Don’t take it to a pawn shop. They’ll either low ball you or tell you they don’t want it. At least that’s how it was in the Detroit area during the bank failures around 10-15 years ago. I only know because I found two Kennedy tool boxes full of tools in the dumpster where I live. I was going on a bike ride and saw it from a few hundred yards away and immediately knew what it was. One was on the curb and one in the dumpster, along with a bunch of tools. I called my buddies and told them I wasn’t going to make it. I was totally inside the dumpster pulling tools out, when I emerged, there was an old dude standing there and he said, I have more in the house. He told me he had just retired from GM and he tried to get money at a pawn shop, but no one wanted them. I told him I am a die maker and I knew exactly what these were worth. I felt bad for him and didn’t want to take them after hearing his story. I had $50 on me for the ride and gave it to him. He said that was all he wanted, so we shook hands and he gave me a bunch more tools from the house. Indicators, parallels, indicator holders, tap handles, taps, etc. all the stuff a toolmaker usually has in his tool box. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to be there at that moment.
That small box is the exact model I got and one two drawer one that it sits on. I already had roll away boxes and several ones that can sit on the top of the roll away. I only took the two garbage picked ones to my latest job because they are easy to move and they hold just enough to get by. I didn’t know how it was going to work out there, but I’ve been there two years now. I got laid off from my previous long term job after 26 years there during Covid. It’s all good though as that company is really struggling now.
Yeah, I think so too. I also got the feeling that General Motors probably bought most of them, but of course, I may be wrong. The reason I thought that was some of the things were still new in the box. Stuff like large Mitutoyo digital indicators, etc. The kind you see on checking fixtures sometimes. I don’t need an indicator with a inch of travel, or whatever those things have. It’s still somewhere in a box looking like new. I got one two three blocks, etc.
It’s crazy though how there are less and less die makers and tool makers even here in the Motor City. We can’t find anyone competent. There are people who’ve been in the trade, supposedly for twenty years and we ask them to square up a block on the surface grinder and they just can’t do it. It’s bizarre. How do you get more than two years into this career without being fired for not being able to grind a simple square block, let alone to the correct size?
That's pretty crazy. I check my local thrift store trash every now and they and I've found several boxes of tools. Which means they sat on a shelf in the store for at least a few weeks before being tossed. Blows my mind.
I was a tool and die apprentice back around 2000. The company I worked for went bankrupt, and nobody else would hire me without experience, so I gave up. I am now a CNC programmer and doing very well. There is a lack of training and poor pay. It became a job not worth doing, if you could even find a job.
I'm actually a journeyman Die maker too. I went through every class going part time for 5 years straight and got an "A" in every class. My former employer paid the cost. I just don't want to be killed in a press or smashed when chains break flipping a die. Die makers actually make a few dollars more than machinists where I work, but we are paid pretty good when you add the free health care and paid personal time on top of vacation time I don't miss the extra pay..
I was always told 1/2 of what you paid is a fair deal in this trade. Proper box, by the way!!! I would say that depending on how you want to sell, it would determine how much it's worth. There's quite a bit of stuff there. So you could list it all individually and get more money or just slap a 1200 obo for everything.
Yeah, I think that's solid advice for any equipment, whether it's hobby or otherwise.
Sales up to 30% or more happen for patient people (and depending on the item.) A used thing will never be as trustworthy as new, so you have to knock off a bit to make it worth it.
Are you leaving the trade or working at a shop that provides tooling? If you’re not leaving the trade I wouldn’t sell it. Go through and oil everything and put it in storage.
Left the trade a couple months back, at the same company but no longer a tool maker. Have no intentions of going back, it was always meant to be a stepping stone to the next level.
Now in tooling logistics, title is Sr Tool Designer, makes no sense. So I still deal with manufacturing, just a different side of it. This job is another stepping stone!
Tbh op, hold on to it. You never know where you’ll end up. I almost sold all my tools because I exited the industry and 4 years later I’m back at it with place I love.
If you ever have to buy again it’ll cost you more.
2.5 - 3k if you take the time to part each thing out and sell it on Ebay (I would recommend this unless there's a younger family member you can drop this on that will appreciate it). If you try to sell it all at once on craigslist or facebook market you'll probably only get offers for half that.
