Lots of discussions here over the months about what to buy first/next, and what particular set of attributes best does a specific job.
I’ve begun to realise that I’ve actually got too much stuff (not bragging – most of it is junk, part of cheap job lots, or inherited, or unwisely bought).
I’m wondering how to unload all the stuff I don’t use!
So in your shop, what would you get rid of first?
Malcolm
Replies
1st would be my Delta scroll saw, 2nd would be my Porter Cable biscuit cutter. But, I won't get rid of them cause that would be an admission on my part that I screwed up.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
Yeah. And the trouble is, none of it's worth very much.
The motivation to get it out of the shop is space and clutter, not money. But how?
Give it away, if I can find someone to unload it onto!?
I've thought about a garage sale, but I don't want lots of people I don't know wandering through my shop.
Auction? Hardly worth hauling it into the auctioneer.
Malcolm
ebay?
Unless the tool(s) are complete junk, there are always a number of woodworking programs, either in lower schools (high school and below) or summer camps, that could use additional donated tools.
I've (partially) restored and tuned old planes and chisels, and given them to local kids wood shop programs. While they truly can't reach the performance standards that I require from my tools, they are more than adequate for the type of work the kids are doing.
Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.
An easy question, at least for the first round! All of the sanders I bought before random orbit except the 6x48 belt. All of those palm sanders and orbitals are metal waiting to be recycled; I use the 5" dewalt or the 6" PC now.
Add in the PC profile sander and the Royobi detail sander!!!!
Sanders!
Hey, that reminds me. I like the look of the yellow machines advertised in recent issues of FWW (but not available in NZ as configured in the US) and have been wondering whether the sales pitch is accurate. If it is, I need to try a powered sander again (I also have some junk in the boxes waiting to be thrown out).
Malcolm
I don't know if the DeWalt is a good ROS or not because it's the only 5" I've used - through three pads. But, when you get a 5" hook and loop ROS, all of those old sanders will just gather dust while the ROS makes dust.
Mike, I never liked an orbital sander because industrial or not, air or electric, it made little marks which hid I thought the item was finally finished-can't remember when I last used one.
The question is- would a professional be pleased with a random orbit, and how what are the features of a good one?Philip Marcou
Donating used tools is an excellent idea. Another one is to find a local WW group and find out when their next tool swap is scheduled. We just had ours and I got a Delta horizontal tool grinder for a good deal.
As for RO sanders, you do have to be careful about swirl marks, especially if you are staining. However, wiping with alcohol to check works for me. Wait as it dries, it will dry last in the torn wood in the swirl. I am always careful (well usually) to ensure a good job with a finer grit and or hand sanding at the end. I just LOVE my PC variable speed RO and use it for everything.
A word of warning: I can also make nasty swirl patterns with the ROS, just not quite so bad.I grew up on tablesaw, drill press, and belt sander woodworking. I'm slowly getting a bit more enlightened about "craft." My order of desirable finishes would now read: Best: as planed or carved; almost as good: scraped; least good: sanded. Someday, I'll be skilled enough to blend machine work and hand work together so that only the stuff that must be sanded gets sanded; everything else will have that sheen that planing, handcarving, and scraping give.
Sigh, there are lots of people who are just getting into woodworking like myself who would love your cast offs. Especially hand tools.
My issue at the moment is I'm just getting back to work after being layed off. I can't afford to buy anything. On the other hand I'm getting good at taking yard sale tools and turning them into working tools.
My latest goodie is an adjustable mouth block plane. There are no markings, the mouth adjustment is frozen, the side has a piece snapped off and it looks like someone started to clean the bottom with a grinder but thought better of it. It looks like heck, but I think it will be a good working plane when I get done with it. Think I'll go work on it now...
> lots of people ... just getting into woodworking <
But not many around here, Geoff!
But that's a good idea. When I was starting from nothing in the UK all those years ago, a couple of local craftsmen at the end of their working lives sort of took me under their wings. Gave me choice wood, found me tools and help, made sales connections, advocated for me. Maybe it's time for me to pass that on, eh?
Just got to find someone.
Malcolm
<i>Maybe it's time for me to pass that on, eh?</i><p>Being a mentor can be as satisfying as building a nice piece of furniture. In fact, I like to think of mentoring as building a better person through teaching. I really enjoy mentoring and learning from others.
geoff
geoff,
i own a ryobi router which is sitting collecting dust ( i have two pc that replaced it). do you live in the US? if so, i could ship to you, might have an extra bit. it only has a 1/4" collet, but it's free (well, except for shipping). as far as shipping, i work for fedex, so if you send a couple bucks for a box, and $3 for shipping, it's your's. let me know.
robin
Hi Robin,I'm OK as far as a router goes. I have an older Makita I got before I got married. It's a bit old, but works fine. I talked like I don't have tools, but I probably have enough to make anything I'd like to. (That probably isn't true, but there are people who need help more than I do.) There are a few tools I'd like, but then doesn't everyone? My issue at the moment is finding enough time to make anything. I find I'm either working or getting dragged off to kids soccer games, ballet practices, cub scouts, etc.geoff
The cure for sander swirl that I use is to power sand one grit higher than I plan to stop at then drop back down and hand sand with the final grit. I will also use a garnet paper as oppsed to the silicone carbide that most power sheets are made out of. As far as the shop clean out I tried the garage sale route this spring when a friend invited me to put stuff in her sale. Big Mistake, I marked everything with some pretty reasonable prices and got called at work all day by people trying to nock the price down. I had a one year old 14.4 volt drill, trim saw and light set marked for $70 and some twit called to see if I would take $20. I probably came off as a bit rude when I laughed out loud and asked if he was going to drill more holes in his head with it. Maybe try a flea market.
> some twit called to see if I would take $20 <
Yeah. I'd rather give surplus gear away than bargain over $5
I think that's where I'm heading. The debate has been usefull. Thanks guys.
Malcolm
Don't think I have ever regretted giving something away, even a couple of horses over the years.
A couple of years ago, I took a bunch of old tools to Goodwill. Some of them had been upgraded and others rarely got used and I needed the space. Everything worked and I had all the manuals, etc. They were glad to take the stuff and I got a tax deduction.
I wouldn't bet a lot of money that the radial arm saw made it to the warehouse - the guy at the collection trailer was fascinated by it. - lol
So in your shop, what would you get rid of first?
Well, if it was winter 'The Cold'
If Summer,, the 'skeeters'
Yeah
It's just beginning to warm up here Will.
When I drove down to Dunedin to a meeting earlier in the week - leaving home at 7am just before the sun rose - the orchardists down the valley were frost-fighting.
Currently I'm knocking 'the yard' into shape, been dropping a few trees and weed-eating everything in sight, but today I squared-up some 4 by 4 macrocarpa for the legs of a stand to sit one of my new tool chests on, and thicknessed some 1 by 12 for the rails. Then I went and did some more in the jungle!
Malcolmhttp://www.macpherson.co.nz
Then I went and did some more in the jungle!
OH geeeee. Watch out fer them snakes!
> Watch out fer them snakes <
Aint no snakes in New Zealand. Few slippery characters, but no snakes. In fact, hardly anything natural that causes harm (excepting earthquakes, floods, fires ...)
Malcolm http://www.macpherson.co.nz
The Goodwill will take it.
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