2026 Garage Sale Thread (15th Annual)

[gearhead1960]

This happened today.....

Picked this 1998 Ford Ranger Supercab 126" WB XLT (120,000 miles) today for................ $70. Have a friend (Lawyer) that is a court appointed conservator/executor for estates that the diseased has no known heirs or the family is unwilling to deal with the estate. She had it at a shop to check it out for VA State Inspection. It wouldn't pass for a number of issues and she decided it would cost too much money and let me have it for the check out fee ($70). Love a private estate sale find.....

...in addition to the truck, it also came with contents! I did have to invest in a set of keys ($9 on Epray) for the cap as that was locked and no key provided. It did yield some treasures like a full tool box, a couple of jacks, and a full tackle bag (Plano, Mossy Oak) with a bunch of Heddon Lures, a net, and 4 fishing rods, among other odds and ends....

Tool box was HF and feels like it, but.....

it contained lots of Craftsman, old Sears, Husky, S-K and typical chinesium stuff...

...Pittsburgh...

Stanley, Fuller, more old Sears.....and others.

...cheap jack, but serviceable as a back-up...

...fishing rods were Shakespeare (2) and the others were Daiwa (2).....

...included a net....

...tackle bag...



...SWMBO is already laying claim to at least one of the rods for use at our local Izaak Walton that has a fishing dock on the local waterway as long as I bait the hook and remove any fish she catches....

 

[d42jeep]

Overall, pretty slim pickings at the two estate sales we checked out today but it was a nice day for a ride in the car. The first sale was in Moraga, CA and featured very few tools. I grabbed a x-acto box, a little tape measure and some fine steel wool



The X-acto box had a few tools in it.
The tape measure was likely an advertising giveaway.
The second sale was in San Rafael in Marin County and the tool selection was not much better than the first sale. The pliers were Xcelite and Stanley Handyman.

Handle pattern

Handle pattern
A slightly abused Vaco reversible screwdriver
And another little Stanley unmarked plane like one I found recently.
-Don

 

[bmwrd0]

Not much going on this drizzly weekend, but a sale, not too far from me, popped up, and sounded interesting, even though there were no photos. A shop sale, this being one of those shops that just gets filled with family junk of all sorts: stuffed animals, dish sets, bed frames, and in one corner, a work bench. Which was covered with junk. But, I dug around and found the following:

a partial Barcalo wrench set in roll, a Snap-on wrench, and a MAC valve adjuster for Cummins motors, I believe. They just wanted everything out of there to get the property ready for sale, so I offered $5, and they were happy.

 

[d42jeep]

$5.00? You ****! Here is your Barcalo 1351 set in the 1955 catalog. It’s the middle one on the right.
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

...SWMBO is already laying claim to at least one of the rods for use at our local Izaak Walton that has a fishing dock on the local waterway as long as I bait the hook and remove any fish she catches....

 

[mikeinri]

Another freebie from work this week...

Samsung LH40MEC display. Was installed in an executive office, extremely rarely ever turned on. Came with the wall mount, cables and remote. (Sorry, no pic.)

Not the highest definition out there, and it's not a smart TV, actually not even technically a TV at all (no tuner, etc.), but should be fine for our needs: watching TV through a cable box and HDMI cable, in a bedroom, so definitely not a primary TV set.

Mike

 

[ctuai]

Estate sale ($144): Celestron C8: 8in, f/10 Schmidt Telescope w/original case (early-1970s); 26" Ishi-Doro.

The telescope was $120, which was right at the top of my range. Hemmed and hawed and finally figured I'd put to much thought into it to let it go. It's missing all the lenses and finder, which I figure about $100 to replace. So all and all seemed like a reasonable price for a pretty nice telescope. The Ishi-doro looks good under the post-christmas lights.​

​

 

[Beerhippie]

Estate sale ($144): Celestron C8: 8in, f/10 Schmidt Telescope w/original case (early-1970s); 26" Ishi-Doro.

The telescope was $120, which was right at the top of my range. Hemmed and hawed and finally figured I'd put to much thought into it to let it go. It's missing all the lenses and finder, which I figure about $100 to replace. So all and all seemed like a reasonable price for a pretty nice telescope. The Ishi-doro looks good under the post-christmas lights.​

​

That's an excellent 'scope at a killer price! Now you can learn to "star hop"!

If peeking into windows, I recommend a righting prism. Some things just don't look right upside-down.

I had the same model/vintage, w/suitcase, but with some objectives and the sighting 'scope back in the '90s. I let it go... and sometimes wish I hadn't.

 

[d42jeep]

There were a couple of estate sales listed this morning in the Clayton/Concord area, for those reading that are familiar with the Bay Area. The first sale was quite expensive and I left a Craftsman Crown combo set with a ripped bag behind. We bought these things.
I had to have the Powr-Kraft drill index.
The Craftsman sockets and wrenches were all metric.
Pliers were Cee Tee, Utica and Kraeuter. Here are the Utica pair.
Kraeuter.