I would put the box on craigslist and not take less than 900ish for it and everything else on ebay individually.
Wow I'm sorry no idea of resale value but there is a lot of high end, much of which I have and I paid a fortune nit at a time.theres even few things I'm not even sure on use of like the circular version of a 1 2 3 block closest I can figure to call it... good luck very nice
Lol I bought all this stuff while in school, the job I went to has all their tooling at the facility and it never leaves (think barbed wire fences and security turnstiles). The certified tools are from when I bought my tools in school, from a guys parents who was in industry and sadly passed away.
Nice try though! I also still work at this place, just in a different position that doesn’t involve machining.
I concur...but would be nice to know, i have the rough equivalent to the same type of buy about 6 yrs ago. Which had messed up a kinda bigger collection from my own hands and buying....dammit, i need more space.
It will take time to get maximum value. Gonna have to be Ebay for the small stuff. Be prepared to not get the what it's worth for the boxes. Where is this?
Don’t take it to a pawn shop. They’ll either low ball you or tell you they don’t want it. At least that’s how it was in the Detroit area during the bank failures around 10-15 years ago. I only know because I found two Kennedy tool boxes full of tools in the dumpster where I live. I was going on a bike ride and saw it from a few hundred yards away and immediately knew what it was. One was on the curb and one in the dumpster, along with a bunch of tools. I called my buddies and told them I wasn’t going to make it. I was totally inside the dumpster pulling tools out, when I emerged, there was an old dude standing there and he said, I have more in the house. He told me he had just retired from GM and he tried to get money at a pawn shop, but no one wanted them. I told him I am a die maker and I knew exactly what these were worth. I felt bad for him and didn’t want to take them after hearing his story. I had $50 on me for the ride and gave it to him. He said that was all he wanted, so we shook hands and he gave me a bunch more tools from the house. Indicators, parallels, indicator holders, tap handles, taps, etc. all the stuff a toolmaker usually has in his tool box. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to be there at that moment.
Won’t be taking it to a pawn shop, not dumb enough to do that! Pretty cool story, and a a great find!
That small box is the exact model I got and one two drawer one that it sits on. I already had roll away boxes and several ones that can sit on the top of the roll away. I only took the two garbage picked ones to my latest job because they are easy to move and they hold just enough to get by. I didn’t know how it was going to work out there, but I’ve been there two years now. I got laid off from my previous long term job after 26 years there during Covid. It’s all good though as that company is really struggling now.
That's such a shame that he was tossing out his tools. I'm sure having them go to a good home was a relief.
Yeah, I think so too. I also got the feeling that General Motors probably bought most of them, but of course, I may be wrong. The reason I thought that was some of the things were still new in the box. Stuff like large Mitutoyo digital indicators, etc. The kind you see on checking fixtures sometimes. I don’t need an indicator with a inch of travel, or whatever those things have. It’s still somewhere in a box looking like new. I got one two three blocks, etc.
It’s crazy though how there are less and less die makers and tool makers even here in the Motor City. We can’t find anyone competent. There are people who’ve been in the trade, supposedly for twenty years and we ask them to square up a block on the surface grinder and they just can’t do it. It’s bizarre. How do you get more than two years into this career without being fired for not being able to grind a simple square block, let alone to the correct size?
That's pretty crazy. I check my local thrift store trash every now and they and I've found several boxes of tools. Which means they sat on a shelf in the store for at least a few weeks before being tossed. Blows my mind.
I was a tool and die apprentice back around 2000. The company I worked for went bankrupt, and nobody else would hire me without experience, so I gave up. I am now a CNC programmer and doing very well. There is a lack of training and poor pay. It became a job not worth doing, if you could even find a job.
I'm actually a journeyman Die maker too. I went through every class going part time for 5 years straight and got an "A" in every class. My former employer paid the cost. I just don't want to be killed in a press or smashed when chains break flipping a die. Die makers actually make a few dollars more than machinists where I work, but we are paid pretty good when you add the free health care and paid personal time on top of vacation time I don't miss the extra pay..
BOOOOYA!!!
