2020 Garage Sale Thread

[Private Lugnutz]

Have you guys shifted more to online secondhand listings and shipping to your house or a buying pause completely?

I didn't generally "shop" on eBay before the plague (although I would "buy" things that others occasionally tip me off to...) and that has not changed for me during the plague. For example, my only purchase in the last month is an empty toolbox from eBay that I needed for a tool-set that has been homeless for many years, which Unaiu tipped me off to.

Like LS, I have been focusing on projects, such as refinishing and making a repro decal for this Williams Bantam toolbox, making reproduction decals for these New Britain midget boxes, refinishing these Precision-Bilt toolboxes, and putting some near-finishing touches on this Union Craftsman-branded machinist chest.

These are exactly the types of projects that I would normally just keep putting off in favor of going to the flea market, cleaning, cataloging and showing off the finds, and taking care of more important non-hobby things.

 

[d42jeep]

I’ve been taking advantage of my forced seclusion to find a few items of interest on eBay, some of which help to complete sets that are missing pieces. I’ve also spent some time incorporating estate sale finds into my collections. The first pictures are of a cool auger bit handle from Pexto. Next, I picked up a batch of 1/4” drive S-K tools to help complete sets. Yesterday I added several months of Thorsen estate sale finds to the collection.
-Don

 

[Jack84]

I have been looking less online since I like to pick up stuff I buy rather than shipping.
Not because of the costs, shipping is 7,25 for a 10kg package.
So online browsing is less in my case, just to avoid temptation.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[Jack84]

Not a whole lot of buying but today I got this.
All new, never used Stahlwille. Made in W Germany which makes it vintage I guess.











Paid 50,- for the lot.

 

[OMMP]

U ****!

 

[bmwrd0]

That Stahlwille set is nice. I do very little with metric thesee days, but I would like to have a nice vintage Euro or Japanese set for when I do. Somewhere around here I have a vintage WERA nut driver, 9mm with a wood handle, that I use on Huret derailers. It works very nice for that.

 

[madison069]

No estate sales or garage sales here. Which is fine for me. I've mostly been picking up lawnmowers from the side of the street. So far 4 lawnmowers has costed me $50 in parts and turned into $740 in profit. I Currently have 2 mowers that runs but waiting on some simple parts before I list them for sale. I also have 3 mowers sitting outside waiting for me to get to them. One has a rusted out deck but the motor runs, so waiting for another deck to drop that motor on. Eventually something will come around that I can use for a deck.

 

[jeffmoss26]

wow that is a lot of SK boxes!

 

[Outlawmws]

LS, I use Titebond III for most of my wood work, including re-attaching lables that have lifted. Heck I've even glued damaged/torn cardboard boxes back together. Some look complete again, some still have chucks missing but you have what's there in any case...

Can you steam & clamp the lid, maybe past center a bit, then when it dries, see if its will spring back to straight enough? I did that with the side walls of an assembled ancient cheese box successfully.

 

[toolmiser]

The picture with all the s k boxes opened up is really hard to take in. I thought I had a problem with sk.

 

[Jack84]

That Stahlwille set is nice. I do very little with metric thesee days, but I would like to have a nice vintage Euro or Japanese set for when I do. Somewhere around here I have a vintage WERA nut driver, 9mm with a wood handle, that I use on Huret derailers. It works very nice for that.

Wanted a vintage set too. I use 90% metric, don’t know if I’ll ever use this set though.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[Shiftless]

Outlaw’s advice is spot on. Steaming and pressing might work.
I also use a lot of that Titebond III glue. Works great on wood and will withstand moisture quite well. (Not full immersion of course)

Like others, I am focusing on staying healthy and somewhat sane during the lockdown. It’s a good time to go through storage and find fun stuff that was salted away.
And of course, stripping and refinishing a few of the old vises purchased in the past and awaiting attention.

