Replies

1. 
   creekwood | Jul 27, 2004 03:51pm | #1

   Matthew, where are you located, and where are you going to?

1. 
   MatthewO | Jul 28, 2004 07:54am | #9

   Relocating to Virginia Beach, Virginia from Redmond Washington.

1. 
   DennisS | Jul 29, 2004 05:36pm | #16

   Matthew -

   When I initially read your message I began to lust after what is probably also a good selection of hand tools you might be wanting to sell. Then seeing that you are in Redmond, and I'm in Mt. Vernon, I swooned anew!

   If you decide to go the auction route as Jamie suggests, please let it be known here in the forum. I would make every effort to be there that being the case. I already have the majority of the larger power tool items you mention but have yet to round out the shop "furniture" with the smaller stuff.

   ...........

   From Beautiful Skagit Co. Wa.

   Dennis

1. 
   MatthewO | Jul 30, 2004 08:32am | #18

   Thanks Dennis. I will post it here first.

2. 
   forestgirl | Jul 27, 2004 06:47pm | #2

   Matthew, I hate to be the naysayer here, but your chances of selling the whole shebang to "to someone who truly loves woodworking" are slim to none.  Those dedicated WWers who have that kind of $$$$ would already have quite a number of tools and aren't likely to have the exact tool preferences that you do.

   Any time a person wants to sell a big functional lot like the one you have, it just about has to go as a wholesale lot to someone who will resell most of the items.  The seller (you) is essentially trading the convenience of dealing with only one person for the amount of $$ he's losing by selling everthing as one wholesale lot.

   If you are emotionally invested in your tools and lumber to the point that their next "home" is important to you, then you'll need to run a big ad and sell stuff to a variety of individuals.  You'd meet lots of neat people this way, I'm sure, and each person will get precisely what they want.  Keep your prices at the upper end of the "used" range and you'll do well.

   If a speedy resolution is essential and $$ is a minor point, then an auction will take care of everything in one day, and it'll be cleaned out of your shop within a couple of days.

   Good luck and best wishes.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   MichaelPB | Jul 27, 2004 06:57pm | #3

   forestgirl,

   There is another option, find a poor struggling woodworker who loves what he is doing, has some real talent and can't afford those sort of tools...

   uh someone like me for example...hey, a guy can dream, can't he?

   Your advice and comments are right on.  Those who would want them can't afford them and those who could, already have them.

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 27, 2004 08:03pm | #4

   Hey!  She loves what she's doing, ROFL!!!!!  Not sure she has "that kind of talent" but for sure, she can't afford.....  Well, you get the picture.  Too funny.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   DrWatson | Jul 27, 2004 11:07pm | #5

   Matthew,

   I agree with FG that you are not likely to be successful selling the lot.

   What I have seen around Central NY is woodworking equipment going at very high prices at auction.  I have quit going to equipment auctions because the stuff consistently goes for more than it is worth.  Used equipment going for over 75% of street price for new items.

   Consequently, if I were in your situation and there was a good auction house around, I would contact them.

   Good Luck

2. 
   MatthewO | Jul 28, 2004 07:50am | #8

   I agree - thanks for the great suggestions.

   Matthew

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 28, 2004 09:16am | #10

   Matthew, we are very lucky to have an excellent auctioneer in the Seattle area who does "on-site" auctions.  It works very well for a situation like yours, because the stuff doesn't have to be hauled to an auction house before the sale. 

   He is unusually well-organized:  Every item gets a number, a catalog is printed, people get an hour or so for preview, and off they go.  Bidders are required to load and move the items either by the end of the day of the auction, or during the following Monday afternoon while the auctioneer oversees everything.

   The commission can be anywhere from 20-35% depending on how big a sale ($$) he expects it to be.

   Good luck with your dispersal, let us know how it goes!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   MatthewO | Jul 28, 2004 09:42am | #11

   Forestgirl - thanks again for your great advice. I will keep you advised of decision and results - Matthew

1. 
   Biscardi | Jul 28, 2004 12:55pm | #12

   Matthew,

   A nice story, probably not helpful to you...

   A very dear old man who used to make repros for Williamsburg sold me what was left of his shop beore he went into the nursing home. It was mostly handtools, brass, veneers, his bench, tons of hardware, miscellaneous precious little things  and some unfinished pieces. He sold it to me for bout1/3 of what it was worth. Ultimately he was glad to see it all in one place in the hands of someone who would use the tools and keep things well ordered. "Better then selling it at a yardsale to some @#%$#^" as he put it.

   We had him over for dinner and he got to see his shop and mine amalgamated together. He told me before he died he was glad it was all together with me.

