In the process of completing my will I have been faced with the issue of the disposal of my tools in the event of my death. If no one in my family is interested in them I would much prefer that they be donated to some worthy individual or school rather than sold in an estate sale.
Has anyone had any experience in this area?
Dan
Replies
Here is what I would do, in order of preference:
(1) If possible, I'd strongly recommend trying to keep the tools in your family. I have a couple of tools that were passed down to me that I cherish dearly. The individuals in your family may not now be interested in woodworking, but subsequent generations may be (maybe the woodworking gene skips a generation).
(2) If it appears that the tools will be met only with neglect by your family, consider contacting some of the major woodworking schools to arrange for a gift to a worthy/needy student. There are a number of talented young craftsmen that would appreciate and use your tools. If you want ideas for schools to contact, consider posting a question here. It would be great to know that your tools will reside in the hands of someone that will use your tools to continue creating fine furniture.
(3) Sell your tools here or on woodnet.com. Obviously, that is less philanthropic, but you will know that your tools are going to craftsmen who will use and enjoy them. You could pass the money on to your family, donate it to a worthy charity, or do something really fun for yourself.
(4) Figure out a way to take them with you to the afterlife. The Egyptians tried, maybe it worked?
Thanks for the advice.
I was hoping someone in the "Community" had experience in this area and knew of a school with a benefactors program. My goal is that they go to someone who has the desire and the initiative to use them in their trade or to make extra income on the side.
Dan
Fumdr,
Get off your butt, throw away the legal pad and go wear those tools out building furniture. Hell, you've got a good 20 years of tax paying to go yet...before you can cash in. :)
And furthermore, he could invent the "Coffin tool Cabinet", in which there would be suitable compartments for tools and body alike....Thus the legacy would live on in the form of patent rights to deserving family members, but there would be no parting with any tools.
Sorry, but this idea came to mind shortly before thinking that the donation to a deserving student proposal was very good....Philip Marcou
All,
I had a patient who used to make reproductions for Williamsburg. He was older and had to go to the nursing home. At that point what was left of the shop was hand tools, brass, veneers, some partially finished pieces. His kids had no interest in his stuff. He really dreaded breaking the shop up with piecemeal sales and "having some @$%%^%* use my chisles to open up paint cans!".
He sold me the set up- for a very reasonable price. Before he died I had him over for dinner. His bench had a new ash top, all the tools were cleaned up, shiny and razor sharp and all the smaller bits were organized.
I think it made him feel good to see everything settled that way.
Frank
I'll guarantee you made his day!
Thanks.
Dan
I am using them - in fact I usually spend 20 to 30 hours a week in my shop. I just don't want them to gather dust when I'm no longer able to use them.
Thanks.
Dan
fumdr,
Atta-boy, give em hell...
Ditto reply #2, But I would also plan on getting at least another 20 years service out of them.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Hi Dan,
You can leave a letter with your will indicating your wishes. In there, state exactly what you told us, perhaps indicating specifics where possible. You might want to add a statement regarding tools that are too worn to reasonably be used again.
From there, it is up to the executor of your estate to best fulfill your request(s). Obviously there aren't any guarantees that a) someone in your family will want them or b) the schools / charities you mention are able (or willing) to take the tools.
And I think you're wise planning ahead for the inevitable even if you don't expect it to happen anytime soon. Far too many folk kick off without leaving any indication of their wishes. Here's to many more years of fine woodworking.
Glen
Maybe when the time comes providence will open the door for the right person to come along .
Everything in my shop was bought with money I made repairing firniture, restoring antiques, doing odd jobs, etc. When the time comes I would like to be able to pass them on to someone who would use them in the same manner. Looking back to the days when I had only the bare essentials I would have been overjoyed to have access to some really decent tools.
Thanks for the response.
Dan
I do like the phrase "in the event of my death". Have you discovered an alternative you can share with us?
We are constantly asked to assist third world craftsmen with donations of tools and most of those given are, I guess, way past their best. It would be a shock to get decent stuff to those people.
Thanks.
