Gonna pat myself on the back here a bit and would love to hear some stories from you guys about “ Paying it forward “ yesterday I was looking at Face fart marketplace and found a ton of tools for sale for a ridiculously low price , a ton of sockets , air tools , specialized tools screw drivers power tools etc etc . what caught my eye was a hub puller , a 1” drive ingersol rand long anvil impact gun and a few other things . $400 bucks for the lot , 8 big totes full of stuff . went up , looked , offered the guy $250 and shook hands . drove home and went through everything , just a ton of good stuff A diesel engine compression gauge , machinist tools etc etc . I picked out what I wanted , about 2 totes worth of stuff . what do I do with the 6 totes of tools that I have doubles and triples of already ????? I’m not a hoarder ?!?! I had a kid from the barn my daughter does horseback riding work at my shop last summer before he started trade school . Great kid polite hardworking all the good stuff . well he started hi co-op placement last week , light bulb goes off ! Garner can use this stuff . Met him and his grandad at the barn just now and unloaded all the tools he was like a kid on Christmas and his grandad kept saying “ you’re giving all this to garner ?” yup , tools are expensive as we all know getting into the trade , hopefully I gave this kid a step up , he won’t get discouraged at the bottomless pit a tool box can be and keeps going . Anyways my shoulder is sore from patting myself on the back . You guys got any stories of paying it forward ?
Local restorer guy who is in his 30s received a bunch of surplus stuff from me. He's old school, good guy.
Wow... Good job @VANDENPLAS ! That was a nice move on your part.... I guess I've gotta take back some of the things I've been saying about you (but only SOME )!
I did pretty much the same a year or so back. Bought a big box full of stuff, took out what I wanted, gave the box and the rest to a poor guy that helps me from time to time. He was working with a couple of pairs of vise grips and channelocks, gave him a full set of 3/8” drive sockets and a couple of ratchets. He was as happy to get them as I was to give them to him.
Win win for sure. Giving tools to a young fella that appreciates them and will put them to use, the other win is the gift of giving. Well done.
Here... let me help you. pat pat pat pat pat pat pat... That's great. Seriously. You feel good for doing it. I feel good for reading it. Thanks. See... you are a good guy. I don't care what everybody else is saying.
I give away stuff to decent people who are struggling. As I get older, money means less and less to me. I have had some things given to me over the decades and I have not forgotten it.
Always look around you to help out others, be it tools, time or attention. There is always a need. I had my own business for 25yrs in a small(er) town and linked up with my mechanic. Whenever a single mom, or widow or any person in need came into his shop and needed repairs, an oil change, tires whatever, and couldn't afford it, he would pay for the labor and I would pay for the parts. I remained anonymous, as I did not want my help to be perceived as a business builder. The garage owner just said that an angel took care of it. My son took over the business 5yrs ago and has continued to quietly help people in need. Can't put a price on the pay-back feeling you get.
I used to maintain a small apt complex, The on site manager and her husband became good friends over the decade or so we worked together. The husband died, sho offered me his toolbox for 400. A Kennedy tri level full of machisist tools. I told her she could get a lot more for it if she sold it individually. but she did not want to be bothered. I gave it to my nephew who was taking cl***es to be cnc machinist
Great stories guys ! came into work today and had a bunch of stuff that I kept like I said . a bunch of die grinders , punches and hammers plus the 1” gun diesel comp gauge , a really nice sunned hone . I kept the gun and stuff and the rest I gave to the kid here in the shop Riley , service managers kid . Super happy The service manager has both his kids working here , when Tyson got into the trade 10 years ago they had a mechanic who p***ed away and about a month after the funeral the widow gave all her husbands tools to Tyson . Al ( the dad ) wanted to give her something for them as it was thousands of dollars of tools and she said no “ her husband spoke highly of Tyson and she wanted to do a good thing for a young lad “ I love this kind of stuff . “ he with the most toys wins “ nah , help a brother out when ya can is so much better .
