2025 Garage Sale Thread (14th Annual)
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Outlawmws
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freudianfloyd
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Yard sales have been relatively terrible in my area the past couple years, however I was able to snag a few good deals from Marketplace.
Picked up an 80 gallon 2 stage compressor for cheap. It had been sitting in a storage unit. I pressure tested it, and even bought a metal thickness gauge to make sure there was enough metal there and water didnt compromise it while it sat. I did get some pretty nasty **** out of it when I first drained it, and then spent a couple hours cleaning up the inside.
I had to add a new gauge, changed the oil and air filter, and have it running. Its much quieter than my homeowner grade 60 gallon and puts out a ton more air. I paid $475 for it.
And now that I have ple ty of air, I can get what I have wanted for years, a blast cabinet. But I didnt want a harbor freight one, I wanted a big pro grade cabinet.
I found this Peterson 48" cabinet in need of some love for $250.
I am in the middle of rebuilding all of it, and it has since been repainted. New glass, gloves, fittings, etc are on the way as we speak.
And where the blast cabinet was located, the family had an estate sale the weekend before. There was still a shop full of tools, and the lady selling the cabinet said if there is anything I am interested, i will sell it cheap, if it doesnt sell its going to a land fill.
So I picked through and found a few decent items that survived the estate sale. I paid $10 for everything in the picture.
Some highlights...SK breaker bar, Gerber multitool, Craftsman clamp, a large stack of new sand paper, featherboard, some quick clamps, bag of gloves, steering wheel puller, etc.
Picked up an 80 gallon 2 stage compressor for cheap. It had been sitting in a storage unit. I pressure tested it, and even bought a metal thickness gauge to make sure there was enough metal there and water didnt compromise it while it sat. I did get some pretty nasty **** out of it when I first drained it, and then spent a couple hours cleaning up the inside.
I had to add a new gauge, changed the oil and air filter, and have it running. Its much quieter than my homeowner grade 60 gallon and puts out a ton more air. I paid $475 for it.
And now that I have ple ty of air, I can get what I have wanted for years, a blast cabinet. But I didnt want a harbor freight one, I wanted a big pro grade cabinet.
I found this Peterson 48" cabinet in need of some love for $250.
I am in the middle of rebuilding all of it, and it has since been repainted. New glass, gloves, fittings, etc are on the way as we speak.
And where the blast cabinet was located, the family had an estate sale the weekend before. There was still a shop full of tools, and the lady selling the cabinet said if there is anything I am interested, i will sell it cheap, if it doesnt sell its going to a land fill.
So I picked through and found a few decent items that survived the estate sale. I paid $10 for everything in the picture.
Some highlights...SK breaker bar, Gerber multitool, Craftsman clamp, a large stack of new sand paper, featherboard, some quick clamps, bag of gloves, steering wheel puller, etc.
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
As asked for here are a few more pictures of the tank destroyer map. It's about 12" tall by 5" wide when it's folded up and closed in its cover. It's comprised of 2 maps. One of Europe in general and then one zoomed in map of France. As you can see from his writing, He came to France via England by crossing the channel. Then he crossed into Germany and then finally ended up at Maiz? Super cool to see his hand written notes on this map. I want to research him more and see what I can find out about him. I sure would have loved to talk to him about his wartime service.
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Smokeshow69
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seber
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That's the first actual railroad jack I've seen in more than fifty years. A lot of similar jacks get the name, but are just commercial versions.My latest haul from an antique store that was out if business
Adding machine $49
Engine diag machine $33
Coke machine cabinet $95
I bought the diag machine for the cabinet, I have a use for that..... The rest......... I guess i will turn the vending machine into a beer dispenser...
From a few weeks back an elderly man i know gave me a bunch of antiques. Everything was in an old blacksmith shop his Grandfather used that had collapsed back in the 90s. He wouldn't give me the anvil or the old coke box but I did dig them out and haul them to his shop for him.
Suckage!!!
Mike
My neighbor the picker is having his annual sale. I stopped by, but his ‘pickings’ haven’t been that interesting. But, he’s a good guy with a special needs daughter, so I do like to support him.
$30 yielded this - a 15” Crescent, an 8” Craftsman adjustable, a VL 1/4” ratchet, and a cool, homemade chest.