My wife picked up a pair of insulators.
Which we added to her shelf.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

The second sale was much more to my liking with a mix of interesting items at much lower prices.
The wooden auger bit set needs a bit of repair but nothing major.
I have a weakness for Swingspouts.
The hacksaw was the ever popular Baker.
The tape measure had an amusing model name.
A different pair of Utica pliers.
I think these pliers were acid etched Channellocks but the markings were lost.

Crescent longnoses and cape chisel



-Don

 

[gpw_42]

Now that it's the 31st, time to catch up from my month...

Bear is a 3.5 year old German Shorthair Pointer. Strong as an ox and just past the "velociraptor stage"; allegedly AKC registered, but the papers didn't come with him. Already neutered, so not really a big deal. Free adoption (with a 4-hour drive, each way) as his former family "couldn't deal with his energy." He's a machine!

Couple books from the nearby thrift store. Craftsman is dated 1961:


Estate sale pickings from Thursday and Friday. SnapOn KRA-24, guessing late 50s/early 60s, based on the white triangle decal. Variety of smalls I gathered up. And went back Friday for half-price day (snowstorm today, so they moved things up) for the Proto combo wrenches (1-1/16", 1-1/8" and 1-1/4"). They need a turn through some EvapoRust, but for the price I wasn't complaining!


Smalls include:
Lufkin No. 016 (England) wooden inside/outside caliper
Proto LA 7/16 to 9/16 line wrenches
Proto box wrench (1-1/16 and
Williams No. 6 flat tip
Herbrand 402 cold chisel
Dasco 503D cape chisel
3 spade bits
Couple leather punches

 

[Outlawmws]

My wife picked up a pair of insulators.

Nice that they came with the wood insulator pegs

 

[four.cycle]

The hacksaw was the ever popular Baker.

wait... what?
you have other "BAKER" items?

"BAKER" marked pipe wrench

 

[Outlawmws]

Pretty light pickings today, two yard-sales produced, one planned and a TOO - the planed estate sale was a bust. Sky high pricing. I mean over the top Eprey.


$5 for Giant WP pliers - Diamond HL-116P WP pliers - same as Channelock 460's plus the older (better) green Wiss Aviation snips. Both need a bit of cleanup but the jaws are in great shape. I was hoping the WP's might have been the same size as the monster 480's, but nope. Once cleaned this pair lands in the T-van. (I have several 460's this sizer)




And the TOO had two of these corded tripod easels; For $3 this gives me a very small lightweight option for supporting my camp solar panel.

 

[Beerhippie]

$5 for Giant WP pliers - Diamond HL-116P WP pliers

There's a coincidence: I picked up a pair of the exact same pliers--same condition, even, this fall. I just used them for the first time to bend a bracket in that holds the throttle cable in the Brick more it line--which did reduce the pedal stiffness significantly.

 

[alinc100]

The Craftsman sockets and wrenches were all metric.

As near as I can tell the knurled metric sockets began in 1977 in the catalog. 1983 was the last year knurling on the top of the socket was illustrated.

 

[JMP]

Picked these up from an estate sale. Paid a total of $30. I don't know why I thought I needed 130k office staples other than the price was right and maybe I can sell them to a collector that wants NOS



Highlights: 6 piece Craftsman Torx set, Craftsman stubbies, SK bit driver with bits


Highlights: Ford Wrench, Craftsman hex key set, Enderes brick set, SK 15/16" 1/2" drive deep socket


Highlights: a couple Utica pliers, Boker, Craftsman, Proto


Highlights: an impressive array of masonry star drills (many freshly sharpened), a plethora of lightly used or like new triangle files

 

[ctuai]

Estate sale ($43): Pair of 1972-76 Ford Ranchero tail lights; Timex watch; Schatz ships bell clock (8-day, 7 Jewel); Advent model 400 FM radio and speaker; Wagner no. 3 cast iron pan; 12" Quick-grip clamp; SK and Snap on wrenches and sockets.

The ships bell clock is fun. I'm going to use in my next class to keep my ADHD brain on schedule. The class starts at 12:30 and I wanted it to ring 8 bells, which to accomplish I needed to remove the minutes hand and move it 30 minutes ahead. I figure, I'll break into my pirate accent each time it rings. The timex literally jumped out of a pile of garage scrap and landed at my feet still ticking. So I figure it had to come along. I thought I'd pass it on to one my gen-z daughters because I know exactly what they like but it turns out my wife thinks it's kind of groovy, so now I don't have to face the, "uhhh thanks dad..."​

 

[ctuai]

That's an excellent 'scope at a killer price! Now you can learn to "star hop"!