Several years ago, a 12 year old kid who lived nearby asked me if I knew how he could make any money that summer. I told him that he could be my official lawn mower. As I got to know him a bit better, I found out that he was mechanically minded and liked to work on things, but had no tools. I had a box with over 100 wrenches in it that I had bought at a swap meet for cheap, and one day, after he was done with the lawn, I had him sort out all of the wrenches by size. When he was done, I told him that he could have one of each size; I don't think that he would have been happier if I'd given him a thousand dollars.
I’ve been fortunate in life and have been blessed many times over so I try to pay it forward in different ways. I worked at GM and if someone suffered a death in the immediate family a collection would be started by a co-worker for that employee. When mom died in ‘94 I presented the card and funds to dad and he said no, that’s your money. In turn that money went to the family of a girl in need of an operation, dad p***ed in ‘98 and they collected again. I’d see a family in need mentioned in the local paper and give a hundred to the bank fund anonymously. One year I reached into the pocket of a pair of jeans in my closet and pull out two c- notes. OK, when the hell did I put those in there ? New found cash so I sent a hundred to an order of Catholic nuns my mom used to support when she had a special intention she wanted them to pray for. At a swap I’ve sometimes given stuff away, or I’ll tell a guy that isn’t what you think it is, or it won’t do what you think it will so don’t buy it. What goes around comes around. We have six grandkids, none of which seem to share my love of mechanical stuff. Little by little I’ll be doling out my tools and equipment to my nephews son, a great young man that I know will put them to good use.
With all the mean and evil things that are going on these days it is good to hear a story of kindness. When people are being shot for ringing the wrong doorbell something is broken in this world. Kindness will win!
I honestly believe most of us in one way or another have benefited from someones generosity, be it material goods or a unexpected helping hand at a time when it is needed. Evidence as seen here on the hamb on a regular basis. On that note, I helped a neighbor that is clearing out their storage room to do demolition and remodeling on their house, I loaded my truck yesterday and went back this morning and loaded up the stuff that had no value and took it to the dump. There was a bunch of yard and gardening tools, including a almost new lawnmower which I plan on giving to a young couple that are just starting out down the street. HRP
Tools I like to keep... Although 3 times I had top boxes disappear. When I was towing cars, however, 6 times I saw fit to give a leg up to people who had none. One older guy who ran deliveries and lost his truck. I gave up a van that I'd done lots of work on so that he could keep working. Three older sedans to single moms that had no other means to transport the kids. Two for cohorts that needed help to get straight. Also a couple 283s that were in the way, to younger guys looking to repower their rides. Thanks Vandenplas When I was young and dumb the senior mechanics at my uncle's station saw to it that I had my junkers running, So I could get in early each morning to load up the the coffee urn.
