This is going to be a two part post with this portion looking for info first. We recently purchased a trailer full of tools and parts and are going to be doing inventory on it soon. We were mostly interested in the brake valves and EMD parts. There are, however, 3 or 4 pallets of tools and other parts from a liquidated C&O steam shop. Boxes of large pipe taps, reamers and other unique tools and equipment, mostly covered in surface rust. My question is: Are these taps, reamers and cutters worth saving. Can they be sharpened and cleaned up for less than new. If so, then all of this stuff will be listed for sale after we inventory it. Any info is appreciated.

Eric

As in all things, it depends - I'd certainly not scrap them in any case. When you have a list and reliable conditions of each, offer them here or through ATRRM by all means.

dave

.

Thank you for the responses. That is the answer that I thought I would get. Once we get an inventory list I will post it here. If we run into any curiosities, I will also post some pictures.

Another thing to consider is even when a tool is no longer effective for its intended use you can use it as a interpretation tool for your visitors to see and feel the type of tools used on this historic equipment. And if they drop an unusable tool any damage is not a total loss.. Many years ago I considered having a dinner fundraiser and an idea was having various artifacts on the different tables to spur thought and conversation.

Robby

Boiler taps, in particular, are getting to be scarce as hen's teeth. So, if you have boiler taps in amongst the tools you have collected, pay close attention to getting them cleaned up. If they are in anything even approaching useable condition, they are like gold. New ones can be purchased, but they are specialty items and it is incredibly expensive ($800+) to have new ones made.

Good to know. There is a whole crate of boiler taps, tapered reamers and some large riveting tools.

Taps can be sharpened.... keep that in mind.