2025 Garage Sale Thread (14th Annual)

[Outlawmws]

Preidian Motorized Adjustable Power Wrench
Never seen one of these, bought it because it was interesting, and only $1

They have automated everything else, why not?

 

[NJ Marty]

Dropped it off at my friends.
Ill pick it up before he closes.

 

[ecotec]

Dropped it off at my friends.
Ill pick it up before he closes.

We are all waiting.

 

[Patrickm82]

You ain’t kidding @ecotec

 

[Old Radar]

I hit two really good looking estate sales today

You ****!

So, I went back to that sale today.

You **** again!

case

I saw what you did there...

 

[ecotec]

I used to see those Vulcan top boxes, in factories, for skilled trades… usually on something big enough not to get knocked over when pushed around.

 

[NJ Marty]

Well its open and almost all garbage, what a bummer. Its seems almost all tools worth keeping were etched, even the sockets. I made a trip to recycling center and tossed most of it.
Just dont have the time or want to deal with etched ****. Last pic is what I saved.

 

[Patrickm82]

BUMMER!!

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I got a little carried away watching football yesterday and didn’t post my meager finds. I got another lantern I didn’t need for $5. There was a whole bag of gold top mantles in the bottom of the box. I also picked up what I thought was a WWII ammo box. It’s been painted orange but it just seems a little too nice on the inside to be that old. What say you experts?? I gave $3 for it.

 

[Outlawmws]

Looks like Duct tape residue, I just used Goof Off to good success removing some I stuck on a bumper for a "temporary" installation...

I kinda like the orange on the ammo box, and I like the side latch... How's the lid gasket?

 

[Jacobs976]

Went by the tool guy today and picked up a few things. Left behind a stainless steel precision protractor with a pivoting straight edge to measure after forming I guess. Basically set protractor on workpiece then pivot arm till resting against the edge of workpiece. Not really sure of the point but I didn't need it so I left it behind.






55MM wrench, some foreign giant assembly wrench like the one that comes with your chainsaw. It's a Netsuren M36, apparently a good Japanese brand although I'm just researching a bit now. At least Japanese based regardless.
Williams adjustable pliers
Wright 10 point 7/16 square socket 1/2 drive(confused on this one, kinda double square then normal 1/2 drive, no ten I can see just 8 points)
Utica duckbill pliers to add to the hoard
Snap On 3/4 extension(1942 code?)
Elgin "Lobster Claw" adjustable alligator wrench
Williams 1-3/8 1-1/4 DOE

Total of $15 in the end. Tried haggling on sticker price but he gave me a lot price then immediately lowered it and I accepted. Also threw in three free hats(Nissan made, identical triplets) to sweeten the deal. He's always either super quick to make a deal or very serious about every 50¢ off sticker price, never know which till it's time to haggle.

Also someone lost a brake caliber bolt and the work van's tyre found it on the last turn to the customers to unload. Got it back up to 20psi(supposed to be 80 but anything over 20 was out as soon as it was in)and made it to the only mech shop within 30 minutes of town, luckily this one was only 5 minutes, after unloading. Got two patches, one failed, and then back to my shop to await a new tyre. It cost a whole $20 for the patch, $20 for gratuity, and $200 for the new tyre Wednesday.

(Dramatic rendering of the suspect)

Was there for about an hour and I was bored so when I noticed used wheel weights all over the yard I ended up cleaning the whole yard. Trash and rusty fasteners went in a rubbish pile they had by the door, weights went in my pocket(plus a copper washer I was flipping when we were done).

I did get caught on camera. One of the workers was watching me on the security cameras from the office and seen me walking all over and sitting a nut on the roll bed so he came out to see what I was doing. Told him I was picking up trash and scrap zinc and that I set a nut on the truck in case it was from it and ended up helping him look around to see if it matched the air system that was leaking or something else on the truck. We didn't figure it out. He did toss it in the cab so he'll figure it out or he got an extra nut, it still had its plating like new so it's usable for something either way.

Anyhow free wheel weights, mix of iron and zinc. Managed 6 Oz plus 1/4 oz from Goodwill when I stepped out of the van and the four separate ones that are not legible and probably 1.0oz clip on style also from the yard but not counted to total.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Looks like Duct tape residue, I just used Goof Off to good success removing some I stuck on a bumper for a "temporary" installation...

I kinda like the orange on the ammo box, and I like the side latch... How's the lid gasket?

It seems pretty good

 

[Outlawmws]

I made a trip to recycling center and tossed most of it.

Well a few bits of hardware (Hose clamp, screw, and cotter pin at least) probably had the bad tipped drivers saw some slip joints.

