Am I crazy? Thinking of selling my tools...

[bfrikken]

Just recently found out we're having a baby! So, I've reconsidered my hobbies and priorities. I've felt like I've just been holding onto tools for that day when my first 2 kids were old enough to play unsupervised 100% of the time. Now that window is another 5 or so years out. I looked at the real use I got out of my table saw over the past 3 years and I can count on one hand (yes I have all the digits) how many times I used the table saw.

What is starting me considering this is the fact I have a father in law with a now complete, heated shop. My last two projects were completely done in his shop, and I'm doing my next one there with him too. I enjoy working with him, and he always says I am welcome to just use his stuff (it's 2 hours away).

I enjoy turning, and was considering upgrading my lathe from a small benchtop model to something like the HF 34706 model. So, here's what I am considering....

Keeping:
12" bandsaw
10 CMS
10 makita circ saw
ryobi bench top drill press


Selling:
bench top lathe (If I want to upgrade, I have to sell it)
Jet canister dust collector
BT3100

I watch CL like a hawk, and I see great deals on used table saws all the time. I still think the value is there on the BT3100, but If I were to sell it now and turn it into more usable tools right now, I could potentially upgrade in 5 or so years when I hope or plan on a better shop. Right now I have a 12x12 shed that is shared with a riding mower.

Am I crazy thinking I could sell my saw around the 200 dollar range as well as some miscellaneous tools to concentrate on turning for a few years?

[natausch]

You'll make a lot more off the DC, but $200 for the TS is a good starting point. Depending on where you live in Michigan that should be the right price.

Will replacing the saw for less than $500 in five or more years be possible?

Where the new/used TS market goes is more up in the air now than when the "Handy Hank" was introduced.

If people find their way around the Sawstop patents the pricepoint on "safer" saws drop. To save on insurance lots of cabinet and other shops will upgrade, flooding cabinet and hybrid saws onto the used market.

If Steel City, Ridgid, etc keep pushing granite onto the market then the opposite happens. Cast Iron top saws will start getting scarse.

Regardless, Craftsman/Emerson Electric saws will always be out there in the $200 range and pleanty of Ryobi and Ridgid saws will show up used.

[dbhost]

Just FWIW, I have a coworker with 4 children, all boys. He sold off his stuff after boy #2 was born, and tells me he has been kicking himself in the tail ever since... I've already been informed that selling off the shop would be a last resort sort of thing... The cost of rebuilding is just too steep...

Something to consider. My dad was a woodworker, and many of my Christmas and Birthday presents from when I was young came out of his shop. My Grandfather, and great grandfather as well. I am proud to carry on this as a family tradition. Many of the gifts given to friends and family now are coming out of my shop. And God willing, I will have a son or daughter that will carry the tradition forward to the next generations....

With two parents in a home working, it is MUCH harder for Dad to be able to come home from work and have a couple of hours of shop time with the boys like it was when I was growing up. But some things are worth making time for.

[RAFlorida]

If you're not finacially strapped,

it would be better to keep your tools. Wait a while to see how you feel later down the line. Tools will cost more later on, that is a fact. I sold my tools in '75 and that was the biggest mistake I'd ever done! Tooks years to rebuild and a small fortune. Just wait a while if you can.

[twistsol]

My oldest daughter always enjoyed time away from the "babies," her younger twin sisters. Starting when she was about six, the two of us would head out to the garage for a bit and work on different projects. Ten years later she's pretty accomplished and gives her boyfriend crap about how little he knows.

I was probably 4 or 5 when I started "helping" my dad out in the shop. Those are some of the only times I remember from being a little kid. I have no recollection of Disney World. He built a stool for me to stand on so under close supervision I could use the RAS, which is now in my garage 40 years later.

Don't sell your tools because of your kids, keep your tools because of your kids.

[Shep]

I would also hold onto your tools, but for another reason. My wife and I had our daughter about 2 years ago, and finding shop time is still hard to do. If your FIL lives 2 hours away, that's a long drive for shop time. If your wife is like mine, she'll let you have your shop time, but will remind you that she is at home with the kid constantly.

