How to Sell Your Father’s Old Tools and Workshop Equipment

I decided to write this after being contacted by two different ladies in a fairly short space of time who were both in much the same situation. I had only launched my Buy & Sell page a few weeks beforehand so this was new to me.

They had been left with workshops full of tools and machinery and were trying to work out what to do with them.

I was able to help to a point, but I didn't particularly like feeling unprepared when replying to them. I know tools. I worked with them during my carpentry days and I use woodworking and woodturning machinery every day in my current workshop.

What I hadn't really thought about was how different the situation looks from the other side.

A woodworker can walk into a workshop and immediately recognise a bandsaw, lathe, planer, chuck, sharpening system or set of turning tools.

The daughter or son trying to clear their father's workshop may have absolutely no idea what any of it is.

The machine name doesn't mean anything to you if you have never used the machine.

And that made me realise that this is probably a much bigger issue than I had previously considered.

There must be plenty of families around Ireland and elsewhere standing in sheds and workshops looking at a lifetime's worth of equipment and wondering:

What is all this?

Everything is filthy, what do I do with it all?

Is any of it valuable?

How do we sell it?

And are we making a mistake by getting rid of it?

Selling Tools Can Be Painful

There is another side to this that shouldn't be ignored.

Selling tools can be a painful experience for anybody who owns and uses them.

Tools aren't always just possessions.

You remember where you bought them.

You remember jobs you used them on.

You remember what you sacrificed to buy them.

You know which machine has been with you for twenty years and which chisel always seemed to hold an edge better than the others.

A workshop can represent decades of someone's working life.

So if you are selling your father's, husband's or grandfather's tools after they have passed away, be prepared for the possibility that clearing the workshop may be more emotional than you expect.

You may initially see a dusty collection of old machinery.

But once you start opening drawers, finding unfinished projects and handling tools that somebody used for decades, it can become a very different experience.

That is completely normal.

And before you start advertising everything, I think there is one question worth asking.

Could the Tools Help a Young Woodworker Instead?

Do you know a young person with an interest in woodworking?

Someone in the family?

A neighbour?

A young apprentice?

Someone who has started woodturning but cannot afford much equipment?

Wouldn't you prefer to give a young woodworker a great start?

That doesn't necessarily mean giving everything away.

You might gift some of the tools.

You might sell the machinery to them at a reduced price.

You could even arrange a long repayment schedule if the equipment is valuable and everybody is comfortable with that arrangement.

Good woodworking machinery is expensive.

A workshop that took forty years to build can contain equipment that would take a young person many years to afford.

There is something very satisfying about the idea of those tools continuing to work.

Your father's lathe could still be turning bowls years from now.

His bandsaw could be cutting timber for somebody else's projects.

His chisels could end up in another workshop instead of being split into anonymous online sales.

For some families, that may be a better outcome than simply selling everything to the highest bidder.

Of course, that isn't always possible.

Sometimes the tools need to be sold.

If that is where you are now, the rest of this guide should make the process a little easier.

First, Find Out What You Actually Have

If you have never worked with woodworking machinery, don't worry if you cannot identify half the equipment in the workshop.

That is entirely understandable.

A woodworker might instantly recognise a machine.

You may simply see:

A big green machine.

A large saw.

A heavy thing with a motor.

A box containing forty chisels that all look basically the same.

You are not expected to become a woodworker overnight.

Start with the easy information.

Look for:

manufacturer names
model numbers
labels
metal identification plates
manuals
original boxes
receipts

Take photographs of model plates before moving anything around.

A manufacturer and model number will usually give you enough information to begin searching online.

And don't assume that the largest machine is necessarily the most valuable item in the workshop.

Sometimes a small specialist accessory sitting on a shelf may be worth more than you expect.

Don't Rush Into a Workshop-Clearance Offer

You may come across somebody willing to make your problem disappear.

They look around the workshop and say something like:

"I'll give you €500 for everything and I'll have it gone by Friday."

That may be exactly what you need.

And sometimes it may even be a fair offer if there's only a few tools or machines.

But don't accept it simply because you don't understand what you are looking at.

A lifetime's collection can contain valuable machinery, chucks, hand tools, sharpening systems, accessories and specialist equipment.

Find out broadly what you have first.

Then you can decide whether the convenience of one bulk sale is worth the difference in price.