Its actually pretty clean inside. too ad "RED" had to scribe on so many...

I think we missed some old wheel weights and alignment shims...

 

[ecotec]

Went by the tool guy today and picked up a few things. Left behind a stainless steel precision protractor with a pivoting straight edge to measure after forming I guess. Basically set protractor on workpiece then pivot arm till resting against the edge of workpiece. Not really sure of the point but I didn't need it so I left it behind.






55MM wrench, some foreign giant assembly wrench like the one that comes with your chainsaw
Williams adjustable pliers
Wright 10 point 7/16 square socket 1/2 drive(confused on this one, kinda double square then normal 1/2 drive, no ten I can see just 8 points)
Utica duckbill pliers to add to the hoard
Snap On 3/4 extension(1942 code?)
Elgin "Lobster Claw" adjustable alligator wrench
Williams 1-3/8 1-1/4 DOE

Total of $15 in the end. Tried haggling on sticker price but he gave me a lot price then immediately lowered it and I accepted. Also threw in three free hats(Nissan made, identical triplets) to sweeten the deal. He's always either super quick to make a deal or very serious about every 50¢ off sticker price, never know which till it's time to haggle.

Also someone lost a brake caliber bolt and the work van's tyre found it on the last turn to the customers to unload. Got it back up to 20psi(supposed to be 80 but anything over 20 was out as soon as it was in)and made it to the only mech shop within 30 minutes of town, luckily this one was only 5 minutes, after unloading. Got two patches, one failed, and then back to my shop to await a new tyre. It cost a whole $20 for the patch, $20 for gratuity, and $200 for the new tyre Wednesday.

(Dramatic rendering of the suspect)

Was there for about an hour and I was bored so when I noticed used wheel weights all over the yard I ended up cleaning the whole yard. Trash and rusty fasteners went in a rubbish pile they had by the door, weights went in my pocket(plus a copper washer I was flipping when we were done).

I did get caught on camera. One of the workers was watching me on the security cameras from the office and seen me walking all over and sitting a nut on the roll bed so he came out to see what I was doing. Told him I was picking up trash and scrap zinc and that I set a nut on the truck in case it was from it and ended up helping him look around to see if it matched the air system that was leaking or something else on the truck. We didn't figure it out. He did toss it in the cab so he'll figure it out or he got an extra nut, it still had its plating like new so it's usable for something either way.

Anyhow free wheel weights, mix of iron and zinc. Managed 6 Oz plus 1/4 oz from Goodwill when I stepped out of the van and the four separate ones that are not legible and probably 1.0oz clip on style also from the yard but not counted to total.

I know of the two 10pt sockets (8mm and 10mm) for Honda seat rails, but I don’t know what 10pt SAE is for.

Someone here always knows.

 

[Snaparxon]

I know of the two 10pt sockets (8mm and 10mm) for Honda seat rails, but I don’t know what 10pt SAE is for.

Someone here always knows.

10 pt was a Wright thing, would work on 4pt, 6pt and 8pt fasteners.

Wright Tools : Catalog 57 : Wright Tool & Forge Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

24 p., illus., 27.7 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[3baygarage]

Idk Marty. I see some good stuff in there. A couple Vulcan too.

 

[NJ Marty]

Idk Marty. I see some good stuff in there. A couple Vulcan too.

I saved all the Vulcan. The impact are all Vulcan and the cool little spinner is also.

 

[Jacobs976]

10 pt was a Wright thing, would work on 4pt, 6pt and 8pt fasteners.

Wright Tools : Catalog 57 : Wright Tool & Forge Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

24 p., illus., 27.7 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

So basically transition of 6 to 12 point, probably decent in-between strength wise. "10 Point" refers to 4+6 from the 4 point and 6 point fasteners instead of the 8 points on the actual socket, I get the point but without context the 2 points are lost on me.

 

[NJ Marty]

Well a few bits of hardware (Hose clamp, screw, and cotter pin at least) probably had the bad tipped drivers saw some slip joints.

Its actually pretty clean inside. too ad "RED" had to scribe on so many...

I think we missed some old wheel weights and alignment shims...

Ill bet Red got a Craftsman rotary electric tool for Christmas and scribed away. Just looking for anything to scribe. My buddy last week bought a huge pile of snap on, every tool was scribed.
And no glass cutter to be found in the Vulcan.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

I went to this massive estate sales this weekend looking to get the tall Vidmars and a metal brake.