 

[bmwrd0]

Well, as we huddle inside, I see we are working on projects! So, here is what I have been doing:

I have a very small shop, but I do have an area to keep my vintage tool collection, and I have been working on reorganizing both of them. I want them to be good to go as I get older so I can keep fetling things well into my dotage. So, I took some of the spare lumber I had sitting around and build a display to hold toolboxes and my other recent project the Stanley cabinet. When I got that the finger joints were seperating and needed to be reglued. And, as I am an Elmers guy, I can say it did a fine job. Then, I started organizing my Plomb 3/4 sockets. Post war on the left and five ring on the right. Drive tools to the side.
Here is the newer set:

Those were all purchased (not the ratchets) at the small swap in Sacramento about five years ago.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Well, as we huddle inside, I see we are working on projects! So, here is what I have been doing:



I have a very small shop, but I do have an area to keep my vintage tool collection, and I have been working on reorganizing both of them. I want them to be good to go as I get older so I can keep fetling things well into my dotage. So, I took some of the spare lumber I had sitting around and build a display to hold toolboxes and my other recent project the Stanley cabinet. When I got that the finger joints were seperating and needed to be reglued. And, as I am an Elmers guy, I can say it did a fine job. Then, I started organizing my Plomb 3/4 sockets. Post war on the left and five ring on the right. Drive tools to the side.

Here is the newer set:



Those were all purchased (not the ratchets) at the small swap in Sacramento about five years ago.

I will have a few things I think to add to the display! Nice work!



Looking for a craftsman heritage era 10 drawer top chest

 

[Smokeshow69]

In the name of explaining what I have been doing with all my time since the biggest swap meet of the year this side of the Mississippi was canceled, I remodeled our laundry closet by adding a counter and some heavy duty shelves that look nice! Also fixed some shoddy, not level work!



And since more swaps are coming up this summer, I figured it best to get a few more honey do items done while I have the time! My wife found an old barn door online that was way to big for our area so I built this scaled down replica and aged it to look old!





Looking for a craftsman heritage era 10 drawer top chest

 

[LesserSon]

LS, Can you steam & clamp the lid

I used superglue because it runs into tight spaces easily. I actually liked what it did to the label, just wish I’d have used it more liberally.
The bow in the lid is concave on the top (label side), so that’s the side I want to swell. It might also cup, but as long as it doesn’t twist, it’ll be okay. I’ve warped thin boards pretty significantly by applying waterbourne poly finish on one side and letting it dry before applying it to the other side - just have to remember which side (1st or 2nd) stretches more. But I may have to remove the shellac with alcohol, and I don’t know yet what effect that will have on the ink. Ultimately, the label is the only thing about the box that gives it any interest or value, so not ruining it is top concern.
Other than slim taper files, maybe I’ll put pencils in it.

 

[d42jeep]

wow that is a lot of SK boxes!

I make up for all the S-K stuff by having very few locks.

The picture with all the s k boxes opened up is really hard to take in. I thought I had a problem with sk.

I have a problem with 1/4” drive tools in general.
-Don

 

[Shiftless]

I make up for all the S-K stuff by having very few locks.


-Don

If you know about Jeff Moss’s collection, that’s the funniest post on this thread in a long time.

 

[Outlawmws]

I make up for all the S-K stuff by having very few locks.-Don

Denial...

I have a problem with 1/4” drive tools in general. -Don

Admitting the Problem

All in on post!

 

[jeffmoss26]

If you know about Jeff Moss’s collection, that’s the funniest post on this thread in a long time.

Haha!

 

[bmwrd0]

Ebay will be my downfall...

I was surfing the 'Bay and came across this. It wasn't listed very well, not many photos, but for a Gerstner it was fairly cheap and I was able to pick it up for a little over $100.
It is beat up, but it has had an honest long life.


I think you all will figure out what sold me on it.

 

[Provincial]

I am torn between the Remington label and the General Electric nameplate, but the Remington wins!

 

[Provincial]

I cheated on the stay-at-home order last week to answer a Craigslist ad for a Miller Syncrowave 180 HD TIG welder. The ad said the TIG wasn't working right, but the regular arc welding circuit worked well. It came with a well-built cart, a 125 cf bottle, regulator, arc and tig leads/holders, foot pedal, and an assortment of electrodes, rods, collets, and cups, all for $300.

The TIG was weak and erratic on AC. It sort of worked on DC, but the High Frequency discharge never stopped, which it should on DC. I cleaned the points and gapped them at the factory gap of 0.012, which did not change anything. After an internet search, I found a troubleshooting suggestion to reduce the point gap on the HF to 0.008", which resulted in the TIG mode functioning normally!

The bottle was out of date and empty, so it cost me an extra $28.00 for test fee. The electrodes are all pure tungsten, so I bought some 2% Lanthanated versions. When they come I'll put it through its paces.

 

[BlueBomber]

Free time!?! Teleworking nearly every day, 10-hr days, turns out to be harder than going to the office.

Last week, the family took a mental health break from being inside all the time and installed a stone apron in front of the mailbox. The granite pavers were leftover from my driveway repave two years ago. I had to go get two truckloads of stone dust from a gravel yard, but was able to complete the entire transaction without needing to exit the truck.




