How to Sell Donated Sherline Equipment?

[David2011]

This is not an offer to sell; just asking questions at this point. An aging long time member of an RC club to which I belong donated everything in his shop to the RC club including his Sherline lathe, mill, rotary table, indexing attachment and a huge amount of tooling and accessories. It looks like he ordered everything that Sherline offered and then ordered a lot of additional countersinks, slitting saws, and other cutting tools from Eastern Tool and Supply. Looks like Eastern Tool closed their doors in 2001 but most of the envelopes from them have never been opened.

Is it realistic to try to sell a collection like this as a complete set with local pickup only? (Houston metro area) The club is not expecting top dollar; we just need to sell it because it's sitting in another member's shop occupying space he needs to get back. Shipping would be a problem as the tooling is all in a large Craftsman rollaround top cabinet.

 

[Nubbles]

Might be worth posting to the Sherline Lathe & Mill Group on Facebook. Accessories generally sell there pretty quickly, though a full setup like that will always be harder. There's a number of other machinist buy and sell groups where people sell large mills and such locally with regularity. Those could be good options to get the word out.

Sounds like they're older machines if the distributor went out of business in 2001, so they may be less desirable (though still perfectly capable). If speed is priority, I'm sure someone would be willing to pay a few hundred in shipping for the whole bundle if the price is right.

 

[matthewsx]

This is not an offer to sell; just asking questions at this point. An aging long time member of an RC club to which I belong donated everything in his shop to the RC club including his Sherline lathe, mill, rotary table, indexing attachment and a huge amount of tooling and accessories. It looks like he ordered everything that Sherline offered and then ordered a lot of additional countersinks, slitting saws, and other cutting tools from Eastern Tool and Supply. Looks like Eastern Tool closed their doors in 2001 but most of the envelopes from them have never been opened.

Is it realistic to try to sell a collection like this as a complete set with local pickup only? (Houston metro area) The club is not expecting top dollar; we just need to sell it because it's sitting in another member's shop occupying space he needs to get back. Shipping would be a problem as the tooling is all in a large Craftsman rollaround top cabinet.

You’re a gold member here so come up with a number and list it.

Someone may be willing to travel for such a complete setup, and even though it’s too big to ship would fit comfortably in the family minivan.

John

 

[David2011]

Might be worth posting to the Sherline Lathe & Mill Group on Facebook. Accessories generally sell there pretty quickly, though a full setup like that will always be harder. There's a number of other machinist buy and sell groups where people sell large mills and such locally with regularity. Those could be good options to get the word out.

Sounds like they're older machines if the distributor went out of business in 2001, so they may be less desirable (though still perfectly capable). If speed is priority, I'm sure someone would be willing to pay a few hundred in shipping for the whole bundle if the price is right.

Thanks for that suggestion. I have considered FB Marketplace as well. The machines came directly from Sherline but yes, I assume the machines are older than 2001. The donor hardly used them when new and hasn't been able to use them for a long time. I would rate the condition as "like new." The invoices are still with the equipment so I can check the dates. The supplier of the countersinks and slitting saws went out of business in 2001.

If I'm involved in the actual sale, it will be local pickup only. I am not interested in packing up all of it to ship. I already have plenty to do.

 

[Aaron_W]

New the entry level 4000 lathe and 5000 mill runs $1500 (together) with no tooling. The improved 4500 or 4400 lathe, and 5100 mill can push that up to $1800, and with the better tooling packages it could be over $2800. The rotary table is $330.

$1000-1500 for the whole bundle would probably move along quickly, and could be quite a bargain for somebody. Sherline holds its value well so half of new is priced low, particularly if it is lightly used.
Sherline hasn't made a lot of changes over the years and they try very hard to maintain backwards compatibility. The last motor change was in 1993, so a 2001 mill and lathe is little different from one bought today.

There is nobody in the RC club interested in it?

 

[David2011]

Thanks, Aaron. Very few people build model airplanes any more. Most want to order something pre-built, often with the motor, speed control and servos already installed. When they need something made they contact me or one other member. They're for the most part not interested in learning how to make things. Your dollar figures are about what I was thinking. I would buy the whole collection if it would be useful but most of what I do requires larger machines.

You made me think of another possible place to sell locally, though. There's a large and very active live steam and internal combustion railroad club in the Houston area. This might be perfect for the live steam builders.

 

[Forty Niner]

Clock and watch people would be interested in the Sherline tools. The National Association of Clock and Collectors (NAWCC) has a Houston Chapter (Chapter 139). They are holding a big regional meeting around the end of August. If you can contact one of their members it might be helpful. They have a simple website that might get you started. https://www.chapter139.com/

 

[David2011]

Clock and watch people would be interested in the Sherline tools. The National Association of Clock and Collectors (NAWCC) has a Houston Chapter (Chapter 139). They are holding a big regional meeting around the end of August. If you can contact one of their members it might be helpful. They have a simple website that might get you started. https://www.chapter139.com/

Thanks very much!