Clean the Machines Before Trying to Sell Them

Woodworking machinery gets dusty.

Very dusty, and that dust cakes on the surface.

If a machine has been sitting unused for several years, there may be layers of fine dust, shavings, cobwebs and surface rust covering something that is actually in perfectly reasonable condition underneath.

A basic clean can make an enormous difference both to the appearance of the machine and to the photographs you eventually take.

Before doing anything:

Unplug the machine.

Do not rely on the switch being turned off.

Physically disconnect it from the electricity supply.

I would also recommend wearing a suitable dust mask, particularly if you are disturbing years of accumulated fine woodworking dust.

Start by vacuuming loose material.

You can also blow loose dust and debris away where appropriate, although be aware that this can put a lot of fine dust into the air.

For caked-on dust, a simple hand brush can be very useful.

You are not trying to restore the machine.

You are trying to uncover it.

Would you buy a used car if it looked like it was driven through a muddy field?

Some people will pass on your listing simply because the machine looks neglected, even if it is mechanically sound underneath.

A basic clean will not magically increase the value of an old machine, but it can make the difference between somebody stopping to look at your advert and scrolling straight past it.

Cleaning Painted Machine Bodies

Sometimes ordinary household polish is enough.

If the machine body is simply dusty and slightly grubby, polish and a cloth may bring it up surprisingly well.

For dirtier surfaces, warm water with a small amount of washing-up liquid can work.

Use a damp cloth rather than pouring water onto anything.

Be extremely careful around:

switches
motors
electrical boxes
plugs
wiring
ventilation openings

Keep water away from all electrical components.

Once you have wiped the machine down, dry it with an old towel.

Don't leave water sitting on metal surfaces.

Again, the goal isn't to make a thirty-year-old bandsaw look brand new.

You simply want it to look cared for and allow a potential buyer to see its real condition.

Cleaning Rust From Bandsaw Tables and Cast Iron Beds

Rust is extremely common on cast-iron woodworking machinery.

Bandsaw tables are a good example.

So are table saws, planers and many older machine beds.

If the rust is light, WD-40 and a kitchen scouring pad can often make a significant improvement. The light green pads, not the heavy ones that could leave scratches.

Spray the affected surface with WD-40 and gently work it using the pad.

If the rust is heavier, let the WD-40 sit for a while before working on it.

Wipe away the rusty residue with tissue or a disposable cloth.

Then repeat the process if necessary.

Don't expect badly rusted cast iron to become perfect in five minutes.

You may have to repeat the cleaning several times.

Once you have the surface reasonably clean, I would normally give it another very light spray.

That helps protect the bare cast iron in the short term and it also tends to make the surface look better in photographs.

The same general method can be used on many other unpainted metal surfaces.

Don't Overdo the Cleaning

This is important.

There is a big difference between cleaning and restoration.

I would not recommend dismantling machinery, repainting it or carrying out repairs unless you genuinely know what you are doing.

A buyer would generally prefer an honest machine showing normal use than something that has been heavily altered by somebody unfamiliar with it.

Remove the dust.

Remove obvious grime.

Deal with sensible amounts of surface rust.

Then leave it alone.

Cleaning Hand Tools

Most general hand tools can be cleaned using similar methods.

Brush off loose dirt.

Wipe away grime.

Treat light rust where appropriate.

But ask yourself whether the time involved is worthwhile.

If you have sixty old tools, individually cleaning, identifying, photographing, pricing and advertising every one of them could become a full-time job.

This is where job lots become useful.

You might group together:

general woodworking chisels
clamps
measuring tools
hand saws
old turning tools
sharpening accessories
miscellaneous workshop tools

You will usually make less money selling in job lots.

But you may save yourself days or weeks of work.

Sometimes cutting through to the quick of things is more important than squeezing every last euro out of a workshop.

A Particular Problem With Old Woodturning Tools

Woodturners tend to collect tools.

Lots of them.

And a workshop that has been used for thirty or forty years may contain several generations of turning tools.

Some may be modern high-speed steel tools.

Others may be much older carbon-steel tools.

Some of those older tools may still be usable, but many aren't especially attractive to modern turners.

If you have a pile of old turning tools with no obvious manufacturer or markings, selling them as a job lot may make more sense than trying to advertise them individually.

Recognisable modern tools from known manufacturers may be worth separating.

