just
looking for someone who will use them.

There's the traditional answer of "It's not worth anything; I'll do you
a favor and take it off your hands for free, though...."

With that out of the way, I second the idea of looking at _completed_
eBay auctions for an idea of prices. That's the best place I've found
for getting an idea of what people will really pay for things (which is
often a bit different from what the price guides say!). Do look at a
few different auctions, though; I've seen the exact same item in
identical condition go for $28 one week and $8 the next.

Condolences on your grandfather's passing, too, and thanks for sharing
the good memories.

- Brooks


--
The "bmoses-nospam" address is valid; no unmunging needed.

On 2 Feb 2006 13:30:21 -0800, "Woodchuck34"
wrote:

I'm not exactly sure what I'll find, but I know I've been given Disson
Saws, Stanely Planes, etc. He only bought good stuff.

Quality (in woodworking tools) doesn't boost the price much, it's rarity
that does it. A Stanley #1 or #2 is no better made than a #4, but the
price is incomparable.

In a typical toolbox you find a whole pile of stuff that's sheer junk, a
bunch that's useful (much of which you already have) and possibly the
one rarity that in strict money terms is worth more than the rest put
together. Take out what's useful to you first of all. Then if you're
trying to put a pricetag on things, you really have to be careful
because you're spotting a needle in a haystack.

My question/concern is how do I figure out how much this stuff is
worth. Is there a good book I should get?

www.supertool.com is always useful as a reference and the little pocket
book from "The Old Tool Shop" in Marietta, Ohio is one of the few price
guides that's affordable. Watch the auction prices too.

Mainly though it's the arcane knowledge that a #12 1/2 scraper is cheap
and a #12 3/4 (practically the same gadget) is silly money in
comparison. It's about _spotting_ the one that's "valuable", not getting
the closest estimate on the actual price.

On 2 Feb 2006 13:30:21 -0800, "Woodchuck34"
wrote:

Anyway, the reason I'm writing this now is that I have been summoned to
go through his tools, decide what I would like to keep, and salvage the
rest. My Grandmother wants me to find people who will use his stuff.
I'm not exactly sure what I'll find, but I know I've been given Disson
Saws, Stanely Planes, etc. He only bought good stuff.

Keep them all. I guarantee you if you miss one, you'll need it the
next day. I gave my son the tack-hammer that had belonged to my
grandfather, an upholsterer. An antique dealer who saw it had a hard
time letting go of it to hand it back to me. I still keep reaching
for it. I gave my son-in-law the small drill press I'd bought at a
farm auction thiry years ago. At the time I'd been told I'd payed too
much, but I felt not. It had belonged to his grandfather, then his
father. He didn't want it. I got it. It belongs to my S_I_L, and
daughter, and will be passed down again, I hope. Sure, you might not
use one or two, but why take the chance? They really don't make them
like that any more.

My question/concern is how do I figure out how much this stuff is
worth.

Priceless. My son-in-law will get the rest in a very few years as
well.

There have already been some good suggestions. One other thing you might do
is to try to locate a woodworking club in your area, and see if anyone there
can give you hands-on advice.

My maternal grandfather was also an inspiration to me. He was a professional
machinist who could make ANYTHING.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Chuck


Some of the stuff probably won't sell, so you might consider finding
someone (son/daughter, niece/nephew, neighbour) who could use a plane,
saw, and hammer, and some of your Grandfather's wisdom.

Perhaps the nicest way you could thank him would be to keep his
knowledge alive.
..
Rob

I vote not to get rid of any of them. In honor of your Grandfather,
make a display tool rack for them..... include a flag. You've already
demonstrated their value....Memories!

I agree with many of the other posters. Keep 'em all if it is physically possible. Box them up and
put them in the attic if you have to. I inherited my Dad's tools when he died, and some of those
tools he inherited from his Dad. I have not parted with any of them (granted, it was not dozens of
boxes of things) since I've made room to either use or store them. Some have been carefully cleaned
and waxed and are on display, some I use, and some still sit packed up in boxes. Eventually I'll
sort these out. Some will go to my sons, some to friends, but all someplace they will be used.

My sympathies for the loss of your Grandfather, and I hope you continue to enjoy your memories of
the time spent with him.

Regards,
Roy





On 2 Feb 2006 13:30:21 -0800, "Woodchuck34" wrote:

I don't think I've ever mentioned to the group that my Grandfather died
about 1 year and a half ago. He fought a good fight but because he had
diabetes, the doctors couldn't do much to help him with his congestive
heart failure and kidney failure, apparently the medicines for each of
those things make the other worse. So he decided to not get further
treatment and go peacefully in his own home. The best and worst thing
I ever did was stand next to that bed and watch him shake when the time
came. Still have nightmares.