The chest held some goodies - a bunch of US-made nail sets, chisels, etc.
Also buried at the bottom was a JH Williams ‘S’ Wrench and an older pair of Wiss J-7” scissors.
I'm still in shock right now. Today I spotted this 1940's era handmade machinist treasure chest time capsule on Marketplace for $25. It was listed an hour before I seen it and apparently others had messaged before me but I managed to get there first. I literally dropped everything and got in the car as soon as I had the address. The seller even included this smaller box used for wallpaper, both made by the sellers father. This chest is very well constructed. It must weigh at least 80 pounds with the contents and I lugged it down to the basement for now. These were almost donated to Goodwill as apparently this seller had bad luck in the past even trying to give away things for free. I think the seller just wanted to pass some things on while also still keeping some of the other things his father made such as a seaman's chest.
Starrett:
Brown & Sharpe
Luftkin
Helios
Johnson Rule #60
Yard sales have been relatively terrible in my area the past couple years, however I was able to snag a few good deals from Marketplace.
Picked up an 80 gallon 2 stage compressor for cheap. It had been sitting in a storage unit. I pressure tested it, and even bought a metal thickness gauge to make sure there was enough metal there and water didnt compromise it while it sat. I did get some pretty nasty **** out of it when I first drained it, and then spent a couple hours cleaning up the inside.
I had to add a new gauge, changed the oil and air filter, and have it running. Its much quieter than my homeowner grade 60 gallon and puts out a ton more air. I paid $475 for it.
And now that I have ple ty of air, I can get what I have wanted for years, a blast cabinet. But I didnt want a harbor freight one, I wanted a big pro grade cabinet.
I found this Peterson 48" cabinet in need of some love for $250.
I am in the middle of rebuilding all of it, and it has since been repainted. New glass, gloves, fittings, etc are on the way as we speak.
And where the blast cabinet was located, the family had an estate sale the weekend before. There was still a shop full of tools, and the lady selling the cabinet said if there is anything I am interested, i will sell it cheap, if it doesnt sell its going to a land fill.
So I picked through and found a few decent items that survived the estate sale. I paid $10 for everything in the picture.
Some highlights...SK breaker bar, Gerber multitool, Craftsman clamp, a large stack of new sand paper, featherboard, some quick clamps, bag of gloves, steering wheel puller, etc.
Mike
As asked for here are a few more pictures of the tank destroyer map. It's about 12" tall by 5" wide when it's folded up and closed in its cover. It's comprised of 2 maps. One of Europe in general and then one zoomed in map of France. As you can see from his writing, He came to France via England by crossing the channel. Then he crossed into Germany and then finally ended up at Maiz? Super cool to see his hand written notes on this map. I want to research him more and see what I can find out about him. I sure would have loved to talk to him about his wartime service.
Inside photos of the cover and directions for use of the map.
VERY cool! Thanks for posting!!!
Mike
RTM
Well-known member
Provincial
Well-known member
^^^^^^ What he said!Thou Suckith this much!
1Bad55Chevy
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I thought a railroad jack had to be able to slip under the tracks. This Simplex jack has slots to hold pipe. Is that not correct?
The old man I got all this stuff from use to move houses for a living and used railroad jacks to pick up the houses. He easily has 50+ railroad jacks sitting in a pile outside his shop.
1Bad55Chevy
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Edit: I saw that wrong.As asked for here are a few more pictures of the tank destroyer map. It's about 12" tall by 5" wide when it's folded up and closed in its cover. It's comprised of 2 maps. One of Europe in general and then one zoomed in map of France. As you can see from his writing, He came to France via England by crossing the channel. Then he crossed into Germany and then finally ended up at Maiz? Super cool to see his hand written notes on this map. I want to research him more and see what I can find out about him. I sure would have loved to talk to him about his wartime service.
He deployed into Combat on 18 July 1944 and left Camp Lucky Strike in July of 1945. He landed on Utah Beach a little over a month after D Day so I would assume he was part of the 4ID replacements.
My maternal grandfather landed on Omaha on D+1 with 2ID. He had a big trunk full of war trophies that my uncle has now. I remember playing with the stuff as a kid thinking it was just cool old things. It wasn't until I went to Iraq that it really dawned on me what those cool things came from bodies and POWs...
