2025 Garage Sale Thread (14th Annual)

[MercLSU]

I don't get to go to sales much anymore, but today was able to stop at a garage sale on the way back to work. I picked up a Flextail pump, Victorinox multitool, and a Milwaukee impact for $35. The pump and the impact look unused and the multitool has seen some light use.



Not sure if it counts for this thread but I'll post it anyway. Two weeks ago a neighbor three doors down threw out a John Deere X354. It had been sitting for a while but with a wash, seat, battery, tire reseat, and carb cleaning it purrs like a kitten. 71 hours, kawasaki engine, four wheel steer, all the bells and whistles that my D160 doesn't have.

 

[Beerhippie]

When my neighbors throw stuff out, it stays thrown out.

 

[Levaughn]

These are items I picked up today at an Estate Sale for $20.

- Craftsman 1/4 Inch Extension Driver
- Craftsman 1/4 Inch Extension Four Inch
- (2) Craftsman Extensions 3/8 - 1/2
- Craftsman 3/8 Universal
- Craftsman Socket Adapters (3)
- Craftsman Punch
- Craftsman 3/8-7/16 DOE Wrench
- Yankee Ratcheting Reversible Screwdriver
- Johnston Jack Knife
- B&D Torx Bits

 

[ctuai]

Estate sale ($30): 2 - 2 gal. polyglass water softener/filters; Pexto 8" draw knife; William Schmidt Co. (Oslo) sweater; Sunlamp.

 

[knock knock]

Was a hot day here stopped at a sale $20 for all. Couple of snap on goodie. Never owned a monkey wrench till today.

 

[Shocker]

I rarely hit up garage sales. I have never found anything of worth. Either the "tools" are waaaay overpriced or it is a big nothing burger.

We went up to see our grand kids a few weeks ago and they had their annual neighborhood sales. My daughter wanted to go around and check the stuff out so I went along.

I found 2 things, she found some sports jerseys. Here is what I managed to get.

The classic Trusco blue tool box. Came from a guy who does specialty packaging for various companies and they shipped stuff in those tool boxes. Looks like Fuji Machinery. Got it for $1

The black box was at another stop. Grandpa's tool box. Full of stuff. $15. I haven't had time to go through it yet.



Inside Trusco box


Inside black cantilever box

 

[Beerhippie]

Pardon me, @Shocker , but it appears that you ****.

 

[Patrickm82]

I don't get to go to sales much anymore, but today was able to stop at a garage sale on the way back to work. I picked up a Flextail pump, Victorinox multitool, and a Milwaukee impact for $35. The pump and the impact look unused and the multitool has seen some light use.



Not sure if it counts for this thread but I'll post it anyway. Two weeks ago a neighbor three doors down threw out a John Deere X354. It had been sitting for a while but with a wash, seat, battery, tire reseat, and carb cleaning it purrs like a kitten. 71 hours, kawasaki engine, four wheel steer, all the bells and whistles that my D160 doesn't have.

You **** huge for that one Merc!! Awesome looking tractor.

 

[d42jeep]

I was thinking of passing on the one likely sale I saw on Craigslist but my co-pilot felt like going for a ride so off we went to Minden, NV. The first sale was a bust but the estate sale was a winner. There was even an odd monkey wrench I hadn’t seen before. Here are a few pictures of the tools we found at that sale.
Xcelite tools.
Other brands.
Wrenches and misc tools.
We spotted a picked over TOO estate sale in Carson City and found a few pieces.
Tne next sale was listed as a moving sale. My wife found a screwball ratcheting screwdriver and I found a Craftsman screwdriver.
Topped up the gas tank and headed for home. After picking up some groceries, we spotted a TOO garage sale pretty close to home. I found one ziplock bag with mostly sockets and paid the asking price after a failed negotiation. It turned out to be a relative bargain.
-Don

 

[zanyad]

a really nice shop-built aluminum case

That sure is a nice one!

Flextail pump, Victorinox multitool, and a Milwaukee impact for $35. The pump and the impact look unused and the multitool has seen some light use.

Wow. You ****!

These are items I picked up today at an Estate Sale for $20.

You ****!

found 2 things

You ****!