If peeking into windows, I recommend a righting prism. Some things just don't look right upside-down.

I had the same model/vintage, w/suitcase, but with some objectives and the sighting 'scope back in the '90s. I let it go... and sometimes wish I hadn't.

I've got a scope (5" Dobson) that I don't use much, so I'm going to pass the C8 on to a friend who works at a hostel between Lake Louise and Jasper. It's a dark sky sanctuary out there so it'd be a ton of fun. ... LOL my new ships bell just rang 7. Shifts almost over

 

[Beerhippie]

my new ships bell just rang 7. Shifts almost over

Watch, damnit. It's a nautical clock, gotta use nautical terms!

 

[RTM]

From yesterday, day two of an estate sale got there at 3 o’clock closed at four. The pix didn’t show anything special, figured it was worth a stop on the way home, just to pass thru a house built in the 70s, with the same occupants for 50+ years.

First thing I see on walking in is a Parker Prentiss Bulldog 50 vise with a $75 price sticker, too rich for my blood.





Many other things way overpriced , average hand saws at $25 each, so was being very picky.

I almost tripped over an Adze used as a Hoe, broken off handle, so into the bag it went. A found an interesting pair of pliers, guessed Cannon plug, but don’t know what diameter they should be (yet), another screw starter with the same mechanism as I posted last week, carborundum pocket stone, handled scraper with along triangular shape, long spouted unmarked oil can, small Bernard Sargent pliers, couple of reamers, and a 10mm Duri Indestro socket. Got all this, a Whatzit, and a garden pot for $25, so pleased.




The Whatzit, to be added to the official thread.


Thanks Outlaw, major brain cramp there.

 

[ctuai]

From yesterday, day two of an estate sale got there at 3 o’clock closed at four. The pix didn’t show anything special, figured it was worth a stop on the way home, just to pass thru a house built in the 70s, with the same occupants for 50+ years.

First thing I see on walking in is a Parker 50 vise with a $75 price sticker, too rich for my blood.





Many other things way overpriced , average hand saws at $25 each, so was being very picky.

I almost tripped over an Adze used as a Hoe, broken off handle, so into the bag it went. A found an interesting pair of pliers, guessed Cannon plug, but don’t know what diameter they should be (yet), another screw starter with the same mechanism as I posted last week, carborundum pocket stone, handled scraper with along triangular shape, long spouted unmarked oil can, small Bernard Sargent pliers, couple of reamers, and a 10mm Duri Indestro socket. Got all this, a Whatzit, and a garden pot for $25, so pleased.




The Whatzit, to be added to the official thread.

I'm a sucker for adzes also. I figure we're either ready to lay railroad track or build a dugout canoe.

 

[Outlawmws]

First thing I see on walking in is a Parker 50 vise with a $75 price sticker, too rich for my blood.

Prentiss Bull Dog!

 

[Beerhippie]

Parker Prentiss Bulldog 50 vise with a $75 price sticker, too rich for my blood.

Shee-it! A nice vintage vise for less than $300 is rare hereabouts!

 

[four.cycle]

^ That's a $200 vise up here on Craigslist.

 

[Smokeshow69]

gpw-42 ***** for the snap on carry box!

 

[RTM]

^ That's a $200 vise up here on Craigslist.

I’m well aware. Worth more than $75 here too, but I’ve got a bunch of 5 & 6” vises here, needing rehab as well. Not sure I needed to add to the queue. Didn’t want to think of flipping it here either.

 

[Beerhippie]

I’m well aware. Worth more than $75 here too, but I’ve got a bunch of 5 & 6” vises here, needing rehab as well. Not sure I needed to add to the queue. Didn’t want to think of flipping it here either.

I've found that a "valuable" vintage vise can turn into a boat anchor when you factor in shipping.

 

[ctuai]

I've found that a "valuable" vintage vise can turn into a boat anchor when you factor in shipping.

Just sold ($315) and shipped ($65) a 66 lbs Kurt machinist vise from Iowa to CA. That's through ebay, which normally discounts shipping rates at +50%. It also helps I'm living in the middle of the country. You got to figure not only ROI, but just slinging around that type of weight, which for me isn't quite adding up anymore.

 

[bmwrd0]

If you don't account for shipping in the purchase price if you are buying for resale, you are in for a rough time. Buyers on eBay are very price conscious, and definitely include shipping in the calculus for sales.

 

[four.cycle]

^ That's why all my listings are "free shipping". I just pad it into the price.