The important thing is not to assume that every chisel-shaped tool has the same value.

Old Electrical Machinery Needs Extra Caution

This is probably the area where I would be most careful.

Good woodworking machines can last for decades.

Electrical components may not.

Old cables can perish.

Mice can eat through cables.

Switches deteriorate.

Motors develop faults.

Guards disappear.

Previous owners may also have modified wiring over the years.

If you find an old machine with damaged wiring, broken switches, exposed electrical parts or anything else that makes you uncomfortable, don't simply plug it in and see what happens.

Have it checked by somebody competent.

And if a machine has clearly aged beyond the point where it can be sold safely, disposal may be the better option. If it is genuinely unsafe, I would also make sure it cannot accidentally find its way back into service.

Clearly mark it as unsafe and, once it is fully disconnected from the electricity supply, render it obviously unusable before taking it for proper electrical or machinery recycling.

Simply leaving a dangerous machine at a recycling point looking complete creates the possibility that somebody may decide to rescue it and plug it in again.

Ultimately, whether you are deciding to sell a machine or dispose of it, safety has to come before recovering a few euro from it. There is no point making €100 or €200 from an old machine if you are passing a serious safety problem onto somebody else.

Selling Through a Tool Shop or Machinery Dealer

This can be one of the simplest solutions.

Some tool shops and machinery dealers sell used equipment.

They may be willing to buy the machine from you or sell it on your behalf.

Depending on the business, you may be able to drop equipment in one or two machines at a time.

Some may also collect larger machines directly from you.

You will normally receive considerably less than the eventual retail selling price.

That isn't necessarily a bad deal.

The dealer has to inspect the machine.

They may have to repair it.

They may replace worn or damaged parts.

They need to clean it properly, store it, advertise it and stand over the machine when it is sold.

They also need to make a profit.

You are effectively trading some of the value for convenience and reduced risk.

If you have an entire workshop to clear, that may be worthwhile.

Selling Privately

Selling privately will usually give you the best chance of achieving a higher price.

It is also much more work.

You will need to deal with:

photographs
descriptions
messages
offers
collection arrangements
people asking questions
people making very low offers
people arranging collection and then not appearing

Good listings make the process easier.

At a minimum, include:

machine name
manufacturer
model
condition
whether it is working
any known faults
accessories included
asking price
collection location

Don't hide defects.

A buyer who has driven two hours to collect a machine is not going to be impressed when they discover a broken switch that wasn't mentioned in the advertisement.

A Quick Word About Personal Safety

One final point about selling privately.

Be sensible about who you invite to your home and where you arrange to meet buyers.

If somebody is coming to collect machinery or tools from your house or workshop, try to have somebody else there with you during the transaction. Preferably somebody who looks like they would be difficult to argue with.

The same applies if you are meeting somebody in a car park or other public place.

Choose somewhere reasonably busy, avoid isolated locations and, again, have somebody with you if possible.

I'm not saying this to upset you or put you off selling privately.

I'm simply being realistic and cautious.

I have been selling second-hand items for years, and the vast majority of transactions are perfectly straightforward. Bad incidents do happen, but thankfully they are very much the exception rather than the rule.

A little common sense goes a long way.

Take Good Photographs

You don't need a photography studio.

You do need decent light.

Clean the machine first.

Move obvious clutter away if possible.

Take one photograph showing the entire machine.

Then take another useful angle or a close-up of an important area.

For most ordinary machinery, two clear photographs can be far more useful than ten poor ones.

I would take 6 to 10 images anyway from different angles, choose the best 2 for your ads and keep the others in reserve in case anyone wants them. Saves you from going back a second time.

If the manufacturer and model plate is difficult to read, take an additional photograph of that for your own reference even if you don't use it in the advertisement.

Be Realistic About the Price

Try to find examples of the same machine being sold second-hand. Google, Donedeal are great for that.

The exact model is always preferable.

If you cannot find it, look for comparable machinery from the same manufacturer and period.

Remember that an asking price isn't necessarily a selling price.

Someone might advertise a machine for €1,000 and eventually accept €700.

Condition matters.

Accessories matter.

Demand matters.

And location matters.

A large machine that has to be collected from rural Ireland may have a smaller buyer pool than something easily shipped through the post.

If you want the machine gone quickly, price it accordingly.

If you can wait for the right buyer, you may be able to ask more.