Hello, We lived in a fairly normal neighborhood after we got married and later, had our son. We did not have a lot of money, but we managed with what we had. We knew that over time, the value of the house would go up and the loan would be simple with the low interest rate. So, despite the slow down of spending, we decided to minimalize what we had to keep it simple. Our son had his books, art supplies and toys. But those that he no longer played with we gave to our neighborhood day care friend. The payback was that our son could stay there even though the wait list was a mile long. Some families had lots of stuff and others, well, they were struggling like us. So, what we no longer used, we usually had a “free sign” on our driveway and by lunch, the items were all gone. A garage sale without the garage sale implications. A neighborhood boy always had friends, but did not have a lot of stuff to share with others. So, as I no longer played with my slot car builds and collection, one day, I asked him if he wanted to have the whole kit and caboodle. Ready to race sporty cars in small 1/32 size, larger 1/25 scale custom built ch***is and modified drag motors, etc. All used by me back in the heydays of slot car drag racing and road tracks, around 1963-64. I had enough of a track for testing the newly modified motors and ch***is set up and the tracks extended forms could easily be bought from any store. He had a small Xmas set of pre made slot cars and knew how they worked. With this new custom set of tools, parts, ch***is builds that were partially made, plus a ton of racing only equipment was now his. So, he knew what to do with the stuff. The “p*** it on” was returned with a huge smile and a thanks from his mom. Jnaki As far as automotive parts and accessories were concerned, we had a heavy duty Walker Hydraulic Floor Jack and four jack stands. They had been gathering dust in the far reaches of our small two car garage floor space since we quit our drag racing era. When the two cars were in place, it was a tight squeeze to get out without hitting the handle. Sure, why did it not lay flat? Well, when someone’s foot hit the flat handle, so close to the floor in the dark and caused a bruise, the handle had to stay up. We listed how many times I used the jack stands and floor jack. Over the last 4 years, ZERO… so, they were deemed to be a “gone” item. But, knowing the value of a floor jack, I knew of a teenager going on 20 in few months, so I asked if he would like the floor jack and stands. His eyes were so wide open with a surprise look, that when I told my wife about it, she was happy something so simple could give someone else such happiness. Pay it forward in simple terms and the result is always good. That kid was so gracious and ended up being an expert auto mechanic. He came by one day with his latest creation, a Baja 1000 entry build. When we went for ride, he had so much power that I was unprepared for a slight rise of the front wheels on almost every shift. It was definitely faster than most cars on the street at the time. For any car repairs I could not do by myself, he offered to help in any way... One thing my wife and I did was to keep our furniture choices simple. We usually saved to buy a new chair or sectional and when we were getting to the new furniture stage, again. We called the local Goodwill/Salvation Army stores to pick up the items. Then, they started a policy of not offering a pick up service and that it was up to the owners to take them to the local dump. We had an old custom designed chair we bought as a newly married couple. Then 15 years later, we were getting some household repairs done and we had this chair sitting in the garage with a cover on it. It did not fit into the scheme of things and we were ready to take it to the dump. But, one of the young contractors looked under the covering and asked why that chair was sitting in the garage. We told him that we were ready to take it to the dump and he fell back aghast. What??? He and his young wife were in a single bedroom studio apartment and needed a chair to use for one of their conversation areas that now had one small chair. Yes, some small conversations took place in that one chair… so, another chair would actually make a real conversation area. Plus the design was a Wing Design chair but, for us, getting on the worn side. They had little money, he worked in construction and she was still going to school. So, we said if he could take the chair and ottoman, he could have it and save us the cost of the entry to the dump. A return smile and a big hug from the young wife, when we met them at the grocery store was all it took. She was so grateful for the gift of the designer chair and ottoman. Now, here we are, 30 years later and looking at some single seat designer leather chairs to be a part of a sectional sofa/chair area to make a complete conversation place. The “circle game” comes around all over again… “…And the seasons, they go round and round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We can't return, we can only look Behind, from where we came And go round and round and round, in the circle game…” Joni Mitchell / Tom Rush
Last fall I bought out the remnants of my uncle’s shop. He was a life long body man and then s****per as he had no pension. For Christmas I gave my 12 year old nephew a collection of tools from there and included some from his grandfather and great grandfather. He has also gotten a dozen old lawnmowers over the last couple of years which he refurbishes. My intent was to help both the generation ahead and the one behind. I worked for the uncle for a while and he taught me whatever body skills I have, and is welcome to borrow back his tools at anytime. Why is it that some days I still can’t find a half inch wrench?
There is a young man here on the HAMB that I tried to help and he turned out to be a damned good wrench in spite of my help. I am damned proud of him. He wrenches on locomotives by day and has become a prolific rod builder. All he ever needed from me was for me to point out that he never needed anything from me but friendship. Danny maybe only you will understand what I am saying here (well and him if he sees this). I love that boy like a June Mornin'.
"I do not do nuthin for nobody. " You guys missed the fact that he cleverly used a double negative, which actually is a positive.
The Jalopy Journal
