A friend’s husband died last year and she is selling their house, which is too big for her, and moving on.

Her husband was an engineer and a car and bike fan who did hobby restorations and rebuilds. There’s a large collection of engineering and car tools of all types (in which their adult kids have no interest) in their garage and she needs to get rid of them before listing the house. There’s some really good quality complete socket sets, spanner sets, crescents up to large sizes etc all housed in those proper red cabinets with drawers etc and all in good nick. Some power tools, a good drill-press, micrometers, taps & dies, specialist punches and pullers, woodworking tools - heaps of stuff.

We would welcome any comments or advice on how to dispose of these. Obviously Trade Me could be an option but we’re wondering if there are other or better solutions. I had a feeling there are businesses that buy complete deceased estates gear but have come up with nothing after googling along those lines.

To replace these tools new would cost many thousands of dollars but we know that they’re not worth a hell of a lot under these circumstances. Money is not necessarily the main motive here.

One thought is that they would be great for a young person starting as an apprentice mechanic - but I have no idea how we would access that market.

Based in central Auckland suburb.

Thanks