Second hand equipment sales
Help for relatives selling tools and materials
We see one of the functions of our club as providing a service to people who wish to pass on woodturning equipment and materials to new users. This will often be in difficult circumstances, when a woodturner becomes incapacitated or sadly passes away, leaving a relative or friend with the task of clearing a workshop. Often those left behind know little about what lies in the mysterious workshop den.
People choose to carry out this unenviable task by asking for our help in different ways: sometimes they donate the contents of a workshop to our club, simply happy that it will be put to good use. Sometimes they ask us to sell the items on their behalf. Sometimes they seek advice on what they have, and then sell the items themselves. Sometimes we give a lump sum for some or all items that need clearing, in the hope that we can then sell them on to club members. Whatever the situation, we will try our best to help.
A few scenarios are given below as examples of how we have helped people in recent years.
From 2022 we tend to advertise items for sale through our weekly email bulletin, rather than putting photos and information on this website. You can join our circulation list if you are interested, without becoming a club member. Just email info@ryedalewoodturners.org.uk. Please note we are based in Ryedale in North Yorkshire (Thornton le Dale): if you are more than 30 miles away it is unlikely we can visit to assess your equipment, though if you send photos we would be happy to advise. We may be able to make an offer for smaller items (such as chisels) if you are prepared to post.
Pricing
We are not a commercial operation, and it will almost certainly be the case that people will realise better prices by selling equipment personally, probably using eBay, Gumtree, or Facebook, rather than passing it on to us to sell or promote. Of course selling online can be a slow process, requiring considerable effort and dealing with many individuals by email, phone and in person.
It should be borne in mind that a lot of equipment we come across in established workshops is obsolete, and it can therefore be difficult to maintain, and to get spares. Many well known brand names for manufacturers of quality tools no longer exist, or have been subsumed into larger conglomerates.
Add to this that our aim is to pass on tools and materials to our members at good value prices - otherwise they may as well buy new. One-third to half of current market value, (if items still exist to compare) is likely to be the price range we suggest for relatively new equipment, less if it is obsolete or well-used.
Having said all this, if you would like our help and advice please do get in touch with us at info@ryedalewoodturners.org.uk and we will do our best to help.
Books and tools
Gordon had been a long standing active member of the club. When he died his daughter donated many of his books, wood, equipment, and accessories to the club. We sold them on to members in his memory. Donations help the club in two ways - members can acquire items they will use at low cost, and all proceeds go into club funds to help promote future woodturning activities.
Chisels and wood
Geoff had been a club member but his membership had lapsed. When he died his son contacted us to see if we could help clear some of his tools. As he lived abroad, this needed to be done quite quickly while he was sorting out his father's affairs, so the club gave him a nominal amount for all the tools (mainly chisels) and some wood blanks, and then sold them on to club members later.
Lathe and tools
Brenda's husband had to go into care and his workshop was gradually gathering dust, his tools rusting. Two club members visited, took lots of photos, and took away some of the smaller tools. These were sold at the club, and photos of the larger items circulated and posted on the website. People visited individually to buy these, and a cheque was sent to Brenda for any items sold at the club.
Advice on tools
Roger's son Michael contacted us after his dad had gone into care and could no longer make use of his workshop and wood. Roger was a former member of our club. Two club members visited, described what was there, advised on value, took photos of the equipment, and we posted these on the club website. In the end Michael sold all the equipment directly rather than through the club. We were happy to provide advice to help a former member's family.
Workshop clearance
Colin had a lifetime's collection of wood and tools in his garage, but had struggled to get in there in his later years. His son contacted us with a view to helping him clear out the workshop. We made a lump sum payment to cover some of the smaller tools and wood, and cleared the wood and tools over a number of visits. We took photos of larger equipment and posted these on our website and to members with suggested prices, and people dealt directly with Colin's son to pay for these and pick them up. We made further payments for some sales at the club. I purchased some of these tools myself, and every time I use them I remember Colin and his workshop.
Wood and tools assistance
John had taken up woodturning in later years of his life, and had fitted out a beautiful workshop. When he died his son contacted us for advice on the contents. We took photos of the equipment and circulated amongst members, bought some items, and bought all the woodturning blanks to sell on at the club, at aboout ⅔ of purchase price. Some large equipment was purchased directly by members, other items his son decided to sell privately - which was fine by us.