Large Machines Are Usually Collection Only

Most serious woodworking machinery is heavy.

Very heavy.

Cast-iron machinery in particular can surprise people who have never moved it before.

Make collection requirements clear.

Give the location.

If you know the approximate weight, include it. Definitely include height, width & depth measurements.

Tell buyers if there are steps, narrow doors or awkward access.

And don't automatically assume that a buyer arriving with a small hatchback has thought the whole thing through.

Selling Woodturning Equipment Through My Buy & Sell Page

If the equipment is specifically related to woodworking and is located in Ireland, I also have a Woodturning Buy & Sell section on my David Condon Woodcraft website.

It is intended to help connect people selling suitable woodworking and woodturning machinery or equipment with woodworkers and woodturners who may actually be looking for it.

Before contacting me about a listing, please have the following ready:

machine or item name
manufacturer and model where known
price you are looking for
location in Ireland
brief description
any known faults or missing parts
up to two clear photographs

Please clean machinery before taking the photographs.

I don't expect restored machines or showroom finishes.

I simply need clear photographs showing the item properly.

Your listing on my website may or may not generate a sale. There are a lot of variables involved, including the type of machine, condition, price, location and whether the right buyer happens to be looking at the right time.

The listing is free, though, and for some people that alone can be a great help. There is no guarantee of a sale, but it gives the equipment another chance to be seen by somebody who may genuinely be looking for it.

👉 Woodturning Buy & Sell Ireland page

A Word to the Old Fella Before You Shuffle Off This Mortal Coil

There is an old joke among woodworkers:

“My greatest fear is that when I’m gone, my wife will sell my tools for the price I told her I paid for them.”

Funny as it is, there is actually a fairly serious point buried in there.

This part is for the woodworker reading this who still owns the workshop.

Do your family a favour.

As you get older and perhaps start slowing down a little, make a basic list of the tools and machines you own.

Write down:

what each machine or tool is
the manufacturer and model
roughly what you paid for it
its current replacement or market value if you know it
what you think would be a fair second-hand price
any particularly valuable accessories that belong with it

Yes, it will take time.

And no, nobody particularly enjoys sitting down and making an inventory based around the fact that one day they won't be there to use any of it.

Woodworkers are probably worse than most at this.

We don't like the idea of our tools being sold off.

We certainly don't like imagining strangers rummaging through the workshop deciding what our machinery is worth.

But if the alternative is your family standing there afterwards with absolutely no idea what anything is, a few hours spent making a list could save them an enormous amount of trouble.

It could also save them from selling something valuable for next to nothing simply because they didn't know what they had.

Because while none of us particularly likes thinking about our tools being sold after we're gone, the thought of a €2,000 machine being sold for €150 because somebody thought it was "an old saw" is probably enough to raise any self-respecting woodworker from the grave.

So write the list.

Keep it somewhere your family knows about.

Update it every few years if you remember.

You might not enjoy doing it, but the people left trying to sort out your workshop one day will probably be very glad you did.

One Last Thought

If you have inherited a workshop, don't feel under pressure to clear everything in a weekend.

Take a little time.

Find out what the machines are.

Look through the drawers.

Check the shelves.

Separate the obviously better tools from the general job lots.

And think about whether some of those tools could help somebody starting out.

A workshop may look like a collection of old machines when you first walk into it.

But it may actually represent forty years of somebody slowly building up the equipment they needed.

If those tools can continue being used, whether through a sale or by helping a younger woodworker get started, that is probably a much better ending for them than simply being treated as unwanted clutter.

Thanks for Reading,

David

About the Author

I’m David Condon, a small business owner and blog writer based in Tralee, Co. Kerry. Running my own woodcraft business means I’ve seen first-hand how much confusion there can be around shipping times, delivery dates, and what “business days” actually mean. That’s why I wrote this post — to share a bit of what I’ve learned and hopefully save you some frustration.

Every so often I step outside the workshop to write about wider business topics like this one. If you’d like to know more, you can follow the link in the Note from the Author section below or visit my About Me page to learn more.

💬 Note from the Author
This post was written specially for David Condon Finds. If you enjoyed it, you might also like my other projects:

Phoenix DVD Blog – where I write about DVDs, Blu-rays, and life as a collector
David Condon Woodcraft – my main site focused on woodturning and handmade Irish pieces

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