Too Many

[Birdhunter]

I have too many tools and so few people to give them to. I’ve been collecting nice, really nice tools for 40 years. I still use a lot of my tools, but so many just collect dust, I’ve got Bridge Cify planes and Lei Nielsen planes and tools that have never touched wood. I’ve got Woodpeckper tools that live in Sustainers that never get used. I‘ve got a full set of Blue Spuce chisels that have never been used, I just gave away a bunch of turning tools and that made oably made a small dent. I’d love to endow a craft school with tools and do some teaching.  I am pretty good at teaching Woodworking’s I am prepared to do so pro bono. I am not rich, especially after the stock market collapse, but I know rich people.
 
Any good ideas out there?

 

[Chris Cianci]

That’s a kind idea, Rob Cosman has a wounded veteran program where they get instruction on wood working and he gives them tools He may be a good source for your generosity Robcosman.com

 

[Alanbach]

If you have a local Woodworking Club you might contact them. Some of them have their own shops where they teach. Also ask them about charitable woodworking operations in the area. I volunteer at a church woodshop here in Houston. We make approximately 10,000 toys per year for underprivileged kids. It’s a pretty large shop with twenty some odd volunteers and they have tools donated sometimes. Finding an operation like that in your area might fit the bill. 

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

That’s a kind and generous approach.
I must say, I’m no hoarder until it comes to tools. When I replace a tool because of an upgrade, it’s usually because the newer version is so much more efficient. Because all of my tools are very well looked after, most just keep providing good service but, just get so old by time they’re replaced. So the old tools get put into storage as back up but, usually don’t see daylight for years.

So recently, I have been either selling off, or gifting them to people who can put them to good use and hopefully make a bit of money with them.

A contractor we know recently had some tools stolen, and his business is struggling so we made up a package of some old but very usable 110v tools for them. This allowed them to carry on working at least and cleared us some space.

I think with the kind of tools you’re offering, a good choice might be for a local workshop learning facility, where people are being taught woodwork etc. These place are often charity run, and would be over the moon with donations.

Obviously your tools are top quality and possibly too good to be used by novices in reality, so a better option probably would be for you to actually use them for teaching, if you have the time?
Being totally honest with you though, a better option might be for you to sell the tools to an experienced tradesman, who would totally appreciate them, especially at reduced cost and being so well cared for.

I do know a retired cabinet maker who took over the running of a local workshop, and it was a great success. It was initially all charity funded but, because he was so good at the training and teaching it became a huge success and is now government funded.
Unfortunately, as much as he was enjoying his new found passion, it was wearing him out physically and mentally, and he had to gracefully bow out.
The place has suffered as a consequence.

If you have the time and energy, I think you’d find it so rewarding but, it could also become a thorn in your side.

A lovely gesture though and very thoughtful of you  [thumbs up] [not worthy]

 

[pixelated]

If there is a maker space in your area, you might consider donating tools there, or time in teaching.

 

[sancho57]

I commend you on your generosity . It really identifies you as a decent human being. However I dont know really how to advise you. If I say donate them to a college, more than likely te instructors will take them home. Its not uncommon for people to take advantage of good natured giving people like you. I would say sell them and donate the money to a charity of your choosing.

Though I really hate selling things and dealing with people. I gave my festool PG away to a friend bc i didnt want to deal with selling them.

 

[ChuckM]

I will one day dispose of my collection of tools, too. It's too early for me to commit to any particular route(s), but these are the possibilities:

1) Contact the local woodworking club and ask for an auction event for some of my tools, with all proceeds going to the club.

2) Contact the local woodworking program at the post-secondary level, and make arrangement to meet the final year students (the class is usually small 10?), and give one or two premium tools to each. Show them how to use the tools, too, if new to them.

3) For machines that are too big, sell them and use the proceeds in whatever way I desire. If the buyer happens to be a student, sell it dirt cheap. (I did that once when I got my new tablesaw.)

I know quite a few who have good tools but are not parting with any of them even though they rarely use them. I won't be like them as I don't want my family to have one more thing to worry about when I'm gone. I will get rid of my tools soon after I have lost my interest or ability (too old, too weak, for example) in woodworking whichever comes first.

 

[Bob D.]

I'm dreaming but too bad you can't find a way to have both in a manner of speaking.

If you had a place where you could set up shop and let people come in and work on their own projects and you offer guidance/assistance/instruction as needed. You could then watch your tools helping others and be there to help them too when they need it.

Sort of a community workshop with a resident expert assistant.

 

[Birdhunter]

Good idea post isolation

 

[six-point socket II]

Hi!

I'm probably not making any friends over this comment, but I don't think that Bridge City Planes, Lie Nielsen Planes and Woodpecker Tools make good "pass around"/loaner type tools in school shops or shops operated by volunteers on a voluntary/pro bono base.

One way or another, this is going to have a bad ending to it.

Small story: In 2009 I had this urge that I wanted to donate a couple of exclusive pieces from my knife collection to a museum specialized in this field. I met with the director and curator of that museum to hand the pieces over and they were very excited to have them, told me how they would exhibit them after a museum overhaul/revamp and were overall very thankful - although the latter wasn't my intention.

In 2009 the museum looked the same as all the years before, when I originally "bonded" with it. Today it looks still the same and my donations sit in a warehouse/storage. Director and curator have changed by now.

So what I wanna say is, be very clear and upfront about what you want and triple check whom you are donating anything to.

I'd probably also consider selling them to get more "normal"/trade grade and not heirloom quality/collectible grade tools to donate. Since I don't know the whole picture, it's hard to make suggestions. But if selling is an option, one could try to team up with a dealer or manufacturer to provide the new tools "at cost" so one gets the most out of the money raised during such a sale.

Kind regards & take care,
Oliver

 

[forestmount]

I was thinking the same Oliver, you don’t need such high quality tools to do woodwork but it does help me with motivation. Part of the motivation for me is the cost of the tool and part is the look/feel/performance.

My thoughts are to get the best outcome (more effort)

Offer them for sale here and donate the money. But of cause that is easier said than done.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Bob D.]

Good idea post isolation

Post isolation, yes, it will have to wait for that.

But we won't be in this situation forever. Use the time now to plan it out and see if there is any interest. Post something on CL or FB about the idea after you've developed it further and see what kind of response you get.

No doubt there are plenty of people who want to build something for themselves but don't have the tools, workspace or knowledge to get started. They may have watched a TV show and be inspired but need some help with making the jump to actually build that first bookcase or coffee table.

 

[Thompmd]

Very generous gesture. Do what puts a smile on your face. I’m new to Festool/woodworking and I’m sure there are guys like me in your area that would not only love the tools but equally(in my case anyway) love that someone showed them how to best use them.

There is a nice school 1-2hrs away from me that I hear great things about but it’s very expensive and I’m sure long term it’s money well spent but for me every time I consider I think I should buy equipment I don’t have.

Very Generous or your time and resources.

 

[TSO_Products]

-you're referring to MARC ADAMS SCHOOL OF WOODWORKING.
Students bring their own hand tools. The school provides stationary power tools they buy (and don't accept donations to maintain their objectivity).

Running a volunteer program is a major undertaking - even if it does not start out that way.

Hans