2026 Garage Sale Thread (15th Annual)

[Mr. Wonderful]

Hit a couple estate sales and a restore this morning. Picked up the 4” Wilton for $65. Also some campbells S&P shakers for $5.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

$40 estate sale find

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

Yard sales in Tavenier and Key Largo, FL this morning. Took a little drive down into the keys today for a church yard sale. Even found a Habitat Restore down there!

Think I paid a total of $30 at the church for most all of this to include the Craftsman smaller tombstone box (no haggle, good cause) and $5 for the larger Craftsman toolbox at a different yard sale.

The haul yielded, 5pc Penens DOE wrenches set, flat and Phillips Penens screwdrivers, Klein and Crescent lineman pliers, Klein side cutter, S-K 1/2" ratchet, S-K combo wrench, Indestro and Snap-On extensions, brand new wire brushes (just bought a wire toothbrush from Home Depot for $7 three days ago, was floored at the price), a trusty Stanley 25' tape, a really neat Lufkin round steel tape, a 25th anniversary plier set from Minnesota Tool, an unused battery terminal brush, and a mystery Socketeer set no. 9150 hex drive socket set. Also got a few hardware items I needed for my place down here.

Great day and met some great people!

 

[3baygarage]

Nice! Picking in the Keys. I never heard of Minnesota Tool. Looks like Diamond.

 

[RTM]

Here is my haul from two different estate sales on my way home from running the dogs this morning. Highlight of the haul was a mostly complete duro-indestro 1/2-in drive socket set ranging from 7/16 to 13/16. Also included three metric 11, 15 and 17, two 3/816 drive 3/8 and 7/16 sockets, and an extension. In the other fun things was a 15 drawer metal organizer box with a carry handle, full of junk, two wooden boxes with probably Chinese made countersink drills and hole plug cutters and then a US made set of big number stamps. Couple of no name pairs of needle nose pliers just screwdriver with the plastic spiral handle programmable electrical power outlet strip for the yard and Italian made pair of scissors. Also included was a a Malco mini hacksaw with a 1967 patent date, two relatively recent Craftsman ratchets, A German-made VBW pair of water pump type pliers, some collated nails, Mayhew right angle Screwdriver, an HDMI cable, shop vac hose coupler, and a cable cuff. Not shown is a programmable yard power outlet stake

The last fun find was a tiny SS Buck folder, laser etched for an industrial diesel engine distributor that sold out in 2019, but was just across the freeway from my office. Removing some rusty bits lightened the etch a bit.

 

[RTM]

a 25th anniversary plier set from Minnesota Tool,

As always, it comes back to GJ

Any information on Minnesota tool company mt. Pulaski ILL

I picked up a pair of pliers marked Minnesota tool company mt. Pulaski ILL a couple months ago and I live about 30-40 minutes from mt. Pulaski ILL but have never heard of there being a tool company there so my question is are these rebranded or was there perhaps a small tool company in...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[JonahBrown]

Here is my haul from two different estate sales on my way home from running the dogs this morning. Highlight of the haul was a mostly complete duro-indestro 1/2-in drive socket set ranging from 7/16 to 13/16. Also included three metric 11, 14 and 17, two 3/16 drive 3/8 and 7/16 sockets, and an extension. In the other fun things was a 15 drawer metal organizer box with a carry handle, full of junk, two wooden boxes with probably Chinese made countersink drills and hole plug cutters and then a US made set of big number stamps. Couple of no name pairs of needle nose pliers just screwdriver with the plastic spiral handle programmable electrical power outlet strip for the yard and Italian made pair of scissors. Also included was a a Malco mini hacksaw with a 1967 patent date, two relatively recent Craftsman ratchets, A German-made VBW pair of water pump type pliers, some collated nails, Mayhew right angle Screwdriver, an HDMI cable, shop vac hose coupler, and a cable cuff. Not shown is a programmable yard power outlet stake

The last fun find was a tiny SS Buck folder, laser etched for an industrial diesel engine distributor that sold out in 2019, but was just across the freeway from my office. Removing some rusty bits lightened the etch a bit.

3/16” drive?