Estate Sale at Hicks Airfield: Mopar, Tools... starts on 9/11/2025

View information about this sale in Haslet, TX. The sale starts Thursday, September 11 and runs through Sunday, September 14. It is being run by Kazen Property Rescue Services.

www.estatesales.net

When I pulled up I see the lady across the street loading up 2 MASSIVE cane corso dogs and what looked to be puppies in a tote. I ran over there and asked her what was going on with the dogs and she told me they were pure bred ICCF AKC registered puppies with papers and they were heading up to Lowe's to try and sell them. I asked her how much for the dogs and she said $500 each! I have been looking for one of these dogs for about 6 months but every good one i have found with papers has been $2k or up. So after dumping my estate sale money I ended up with a soon to be giant shop dog instead of a Vidmar.


Hopefully it still counts as a garage sale find!

 

[RTM]

So after dumping my estate sale money I ended up with a soon to be giant shop dog instead of a Vidmar.

Hope it ends up being a sweetie like the Cane Corso / Rottweiler mix we ran into today.

 

[RTM]

I also picked up what I thought was a WWII ammo box. It’s been painted orange but it just seems a little too nice on the inside to be that old. What say you experts?? I gave $3 for it

My dad had a similar side loading box like that when I was a kid back in the late 60s is my earliest memory of it. I don’t recall if I kept it when we cleaned out his garage, or if my brother took it. Don’t remember the inside being that nice.

I’ve only seen one or two other in that style in 25+ years of garage sailing. Have bought the other style about 6x now.

 

[d42jeep]

I got a little carried away watching football yesterday and didn’t post my meager finds. I got another lantern I didn’t need for $5. There was a whole bag of gold top mantles in the bottom of the box. I also picked up what I thought was a WWII ammo box. It’s been painted orange but it just seems a little too nice on the inside to be that old. What say you experts?? I gave $3 for it.

I believe the ammo box to be WW2 with the Ordnance logo. I even have an orange one.
Ammo boxes in my basement.
-Don

 

[seber]

Went by the tool guy today and picked up a few things. Left behind a stainless steel precision protractor with a pivoting straight edge to measure after forming I guess. Basically set protractor on workpiece then pivot arm till resting against the edge of workpiece. Not really sure of the point but I didn't need it so I left it behind.






55MM wrench, some foreign giant assembly wrench like the one that comes with your chainsaw. It's a Netsuren M36, apparently a good Japanese brand although I'm just researching a bit now. At least Japanese based regardless.
Williams adjustable pliers
Wright 10 point 7/16 square socket 1/2 drive(confused on this one, kinda double square then normal 1/2 drive, no ten I can see just 8 points)
Utica duckbill pliers to add to the hoard
Snap On 3/4 extension(1942 code?)
Elgin "Lobster Claw" adjustable alligator wrench
Williams 1-3/8 1-1/4 DOE

Total of $15 in the end. Tried haggling on sticker price but he gave me a lot price then immediately lowered it and I accepted. Also threw in three free hats(Nissan made, identical triplets) to sweeten the deal. He's always either super quick to make a deal or very serious about every 50¢ off sticker price, never know which till it's time to haggle.

Also someone lost a brake caliber bolt and the work van's tyre found it on the last turn to the customers to unload. Got it back up to 20psi(supposed to be 80 but anything over 20 was out as soon as it was in)and made it to the only mech shop within 30 minutes of town, luckily this one was only 5 minutes, after unloading. Got two patches, one failed, and then back to my shop to await a new tyre. It cost a whole $20 for the patch, $20 for gratuity, and $200 for the new tyre Wednesday.

(Dramatic rendering of the suspect)

Was there for about an hour and I was bored so when I noticed used wheel weights all over the yard I ended up cleaning the whole yard. Trash and rusty fasteners went in a rubbish pile they had by the door, weights went in my pocket(plus a copper washer I was flipping when we were done).

I did get caught on camera. One of the workers was watching me on the security cameras from the office and seen me walking all over and sitting a nut on the roll bed so he came out to see what I was doing. Told him I was picking up trash and scrap zinc and that I set a nut on the truck in case it was from it and ended up helping him look around to see if it matched the air system that was leaking or something else on the truck. We didn't figure it out. He did toss it in the cab so he'll figure it out or he got an extra nut, it still had its plating like new so it's usable for something either way.

Anyhow free wheel weights, mix of iron and zinc. Managed 6 Oz plus 1/4 oz from Goodwill when I stepped out of the van and the four separate ones that are not legible and probably 1.0oz clip on style also from the yard but not counted to total.

What do you use the zinc for? I have a few dozen five pound ingots from the castoff after melting lead wheel weights. Recyclers won't even take them around here.

 

[bmwrd0]

I went to this massive estate sales this weekend looking to get the tall Vidmars and a metal brake.

