The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Machinist tools

I saw a really nice machinist chest sell on the classifieds here last week.

My father-in-law was a machinist for a long time before he passed away a few years ago. My mother-in-law has a ton of tools that she has no idea what to do with. I would like to see her get some cash for them as she could use the cash. Any ideas where I can take them to sell for her ? She is in western PA.

Thanks guys.

I’d give her the cash myself and start moving that stuff to my shop!

Shoot some well-lit, well-focused pictures of the tools, and put them on the swap meet forum here. Or, at least post a description of what's available and email the photos to anyone who shows an interest in them. We've got a few professional machinists and quite a few advanced hobbyists here who would probably make a reasonable offer.
Jerry

Yes, I'm always interested in seeing machinist tools and or having the opportunity to gather them.

Grigg

There are several Machinist web sites you can join and advertise them and also a few on Facebook.
https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/
https://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/531265253707046/

I don't follow them anymore since I retired.
Post up some good pictures and we will tell you what they are and maybe an asking price to start with.

Don

Thanks guys. I'll talk to my mother-in-law and get some pictures.

I was able to get some pictures of my father-in-laws old tools.
If someone could pm me with what would be a fair asking price I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Joe

More pictures

More pictures.
Thank you again guys.

Wow!!
I have almost every tool in those boxes and have used every one, many times.
Wait till Grigg sees these pictures. He will want them all and make you a fair offer.
I have sold some to him and was happy with what he offered me.

With a lot of skilled trades going to other country's after NAFTA.
Tools like these are not sought after very much.

Let us know how it comes out, But I would trust Grigg!
Don

Yes, nice looking tools. I've sent a PM.

Thanks for sharing!

Grigg

All I know is, if I were to stumble into that pile of tools at a garage sale, my head would explode. I don't know what all of them are for, but I would buy them up just to take them home and stare at them.

I agree. Staring at tools IS fun!

That's about all most of that stuff is good for...precision measuring tools need much better care to hold accuracy and pass calibration.

Curt, I agree that the precision tools need to be handled with care and well maintained.
But the pictures you posted are a little too neat and appear not to have used in a working shop.
No metal chips and no dust. Looks more show than go.
Are the mic even tenth mics?
If you are a QC inspector or tool room machinist? Then I would understand.

No disrespect intended, just my observation
Don

Edit: And a Proto box to boot.

I have used mics like that to clamp stuff to my work bench so I can cut to length with a hatchet.
Like I said, I like looking at cool old machinist tools...

My dad was a professional machinist for many many years. Started in the US Navy as an aircraft mechanic, and got into machining. Worked in industrial machine shops building replacement dies and parts for production machines until it was outsourced. Then into hydraulic machining (prototyping). He has all the tools, except for the lathes and mills.

I asked him one day to explain every tools use and application, because someday all this will be mine and would be nice to know what it is. Little did I know that would open a 3 day lesson in machining. I agree that machining, and especially hand machining is becoming a lost art, with so much being outsourced or going to CAM for efficient reproduction, but sometimes, you just need to remake 1 part. Dying breed. I am forever on the quest for a decently priced bridgeport mill that "someday" I can use all the stuff from my pops. For now, I'm thankful that he has every kind of caliper, mic, and gauge one could imagine needing. Most times, I like to be close, but when it needs to be perfect, I know where to find the tools to ensure that it is!

"Measure it with a micrometer- - - -mark it with chalk- - - - -cut it with a machete!" I'm accustomed to getting fussy about half a thousandth in some places, and a couple of tenths elsewhere. The oil clearance for a Cummins diesel wrist pin bushing is .0004"!
Jerry

Been a manual Machinist since I was 16. Just turned 64 this past October.
Jerry and I could teach you a lot. More Jerry than me though. He knows how to teach.

Never did like grinders and those real tight tolerances.! +/- .002 is all I like on a manual machine.
That's about half of a wirely redheads personal hair!
Don

My father was a tool and die maker for Boeing (and a bunch of other aerospace companies) from the early 60's until he retired in the mid 90's. He gave me a lot of machinist tools that I will probably never use. They are all probably worn well past their original tolerances. I used to think that he had lots of quality tools.... until I got a look at what he owned... EVERYTHING was worn out! And he's a packrat.. if he bought a new screwdriver set, he would keep the old, broken wore out stuff in his box. I kept a few of his old wore out tools that he scribed his name and ssn into and look at them on occasion.
I also just acquired his work box (he insisted that I take it home with me). It has several strange looking contraptions and a few other tools. I think my step-brother absconded with the good stuff, if there was any left. At any rate, I've got more tools than my brand new tool box can hold!

When my Dad passed away I got his framing hammer, 44 Oz. . I don't know how he ever managed to swing it. I have one that he cut the handle off of "That's all you need if you won't hold it right"

One hit is all you need!