Al B Posted May 4, 2018 Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 I've been pondering the idea of selling my tools. It"s getting harder to get into the shop, with the aches and pains in these aging bones. My head tells me to sell, but my heart says no. I've kept active all my life, but, at 86+, it seems that no matter what, the body keeps loosing strength. As a youth ,I could press 150 lbs 10 times easily. Now I can't lift 100 lbs off the ground. Actually, a struggle to pick a bag of cement. All the yard work this spring from the fallen tree branches, from the winter storms, sort of found muscles to that I didn't know I had. Old Coasty, FlGatorwood, HARO50 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Gerald Posted May 4, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 Hang in there,maybe sell off the stuff you never use . We have a member of our turning club over 90 . He does not move as fast as he used to but is still coming up with things to do . I just hope I reach your age and not worried about doing anything. HARO50, John Morris, hatuffej and 5 others 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hatuffej Posted May 4, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 (edited) Hello Al I recommend that you do not quit working around the house or in your shop. Start doing exercises and stretches every day to build and keep strength and flexibility, and do the work that needs done, especially your woodworking. Find the pace you feel comfortable with. If you quit, you will sink faster. Fight it. I"m going down in flames!!!! hat Edited May 4, 2018 by hatuffej p_toad, Grandpadave52, Gerald and 4 others 3 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Guest Posted May 4, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 Hey, DON'TCHE SELL'M TOOLS-USE'M. Like the others suggested do some excises, walking, jumping jacks, don't you sit down, you won't be on top of the grass , you'll be under it. git'che a stool and sit at the lathe & make something like you aint ever seen.DON'T YOU QUIT, DON'T MAKE ME HAFTA COME OUT THERE!!!!!!!!!! Al B, HARO50, p_toad and 3 others 3 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Morris Posted May 4, 2018 Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 43 minutes ago, Gerald said: maybe sell off the stuff you never use YES! And keep the ones you use most, and perhaps find a different venue to work the wood. @It Was Al B, when you do woodworking, what do you build? Casegoods? Flatwork? Small boxes? Turn? What do you do now that makes you question your strength and agility? Grandpadave52, p_toad and FlGatorwood 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HandyDan Posted May 4, 2018 Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 (edited) Even if it takes a few weeks to make a bird house it is still your woodworking passion that enables you to do it. Never give up on your passion. Edited May 4, 2018 by HandyDan Grandpadave52, John Morris, FlGatorwood and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al B Posted May 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 Thanks guys for the responses. I'm thinking Gerald might have hit on something, at least for now. I still want to get into the shop, and I know that if the Table saw or Band saw are gone, I'll be wishing I had them. There are some tools that haven't been used, like the pneumatic stapler, Brad nailer, finish nailer, Spray painter,and a few other odd items. I actually bought the Wagner spray painter a couple of years ago and never used it. I'm not just laying around. My yard work has really kept me busy. I just replaced the battery and starter on my 14 yr old JD lawn tractor. It's still running thanks to Dave. I've just been a bit down on myself because I've always been in the habit of being on the go. I won't be doing jumping jacks for exercise. The arthritis in my hip makes that a no-no. HARO50, Gerald, p_toad and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallpatch Posted May 4, 2018 Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 Al don't even think of selling anything until it all sells in one day like an auction. That way it is all gone in one day. Nothing is left to put in the trash or taking to the dump.. This is what I want my wife to do. Besides if you are healthy enough to work in the yard even just an hour or so each day that is better on your body than to sit and watch tv or something like that. Good luck with the rest of your life. As for me I done told my wife there will be no homes for old folks for me.. I told her to take me , a big heavy chain from the shop, one of the anchors and row me out to the deep part of the lake, tie it all on my legs somehow, throw me in, wave by and go back to the house.......I might be kicking and screaming but without my hearing aids in I might not here myself and besides this will be much better than dying in a bed somewhere...... Grandpadave52, HARO50, FlGatorwood and 1 other 2 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Guest Posted May 4, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 17 hours ago, Gerald said: Hang in there,maybe sell off the stuff you never use . We have a member of our turning club over 90 . He does not move as fast as he used to but is still coming up with things to do . I just hope I reach your age and not worried about doing anything. On second thought/day, guess yall have/got Blue Birds up your way. few years ago I began building NEST BOXES FER THEM LITTLE FELLOWS. Yeaw i put'm in back ov truck drive around the country side looking for a good place to nail one up at. Yeaw i got PT 1x4 screwed to back ov'm, i nail'm boxes up bout 8 - 10' high, don't turn entrance hole so the sun will shine in'it !! Hey find somethin interestin ta do, you'll feel better doing it. OH, HOW MANY HAVE I NAILED UP, 43. YEAW GOT ONE I USE FOR PATTERN, JES LAY A PART ON A BOARD, TRACE AROUND IT, SAW THAT RASCAL OUT !! SURE KNO SOME WILL BE DESTROYED BUT THAT'S JES LIFE, I DONE MY PART. ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE GOOD. Cya p_toad, Grandpadave52, Gerald and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p_toad Posted May 5, 2018 Report Share Posted May 5, 2018 6 hours ago, It Was Al B said: being on the go Nothing wrong with that. You just don't have to go like you're 20 (again). FlGatorwood, Grandpadave52 and HARO50 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al B Posted May 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2018 21 hours ago, John Morris said: YES! And keep the ones you use most, and perhaps find a different venue to work the wood. @It Was Al B, when you do woodworking, what do you build? Casegoods? Flatwork? Small boxes? Turn? What do you do now that makes you question your strength and agility? I was building small furniture, but in recent years, I've built several band saw boxes. There's always the home repair projects. Never got into turning. My agility problem has to do with arthritis in my left hip. Sometimes makes even walking a chore. HARO50, FlGatorwood, John Morris and 2 others 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JIMMIEM Posted May 5, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 5, 2018 Listen to your heart. Sounds like you've got plenty of gas in your tank. Keep on moving with the arthritis. Gentle exercise....try those exercise bands. You can keep your strength up. Sounds like you're doing all the right things. Unless you need the $ why sell the tools now......never know when you might need one of them. People are living longer these days and your attitude and activity program are a big reason. FlGatorwood, p_toad, HARO50 and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieL Posted May 6, 2018 Report Share Posted May 6, 2018 I'm with Al on this subject. Woodworking was something that I loved and was proud to do, but now I'm wore out. It took me quite a few years to figure out how thankless of a job that it actually is, and it's not getting any better in this country. The industry is killing itself off. I've often thought of selling the machinery that I have, but know someday that I'll need it for projects around the home, so I still have it all. p_toad and FlGatorwood 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PeteM Posted May 6, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 6, 2018 I always thought Turning was where woodworkers went to....slow down. Keep the band saw to cut blanks? Hey, waitaminit! You can still lift a bag of cement?! He ain't complainin', he braggin'!! I'm not a big fan of doctoring, but I am impressed with the tools physical therapy has found to extend mobility. One or two sessions with a PT tech, get the instructions, and then do the exercises. It's not an extended stay with the PT, just enough to learn the routines that YOU need. And winch lifts are cheap to pick up those heavy loads. Your expertise is knowing what to do after the lift. HARO50, FlGatorwood, Dadio and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadio Posted May 6, 2018 Report Share Posted May 6, 2018 I haven't been able to pick up a bag of cement for 20+ years, didn't want to either. and my knees haven't been good enough for longer than that to finish it. I am at the stand up, or sit down jobs in the shops, have hired a guy to do the yard work too, got rid of all the yard tools, actually they were stolen from my garden shed, never replaced them, I figured that was a sign from somewhere that I shouldn't have them. They took the new 16hp. riding mower too, that was fun to use. Guess they had to have something to haul away the pressure washer, weed eater,,10k generator, chainsaw,compressor, and outboard motor and all the gas cans of fuel. It was on Christmas Day too while I was out of town visiting my sister, must be some significance in that too. herb p_toad, HARO50, Al B and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Al B Posted May 6, 2018 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted May 6, 2018 (edited) I've been seeing these words of wisdom, and most have said, keep the tools. There are times when we tend to get down on ourselves and I think I'm just feeling a bit sorry for myself. I know that once the tools are gone, I wont be able to spend that time in the shop, even though it may be for shorter times, and maybe not as often, but I do still enjoy it when I'm in the shop. I have been to phys. therapy and do the exercises recommended, maybe not as often as I should. People always told me to avoid the the Rytis boys, especially Art. Guess I should have paid attention. I will be keeping my tools and plan to continue using them as long as I am able to. Making BS boxes isn't exactly a backbreaking job. I've never built a birdhouse,so maybe I can give that a try. And, there are always those honeydo jobs that have to be taken care of. For the eventual tool sale, hopefully by my daughter, I do plan to make a list of all that there is, and my estimated value for each. She could use it for any possible sale or auction in the future. Thanks to everyone who responded, It was a great help Al Edited May 6, 2018 by It Was Al B Gerald, Dadio, FlGatorwood and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DRAGON1 Posted May 7, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 Keep em and tailor your projects to something you enjoy. DON'T GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT. RAGE, RAGE AGAINST THE DYING OF THE LIGHT!!!! HARO50, Dadio, kmealy and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stick486 Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 find a fledgling VoTech or WW school and supplement their equipment... HARO50 and FlGatorwood 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al B Posted May 7, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 (edited) Stick, I've taken evening classes at the local VO Tech school. They recently budgeted I believe over 3 million $$$$ to upgrade some of the tools. THey want the latest technology in tools. The tools there are the tools I can only dream of having in my shop. I doubt they would want my used tools. When I took classes, I noticed that a lot of professional woodworkers paid for the classes, only to have access to the tools. Guess it's cheaper to pay the class fees than it is to buy the tools. They generally used the tools to joint boards on an long 8" joiner, plane to thickness with a 20" wide planer, resaw on the 18" band saw, and the list goes on. Then they take the materials to their shop for assembly. I've decided not make any foolish decisions, at least for the immediate future. Edited May 7, 2018 by It Was Al B Dadio, FlGatorwood, HARO50 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmealy Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 My suggestion is similar to many above -- stay active. Nothing worse than sitting all day in front of the boob tube. Even if only for an hour or so a day on small projects, keep active. When and if you want to sell your tools, I'd try to avoid the situation I've seen a few in -- put the tools in storage and not use them. They get rusty and belts degrade and lose value. Use 'em or lose 'em -- both your skills and your tools. Dadio, HARO50 and Grandpadave52 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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