Machinist tools - any good place for them?

[Derosa]

I am continuing my downsizing and cleaning out my garage from a previous life as a machinist. Any suggestions as to where I can sell my small used set of tools: calipers, dial indictors, depth gages, radius gages, etc. and various other items? I am just hoping to make a buck. Yes, I realize most shops have standard set ups with company provided tools for standard measurements, but, still, I think there is some value and life left in them.

Please - constructive suggestions.
Many thanks in advance.

Regards,

 

[Papa Lee]

You could set up an account with ebay and sell them there. Others have had some success there.

 

[targetchief]

Your local online bulletin board would probably be the least hassle. Look and see if similar items are listed there. I’ve had 0 to 6 inch Mitutoyo mics for going on 38 years.


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[Smoke]

Go to local machine shops in your area and ask if you can put up a notice on the company bulletin board.

The Worst they can tell you is "No"

 

[Imissedagain]

If forum rules allow, make a list and put them up for sale here.
I picked up a .0001" Starrett dial indicator here.
Re-tramming everything.

 

[Bekeart]

I have similar situation.
Assorted micrometers and a set of Gauge blocks.

Bekeart

 

[chief38]

Unfortunately, machinists tools (for the most part) are items not much in demand any longer. Yes, there are a few hobbyists like myself and a few pro's still left that use them, but most things today are made by robot, CNC machines and the days of lathe, milling machine and drill press operators are long gone. Most manufacturing is now done overseas.

My suggestion would be to try eBay or this site right here. There are probably a few guys like myself who might be interested in a few items. The other thing you could do with anything you are stuck with is to donate them to a trade school or similar and take a tax write off.

I have purchased many many high quality Starrett, Brown & Sharpe, Luftkin, etc tools on eBay for a fraction of what they would cost new - and some of them were actually new in the original box. I've also bought some Snap-on tools brand new for about 1/3 of what the truck guy sells them for. We now live in a very different world.

I will be in the same boat you are in down the road as my own kids and close friends have no interest in my machinists, mechanics, hobby or specialty tools that I have. Oh well....... at least I will have gotten a lifetime of use and enjoyment out of them. I know that's not the answer you are looking for and I sincerely hope you prove me wrong!

Seriously, try listing some here on the Forum. You never know! Good luck.

 

[mckenney99]

Is there a vocational education center in your area that teaches that particular skill? They may have students that could use the items you have and I'm sure you can beat the new prices of the suppliers. Win/win for everybody and you'll be helping to continue someone in your former trade.

 

[DWalt]

You can always try listing items on Craigslist for your locality. At least it doesn't cost anything. But you may get some scam sham replies which are usually easily identifiable. They will nearly always ask to pay by a cashier's check. Just ignore them. Seems like payment by fraudulent bank cashier's and certified checks are currently favorite scams. eBay is safer, but you will have to pay.

Regarding the cashier's check scams, it seems like the responses I get are all worded so similarly that they could have been written by the same person. Maybe there is a scammer's "How To" manual that provides forms.

I am not sure old-fashioned want ads in newspapers still exist. I cancelled my newspaper subscription three years ago. Whoever said that newspapers were good only for wrapping fish in was right.

 

[alwslate]

Pawn shops will be happy to take them off your hands and resell them.

 

[NFrameFred]

Pawn shops will be happy to take them off your hands and resell them.

Just gotta go in with the expectation that you'll get hammered on them for what you paid and what their intrinsic value is to you. I'm always amazed at folks that get offended by pawn shop offers - pawn shops buy used stuff for resale to folks coming in looking to spend as little as possible. If you need a decent return you have to find another avenue and expect it may take a while if ever to do it yourself. People taking a gun to the pawnshop are usually the most disappointed. Typical pawn shop offers for used guns are 30 to 50% of what they would pay wholesale for a comparable new one.

He's in the same boat as I, in that the technology, equipment and methods used to do the job you trained for and had for years upon years been done the same way is suddenly being made obsolete. Inevitable, but a familiar story.

 

[alwslate]

I remember many years ago when I decided to buy a second 1" Starrett Micrometer to go with the one I already had. Found one in new condition for a good price at a pawn shop. The shop owner told me he listed them for 50% of retail cost so obviously he wasn't paying much for them when they came into his shop.

 

[DWalt]

My cheapest measuring instruments came from garage and estate sales. Once got a cased set of Starrett spindle micrometers 1" to 6" for $10. I have never needed anything larger than 1" from that set. I even have a 24" vernier caliper, also from a garage sale. I have used it a few times, it is capable of 1/256" precision. I agree they won't bring anywhere near new prices. Just not a very large customer pool for them.

 

[G-Mac]

You might try Facebook Marketplace. I've sold some things there. It's free.

 

[G-Mac]

Is there a vocational education center in your area that teaches that particular skill? They may have students that could use the items you have and I'm sure you can beat the new prices of the suppliers. Win/win for everybody and you'll be helping to continue someone in your former trade.

If it were only that simple. I worked as a teacher in a State/County adult vocational training center. We couldn't buy off of individuals like that. We had to buy from "awarded vendors" (low bidders) or State Contract suppliers like Grainger, Fastenal, MSC Direct, etc. If somebody wanted to donate something, it had to be approved by the Board of Education.

 

[MRB1]

Go to local machine shops in your area and ask if you can put up a notice on the company bulletin board.

The Worst they can tell you is "No"

Agree. Most good machinists will recognize the superior quality of older machinist tools and might be smart enough to take them off your hands at a very reasonable price. At least they'll receive the use they well deserve.

 

[mckenney99]

If it were only that simple. I worked as a teacher in a State/County adult vocational training center. We couldn't buy off of individuals like that. We had to buy from "awarded vendors" (low bidders) or State Contract suppliers like Grainger, Fastenal, MSC Direct, etc. If somebody wanted to donate something, it had to be approved by the Board of Education.

I wasn't even considering the teacher or school purchasing them. I was pointing more in the direction of students, juniors or seniors that were looking for their first tool purchases.

 

[kev74]

Post them here.

Ebay works, but the fees add up.

Craigslist is another option, but people there can be weird.

 

[Ματθιας]

My dad was a machinist/tool and die maker did and fid bit of sheet metal work with Santa Fe RailRoad. He's had tools and he had tools to fix and calibrate other tools.

He paid good money for those things. When he retired, he tried to down size and when he tried to sell them, he was offered pennies on the dollar. He didn't sell.

When he passed, I got them. I had to google what some of them were, and I had to ask one of my dad's friends, who was still alive at the time, what was good, what was better and what he thought they were worth.

Long story short, 25 years later, I was STILL offered pennies on the dollar and I literally couldn't give some of them away. They were too old school and few knew/know how to use them. Digital is easier than a dial after all.

The only thing I got some money for was the tap and die sets. I don't don't know why he had multiple sets.

As an aside - One of the biggest regrets of my life is that I was young and too arrogant to realize what my dad was in terms of skills and his ability to make whatever he wanted/needed. I tried to learn everything I could before he passed - but as he used to tell me, "I've forgotten more than I can teach you". Better late than never, I guess.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Most of the amateur machinists I know are motorcycle enthusiasts. The guys who are into old bikes seem to have an affinity for old machine tools as well. These are not necessarily guys who want to spend a lot of money, but you might find a market there.