 

[four.cycle]

WOW. Your "odd monkey wrench" looks familiar. Not a lot of those around.

 

[RTM]

Here are a few pictures of the tools we found at that sale.

That brace wrench is unique, and looks complete. Nice get.

 

[ecotec]

All of this was $25 at a garage sale.

I am too exhausted to list it all. I am most excited about the Cleveland Twist Drill stand.

 

[d42jeep]

That is a “you ****” haul. I have that drill stand as well.
-Don

 

[Patrickm82]

You **** for that haul @ecotec very nice. I think I have that stand as well!

 

[Patrickm82]

Here’s a few things I picked up this weekend. Friday after work I spotted a TOO and grab these couple of things, then he told me to come back today he would have some new stuff out.

Friday $3
Craftsman =v= double box
Craftsman #3 Phillips. I love those handles!
Craftsman 1/4” bit driver

Today for $15
Craftsman 1/4” socket set with some extras
Proto LA 4” adjustable
Socket magnets
SK 1/4” deep socket 1/4” drive
2 blue point supreme double open ends
A nice Duralast short flex wrench
A bunch of KD USA nut drivers mix of standard and metric.


Another stop $5 for a cool Norton grinder wheel holder

 

[gearhead1960]

SWMBO wanted a last stab at the Estate Sale I was at for the last 2 days....making this day 3. I had my eye on a couple of corded Milwaukee power hand tools. They wanted too much on the 1st and 2nd day, but if still there today I was going to pull the trigger on at least one of them.....came home with this...



for $22.50 and came with some extra goodies....

While not pristine, it's not meant to be a closet queen....

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Had to go down about 2 miles of dirt road in my freshly washed truck but the pair of vises for $50 was worth it. Rock Island 4-1/2” and Reed 4”.

 

[mikeinri]

This is the first cut in the tool box of keeper stuff…

Mixture of Craftsman, Mac, Snap-on, Plomb, and Thorsen. Some may yet find its way to the YS or resale pile.

Here is the discard pile slated for next month’s neighborhood YS.

…mostly Chinesium from Lowe’s or HF.

You ****!

Drawing the line is correct. I've given piles of stuff away that came in lots I bought just to get one item. If you can't make a couple pennies off the stuff, or get tired of dragging it to flea markets and swap meets, the local Goodwill or ReStore gets what we consider some "good stuff". Ultimately it probably ends up as scrap metal. You may think another collector might want the stuff, but I've found (even here) its sometimes almost impossible to give stuff away, even with free shipping. I've also NOT bought piles just to not have to deal with all of what I consider scrap. Guess I'm at the point of purging. Classifieds in the future might show so.

That said, anyone wanting some of the stuff I've collected, send me a pm. Not sure I'm ready to cut the Bonney loose just yet, but everything else gets gone.

PM inbound...

I don't get to go to sales much anymore, but today was able to stop at a garage sale on the way back to work. I picked up a Flextail pump, Victorinox multitool, and a Milwaukee impact for $35. The pump and the impact look unused and the multitool has seen some light use.



Not sure if it counts for this thread but I'll post it anyway. Two weeks ago a neighbor three doors down threw out a John Deere X354. It had been sitting for a while but with a wash, seat, battery, tire reseat, and carb cleaning it purrs like a kitten. 71 hours, kawasaki engine, four wheel steer, all the bells and whistles that my D160 doesn't have.

Free John Deere tractor with 71 hours and AWS??? YOU ****!!!!! One of the best ones of the year!

All of this was $25 at a garage sale.

I am too exhausted to list it all. I am most excited about the Cleveland Twist Drill stand.

You ****!

SWMBO wanted a last stab at the Estate Sale I was at for the last 2 days....making this day 3. I had my eye on a couple of corded Milwaukee power hand tools. They wanted too much on the 1st and 2nd day, but if still there today I was going to pull the trigger on at least one of them.....came home with this...



for $22.50 and came with some extra goodies....

While not pristine, it's not meant to be a closet queen....

You ****, nice find!


Mike

 

[tiredoldironworker]

Gearhead1960 be very careful using that drill. TWO of my ironworkers have had to go to ER after experiencing the massive torque they have. Yeah back in the day when that was built there weren't any nanny clutches on them! PS it's still one of my most favored drills. It will not stop! Twist lok cord is another plus. Use that side handle for 1/4 and above!