 

[Squez]

Estate sale haul 1/2 off today
Makita belt sander and belts 7.50
Teak oil .50
Waterseale 5,00
Drawer of freeze plugs and washers 8.00

 

[zanyad]

@timoboy sucketh muchly

 

[d42jeep]

All the sales on Craigslist this morning showed very little promise but there was one that looked slightly better than the rest so we started with that one. It was in Lafayette, CA and turned out to be a family run estate sale where the gentleman was selling his father’s and grandfather’s remaining tools. It took quite a bit of digging in a small messy dark room off of the garage but the more we dug in various boxes the more interesting things we found.
Two partial Craftsman Long C auger bit sets with rolls in need of re-sewing, a hand drill and a BE 3/8” drive flex handle plus a metric Allen wrench set.
I cleaned up the S-K sockets and wrench.
My oddest tool of the day candidate was this adjustable alligator wrench. Extra jaw only 25 cents!
Plomb and Proto LA tools. The P&C tools missed the pictures but there were several of those


Nice Millers Falls eggbeater drill.
Stanley claw hammer.
Lufkin tape measure.
My second Witherby wood chisel in as many weeks.
We decided to skip the rest of the sketchy sales and headed towards home.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

There was a yard sale close to home and we swung by that one. There was nothing of interest to either of us but I was finally permitted to look in the lady seller‘s toolbox off limits in the garage. I spotted an old looking wrench and it turned out to be a Williams Superior carbon steel DOE wrench ISN 25. She decided reluctantly to sell it to me after I promised not to re-sell it. It was in remarkable condition for a WW2 vintage wrench.
After I removed the rust it looked almost like new. The Japanning was amazingly intact.
It’s a keeper for sure.
-Don

 

[SuburbGuy]

Estate sale haul 1/2 off today
Makita belt sander and belts 7.50
Teak oil .50
Waterseale 5,00
Drawer of freeze plugs and washers 8.00

Your drawer of freeze plugs is a unique purchase. I can't recall seeing a similar purchase ever in this thread. Maybe someone will correct me.

 

[d42jeep]

Your drawer of freeze plugs is a unique purchase. I can't recall seeing a similar purchase ever in this thread. Maybe someone will correct me.

It didn’t seem that odd to me. Back in the dark ages I was responsible for keeping the Dorman cabinet drawer full of freeze plugs at the parts house.
-Don

 

[Patrickm82]

One estate sale yesterday and I don’t think I did to bad. I got there 30mins after starting and I guess I just missed a bunch more tools that someone else had just left with. Here’s what I got for $60

Dewalt dw705 chop saw
Proto 10” adjustable
Craftsman dykes
Brand new tarp
Box of 2” drywall screw (full)
Full gallon of acetone
Propane bottle

 

[bmwrd0]

I won an online auction Thursday night, and went to pick it up Friday

two vintage toolboxes with contents. Online auctions are a great way to both find things, and lose a bunch of money, as you can't really inspect what you are getting. But I love going through old tool boxes to find oddities that often get overlooked by sellers. So, here is what I found:

this is from the top tray of one of the boxes, and the highlights are the Lufkin folding boxwood ruler, pencil leads, copper washers, and magnifying glass.

from the main compartment: vintage Wiggy in leatherette case, boxwood Lufkin (again), vintage scotch tape, chassis punch, chalk line, scribe, Challenger wrench, welding tips, Craftsman and Proto center punches, 4-in-1 driver, and a solder ladle.

Now, the other box

electricians tape, tin star, flexi-ruler, literature, folding ruler, screw starter, Starrett caliper, pipe cutter, Stanley bevel, dam commemorations, Camillus 4 blade, Crescent adjustable, sheath knife, flexi-stones, Proto box full of hex keys, empty Klein box, Klein fishtape puller, Fuller brush, Betts crimps, Champion duck bills, shop modified pliers (x2), torpedo levels (X2), Boker needle nose, Champion needle nose, duckbills, forceps, automatic wire stripers (x2).

I didn't notice it when bidding, but the boxes had been both repainted at some point (the leather handles were not shown in the photos) and had been cleaned up. Neither makes me happy, but it was up to me to spot this when bidding. Also, I did OK with this, but just. I would have preferred to have spent less, or gotten more. But, that is how it goes with auctions like this.

 

[coachwash]

Saturday’s estate tool haul. I went to three different sales, found a few items at each of them. Spent $70 total. I like to collect the metal socket set boxes. I found three, two with tools and one was empty. The empty Husky box was being used to store rusty screws and nails, I left those behind. I like to complete the sets with the tools that came with them originally. I think I have a 1/4 metric S-K set that I can put in the S-K box. The S-K box is red on the outside, anyone know if S-K ever did any boxes this way? I figure someone painted it. My other S-K boxes are green or blue. Let me know. Here is what I came home with.