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SC Fly Guy
Well-known member
There are no words … well, maybe two … YOU ****!!!I'm still in shock right now. Today I spotted this 1940's era handmade machinist treasure chest time capsule on Marketplace for $25. It was listed an hour before I seen it and apparently others had messaged before me but I managed to get there first. I literally dropped everything and got in the car as soon as I had the address. The seller even included this smaller box used for wallpaper, both made by the sellers father. This chest is very well constructed. It must weigh at least 80 pounds with the contents and I lugged it down to the basement for now. These were almost donated to Goodwill as apparently this seller had bad luck in the past even trying to give away things for free. I think the seller just wanted to pass some things on while also still keeping some of the other things his father made such as a seaman's chest.
Sales haven't been kind here lately. Got a free NOS condition tap and drill bit combo but otherwise haven't had any luck. Today though I ended up finally seeing tools but there's a catch.
The guy had some older hand tools, back to the 1930s, and some were in decent condition. I made a pile while talking to him about restoration work, he does cedar chest restorations while I do tools and mechanisms. Finally comes the bartering and he pulls out a little screwdriver and starts scratching at all the logos after I tell him what each one says. Scratches them up like a cat going to town on your new leather couch. Then he won't take anything less than eBay prices at which point I was already out since those scratches don't come out without removing material and I don't like having high polished tools from the 1930s that don't match the patina of the rest.
So question is, have any of you had an experience that made you give up the deals beyond the asking price? We share the good finds so might as well share some of the bad here too.
The guy had some older hand tools, back to the 1930s, and some were in decent condition. I made a pile while talking to him about restoration work, he does cedar chest restorations while I do tools and mechanisms. Finally comes the bartering and he pulls out a little screwdriver and starts scratching at all the logos after I tell him what each one says. Scratches them up like a cat going to town on your new leather couch. Then he won't take anything less than eBay prices at which point I was already out since those scratches don't come out without removing material and I don't like having high polished tools from the 1930s that don't match the patina of the rest.
So question is, have any of you had an experience that made you give up the deals beyond the asking price? We share the good finds so might as well share some of the bad here too.
That's actually insane. Maybe they thought you were out to resell when in reality you just wanted to share some knowledge about something you were passionate about. My experience has been the total opposite and generally people are happy to know that things are going to a good home.
seber
Well-known member
Railroad jack
My mistake. I thought it said Atwood. But it is a Simplex. For the record, railroad jacks are made for many things including lifting locomotives and cars back onto the rails. I watched it done in front of the station as a station agent (summer job). I'm sure glad I wasn't one of the ones trying to manage that monster.
My mistake. I thought it said Atwood. But it is a Simplex. For the record, railroad jacks are made for many things including lifting locomotives and cars back onto the rails. I watched it done in front of the station as a station agent (summer job). I'm sure glad I wasn't one of the ones trying to manage that monster.
I avoid telling sellers what they have, unless I’ve already decided not to buy. Couple times I’ve done different, it either cost me more money or the goodwill of the seller. Usually more money.
I like going out to sales with my wife, dad, or both, but they both suffer from telling sellers more than I would have them know.
I usually go with the reciprocal education/discussion path. If they're acting like they're interested then I'll share my knowledge and if they're interested in sharing theirs then I'll share mine. If neither is true then I'll keep it in my head.
Haven't had it really go bad but I usually end up doing a weird reverse role barter thing where I set their prices for them and they accept or I have to toss in an extra $5-10 on the lot. Being the "smartest/most confident" man in the room gives an occasionally unintentional advantage. Only issue is when a phone's at the ready and they're looking to reach for every dollar possible.
That kind of makes more sense now. Crudely scraping away just to make out what the brand or logo says as a misguided attempt to shake you down for more money.
Wow. You'd think a guy who restores cedar chests would have more compassion for old stuff...
Mike
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Two words: Jack , ***,...
I'd have asked him to stop as he's damaging what I want to buy.
When I get people quoting stupid $$ prices I just comment "you want this more than I do" and walk. If thy are clearly using E prey for pricing yard sale stuff I tell then "This Ain't Eprey" and walk. Sometimes they call me back and are more reasonable.
I've actually "trained" regular sellers/vendors to be more reasonable.
Beerhippie
Well-known member
Never volunteer!
