Sort of a Straw Poll

[metalfettlerParticipant @metalfettler]

I have accumulated spare cash to facilitate the purchase of a new lathe and a mill (Chinese likely) to replace my Myford S7 and Dore Westbury mill both in good working order. My son points out that this would be a waste of money given a limited time scale for me and any new toys. He has no interest in oily pastimes so in perhaps 8 years time he would be faced with clearing my workshop. I see his point which hinges on my active lifespan.

I guess from reading this forum assiduouly every day that there are a lot of old guys here. Without embarrassing anybody I hope that my metalbashing days will endure for at least another 10 years (to age 82) and I should like to have a guesstimate of active age bands from you guys.

Hope this posting is not viewed as in bad taste but I would be interested in occupancy of age bands 60-70, 70-75, 75-80, 80-85 to try to forecast my own activity. The same quandary is exercising my mind in regard to amateur radio and computer gear. Lots of lists and likely cash value.

Thank you and apologies for facing a life expectancy conundrum.

Regards, Les

[metalfettlerParticipant @metalfettler]

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

Les

i worry about this every night and I’m only 60

what my wife would do with my workshops and all my machinery that i have spent 40 years accumulating

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

I'm 65 [66 in July], working full time until the virus hit. I hope your son was joking when he said buying new gear was a waste of money, your money!

Tony

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

What happened yesterday can’t be changed so no point in worrying about it. Take tomorrow as it comes and don’t worry about it. When we go everything will be someone else’s problem, an exit dossier could be helpful but just live like you are going to make 100 if it does not go to plan then does it matter?

Mike

[Chris GunnParticipant @chrisgunn36534]

Ian, you should worry that your wife will sell all your stuff for what you said you paid for it.

Chris Gunn

[Chris GunnParticipant @chrisgunn36534]

Les, go for it, if it keeps your brain working and amused for 10 years money well spent. Just entered your 3rd bracket.

Chris Gunn

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

Leslie, I would encourage you to buy the equipment you want and have saved for, and enjoy it for as long as you can. Mike's advice above re taking one day at a time and enjoying each one is top notch advice in my opinion. I wouldn't worry for two minutes about those who have to clear space at some point in the distance future. Leave some notes if you like about who to contact (maybe this forum – there have been a couple of bereaved people looking for guidance recently), values of things, wishes of where some things should go if friends have expressed an interest, etc. Personally I plan to live to 135 years to finish all the projects I want to do! We shall see. Enjoy your machines and shop, and keep us posted as to what you are making (even if it's mostly chips, scrap, noise, cutting oil smoke, and bad language as it is in my shop)

Edited By Jeff Dayman on 12/05/2020 20:26:09

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

I'm 70. tell your son it's your money and you'll do whatever you want with it.
We come from the generation that bought houses we could barely afford during gazumping periods, paid mortgage rates of 15%+, did all our own DIY and lived with second hand furniture, worked long hours, used holidays for temp jobs to help make ends meet and were brought up with make do and mend attitudes and hand-me-down clothes. We didn't buy new every couple of years to keep fashionable and we put money aside to supplement our pensions.
If some new toys keep you cheerful and mentally/physically active for longer then he's just going to have to wait for whatever is left. Add a 3D printer to your wish list.

pgk

[Adam MaraParticipant @adammara]

Just taken delivery of an Axminster C2 Lathe (10% off online order), TNT delivered it yesterday on a before 12 delivery, it arrived at 8.05am, and I was still in bed! The kind driver carried the lathe, on a pallet into my garage, and went on his way. He had a pickup next, which was at our works, and my sons soon knew I had a new lathe!

Anyway, I'm 80, might have a few years left, and I wanted a small lathe to have in the house, I had an eye stroke at the beginning of March, and have double vision and a job focussing, and it will be warmer in winter! Won't be spending any money on pub meals and holidays this year, so the garden and my mini workshop will keep me happy.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Les, We lost our son over 20 years ago, and our grandchildren are artistic and have no interest in what is in my workshop.. My slightly larger workshop and larger lathe were my retirement presents to myself. So I am well set up.

I am a pretty fit (Thank God ) 81, but resist the urge to replace my mill for one with a dovetail column.

My worry is how it will all be disposed of when I go. I would so wish for one of the GC to take up the baton, but cannot see it happening.

The WaterWorks Museum does not need my kit, and PSME have no workshop to which it could all go.

So, probably it will not be my worry; but not for a LONG time I hope!

Howard

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Our retired chairman turns 101 next month. He attended our February meeting and is still modelling. After finishing his 3in traction engine about 4 years ago he bought a stuart No 1 kit on the basis that the bigger bits were easier to work on by feel as his eyesight is failing.
Make contact with your local model engineering club or Men's Shed and arrange for them to help value and move you stuff when the time comes in return for the small stuff to sell to club members to help club funds. If you leave it to house clearers and garage traders they don't know things like 3 jaw chucks having two sets of jaws.

A new mill yes but I thought everyone (apart from me) wanted an S7. How about a Myford VMC to complement the lathe.

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

Hello Les, I'm 74 and have been making things for years and intend to carry on. Ok, I may leave unfinished projects behind when it's time to go but until then I'm just going to enjoy myself with making things and planning to make other things in the future.

Brian

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I’m 70 and currently on my ‘fourth life’ I believe

• Quadruple by-Pass
• Pacemaker
• better Pacemaker

Hopefully that leaves me five more lives in stock

< Meow >

Buy whatever you want, Leslie … so long as it makes you happy.

