Which new tools would you like? Now before the answer to this question becomes a crippling life decision, allow me to share with you some ways that may help you clear some of the clutter. Maybe it’s a heap of broken tools you’ve been piling up, unsure of how to properly dispose of them. Or maybe you just want some room for that fancy new welding setup and to be able to possibly fund it a little along the way. In any case, if you have some old tools you need to get rid of then check out what I've compiled below.
Broken Tools
Call the manufacturer / Re-sell
Most tool manufacturers have service centers and local dealerships that they’ll operate out of. If they do, chances are they’ll take your old power tools where they’ll disassemble them and take the various parts to a proper recycling center. Alternatively, instead of pitching an old hand tool just because it's broken, try giving the store or location that you bought it from a call. Many tool manufacturers cover their hand tools for life including Craftsman, Kobalt, and even Harbor Freight. This is a total score for the true tool person at heart because who in their right mind doesn’t like a shiny new hand tool? Broken and cant replace it? Turn it into cash by bringing it to the scrap yard. You probably won't get much, but it beats the heck out letting them rot in the corner of the shop.
Still working and Outdated Tools
Donate them to Goodwill
Goodwill is always a good place to start if you're trying to de-clutter. I've actually found some gems at my local store and even some unopened consumables like nails and screws. There's always someone out there that could use an inexpensive tool, second-hand or not.
Pawnshop
Have some tools laying around that are still in pretty good working condition? You could always sell them to a pawn shop. Pawnshops are always looking for new merchandise, especially in these times when supply chains are a little gummed up. Plus it's always nice to pad your wallet in preparation for that fancy new shop setup you’ve been clearing room for.
Donate Them to A Local Church or Charity
Donating to a church charity is one sure way to get your outdated tools in the hands of people who might really need them. Who knows, maybe a family has fallen on hard times and doesn’t have the money to pay a contractor to do something that they could accomplish themselves, if only they had the tools to do so. Just as well, someone could really need the tools to make their living and might really benefit in a quality of life sort of way simply through your generosity.
Sell the Antiques
If you do have some hand tools that are in fact dated, then you might want to consider doing some searching around on the internet for the same or a similar tool to see what it's selling for. There are sites like antiqbuyer that are looking for old tools all the time and give you pretty good literature on what to look for in a potentially valuable antique. You'd be surprised at what an old Stanley wood plane goes for.
What's Harmful?
Ever wonder what you're supposed to do with an old power tool battery when it stops charging? First off, let me start by giving you the rundown on what's commonly used in cordless power tools. There are exceptions but I'm going to stick with the three that are most commonly used:
- Nickel-Cadmium - used in most older cordless tools
- Nickel-Metal Hydride - also used in older power tools just from the more recent past, and
- Lithium-Ion - vastly used in most newer power tool platforms.
Proper disposal of any electronic device is paramount for the safety of those involved in waste management. The fires and explosions that can occur as a result of the improper disposal of a power tool battery (check out the video below) can leave someone very seriously injured, as well as potentially causing catastrophic failure to surrounding equipment. Toxic chemicals also found in some batteries can be released, finding their way into lakes or streams, and can certainly have some long-lasting negative effects on our environment for many years to come.
Luckily there are solutions that make disposing of the harmful stuff pretty easy. You can simply go to call2recycle.org/locator and find a drop-off location. You can even filter through locations by collection type. Any location that has a greenish square under "Accepts" will take your spent rechargeable batteries. You'll find that most all Home Depot, Lowes, and Staples are collection locations as well as some cell phone repair shops. Cordless power tool batteries aren't the only things of concern when it comes to proper disposal.
Some tools have internal batteries and out of sight components that can be equally as harmful in every way as described above. Things like diagnostic scanners, jump starters, and certain meters can potentially contain toxic materials that should be noticed as well. Always read the manual prior to use and refer to it for specifics regarding additional care when disposing of said tool. Be sure to keep the manual in a safe place just in case you need to reference it later. If you can't find it, tool manufacturers usually post their user manuals online. It's easiest to search on google if you're able to locate the model number.
Bonus: if it's consumables that you're unsure about, manufacturers post something called an MSDS on their websites. It details how you should handle that specific material along with the safety precautions involved, what you should do in the event of an exposure, proper disposal, etc. It's good to have printouts of the MSDS for any harmful chemicals/materials so that they are handy in the event of an accident so that the proper treatment can be administered quickly.
And if you'd like to see some beautiful tools (let's face it, who wouldn't?) that won't leave you stranded, then check out this list.
Hopefully, I've taken care of most of the footwork for you. If you like this article and you love tools then please consider subscribing. I write as much as I can so new articles will be out soon. Thank you, comment below, and don't forget to show some love by sharing!