The reason its relevant to this group is because my Grandfather was the
man who got me interested in woodworking. About 9 years ago, right
after my wife and I got married and not having much money, he taught me
how to re-finish a beat up bedroom set that I had. Same set that my
son now sleeps on.

I'd show up on the weekends at 7:30 in the morning and he'd already be
waiting impatiently with the garage doors up. Wasting work time and
all. Every time I was there, he'd start the day the same way. He'd
make some sort of dramatic pause and say "you'll have to excuse me
while I put my flag up". He was a proud WWII vet. He'd raise the flag
and then come back over to me and say "I guess I'm the only American on
the block", looking up and down the street for signs of another flag.
I've flown mine ever since.

We'd work the whole day, but it always went by so fast. Sometimes you
just have a different conversation with your Grandfather when no one
else is around. After finishing that project, we built Adirondack
Chairs, then cabinets, finished a basement...I caught the bug, and ever
since I haven't been happy on the weekends unless I'm covered in
sawdust. Can you believe some people actually golf?

I guess I just wanted to thank him for what he did for me.

Anyway, the reason I'm writing this now is that I have been summoned to
go through his tools, decide what I would like to keep, and salvage the
rest. My Grandmother wants me to find people who will use his stuff.
I'm not exactly sure what I'll find, but I know I've been given Disson
Saws, Stanely Planes, etc. He only bought good stuff.

My question/concern is how do I figure out how much this stuff is
worth. Is there a good book I should get? Is there a good website?
Of course, if I'll post the good stuff for the Neanders here, just
looking for someone who will use them.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Chuck

Sonny wrote:
I vote not to get rid of any of them. In honor of your Grandfather,
make a display tool rack for them..... include a flag. You've already
demonstrated their value....Memories!

He gave me an ice pick. Told me that any time you want to make a mark,
use this instead. Everytime I pick up that thing, it reminds me of
him. And I will end up keeping a bunch of stuff, but there are going
to be things I just won't use and he would have rather seen them go to
someone who will. You're right about the memories though.

Chuck

Chuck,

From your description of your relationship with your grandfather I
would strongly recommend that you hold on to the tools for at least a
year. I suspect that you will find that you will not want to get rid of
any of them. As has been mentioned, the best way to honor your
grandfather is to keep his memory alive by using the knowledge he
passed on to you and other family members. If others of your family
wish to liquidate the tools, I would recommend you have them read this
discussion of the opinions being made by others here. If they still
want to liquidate, I would recommend paying the family what you can
determine the tools are worth by the methods mentioned in this
discussion. I was fortunate to receive some of my grandfather's tools
over thirty years ago and I have used them almost every day since. Just
today I was using a screwdriver of his and thought of him. I will also
point out that the tools of yesterday were made when quality mattered
and you will likely not be able to replace them with comparable items
in the future.

My condolences to you and your family in regards to your loss.

TMT

Guess who wrote:


Keep them all. I guarantee you if you miss one, you'll need it the
next day. I gave my son the tack-hammer that had belonged to my
grandfather, an upholsterer. An antique dealer who saw it had a hard
time letting go of it to hand it back to me. I still keep reaching
for it. I gave my son-in-law the small drill press I'd bought at a
farm auction thiry years ago. At the time I'd been told I'd payed too
much, but I felt not. It had belonged to his grandfather, then his
father. He didn't want it. I got it. It belongs to my S_I_L, and
daughter, and will be passed down again, I hope. Sure, you might not
use one or two, but why take the chance? They really don't make them
like that any more.



Priceless. My son-in-law will get the rest in a very few years as
well.

You are 1000% right. When my uncle passed away a few years back he left
me his tools. Uncle Joe and I were very close, and I loved the man like
a second father. I have upwards of 20 planes, LN and LV among them, but
the old Sargent smoother that he left me is unquestionably my favorite.
There isn't a time I use it that I don't think of him.

Glen

You were lucky to know your grandfather and to have had that much
quality time in the shop and in life. Someday the nightmares will fade
and you will again dream of the peacefull times you shared or new ones
your sleeping mind will invent.

Our postman stopped by last week, as his wife is in the same situation
with her father. It was his wishes the tools AND the wood go to fellow
woodworkers who would keep it, use it, and pass them down.

Perhaps in the next couple of weeks I will be summoned to the shrine of
a long time woodworkers basement shop, and enjoy that of which I will
use and need.

If you are looking for people who will need the tools, check around
your elementary school your children go to, be surprised at the
backgrounds people have.

Alan