S-K Wayne 1/4 box
Craftsman V sockets 4m to 13m 6pt
Craftsman V 1/4 ratchet 43185
MAC 1/4 ext 6” M6E
Action 1/2 box
Action sockets 1/2 12pt. 7/16 to 1 1/8
Husky Professional box empty
Craftsman 3/8 speed handle. 4427
Craftsman lineman pliers
Craftsman 1/2 ext 10” 44132
During-Chrome 1/2 universal 5880
Plvmb 25/32 1/2 socket 12pt 5425
Plvmb 19/32 1/2 socket 12pt 5419
Craftsman 9-16 BE 1/2 socket 12pt
S-K 7/16 1/2 socket 12pt 40114
Proto LA 3/4 3/8 socket 5424 12pt
Proto LA 11/16 1/2 socket 5422 12pt
Proto LA 15/16 1/2 socket 5430 12pt
Proto LA 5/8 1/2 socket 5420 12pt
Bonney 7/16 1/2 socket 12pt
Bon-E-Con 3/8 1/2 socket E-30412-1 12pt
Klein tools no. 51 SAE hex key set
Craftsman 1” combo wrench 44705
Blue point inspection mirror GA295
Pick up magnet. Blue point?
Johnson level
Thorsen torque wrench 1/2 drive T-150
Sharpening stone
Boker cutters
Smiths knife and scissor sharpener
Vise Grip needle nose pliers 6LN
Unmarked needle nose pliers.

 

[bmwrd0]

On Saturday I went to what seems the unending estate sale. I had gone last weekend, picked up some good stuff, and when I check Craigslist, it was going again this weekend, except with different stuff. So I headed up for 1/2 price day

Starrett inside micrometer set (missing the 6" rod), Stanley depth gauge, 3 Armstrong tool holders (left, right, cut off), electrical tester of some sort, Palmgren vise, 1/2" square extension (unmarked), Brown and Sharpe layout set, Lufkin right angle scale attachment, a junk 1/4" socket set that had good drive tools (Plomb, Snap-on, <SK>), and this box

Which was full of

1/8" hex drivers.
I spent (because it was 1/2 off day) $30 for all of that. Some is a bit rusty, but everything is cleaning up nicely. Best part? It is going on again next weekend!

 

[Levaughn]

These are items I picked up today at an Estate Sale for $30. Except for the Toilet Kit, Sprays, 1/2 inch Japan Breaker, Oil and no name Ratchet, everything else was $1 each.

Craftsman V series 1/4 inch Universal
Craftsman 1/4 inch 11/32 Socket
Craftsman Respirator
Craftsman Flat head Screw Driver
Craftsman 5/8 - 3/4 DOE # 445582 Wrench
Crescent 8 inch Adjustable Wrench
Craftsman Oiler Vintage
Husky 3/8 Extensions
Malco C4 Downspout Crimpers
Wilton # 406 C Clamp
SAE Hex Keys
Warner # 401 Scraper

 

[knock knock]

Last day of an estate sale this morning. Buck a tool and 10 for the chain come along. Smallest snap on lady foot I now own. And an old snapon cutter pliers were the best of the bunch.

 

[coachwash]

1/8" hex drivers.
I spent (because it was 1/2 off day) $30 for all of that. Some is a bit rusty, but everything is cleaning up nicely. Best part? It is going on again next weekend!

Love the xcelite set. You ****.

 

[Beerhippie]

I drove down valley in my newly-retransaxled Vanagon to visit one of my "honey holes". I cleverly found a short-cut that cut my normal drive time from about twenty minutes down to forty-five--and almost all on dirt and gravel!

Not much to show for it, other than a very relaxed attitude, and these:







Because I had a 19/32" hole in my DOE roll. And the Supreme Versamitic is:



!

All there, too:



It's so versatile it appears to have never been used.

$10 total.

Drove back on the highway, where the Vanagon was exceedingly happy at 65 mph.

 

[Outlawmws]

I cleverly found a short-cut that cut my normal drive time from about twenty minutes down to forty-five--and almost all on dirt and gravel!

New math, right?

 

[Beerhippie]

New math, right?

It's all about the experience, man! 45 minutes on twisty dirt vs. 20 on a 2-lane state highway... I know where I belong.

 

[RTM]

It's all about the experience, man! 45 minutes on twisty dirt vs. 20 on a 2-lane state highway... I know where I belong.

Kinda like hand tool woodworking (or *** for some), the idea is to enjoy the process of getting there.