 

[gearhead1960]

Gearhead1960 be very careful using that drill. TWO of my ironworkers have had to go to ER after experiencing the massive torque they have. Yeah back in the day when that was built there weren't any nanny clutches on them! PS it's still one of my most favored drills. It will not stop! Twist lok cord is another plus. Use that side handle for 1/4 and above!

Yeah, I’ve been warned

 

[Beerhippie]

Gearhead1960 be very careful using that drill. TWO of my ironworkers have had to go to ER after experiencing the massive torque they have. Yeah back in the day when that was built there weren't any nanny clutches on them! PS it's still one of my most favored drills. It will not stop! Twist lok cord is another plus. Use that side handle for 1/4 and above!

Yep, they are deceptive. A Hole Shooter or Hole Hawg kinda' announces "I will hurt you!", but the pistol handle just looks friendly. It isn't. Be especially careful if you ever need to use it left-handed, as you'll lock the trigger on without knowing it.

Mixed a lot of mud and grout with those.

Correction: That one is newer, without the lock button on the left-hand side of the grip. Ignore the left-handed remark above.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Last day of a 3 day sale, everything was 25 percent off. Spent 16 bucks.
Vintage fuses for my electrician buddy. The Kwikset knob had the paperwork from a hardware store in Michigan inside the box.

 

[alinc100]

Last day of a 3 day sale, everything was 25 percent off. Spent 16 bucks.
Vintage fuses for my electrician buddy. The Kwikset knob had the paperwork from a hardware store in Michigan inside the box.

Jeff, which hardware? Maybe I've been there.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Jeff, which hardware? Maybe I've been there.

It was a V&S store back then, searching the address tells me it was ACO hardware before it closed.

 

[JMP]

SWMBO wanted a last stab at the Estate Sale I was at for the last 2 days....making this day 3. I had my eye on a couple of corded Milwaukee power hand tools. They wanted too much on the 1st and 2nd day, but if still there today I was going to pull the trigger on at least one of them.....came home with this...



for $22.50 and came with some extra goodies....

While not pristine, it's not meant to be a closet queen....

I have the same drill and case!

 

[bmwrd0]

I hit three sales today (I was going to go to five) and one was OK, the second was excellent, and the third was a waste of time.

First sale was of a rancher who was retiring, and I got a Duro-Chrome ratchet, Armstrong socket, Stanley #68 ruler, and lathe tool post rocker for $4.


Second sale was a place I had been too a garage sale at before, but now was a full blown estate sale. First thing I spotted was the tool box, which was full of tools but didn't have the original tray, but I found that in a greenhouse out back. And while doing a deep search for it, I found the spud collimator and Leg O Mutton case. But here is why I wanted the tool box:

couldn't believe it was still there on the second day, or any of this stuff, really. I paid up for all of it, but they were willing to deal, so that was nice.

Oh, here is what was in the box:

Usual junk, but I have found some good stuff in there. I don't have time to go through it today, but will report back tomorrow.

 

[RTM]

. I am most excited about the Cleveland Twist Drill stand.

It's fractional, I would be too, nice get

 

[Provincial]

***** for MercLSU, ecotec, gearhead160, and bmw.

 

[Stubby1743]

Five minuets down the road to my local car boot sale this morning gained me some nice bits.



A partial Craftsman BE 1/4" drive set in the correct Craftsman black crackle paint box with the remains of a "Craftsman Tools" decal in the inside of the lid.

Other sockets were in the box. A mix of 1/4" drive King **** BA, Whit and double sq, sockets. A mix of 9/32" drive King **** BA and AF sockets. A 9/32" socket with no size or makers markings. A Britool M91 9/32" drive universal joint with UK Govt. property mark but no date.

A Belzer German made adjustable. Marked wit just Germany on the reverse and so will be post German reunification in 1989.

8mm Halfords Professional 8mm combi. In unused condition.

11mm Snap-on Canada combi. In unused condition. I'm always please to find Canaidian Snap-on.

Two packs of genuine new old stock X-Acto blades. One for a No. handle and one for a No.2.

£5.50 all in from three different sellers. Pretty pleased with that.