MichaelG.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Tell him to mind his own business and get it all bought. However I'd then make a list of what stuff is, what it might sell for and where to advertise it and put the list with your will.

[IanTParticipant @iant]

I'm about your age Les – a little older perhaps – and I do understand your worry. However, if you want new machinery (and can comfortably afford it) then do it now! Don't wait – the longer you have whatever it is you want, the longer you will have to enjoy it.

My son's make similar comments by the way. The way I like to explain it to them is that I spent a lot of time and money bringing them up as best I could and now it's my turn.

Regards,

IanT

[John Paton 1Participant @johnpaton1]

The reality is that if you don't have a workshop to spend time in you will need to keep going on cruises to keep yourself amused. Travel insurance alone will cost more than your lathe and mill so its a no brainer!

I believe that well bought and looked after, lathes and mills are as good as gold for holding their value.

Edited By John Paton 1 on 12/05/2020 21:16:53

[Merddyn’s DadParticipant @merddynsdad]

I'm not often moved to post on here, but this topic has stirred me into action.

I've been thinking about this issue for a while, and at the moment I have more spare cash than I've ever had, I'm 67 and have a fairly dormant cancer.

I too remember mortgage rates at 15%, I bought my first house and was made redundant a month later – thanks Boss!

I now buy whatever I think I shall need, whilst I have the faculties and health to use it.

When I'm gone I won't care what happens to all my accumulated treasures and not one else will either.

I say treat yourself and enjoy it all while you can!

[Grizzly bearParticipant @grizzlybear]

I'm 78 and not counting.

Good luck with your new equipment.

Bear…

[Old SchoolParticipant @oldschool]

I will be 67 this year my 5th year of retirement, I buy what I want for my workshop and my sport of tethered car racing. Luckily my son has set him self up with a workshop now he’s moved out and also races tether cars and has a couple of fast old cars.
I am lucky he told my wife when I pop my clogs he is going have my workshop so she has no worries about getting rid of it.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Les, I agree with everything that's been said already, and not only that, you can make a lot of swarf in eight years, even if it's making stuff nobody else wants. If it makes you happy and keeps your mind active, that's a good enough reason to spend your money. I've said to my two, the best thing they can do with all my clobber, is to sort out what they want and then get the skip guys in to shift the rest, as I don't think I'll have any worries what happens to it when I pass on, it might all melt and burn where I'm probably heading anyway.

Regards Nick.

[Trevor Crossman 1Participant @trevorcrossman1]

Leslie, if it's your cash and your life,it's your choice what you buy. Use every hour of every day as if there's no tomorrow……….there just might not be!

Whatever happens after we expire is another person's choice and does it really matter what any surviving relation receives for the deceased's possessions? They too will die. Money is simply a measure of our labour and has no spiritual value, and while in all good relationships each partner will make good preparations for when the 'other' is alone, surely the whole point of living is to try to achieve something.

So go for it, buy your machine and use it as well as you can!

Trevor, (75+ and enough projects, plans and ideas to last for another 50&#128516

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

I'm with Mike Poole and pgk and one or two others in viewing their workshop contents. Put simply, it's all STUFF!!! I see it as very odd that outlay on this hobby is regarded by many as quite different from what they spend on (for instance) holidays. That would be spent and would have offered (possibly!) a short period of enjoyment and the outlay would be gone. Workshops and machinery provide continuous enjoyment (and frustration) and still that is not sufficient unto itself for some, there is this additional wish to recoup outlay. Indeed. for quite a few the monetary value outweighs the usefulness, or otherwise, of the machines! Do golfers tot up the cost of their clubs and shoes and funny trousers as a measure of their hobby enjoyment? Do gardeners worry over who is going to inherit their latest ride-on mower?

At 85, I'm never going to be anything other than a workshop 'bodger' (not the chair making variety) and I buy what I can afford – mostly second (or more)hand and get huge enjoyment, frustration, relaxation and hypertension from 'messing about' in the 'shed'. There are several (by ME standards) 'valuable' machines and accessories and they will be available, for the taking, to any a of few similarly interested friends who can be bothered to collect them. The rest will give a shed clearance man a good luck day. One thing is for certain sure – I'm not going to be concerned!

Such arrangements as are necessary have been taken care of – see below (2nd class single, of course)

rgds

Bill

Edited By Cornish Jack on 12/05/2020 22:18:34

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Tell your son that Model Engineers have a reputation for longevity and that you will buy whatever you want.

If he wants evidence then quote Roy Darlington who (I think) was in his 90s and still making plans for new engines before he died, also I think Cherry Hill is about 88.

How many really know whether they will live to over a 100 or die young in a few seconds time anyway so make the most of now!

That’s pretty much my take on it anyway.

Edited By V8Eng on 12/05/2020 22:56:52

Edited By V8Eng on 12/05/2020 22:57:21

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

One of the most encouraging exhibits I ever saw at a Model Show was a collection being shown by the widow of the model engineer who had died in his eighties I believe, it included a partially completed clock. To me the clock was the best bit. It showed a spirit that even in the evening of his days was prepared to start a big project knowing there was a chance of never getting to it's completion but enjoying the journey none the less. As a friend of mine says "live for ever until it happens" Go for it.

regards Martin.

PS Personally I would keep the Myford or at least trade it in for a better one.

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