I practice my poker face when buying. My mind may be going "Holy ****! I never thought I'd even see one, not to mention for that price!" while my face is saying "I'll give you hand getting rid of that."
If someone asks, I'll tell them what I know--except for little things like rarity.
The reply to "this ain't Ebay" around here is "I'm saving you shipping!".
Cruzan80
Well-known member
I am the same, with offering less info. If there is something I don't need, I will occasionally educate them on those items. Otherwise, once there is a solid asking price, or I have paid, then I will share what I know.
Or I will help them inconsequential things, like "Here is where the month/year of the toolbox is stamped" or things like that.
Or I will help them inconsequential things, like "Here is where the month/year of the toolbox is stamped" or things like that.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
"How many E-prey High bidders do ya think are coming to yard sales 'round here?"
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Outlawmws
Well-known member
The chromed DOE? Is it thin? if so its a tappet wrench.
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Yes it is!
Yes I needed another Ridgid wrenchrestore finds just now. Never seen a Craftsman wrench like this one before.
I'm not even going to ask why, but a 14-inch quality pipe wrench for $4 ***** all day long!
Mike
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Cause it’s GJ!
INSP380
Well-known member
Needed it like a hole in my head……but, 1/2 mi away and $10…can’t say no! N.O.S with paperwork…
Beerhippie
Well-known member
That looks somewhat familiar...Needed it like a hole in my head……but, 1/2 mi away and $10…can’t say no! N.O.S with paperwork…
Ah, there it is, alongside some other high-precision tools:
ctuai
Well-known member
Thrift store ($10): Stanley N944 thermos; Zojirushi SWGC26 thermos
Medicine Rock State Park, MT.
Back from vacation. Logged 4182 miles from Des Moines, IA - Drumheller, AB - Rampart Wilderness Hostel, AB - Richmond, BC - Anaconda, MT; Medicine Rock, MT; Des Moines, IA. Tried out my estate sale camping gear and the winners included the Coleman picnic table w/ 2 stools converted into tables; Coleman pocket stove; Kelly Handmade and Collins Hudson Bay axes; Coleman 220 lantern and a 30mm ammunition can that stored all my Coleman gear and fuel. If you've never been to Medicine Rock State Park in Montana it definitely worth the trip.
Funny how thermos technology has moved from 3 piece to 7 pieces, actually 8 as I forgot to move one more rubber seal.
Medicine Rock State Park, MT.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Pics of the stool conversions?
Beerhippie
Well-known member
Pictures of your camp?Thrift store ($10): Stanley N944 thermos; Zojirushi SWGC26 thermos
Back from vacation. Logged 4182 miles from Des Moines, IA - Drumheller, AB - Rampart Wilderness Hostel, AB - Richmond, BC - Anaconda, MT; Medicine Rock, MT; Des Moines, IA. Tried out my estate sale camping gear and the winners included the Coleman picnic table w/ 2 stools converted into tables; Coleman pocket stove; Kelly Handmade and Collins Hudson Bay axes; Coleman 220 lantern and a 30mm ammunition can that stored all my Coleman gear and fuel. If you've never been to Medicine Rock State Park in Montana it definitely worth the trip.Funny how thermos technology has moved from 3 piece to 7 pieces, actually 8 as I forgot to move one more rubber seal.
Medicine Rock State Park, MT.
Sounds like an amazing trip!
Needed it like a hole in my head……but, 1/2 mi away and $10…can’t say no! N.O.S with paperwork…
I still use mine! Great buy @ $10
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I'm fining this with an old 20's Coleman Gypsy stove I'm rebuilding. far simpler than the ones to follow, and way simper than the latest propane stoves. It may not be an instant start stove, but other than that even in setup, way simpler.
RTM
Well-known member
Here is another recent auction win, a set of Vaco nut drivers, in a pouch, from 3/16 to 1/2". The set is a K7 in a stand up roll case, sold from roughly 1965-69. My third set in about 4 weeks. This one was won first, and finally arrived today.
Also a Eagle Eaglet No 58 oiler, which they conveniently shipped full of what appeared to be ATF. I'm sure the Post Office was pleased.
Also a Eagle Eaglet No 58 oiler, which they conveniently shipped full of what appeared to be ATF. I'm sure the Post Office was pleased.
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Outlawmws
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