 

[3baygarage]

Nice haul Stubby!

 

[LesserSon]

Solo run to Jake’s Flea this morning. $14 brought home a late Craftsman heritage chest (w attached underlid photo), Pullsaw blade, two small drill stands, Walden Worchester 1/4dr socket, three Bonney 1/4dr sockets, and a tree stand harness (which I intend to modify into a deer drag harness).
The chest was a garage flood survivor, still full of mud. However, it’s young enough to have removeable slides, so I should be able to access every crevice.

EDIT - all apart, cleaned, and reassembled - ready to sit on a bench.

 

[Beerhippie]

When my neighbors throw stuff out, it stays thrown out.

I should elaborate: When my neighbors thin something is garbage, it is. Rural folks out here mostly use stuff to the last inch of its life. OTOH, an estate sale in the rural parts of the county is well worth attending.

Head up the hill to where the McMansions live and it's a different story. Of course, they rarely have anything worth the trouble to salvage. Seems the wealthier classes don't have much in the way of nice tools and gear--just their houses and cars. Yard/garage sales up there tend to be just depressing.

 

[four.cycle]

Five minuets

Minuets in Long C?

 

[ecotec]

I should elaborate: When my neighbors thin something is garbage, it is. Rural folks out here mostly use stuff to the last inch of its life. OTOH, an estate sale in the rural parts of the county is well worth attending.

Head up the hill to where the McMansions live and it's a different story. Of course, they rarely have anything worth the trouble to salvage. Seems the wealthier classes don't have much in the way of nice tools and gear--just their houses and cars. Yard/garage sales up there tend to be just depressing.

I rarely find much where the very wealthy live or in very rural areas. I do best in working class suburbs.

There are exceptions.

 

[four.cycle]

(w attached underlid photo),

WOW.

you got some serious provenance there, buddy.

 

[Beerhippie]

I rarely find much where the very wealthy live or in very rural areas. I do best in working class suburbs.

There are exceptions.

Yard/barn sales in the rural parts tend to be pretty sparse. As I mentioned, these folks use things beyond the point of not being useful. But estate sales, when the kids inherit the farm or ranch and have no intention of being farmers or ranchers (see Tragedy of the third generation)... those can be bonanzas, sad as it is.

Then the ranch/farm becomes five-acre-ranchettes and start growing more McMansions....

 

[Patrickm82]

Slow day today, just one stop. It was day 2 of an estate sale that had pretty well picked over. Here’s what $20 got me;

NOS craftsman hand plane, with some light rust
New Klein jab saw
Pack of disposable gloves
Brand new moving blanket
A couple of 1x30 belts

 

[JMP]

Estate sale a distance away outside of town. Nice day for a drive. Apparently they were open for 4 or 5 days already and today everything was 60% off. Spent a total of $40.

-Wood boring bits
-Craftsman Reed & Prince
-Deburring tool handle (needs blade)
-Needle files (Nicholson + Swiss made riffler file)
-New Britain custom offset T15
-Misc. Apex bits with case
-SK 47140 1-1/4in 3/4" drive 12 point socket
-Heel & Toe rivet bucking bar
-Blue Point red offset shears



Knee pads



Machinist references and a Lincoln Lubrigun.


Not planning of keeping most of these wrenches. I'll keep the square head lathe wrenches and likely sell the rest.



Heavy tote half full of wire and old computer cables. Useful bits I'll keep but a lot will likely be scrap. Nice bundle (easily 100ft) of 16/2 heater cord here so I'd say I got my monies worth out of this for $6. I already have another full tote that looks just like this that I still need to go through yet.



What a mess. The contents appear to be a near clone of my horde of cables.



Man I miss Radio Shack. This is definitely a keeper.

 

[3baygarage]

Small pawn shop haul last week. Picked up another 3/8 Snap-On ratchet. Also a Snap-On 24mm 3/8” impact that must have slipped by someone into the general population sockets. That about made my day.
Zubiondo(Spain) adjustable, 1/4 and 3/8 no name China thumbwheel ratchets, Taiwan pin spanner, Dunlap tack puller, Urrea socket, Proto socket and wrench, Expert 6mm swivel, unmarked puller tip.