Who do you leave them to?

squbrigg · #1 05-21-2006, 08:35 PM

There's a question that hit me, while I was reading the thread about an Estate Sale of a woodworker. Who do you leave your tools and stuff to, in your will? If you have woodworking kids, no question....but what about those with no woodworking kids? I have two girls, and neither are woodworkers, or ship modellers, one married, other not. A granddaughter, but she's not into wood or ships ....... yet!

Be a shame to let the stuff sit and rust, or collect dust, or get broken up, so what do you do?

Take on an apprentice? Leave them to them? Reference material, books, draughts, material, tools, etc. Finished work is fine, that goes to the kids. But all the rest, that has taken a life time to assemble.

Just curious. I have a will, but wondering what others do or could suggest. As much as I'd like to, can't take it with me.....Heaven will come with the best tools and unlimited wood! Hell will have all the best tools and wood but no time to carve!!!

Bob

Bigredcarver · #2 05-21-2006, 09:06 PM

I'll be happy to go into your will ..LOL..

I hope to pass along my tools and love of carving to both of my kids ..still kinda little now...

Donna_T · #3 05-21-2006, 11:27 PM

Well, since we can't take them with us, I've decided (already put some thought into the "someday" possibility--way too much windshield time!) that when (not if) my health or eyesight deteriorate to the point that I can't carve, I'll ask my kids and grandkids if any of them want to carve...even if it's "someday." If one does, I'll just sort out the trash, oil everything and give it all to them. If more than one wants the stuff, I'll just divide it up evenly.

But the reality is that none may want it and if that happens, I'll just put an ad in my friendly neighborhood carving publication and sell it all and buy chocolate. But I've decided to not worry about it for now.

It reminds me of my past paradigm--before every big trip, I'd spend days cleaning the house, doing laundry, etc. so if something happened to me, someone else wouldn't have to deal with my dirty house. Now I just leave. If I don't make it back, it's someone else's problem and I won't know a thing about it. The things we worry about!! But I do think it's something we "seniors" must come to grips with and let our family know what we want.

Donna T

wade clark · #4 05-22-2006, 12:14 AM

I went a little crazy over this one. I figured each of my 5 Kids would cherish a set of carving tools of mine, even if they just stored them away and passed them on to their Kids years from now. So I started collecting 5 sets of tools to give to each of them. Three of them already have sets from me, the other two will when they come to Tennessee to get them. The first thing I did was give each a pair of Rick's custom made knives for Christmas presents. They were made with handles from an apple tree that my Great Aunt planted in the 1920's, on a piece of property that we bought in 1978, where our Kids all ran wild and all remember fondly.
The other sets are Ashley Iles gouges and chisels that I've collected, both new and used, just for them, plus mallets and sharpening stones.
It may not make a lot of sense to do something like this, but I wish I had the tools many years earlier, and I want them to enjoy exploring the depths of a piece of wood, seeing the beauty of creation in it, and maybe find a form of expression that brings them great pleasure and peaceful times.
So far, the three who have received their sets have been absolutely thrilled! AND HAVE USED THEM! That may never have happened if I just put them in my will and let them have them someday; I wanted to give them to them now. Who knows, maybe I'll get to carve WITH each of my Kids over the coming years, maybe even help them avoid a few of my mistakes! That'd really be passing on a great gift, hu?
Wade

Nancy_G · #5 05-22-2006, 08:47 AM

I don't have children and no one in my family wants my tools or "stuff".
Maybe 15 years ago when I met the children of a carver friend for the first time, they addressed me as "Grandma". They were polite, friendly -- good kids, but I certainly didn't understand the "Grandma" thing.
When they were gone I asked carver friend why he had told them to use "Grandma", and he said, " 'Cause I want in your will !! I want your tools. I want your books. I want everything."
He's in my will.

Irish · #6 05-22-2006, 08:58 AM

As the child that did inherit her father's wood carving tools ... there is nothing in this world that I cherish more than the moments when I am holding my Dad's cherry bench knife in my hands. That's when I know he is still here with me, in my heart and my soul. I still cry when I remember the day after my Dad passed away and my Mom brought out his tool set. She sat it in front of me and said, "He wanted You to have these!"

So, even if your kids don't do wood carving the memories that you leave attached to those tools are more valuable then any bank account, pile of photos or old chair that everyone else sat in.

Many people don't appreciate the history, genealogy and family attachments until after members of the family begin to pass away. Besides many wood carvers didn't start carving until their later years.

Susan

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #7 05-22-2006, 09:50 AM

Geez Unca Wade and Aunt Nancy! don fergit yur por ol' orphan nepfew hi ho! lol

(Sis...I beat you to this ha ha)

BobD · #8 05-22-2006, 09:50 AM

My dad is getting up there (nearly 70, has had several strokes, quintiple bypass, and has diabetes...so I know he's been thinking about this a lot.

He lives across the state from me, but nearly every time he comes to visit, he's got another tool for me. He says it's because he's constantly upgrading his tools (he should have stock in Lee Valley, Woodcraft, and Garrett Wade at this point), but I still get choked up whenever he gives me another tool.

Some of the happiest memories I have from my childhood is working with dad in the shop...planeing, scrapine, cutting dovetails by hand...

I know I'll be getting his tools and guns (my wife doesn't like the guns in the house, but too bad) when he crosses the bridge...I just hope someday I can put them to as good a use as he did.

Wow...getting choked up just writing this...better get back to real work...

Thanks for bringing this up Bob!

Bob

whitecree · #9 05-22-2006, 11:54 AM

How about nephews/nieces? Quite often amongst 1st nations people, it is an uncle (and a few aunties) who teach their nephews/nieces to carve, and may leave tools to them when they "go".

Perhaps leave a clause in your will to the effect that your tools must be given or sold to someone who will use them. Ditto the reference library.

Hmmm - you're not thinking of leaving us any time soon, I hope?

Ashbys · #10 05-22-2006, 12:52 PM

After my father died , I received most of his trade tools, sadly I lost them in a fire a few years after I lost him. The tools themself held value to me because they were what he had taught me with to do my trade. There was a great loss when the fire removed them, but you know he left me with something a bit more lasting, he left me with many memories.

My tools will be given to my sons.