Inventory

[lptools]

Hello, I didn't want to hijack Jennybird's post. She mentioned doing inventory on a slab of wood. I would need a sheet of plywood, with a fine tipped pen, and then might need to use the other side!!!!!! Waiting for retirement, , hopefully in 2020, with time do a lot of selling!!!!!! Regards, Lou

[coolford]

Iptools---I have been retired 22 years, best start selling now, it doesn't get any better.

[p_toad]

Ha ha...  after 40 years at the same place i'm being retired at the end of this month.   It'll just give me more time to collect "stuff".

[strik9]

I am still in the under 500 pieces club and display most all of them.  My rule is to not have a shed full of plastic totes full of steel, just the stuff worthy of a display case.

    When my time is done all will go to my son.  He already wants them at 8 years old.  Sweet.

[turnnut]

 I really like it when I hear someone say that their kid/children say they are interested in our collections.

 when my great grand daughter (7) comes to visit, she always looks in my glass case to see if I added anything.

[Papaw]

Mine don' seem to be interested much. They wonder what they will do with all the "stuff"!

[Plyerman]

Mine don' seem to be interested much. They wonder what they will do with all the "stuff"!

Yeah, same here. Sad. I've taken to tagging some of my rarer pieces with a guesstimated value, so someday they won't get sold for far less than they are worth.  :/ 

[Papaw]

When I do sell one, I never tell Mama how much I paid for it !

[coolford]

My system works as follows, 1. Make a card for each tool---with name, description, size, etc.  2. Code the cards such as PP for pair of pliers, PW for pipe wrench, etc. 3. Estimate the condition, 4. Estimate the value and lastly mark what I paid for it. Each card gets a number and the tool gets a tag with its name and the card number.  Then each card gets marked as to the box number the tool can be found in.   My boxes are wood and 11 x 18 inches and 3 inches deep and slide in on racks so they are stacked.  Ask me about any wrench (by name and often even by description) and I will check the card file and find it within a minute.  Thus when I kick the bucket my grandson will know what the tools are worth and where to find them. Oh yes, since the tools are not in only one room in my shop the room number is also listed.

This system also allows me to quickly check a tool to see its condition if I have a chance to upgrade.

[Northwoods]

Come visit my place for a week, will you.  I'll supply the Leinenkugel.

[lptools]

Hello, Coolford. That is a great system. My problem here is that I buy a lot of tools at once, so I don't know what I have paid for each individual item in that lot. I try to keep a record by items/date/location/total price, and then keep track of what I have sold from that group. As far as family, I have a son, grand-daughter,brother-in-law, and my girlfriend's kids who have all taken interest in the tools that I have. Regards, Lou

[coolford]

Lou----I buy a lot of box lots, so just estimate what I would pay for the items I keep.  I don't keep any track on the items I sell.  I haven't sold anything on e-bay lately, seem to do better at a local flea market and its not as much work.----coolford

[bill300d]

I also do as coolford does. Just sort out the junk and the scrap and deposit in the proper receptical. Then divide the total cost by the number of items you keep for resale or your collection. If you are buying well you may occasionally have a piece or two that the average cost is higher than the value or sale price but "it all comes out in the wash".

[lptools]

Hello, Bill. Thanks for the input, I think we are all saying about the same things. Coolford, I do the same as you for the items that I keep. I try to sell enough out of a particular lot to cover the entire cost, that leaves me a lot of flexibility in pricing the remainder. I like to keep items from the same sale together, and try to find out from former owner who used them, and for what purpose, artist, tinkerer, trades person, etc. I am always interested in the history of the tool, especially if it has a local connection. Regards, Lou

[coolford]

Here are a couple pictures of my storage system for my wrench collection.  The first picture is at floor level and the second is up to the ceiling.  Have to use a step ladder for the upper boxes.  You might note the ceiling, it is the same type of metal used on barns etc. and screwed to the trusses and then 24 inches of blown in insulation on top of it.