I'll continue to seek information about programs like those you refer to.
Dan
Dan,
It's Zolton - with an "O." Remember that when you make out your tool bequests..
May you live long and prosper.
Zolton
* Some people say I have a problem because I drink hydraulic brake fluid. But I can stop any time I want.
The real issue, it sounds to me, is that by leaving the tools to anyone in the family who may be interested, it sounds like you are not sure if anyone specific is interested in them so you are letting the beneficiaries decide. This will lead to surviving heirs fighting over whether you intended the tools for certain family members and fights over valuation if the bequest is made by leaving percentages to certain classes or categories of individuals. It also sounds from your question that you are doing this yourself, without an attorney. Wills and leaving a family legacy should be left to trained professionals. An estate planning attorney should be able to help effectuate your testamentary intent. Good luck - Tom.
Hi Tom,
Not meaning to take issue with you but here in New Hampshire it is mainly up to the Executor(s) to determine how the deceased assets are distributed but MUST follow the guidelines set forth in the will, if there is one. At least that is my understanding, correct me if I'm wrong. And this seems to be the main issue, i.e. make sure you have one. The attorneys position is to make sure that the will meets the requirements of the probate court.
Could you possibly shed some light on this aspect? I realize that in what state the deceased resided has a bearing.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 8/26/2007 6:44 am ET by KiddervilleAcres
One of the regular magazine contributing writers used to have a program where he collected hand tools and sent them to Central and South America where they were used to make cottage industry self-sufficiency. It's been a few years and I don't know whether it's still active or even who the person was, but this may ring a bell for someone.
Unfortunately, more and more schools are deleting their "Industrial Arts" from their curricula in favor of other things. There are still a few regional tech schools that teach carpentry and woodworking, though.
There are also some senior centers and retirement villages with upstart wood shops.
Is that sort of what you had in mind?
Bob - I think the attorney's job is to make sure that the will passes probate but more importantly that it carries out the intent of the person for whom the will is made. I agree that the executor can have discretion on how to divide property, but if there is a specific bequest, such as cousin Harry shall inherit my 1949 Stanley block plane, then the executor has no discretion but to make sure Harry gets the plane.
My main point is I see problems if the Will does not specify certain individuals who will inherit personal property (heirlooms) that have meaning to the person bequeathing such items. If there are disputes over value, such as if the executor is using discretion to divide property, extra money is wasted on hiring experts to place a value on items to make sure everybody gets their fair share. If specific pieces are specifically willed to named individuals or specific groupes of people (grandchildren) that carries out the intent of the testator more effectively and reduces fights over the sentimental valued pieces of property because the Will would speak as to who gets what. It is good to consult an attorney because things can happen that you may not anticipate (such as if the heir predeceases you) or there are issues on ordering as to what property gets sold first to pay off any debts - do you sell the heirlooms or household goods, etc. I think an attorney is very helpful in makins sure all bases are covered - Tom.
Pretty much.
Thanks.
Dan
You should ask the people in your family if they want the tools, if so write the will leaving specific tools to specific people.
If no one wants them, ask schools and others if they want the tools. when you find some one write the will leaving the tools to them.
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On the other hand you could chose an executor who you trust to handle the details of a general bequest along the lines of "the executor will divide the tools among those relatives and institutions listed as he sees fit."
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Most people could simply talk to relatives and then make a pre-death gift.
Just out of curiosity, has anyone used a "living trust" to own the tools (or other personal, non-titled property) and thus avoid all the nasty issues of probate and bickering? (or have received tools via this route?)After having executed my father's will and estate, I am a firm believer in living trusts.[is there a lawyer in the house???]
Edited 8/28/2007 9:53 pm ET by byhammerandhand
All good ideas.
Thanks.