   Frank

2. 
   MatthewO | Jul 29, 2004 07:57am | #13

   Thanks Frank - I'm sure your friend found great personal satisfaction knowing his tools were put to good use. Matthew

3. 
   WayneL5 | Jul 28, 2004 05:24am | #6

   Do you really have to sell it all?  Wouldn't it be worth it to move it, even if your new employer won't cover the cost?  Have you investigated what the additional charge might be?

   A local hardwood dealer might buy the lumber at wholesale.

1. 
   MatthewO | Jul 28, 2004 07:44am | #7

   Thanks Wayne. The marginal cost to ship is only $2,500; loss of adequate working area is the more important issue. Based on our initial property search, I expect it will be most challenging to find an adequate size shop.

4. 
   jazzdogg | Jul 29, 2004 08:20am | #14

   Matthew,

   I just returned from a meeting of the San Diego Fine Woodworking Association, where I learned that one of our members is losing his eyesight and is liquidating his entire workshop.

   If you have a woodworking club in your area, you might want to contact them to broadcast your message to their entire membership.

   You might also want to consider contacting schools in your area that still have active woodworking programs and would appreciate a tax-deductible donation.

   A friend of mine lives in a retirement community that has a fully-equipped woodworking shop. If there's something comparable in your area, they might be interested in your lumber, if not your tools.

   Good luck,

   -Jazzdogg-

   Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.

1. 
   MatthewO | Jul 29, 2004 03:25pm | #15

   Thanks Jazzgogg for your recommendations - I will certainly consider these alternatives. Matthew

5. 
   USANigel | Jul 30, 2004 03:46am | #17

   You could rent one of the "pods" and pack it all in there. They will store for you if you need. Just get rid of the "duct collectors" and keep the rest.  Check out http://www.pods.com for details.

1. 
   JOSEPH2238 | Jul 30, 2004 05:53pm | #19

   Matthew,

   I made the mistake of selling a lot of my stuff when I moved to Sumner WA. only to find my self back in Michigan 2 years later.  Store it or move it!

   Joe Phillips

   Plastics pay the bills, Woodworking keeps me sane!

6. 
   Robin | Jul 30, 2004 11:11pm | #20

   Last year I purchased a shopful of powertools from an elderly gentleman who was retiring and moving to a smaller place in another county.  Yea, most of it's Craftsman but it's served me well.  He ran an ad in the local newspaper as an all or none - I paid him $1500.00 for a 16" CM tablesaw, 6" CM belt/disc sander, floorstand drillpress, 12" CM radial arm saw, 20" bandsaw, full-size lathe - haven't used it yet, not sure of dimensions, duplicator, 20" CM scroll saw, 48" box fan on casters, a HUGE compressor (sweetie uses it), 4" CM jointer.  I saw the ad on a Monday morning, left work early to go look at it and have him show me it was all in good running order, took him a check that evening.  I was the third of the 8 people who took the time to go look at it that day who showed up with a check.  4 of the others called him the next day and were disappointed they were too late.  He kept the stuff for me while we finished our new garage.  We haven't used the lathe, the duplicator or the scroll saw but it was an all or none deal.  We're happy with what we got - no really "fine" woodworking here, mostly adirondack furniture and stuff but we've sure enjoyed it and I daresay we couldn't have gotten it for anywhere near $1500.

   I took a 2 woodworking courses at the University of Memphis the previous year and the instructor told us we should watch the newspaper ads for ww equipment - said it generally wouldn't last long.  I'd try a local ad - maybe 1 lot for the equipment and 1 for the wood.  You might be pleasantly surprised.

   "Well-behaved women rarely make history."from the Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love

7. 
   MyTacoma | Jul 30, 2004 11:24pm | #21

   I gave away all my machines and many low-end tools to a good friend before moving to Seattle from New Jersey. This allowed me to upgrade them to Mini Max and other higher-end tools. I gave away mostly Delta and Grizzly stuff, but my poor friend with three kids was absolutely delighted with the gift. A coast-to-coast move is a royal pain (my second time). We had movers, but I'm not sure they would've moved the heavy machines. Even if they did, you risk the chance of getting them damaged. Some movers are like nicely shaved gorillas.

   Anyway it might be difficult, but not impossible to sell your things together. I would suggest contacting the Central Seattle Community College's furniture program and inquire about graduating students or alumnus/alumna who might be setting up their shop. Some of these people will get business loans to purchase the machines so it doesn't hurt to try.

   I don't envy your move from Microsoft land to Navy town. You could probably buy two houses in Virginia for one garage here in King County.