I bought those specifically for pen stuff. I have so much material to be used to make pen blanks such as metals and plastics and tints and dyes and you name it that they are in storage boxes. I need to break those down into those tool boxes. I am working on that too. I have mentioned I need to make a cabinet for all pen kits. I have the lumber and was suppose to do it 3 years ago but life got in the way. Now that I went through both the shop and game room on clean up detail I really need to get that built. That would clear out alot of space being taken up with boxes and boxes of kits. I have no idea how many kits I have but it is over 2000. My wood stash is also in game room because it spilled over from my storage rack. I use to buy any exotics I could get on sale. My oak and maple are bought as needed because I run through that. My hardwoods dealer had sales around Thanksgiving every year that you could not pass up and his quality of wood was superb. He unfortunately had a fire in his shop 3 years ago and never rebuilt so that avenue has dried up. I still have another vendor where I buy my oak from but he does not have nearly as much exotics. Have alot of money tied up in exotic woods. I especially love the rosewood family I believe Bolivian rosewood is some of the prettiest woods around. You have to remember that I do more than just pens. My scrollsawing takes me into many projects that I use a lot of different woods. I am not sure how much longer I can continue woodworking but sure hope it is for some time. I love what I am doing and now retired it gives me a purpose to get into the shop. As I also mentioned I am done with my shows so I went on this cleanup detail and right after this I will start making pens for a few months before I have to switch back to scrolling. I also am working on remodeling my home. Have to get outside done next year. Roof, siding, and the whole nine yards. Put that off too long also. That is on a 5 year program but when done it will be easier for my family to sell when time comes.
I am going to be honest with you I misread you. Have for a few years now. I thought you were alot younger than I thought because of your avatar. But when you said you were near retirement age it took me back a little. So you have more experience than what I thought. Explains why you are putting out the quality of work you are doing. You know your way around machinery and tools. Good for you. keep up the great work. Love seeing new ideas. Hope soon I can jump into this too.