Estate Sale at Hicks Airfield: Mopar, Tools... starts on 9/11/2025

View information about this sale in Haslet, TX. The sale starts Thursday, September 11 and runs through Sunday, September 14. It is being run by Kazen Property Rescue Services.

www.estatesales.net

When I pulled up I see the lady across the street loading up 2 MASSIVE cane corso dogs and what looked to be puppies in a tote. I ran over there and asked her what was going on with the dogs and she told me they were pure bred ICCF AKC registered puppies with papers and they were heading up to Lowe's to try and sell them. I asked her how much for the dogs and she said $500 each! I have been looking for one of these dogs for about 6 months but every good one i have found with papers has been $2k or up. So after dumping my estate sale money I ended up with a soon to be giant shop dog instead of a Vidmar.


Hopefully it still counts as a garage sale find!

I have a friend with one, and she found it pretty much the same way. Great dog, big as houses, as they say. Also, a real wiggle-****.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I believe the ammo box to be WW2 with the Ordnance logo. I even have an orange one.
Ammo boxes in my basement.
-Don

Interesting. In my military time they painted ammo boxes and cans orange when they were a "lite box" or being less than full. Do you know what they used to secure the flap on the latching mechanism? This one won't stay latched on its own.

 

[Jacobs976]

What do you use the zinc for? I have a few dozen five pound ingots from the castoff after melting lead wheel weights. Recyclers won't even take them around here.

I only grabbed them because I was curious how much weight was actually there but they can be used for sacrificial anodes or for alloying if you wanted to try playing with copper for casting.

I'd recommend trying to cast the zinc into standard anodes for boats if you live in an area with decent activity. Fishing weights are another option but it's pretty time intensive without industrial equipment.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

Hope it ends up being a sweetie like the Cane Corso / Rottweiler mix we ran into today.

He will be! This isn't my first rodeo with aggressive breeds. I take them to work every day and since I own a small car lot they meet a lot of people. Just today strangers were playing with him and he was having a blast! You got to get them out of the mindset that all humans are evil!

My last akita was off leash trained and you could have probably walked through Lowes with him by your side off leash with no issues. I never tried doing that in public places because things can be unpredictable especially with out of control dogs that people take everywhere.

I have a friend with one, and she found it pretty much the same way. Great dog, big as houses, as they say. Also, a real wiggle-****.

I like how you said houses! Yes he will be bigger then multiple houses!

 

[bmwrd0]

Yeah, her Cane is 9mo's old and 140 pounds.

 

[Jacobs976]

I went to this massive estate sales this weekend looking to get the tall Vidmars and a metal brake.

Estate Sale at Hicks Airfield: Mopar, Tools... starts on 9/11/2025

View information about this sale in Haslet, TX. The sale starts Thursday, September 11 and runs through Sunday, September 14. It is being run by Kazen Property Rescue Services.

www.estatesales.net

When I pulled up I see the lady across the street loading up 2 MASSIVE cane corso dogs and what looked to be puppies in a tote. I ran over there and asked her what was going on with the dogs and she told me they were pure bred ICCF AKC registered puppies with papers and they were heading up to Lowe's to try and sell them. I asked her how much for the dogs and she said $500 each! I have been looking for one of these dogs for about 6 months but every good one i have found with papers has been $2k or up. So after dumping my estate sale money I ended up with a soon to be giant shop dog instead of a Vidmar.


Hopefully it still counts as a garage sale find!

I can't remember what he was in but the masked star of some horror movie, think it might've been Micheal or Jason, also named Cain in real life breeds competition cane corsos in Ohio. On the larger side of the breed, they're the giants that make adults look like children.

Met him probably 13 years ago with my mother and he'd message her every couple weeks asking if she wanted to come over to play with them or go to dinner for a year or two, now just every 3-6 months. The husbands might've been an issue but apparently they're good wingmen like the police German Shepherds in most cases.

 

[unkqty]

ah, the gems one can find old homestead sales...
previous owner ran a welding shop for decades.

been chasing one of these for >10 yrs.
the few examples that have popped up bring a premium or are totally destroyed.
"mousehole" anvils are considered good quality.
this one could use a bit of work but will serve as a good starting point.
per trademark it dates from late 1800s/early 1900s
1 0 15 is weight per the british hundredweight system
1 = 112 lbs
0 = (no quarters (28 lbs))
13 = 13 additional lbs
total = 125 lbs. - a farrier's anvil

could use a bit of tuning up and cost more than i wanted but at least now i have it.
for more: https://forgingworld.com/mousehole-anvil/

also scored a load of various types of welding and brazing rod for $35.
that should keep me stocked for next several years.