 

[Beerhippie]

Kinda like hand tool woodworking (or *** for some), the idea is to enjoy the process of getting there.

And where you end up only matters if you care!

I had a bumper sticker on my '56 Bus that read "I'm not lost--I just don't care".

 

[zachgeo]

An garage sale was going on a few blocks from me all weekend, but unfortunately I didn't make my way over there until late this afternoon. Apparently I missed out on a lot of good stuff, but I did snag this bench grinder (with stand) and old corded drill for $40 (one of the benefits of showing up late is they really just want everything gone). Can't say as I'll have too much use for the grinder, and might take it off the stand and stow it under the workbench to take out when needed. But I've definitely occasionally had need for a 1/2 inch drill on and off (both of my cordless drills are 3/8). Both tools are well used but run smoothly - the drill has definitely seen a lot more use than the grinder. It might need some greasing up, and I probably should check on the brushes. I like that the grinder has a dresser!

 

[Outlawmws]

I had a bumper sticker on my '56 Bus that read "I'm not lost--I just don't care".

I have a Hat pin that says "Not all those who wander are lost - But I am!"

Like this one:

 

[Shergar]

Whilst this thread is momentarily going sideways, I was in Marrakesh recently. No picks (explaining to a Moroccan customs official why my suitcase is full of rusty old tools isn't on my bucket list!) but heres some left behinds and some live action grinding from the main souk in El Jem.

I didn't dare ask the prices! Joking aside the locals were easy going and it was a balmy 77 degrees

 

[LesserSon]

Free today, from a friend.

MrsLS&I returned to my work friend’s barn this morning, intending to pick up a second 4-drawer cabinet, but it is full to the gills with stuff I don’t want and still wedged into a corner that will make extraction difficult, though I removed some of the obstructing trash today.
Plus, the bottom drawer is frozen with rust. In fact, the bottom four inches of it is rusted into a decayed carpet from what looks like decades of water damage. I let that simmer on the back burner, and picked up a dozen and a half vintage wood shipping crates for summer selling and four two-drawer file cabinets for a storage project I have in mind.
The two blue ones are in good shape, but the gray and putty ones are pretty rusted out at the bottom, as they were sitting in the same wet location as the larger cabinet. I left one two-drawer behind because it was much shallower and the drawers tip out when fully open. I also left a four-drawer file cabinet behind for now, though I may be able to use it in my project if I cut it down (also rusted out at bottom).
MrsLS took a couple salt-fired ceramic coin banks from a no-longer-in-business pottery maker we used to patronize, a couple split-wood baskets (like Longaberger), and a couple handfuls of matchbooks my friend offered.

So this freebie saga, which went active last December, after a years-long hibernation, has ground to a halt, partly because the property has now passed to the third party, partly because I broke two of my damned toes, but not before I picked up the second four-drawer steel cabinet.
I emptied and got it loose from the batshit-saturated carpet that it was rusted into with the idea of cutting it down to a three-drawer cabinet, but then the bottom drawer, which had been riusted in place, suddenly came loose. The rust that ran two to four inches up from the bottom had spared the glides, and eaten one and two-halves of the edge where the base was spot welded to the vertical sides. Hmm, salvageable?


Maybe. I started by angle-grinding the seam where daylight was already peeking through,

harvested and notched (to avoid an internal support) a corner off a similarly-rusted two-drawer file cabinet with ****** glides.

Then I slipped the patch into the four-drawer.
Then some awkward drilling (because the sheet steel on the inside deflected so much, I managed to wedge it with a screwdriver and putty knife) pop-rivets, and a not-color-matched sprayover.

Et voilà, there were two functional, if not pretty, 25d30w42h cabinets.

 

[Outlawmws]

I had a good Sunday score for it being a once stop day. Sort of felt like an setate sale but not billed as such. Not a huge haul, but some interesting stuff:
The more ordinary tools - little wrenches are Williams, SOE, Indestro DBE, and a P&C DOE, A cardboard/metal container of cotter pins, mostly for the cool container, old tweezers, A carbon scraper, two wood handled drivers the long one is marked "Champion" Knipex W. Germany lasting pliers, Barcalo dykes, General Hdwr, self centering wood screw starter punch, and mechanic's tool clip,


These are more interesting:
From the top a 4 pin spanner with a integral driver, - maybe valve adjuster for small aircraft? -
What I thought at first was a tool for re-upholstery work - but I got a partial name of xxlLLS W. Manzel Co and a Patent date of 191X (hard gunk obliterated so needs a USC bath) and nope its a leaf spring greasing tool! The grip screws off so it can be filled with grease. There is a hole up to the head, and another from the notch to the feed hole, and once you drive the wedge between the spring leaf, you screw the handle in, and it injects grease between the leaves.
Next is a close control hacksaw, that thumb screw belongs on the tip and the handle helps hold the blade at that and and its for shallow cut obviously. I'm thinking for making screw slots?
The tong tool below that may be a piton ring spreader? Needs research.
Mostly hand made tool , anyone's guess but the larger "open end" was either silver soldered to the shank or hammer forged on..
Last two are BOOS Tools Corp adjustable wrenches.