Dan
I RECIEVED 2 HANDSAWS A SET OF CHISLES SOME STONES AND MARKING GAUGES WHEN MY FATHER PASSED. I WAS NOT INTO WOODWORKING AT ALL. I WAS TOO BUSY PARTYING . BUT I KEPT THEM. A FEW YEARS LATER AFTER I HAD CHILDREN I BOUGHT A TABLE SAW JOINTER SANDER ECT AND NEVER USED THE HAND TOOLS. BUT I KEPT THEM. NOW I AM SWITCHING TO USING HAND TOOLS AND I HAVE STARTED USING THEM. 20 YEARS LATER. I AM SO GREATFUL TO BE ABLE BUILD SOMTHING USING THE SAME TOOLS MY DAD DID. MY HUMBLE OPINION. LEAVE THE TOOLS TO YOUR FAMILY. 20 YEARS AFTER YOUR GONE SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY MAY PICK THEM UP AND DISCOVER WOODWORKING WITH GOOD OLD TOOLS IS THE PERFECT THING. WHATEVER MONEY YOU GET FOR THEM WONT MEAN A THING IN 20 YEARS BUT THE MEMORY OF DAD OR GRANDAD WILL BE THERE EVERY TIME THEY ARE USED. YOU JUST NEVER KNOW.
GOOD LUCK
Side:I for one, and also your fellow knotizens, would greatly appreciate it if you could turn off the the "caps lock" key. All caps is very hard on the eye, and in terms of modern computer etiquette, it is the equivalent of shouting.Quote:
Words set in uppercase and lowercase have more distinctive ouline whcih (sic) enables the reader to recognise the words faster. Words set in all all caps have an even horizontal outline with letters of similar shape and size. Type set this way severely impairs reading – more so than any other legibility factor. Also it uses a significantly greater amount of space – as much as 35% – than text set in lowercase of the same size. UnquoteThank you for your consideration.Regards,Hastings
Thank you for your advise on not using cap lock. I agree, it is harder on the eyes.
Very insightful! I hope that turns out to be the case.
Thanks.
Dan
Before I respond, a little context. I'm a retired lawyer who has drawn wills for free for 25 years. I'm a tool collector and furniture maker. I was demonstrating old tools at our recent show when a young man in his early 30's from out of town told me he had just inherited his Dutch grandfather's tools for making wooden shoes.
Here's a quote from his email to an 80+ year old Dutch shoemaker in Holland from a third generation family member. I think it exemplifies what others have said in response to your question. Leave them to your family. If they have a great deal of value there is an issue for the executor when distributing value if you haven't made a specific bequest(s) to beneficiaries. If there is little value, say less than 3% of total, just leave a note with the will. If no immediate family member is interested, pick the family member who you feel will hold them with care. One your grandchildren may develop an interest. Here's the quote:
To a named wooden shoe maker in Holland
My father's cousin France LOMME who lived in Broekhuizenvorst in the
Province of Limburg bought these wooden shoe tools in the 1920's and they
were already around 50 years old. France LOMME made Klompen until the mid
1950's when the demand dropped. In 1972 my father Martin KOPPES went back to
Holland for a visit and was given the tools. Martin KOPPES brought them to
Canada and never used them. I, John Koppes have now been given the tools and
would like to learn how to make Klompen. I would like to purchase a video
preferably in English or my father will have to translate.
Thanks. You just never know!
Dan
One of my hobbys is antiques and selling hand tools at a local mall and I go thru about $700 worth of tools a month. I too, have a lot of tools and see alot that I buy and pass on. What I have done for my 5 grandchildre is buy 5 old carpenter tool boxes and started filling them up with old hand tools. I love doing it and fiqure maybe one or two will appreciate my hobby and take it up. I started with 2 Stanley bedrock planes as my foundation and all the brace and bits are in box sets of the John Fray co. If I buy two rosewood bevel squares, I sent one to a box. I think the hand tools are easier and better to pass on for a lot of reasons, but larger stuff gets difficult and better just turned into money. By the way, I basicaly used this same approach for my son, but I bought the best new tools that I could afford at the time. He went all the way thru college with with his big toolbox full of tools and actually gained tools because everyone knew if there was a tool in the dorm, it was my sons. Anyway, the tools I treasure are my Dads hammers and chisels, etc. that have a value around $4, so it does not take much to pass on your passions.
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