After our daughter was born my wife found a ton of little shop projects for me to complete for her. Being able to go into my basement shop is a lot easier than taking a drive, plus I can help out with our daughter if she needs me in a pinch.

[Garasaki]

If your wife is like mine, she'll let you have your shop time, but will remind you that she is at home with the kid constantly.

Quoted for truth!!!

[JoeyGee]

I did almost eaxactly as you are proposing when child #2 came along. I thought I would just get out of WW'ing until they were much older. I was able to find time, even being heavily involved with all our kids.

I bought everything again, and spent a lot more than I had originally.

[bfrikken]

I don't want to get out completely, I guess I'm just thinking of switching gears. The time I have gotten turning has been really enjoyable. I get a couple shots at projects with the rest of the tools at my FIL's. I realize despite having a decent colleciton, the lack of Jointer and planer still bite me in the rear. I guess I just feel a little thin to do a complete project at home.

The lack of wood storage is a PITA too. I have around 70 board feet of rough cherry sitting in my FIL's shop that I can't think of where to put at my house. I'd like to finish the storage in my shed with cabinets similar to what I put out there as my only real finished piece. Howevver, that was done before I had the TS with just a circular saw and my router and chop saw.

The dust collector just sits there. I think thats as good as gone, since when I cut out in my shed, I take it all outside.

I must say I'm now leaning a little more towards keeping stuff. The thought at purging has been weighing on me for a good 12-18 months now, I had just keep telling myself one more year until I felt comfortable letting hte kids play outside without having to watch them like a hawk. With the new baby due in April and most of the winter being prohibitive weather wise to shop time, I was leaning towards the turning and lathe setup to give myself some chance at shop time as my turning supplies are in the attached garage that stays somewhat heated compared to the not heated shed.

JoeyGee - When you bought back in, you said you spent more then originally... Do you mind if I ask if you ultimately upgraded, is that why?

[JoeyGee]

No, just the opposite. I guess I shouldn't really say I spent more, just lost money in the switch. Before kids, I had a Grizzly 1023S cab saw, DC, and other tools I sold. Based on what I sold the tools for, what I originally paid and what they cost now, I lost out.

When I got back in, I ended up with my BT3100 and a Shop Vac. I'm not complaining about it, but I would rather have my 1023S .

[chopnhack]

I have to agree with JoeyGee.... I however did not sell the tools when #2 came along and I still ended up with a shopvac and a bt3100 :P I was able to produce a nice heirloom quality walnut rocking horse that #1 son has used daily for nearly a year so..... keep the tools, keep the hobby and when the time comes, introduce the wee ones to it as well. As for your dust collector.... how where you expecting to turn w/o dust collection?

[billwmeyer]

Yes you are crazy!

Not really, It sounds like this baby took you by surprize, and you are trying to make big adjustments that you might not need to make. Stop evaluating for a little while and step back and look at if from another angle. If you had a large shop would you still think about getting out? You seem to keep coming back to your small work area problems. With your shop size and the fact that you work outside, probably means you don't need the dust collection as much as you need the space.

My advice would be not to make a hasty decision, enjoy pickles and ice cream, and then decide if you really want out. By the way congratulations on the new baby! There is no better experience in life than the birth of a son or daughter.

Bill

[Uncle Cracker]

You might evaluate for a bit before you decide. Just take note of anything you use your tools for over the next month or so. That'll tell you if you are likely to have your own case of post-partum depression...

[cabinetman]

The tools you have can get you through many projects. I'm with those in saying hold on. At least you will have them nearby for when the time and urge hits you. If you like woodworking, getting rid of them will distance you more mentally, than the 2 hours.
.

[LinuxRandal]

Only you can really evaluate your needs. Storage? If your going to have to pay to store them, then sell them, as your storage bill could exceed the replacement cost (just put some away every month for the future).

No storage issues, keep them or look at alternatives. I have been using a guided circular saw system for a while now, and am happy. It may meet your project needs, and I still plan on getting a bandsaw in the future.

Best advice I can give you, is don't drop off the forum.