 

[alinc100]

One small pick up today yielded the following:
Craftsman 3/8 Drive
3/8",7/16" 12 pt =v=swivel sockets
1/2",9/16",5/8",11/16",3/4" 12 pt -v- swivel sockets
universal =v=
3/8" m to 1/4" f adapter=v=
3" extension -G-

Craftsman 1/2" dr universal & 2" extension =v=

Husky 3/8" dr 1/4" and 5/16" 12 pt shallow sockets
Evercraft 3/8" universal (Taiwan)

 

[ctuai]

^ That's why all my listings are "free shipping". I just pad it into the price.

Me too, but it must be a bit of hit on profits too ship to the east coast. On the other hand, being originally from BC, a price I'd gladly pay to get back to land of not ongoing -15 F weather.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Everything goes out via flat-rate priority, so it's all the same price. On larger items that won't fit into one of the "flat rate" packages, I just jack the price up to make sure I'm covered if shipping to Pennsylvania, which is the highest for me here.
(I don't ship out of country and anything to Alaska or Hawaii will be flat rate only.)

 

[Beerhippie]

I finally got out to one of my local "honey holes"--the other is closed until March--for the first time in over a month. This is the first weekend since late December I've haven't spent in a friend's shop wrenching on my new Vanagon, so it was nice to get out on the road for a change.



2 cans of Rusto Rubberized Black undercoating Pro Grade--this will go where the fiberglass rocker trim on the new Vanagon currently is. I wanted to use truck bed liner, until I priced truck bedliner. $5 a can hurts much less and should provide the gravel-ding resistance I'm looking for. $5 each.

The rest of the haul was another $5: Revolution counter--I realized I'm losing track of all the revolutions. Still works just fine and resets even. Spark plug gapper--nothing fancy, but it has some intermediate sizes none of my discus-style ones have, like .032, which is the gap for both the Van and my Toyota and the world's cutest tiny Blue Point feeler gauge set



I'll need to make up another batch of citrate rust remover, re-blue them and get the blades back in order. Other than a tiny amount of surface rust, they're in fine shape.

The empty Craftsman Crowntop feeler gauge set pouch is for any one that wants it--send me an address and I'll stuff it in an envelope for you.

 

[four.cycle]

batch of citrate rust remover, re-blue them and get the blades back in order.

Be careful. Don (@d42jeep) noted somewhere that "Evaporust" will remove the laser-etched numbers from feeler gauge blades.
No idea what effect your home-made formula might have.

I'm one number off for the pouch: I scored a 40803 feeler gauge a couple weeks ago in a "package deal" purchase.

 

[Beerhippie]

Be careful. Don (@d42jeep) noted somewhere that "Evaporust" will remove the laser-etched numbers from feeler gauge blades.
No idea what effect your home-made formula might have.

I'm one number off for the pouch: I scored a 40803 feeler gauge a couple weeks ago in a "package deal" purchase.

The Blue Point blades are engraved (roll-embossed?)--not lasered, so no worries there.

 

[knock knock]

FBM find today guy was asking 200 for 28 Snapon wrenches. Had terrible pictures and the condition looked rough offered 100 settled on 125. Going through them only 24 Snapon, 2 Mac and a Willam’s and a plumb. But he threw in the sockets for free. Had been looking for the metric line wrenches should have the two missing from the set. Going take some time to get them all cleaned up. All of the sockets are Snapon sae 1 7/16 the largest.

 

[genog]

I had to have the Powr-Kraft drill index.

That's pretty darn cool

 

[RTM]

Here is a few purchases from our recent PAST tool sale across the bay in Niles, a historic town full of antique stores, that I did not to hit yesterday.

It was not a great day, only sold $82 worth of tools, and spent $85.
First guy I spent money with had a few unique items at reasonable prices. First found the deeply curved drawknife, from Sheffield, needs a bit of work on the edge. Handles are ok. Next I found the gorgeous skew rabbet plane, fantastic wood with a wild grain pattern, Peugeot blade, and IOB. This was made somewhere in Spain South America. Finally were the level sites, for a relatively small level, at a steal price. Will be fun to play with vs my laser level.




Later I found the patternmaker’s plane, post lunch, and seller said he could give me a better price. I told him to come back and see me before he packed it up. Mid conversation with a friend as we were winding up, he came over. I was hoping he’d sell it prior, because I didn’t want to spend more than I’d sold, but it was a bargain compared to most sets I’d seen.

A patternmaker’s plane has a normal plane body, with interchangeable soles and blades, to cut 5-8 different shallow radii. This one has Buck blades, but I didn’t look much closer. All the blades, and all the soles are in decent condition.




More later on these in the Vintage Handplane thread.
Pics of the venue, and a few tables and fun finds here.

20260231 PAST Niles - KirkHMB

Welcome to My SmugMug site. I'll always be adding to it, as people around me continue to participate in things of interest. I live in the SF Bay area, and spend lots of time photographing the sports my kids are participating in. These images are my attempts to document what they're doing...

kirkhmb.smugmug.com