 

[mikeinri]

Wow, that's really cool, @unkqty! How does one "tune up" an anvil???

Mike

 

[Beerhippie]

Wow, that's really cool, @unkqty! How does one "tune up" an anvil???

Mike

First, you have to set the fool/air mixture....

 

[ctuai]

Online local auction ($341.55): Pryor 1.5mm steel type Schmidt steel type; 2 x Pryor manual numbering head; 4x Schmidt manual style steel type holder; Schmidt press style steel type holder; 1/4" Greenfield stamps; 3/8" Stamps; Ultrego 2x Fairbanks Scale; 10x Fulton 906 flashlight w/ continuity tester; Dent puller; 4x Spears 3629-015 ball valve; 2x Taco 006-ST8Y cartridge circulator; King Instrument flowmeter; Uline 24" x 175' packing foam; TI 5TI Programmer and simulator; Sioux 1/2" air impact wrench; Nylon wheel brushes; Glass tube 3' x 3"; Alfagomma 100' abrasive hose

My wife asks me if I'd seen the flyer she was holding for the auction of 2000+ items from the Danfoss machine shop in Ames. 6 days later I've placed 80 bids and won 15. In hindsight, the win was in what I lost. I go to Danfoss to pick up the gear and was immediately struck by how BIG everything is. I've never been inside an industrial machine shop. As I walk by the Baldor 8102W 220v grinder and stand, Wilton 400s vise; Enerpac Turbo II punch cylinder and other pieces I had lost, I realized that how massively heavy this gear is and how lucky I was not to have to stuff it into the back of my car ​

​

A lot of work to prepare for this auction, which was a ton of fun, but I'm not sure that it was worth the time. Probably make it all back on the two Taco circulator. Couldn't pass up on the TI 5TI PLC and simulator, though I'm disappointed that I just can't plug it in. Don't know what I'm going to do with the glass tube for $1 couldn't say no. Surprise odd pieces, like the Pryor manual numbering head metal stamp goes for a $1000 new. Crazy.​

Here's the breakdown if you're interested. Losing lot 593 was a huge relief. In the auction listing it describes some desktop surface measuring device, which had a ton of value, but very difficult to sell. Also pictured are two Mahr Pocket Surfs, which retail at $2600 and go regularly on fleabay for $1000+. Trouble was is that they never show inside the cases. I bid $225 and lost by a large margin. I show up just as the winner finds out the boxes were empty .

 

[Outlawmws]

So the free bar clamp from Saturday had some rust spots, and i went to wire wheel those off. That was when I released the clamp screw is rusted in place! So a real test for Kroil! giving it overnight and then see where we are.

 

[unkqty]

Wow, that's really cool, @unkqty! How does one "tune up" an anvil???

Mike

one example:

 

[WisJim]

We stopped at a sale on the way home from the gym this morning, and the wife got a bag of Hot Wheels cars for the grandson who is excited about collecting them, and I got a baggie of drill bits and a Disston D-8 later model saw. I spent $9, and the 5 biggest bits were unused, and some of the smaller were still in the packages. All "Made in USA", with old copyright dates on the packages. And the 1/2, 31/64, and 15/32 bits filled some empty spots in one of my drill sets.

 

[Beerhippie]

We stopped at a sale on the way home from the gym this morning, and the wife got a bag of Hot Wheels cars for the grandson who, and I got a baggie of drill bits and a Disston D-8 later model saw. I spent $9, and the 5 biggest bits were unused, and some of the smaller were still in the packages. All "Made in USA", with old copyright dates on the packages. And the 1/2, 31/64, and 15/32 bits filled some empty spots in one of my drill sets.

The $4 Disston alone is suckage!

Might want to check out older Hot Wheels cars--some are quite pricey--like hundreds of $$.

 

[WisJim]

@Beerhippie , I usually don't spend too much on saws--they often go cheap around here at garage sales. The grandson (age 8) is pretty savvy on Hot Wheels and similar toy car values. He goes to their local flea market regularly and often comes home with collectible new-in-package cars, and we have his "want list" to look for. And he looks for Yankee and similar spiral screwdrivers for me.

 

[Beerhippie]

@Beerhippie , I usually don't spend too much on saws--they often go cheap around here at garage sales. The grandson (age 8) is pretty savvy on Hot Wheels and similar toy car values. He goes to their local flea market regularly and often comes home with collectible new-in-package cars, and we have his "want list" to look for. And he looks for Yankee and similar spiral screwdrivers for me.

Sounds like he's a keeper!