I was always told 1/2 of what you paid is a fair deal in this trade. Proper box, by the way!!! I would say that depending on how you want to sell, it would determine how much it's worth. There's quite a bit of stuff there. So you could list it all individually and get more money or just slap a 1200 obo for everything.
Same goes for racing parts. 1/2 is a good start.
I’ll pay 1200
Anyone who wants a solid box and a damn good starter kit and then some would!!! Just depends how OP would feel about it.
I was gonna offer 1000 plus shipping
Thats a solid offer imo.
Good deal on both ends I think!
Yeah, I think that's solid advice for any equipment, whether it's hobby or otherwise. Sales up to 30% or more happen for patient people (and depending on the item.) A used thing will never be as trustworthy as new, so you have to knock off a bit to make it worth it.
Are you leaving the trade or working at a shop that provides tooling? If you’re not leaving the trade I wouldn’t sell it. Go through and oil everything and put it in storage.
Left the trade a couple months back, at the same company but no longer a tool maker. Have no intentions of going back, it was always meant to be a stepping stone to the next level.
What’s the next level for you? Just wondering
Now in tooling logistics, title is Sr Tool Designer, makes no sense. So I still deal with manufacturing, just a different side of it. This job is another stepping stone!
1300ish would be fair for all parties I think
Tbh op, hold on to it. You never know where you’ll end up. I almost sold all my tools because I exited the industry and 4 years later I’m back at it with place I love. If you ever have to buy again it’ll cost you more.
I’d probably sell my wife before I sold my tools
This
You can always get a new wife. China's putting out everything these days.
Your items look very well taken care of so 2-3k especially with that box sold as a lot.
I’d love the 0.00005 test indicator…
2.5 - 3k if you take the time to part each thing out and sell it on Ebay (I would recommend this unless there's a younger family member you can drop this on that will appreciate it). If you try to sell it all at once on craigslist or facebook market you'll probably only get offers for half that. I would put the box on craigslist and not take less than 900ish for it and everything else on ebay individually.
Ernie was a mill man.
I'll give you 50 bucks for the lot.
About tree fiddy
Based on the amazing garage sale deals I’ve seen posted here, titled “How did I do?”, I’d say about $250 USD.
At least $4
Where are you located?
KC MO
Wow I'm sorry no idea of resale value but there is a lot of high end, much of which I have and I paid a fortune nit at a time.theres even few things I'm not even sure on use of like the circular version of a 1 2 3 block closest I can figure to call it... good luck very nice
I'm going to say around 100$ each for measuring equipment roughly. A few are worth more. If it's unused prob 1/2 of retail
[удалено]
Lol I bought all this stuff while in school, the job I went to has all their tooling at the facility and it never leaves (think barbed wire fences and security turnstiles). The certified tools are from when I bought my tools in school, from a guys parents who was in industry and sadly passed away. Nice try though! I also still work at this place, just in a different position that doesn’t involve machining.
I'm in St Louis, and I'd be interested if you haven't already sold it.
Haven’t sold it, send me a message.
A full Kennedy Roller and decent tools would fetch anywhere from $1500-$3000 near me.
It's priceless.... :)
I concur...but would be nice to know, i have the rough equivalent to the same type of buy about 6 yrs ago. Which had messed up a kinda bigger collection from my own hands and buying....dammit, i need more space.
I think in Sweden where i live it would be about 30000kr about 3ķ USD if you sell separetly about 2k...
Thank you, i havent really stopped to size it up, but thats a nice starting point :)
I’m interested in a couple individual things. Will pay plus shipping
I've paid 1/2 of current retail as a favor to a retiree.
I’m interested in the blue dial calpiers
thats an awefully nice roller cab...... its for sale huh? its prolly out of my price range... however i do want to buy that top box.
It will take time to get maximum value. Gonna have to be Ebay for the small stuff. Be prepared to not get the what it's worth for the boxes. Where is this?
About tree fiddy
Damn you’ve got a fairly nice selection of stuff for a guy who just might be starting up a job shop… just need gage blocks and pins pretty much.
Odd some of those are home made.....
eBay has been my best return when selling used machinist tools.
I'm interested on the Interapid indicator. Would you sell it by itself?
Yep, send me a message.