Selling tools, need advice on pricing

[JDgreen227]

I will be selling my Craftsman radial arm saw and 10" table saw, as well as a large air compressor and probably an entire group of assorted power tools, as well as some older Craftsman mechanics roller chests and cabinets. Everything has been well cared for and is in very good to excellent condition. A plus factor might be that everything is older and well made (USA manufacture) but what matters more as regards pricing: The age of the tools or the fact that they are quality made and in great condition?

And: What do you feel is a fair price for a 15 year old table saw that cost $400 new (heavy duty with cast iron side tables) that has had little use? Your input will be useful in determining the asking prices.

Thanks to all.

 

[LD1]

Pics would help with knowing exactaly what you got. But I'd say $100-$150 for the saw.

 

[Parkanzky]

Is it a 220V oil-lubricated compressor? I know someone that may be interested.

 

[JDgreen227]

Is it a 220V oil-lubricated compressor? I know someone that may be interested.

No, the compressor is 115 volts.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I wish I could be more encouraging toward you're getting a fair price for quality tools that have been properly cared for. But I can't. Today's cheap throw-aways are so tempting to the masses.

I was at an auction last Saturday that had just about everything there that you're letting go. Bids offered were totally embarrassing.

Like you, I've worked hard for my quality tools, and it has taken a long time to accumulate them. I'd rather give them to a deserving soul than to let them go for next to nothing.

 

[JDgreen227]

I wish I could be more encouraging toward you're getting a fair price for quality tools that have been properly cared for. But I can't. Today's cheap throw-aways are so tempting to the masses.

I was at an auction last Saturday that had just about everything there that you're letting go. Bids offered were totally embarrassing.

Like you, I've worked hard for my quality tools, and it has taken a long time to accumulate them. I'd rather give them to a deserving soul than to let them go for next to nothing.

That gives me an idea...perhaps I should donate them to a deserving agency or educational facility. Thank you for your input.

 

[TomSeller]

The radial arm will be hard to sell. On the table saw it may be difficult to sell, depending on who looks at it. Many people these days want a lightweight table saw on a wheelbarrow style cart so they can move it around. I often take my saws outside so I don't get all the sawdust in the shop. Those that have an old style shop with lots of room will like your saw. Offhand, I will guess $150, but pics would help on pricing. Why are you selling the tools?

 

[JDgreen227]

Selling them because I have no need for them now...my house has been enlarged and remodeled during the past 25 years and I am beginning to rid myself of stuff I have no use for. We plan to move to a smaller place in about 8 years as we will be in our 7th decade then.

 

[Parkanzky]

FWIW, when I bought my current home it had a wood shop in it. I don't do woodworking. I thought the tools would be really handy, but they also took up a lot of space. So I decided to keep the big drill press, dust collection system, and a bunch of benches/layup tables, racks, etc. and put the rest up for sale.

What I sold was:

Jet 22-44 drum sander
Jet JSG-6DC belt sander/disc grinder
SawStop 3HP 10" Cabinet Saw
Jet 14 x42" Wood Lathe
Jet JWBS-20 20" Bandsaw
Powermatic 209 planer
Steel City 8" Industrial Jointer
An old DeWalt radial arm saw that had been converted to 115V.

You can see the tools here to see what the stuff looked like (Pardon the mess in the photos, this was shortly after we moved in):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/24556082@N02/sets/72157647621294479/

There were a few extra blades for the bandsaw as well as replacement knives for the planer and jointer. There was also a remote-control shop air purifier that I ended up throwing in.

The stuff I sold ranged from nicer consumer stuff to lower-end commercial. I had most of the receipts and then did a lot of internet research to come to a price. The new price for everything was a bit over $15k from the cheapest sources I could find online. I ended up selling it all as a package for $8550. I would have probably gotten a bit more money splitting it all up, but I really liked having that garage empty before winter for about an hour of my time.

So there's one data point. I had a really hard time understanding what used tools are worth. Some stuff seems to really hold its value and other stuff that looks to me to be similar quality depreciates like a rock. The easiest thing to do is search for-sale ads on woodworking forums and see what other people are getting.

 

[s219]

Can you post pics of the saws? My father is in a similar situation, and is selling a 1970's vintage Craftsman radial arm saw and 1980's vintage Craftsman table saw up in CT. I would want both if he wasn't a 10 hours drive away, so I told him to try to sell them for a fair price, otherwise I'll take them and figure out transportation somehow.

He was under-valuing the table saw quite a bit, but I told him that nowadays a comparable size and quality saw would be $1200-1500 on the low end, and over $2000 on the high end. Hence my interest, as I know what it would take to buy something new with cast table, good guide rails, and comparable horsepower. I think I spent about $450 just to get a portable 10" job site saw of average quality, which is nowhere near as capable as one of the big saws.

The radial saw I have no idea of value, but I know the old Craftsman radials were extremely well made, and I suspect would also cost a lot to get an equivalent quality unit today (may not even possible in the homeowner end of the market anymore).

Bottom line -- someone who knows tools and can understand the appeal of an old US-made Craftsman table saw, if it's one of the good ones, would probably pay at least $400-500 for that old saw. But I'd like to see pics before I say for sure. If it's one of the desirable models, it will fetch good money.