Patent: Oct 17, 1916 and its Charles W. Manzel Co.



Pretty happy at $10 for all.

 

[mikeinri]

So this freebie saga, which went active last December, after a years-long hibernation, has ground to a halt, partly because the property has now passed to the third party, partly because I broke two of my damned toes, but not before I picked up the second four-drawer steel cabinet.
I emptied and got it loose from the batshit-saturated carpet that it was rusted into with the idea of cutting it down to a three-drawer cabinet, but then the bottom drawer, which had been riusted in place, suddenly came loose. The rust that ran two to four inches up from the bottom had spared the glides, and eaten one and two-halves of the edge where the base was spot welded to the vertical sides. Hmm, salvageable?


Maybe. I started by angle-grinding the seam where daylight was already peeking through,

harvested and notched (to avoid an internal support) a corner off a similarly-rusted two-drawer file cabinet with ****** glides.

Then I slipped the patch into the four-drawer.
Then some awkward drilling (because the sheet steel on the inside deflected so much, I managed to wedge it with a screwdriver and putty knife) pop-rivets, and a not-color-matched sprayover.

Et voilà, there were two functional, if not pretty, 25d30w42h cabinets.

Wow, that's some perseverance!

Hope the toes have healed?

Mike

 

[LesserSon]

No, the breaks are only a week old; five or six more weeks, if I treat them right.

 

[four.cycle]

It was a good week to visit my favorite junk store in Sequim.
Four cherry CM combos (already sold, and I stupidly priced them too low when I posted them on ebay.)
Pair of almost new Channellock pliers.
Three truly awful snowglobes for baby sister's snowglobe collection.

 

[bmwrd0]

Outlaw, Klein sold Champion drivers back in the teens.

 

[Outlawmws]

Outlaw, Klein sold Champion drivers back in the teens.

Thx BMW!

 

[LesserSon]

Outlaw, Klein sold Champion drivers back in the teens.

Yeah, thanks! Those Champion screwdrivers are featured on the Wood Handle SD thread, and get a lot of interest on the Winchester thread. That they are shown in the 1915 Klein catalog (p44) pushes cat references back a decade (spotted in the Union Hdwr cat of 1926). But the first relevant patent is from the 1870s, so I don’t think we’ve got the original manufacturer pinned down yet.

 

[jeffmoss26]

A small victory after a day of no power at work!

 

[Beerhippie]

a day of no power at work!

I have days like that....

 

[Outlawmws]

a day of no power at work!

I have days like that....

For many/most, that's their career!

 

[coachwash]

I won an online estate sale tool lot, picked it up today. I hate it when they make you schedule an appointment to pick up your stuff and have a one day only pick up date. Never fails, I get stuck with the most inconvenient time. They act like I have nothing to do all day. I got tools to clean. . Here is what I got $65.

1/2 Craftsman 12pt Sockets. 7/16, 1/2, 1/2, 9/16, 9/16, 5/8, 13/16, 7/8, 15/16, 1” and 1 1/16
1/2 Craftsman 12pt Sockets. 9m, 10m, 13m, 14m, 17m, 18m, 21m, 22m, and 27m
1/2 Craftsman 6” ext 44131
1/2 Craftsman Ratchet 44809
Atlas welding hammer
3/8 Proto Professional deep 1” socket 12pt
14oz Ball Pein hammer maker unknown
1/4 Craftsman breaker 43523
3/8 Wright impact sockets 6pt w holder. 5/16 to 3/4
3/8 socket holder empty
K-D dbl box offset. 15/16 - 1” 62632
K-D dbl box offset. 3/4 - 7/8 62628
K-D dbl box offset. 5/8 - 11/16 62622
K-D DOE 15/16 - 1”. 61132
K-D DOE 3/4 - 11/16. 61122
K-D DOE 3/4 - 5/8. 61124
K-D DOE 5/8 - 9/16. 61120