Meanwhile, no buying or repairing going on. I'll be spending today doing other work I've been putting off for too long--writing personnel documents for work.

Enjoy your shop time, gents!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[bmwrd0]

Oh, that is a nice one Provincial

"Free time!?! Teleworking nearly every day, 10-hr days, turns out to be harder than going to the office."

It's funny, I put my business on hold for 3-6 months, depending on how things shake out, and outside of the home projects (starting to prep for this years painting) I am kinda bored. My wife, on the other hand, is working like you are BB. But that is killing me, as I had a bunch of home projects lined up (currently refinishing the stairs) that I also put on hold due to making too much noise.

 

[seber]

Yea,bmwrd0, you most definitely **** for that box. Pretty rare to find a deal like that on Ebay.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

Answered a Craigslist ad for "Tools" and saw a Mac too box in one of the pictures so I figured it was worth a shot. Ended up picking up the Mac box loaded with tools and also grabbed a set of Armstrong standard large impact sockets and Alan USA standard impact sockets. The home run was finding the snap on SAE angled wrenches the 3/4-in ratchet and a 1/2-in long handle flex head among other snap-on goodies. The bent handle ratchet is a Challenger by Proto 1660c. I'm not so sure it's supposed to be bent but it looks like it could possibly be. All in for $200.

 

[Outlawmws]

You guys are killing it for these times! - NOTHING going on here...

 

[alinc100]

wow that is a lot of SK boxes!

The picture with all the s k boxes opened up is really hard to take in. I thought I had a problem with sk.

I make up for all the S-K stuff by having very few locks.



I have a problem with 1/4” drive tools in general.
-Don

If you know about Jeff Moss’s collection, that’s the funniest post on this thread in a long time.

Denial...





Admitting the Problem

All in on post!

Haha!

And this folks is one of the reasons I enjoy this place so much, even when I can't go pickin' for insert reason here). The humor/banter/co-miseration/acceptance and support.

 

[alinc100]

Ebay will be my downfall...

I was surfing the 'Bay and came across this. It wasn't listed very well, not many photos, but for a Gerstner it was fairly cheap and I was able to pick it up for a little over $100.
It is beat up, but it has had an honest long life.


I think you all will figure out what sold me on it.

I'll bet it cleans up nicely and there's no way you strip and refinish and lose that character.

Thanks to a recommendation here on GJ I've had good luck cleaning leatherette with Maguiars Ultimate Black https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/meguiar-s-ultimate-black-trim-restorer-10-oz.-g16910/10855623-p?product_channel=local&store=6074&adtype=pla&product_channel=local&store_code=6074&gclid=CjwKCAjw1cX0BRBmEiwAy9tKHmUS9XJhVOACfCqJEBWTGK5HocnSledN6gTbwFQpGoUw8hcIOPFx5hoC7eEQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Smokeshow69]

Oh, that is a nice one Provincial

"Free time!?! Teleworking nearly every day, 10-hr days, turns out to be harder than going to the office."

It's funny, I put my business on hold for 3-6 months, depending on how things shake out, and outside of the home projects (starting to prep for this years painting) I am kinda bored. My wife, on the other hand, is working like you are BB. But that is killing me, as I had a bunch of home projects lined up (currently refinishing the stairs) that I also put on hold due to making too much noise.

Might I recommend getting your wife some noise cancelling head phones ? Then you can hammer and saw away!

 

[bmwrd0]

It isn't that she will hear my noise (though even with those it would still be noisy) no, it is the people on the other line who can hear all that.

Its mostly because the stairs are right in the middle of the house, and I was scraping the old glue and finish off of them. But stairs don't give you much to put your weight on or a good angle to scrape from, so what everyone is hearing is my swearing.

Alinc, thanks for the Maquires recomendation. I will give that a go.

 

[d42jeep]

In lieu of my usual sales in the wild, three eBay items arrived today. First was a wartime Walden 1/4” drive socket set (surprise, surprise) with the exceedingly rare ratchet plug and a god awful repaint color on the exterior. Next was a 12 point 3/4” deep socket for my early S-K set, I’m down to just needing the 3/8” and 1/2” 12 points. Last was a hard to find wartime Duro Chrome 1/2” to 3/8” adapter to replace a slightly too modern one in a wartime set.
-Don

 

[Shiftless]

Speaking of quarter inch drive sockets, here’s a weird one I recently rediscovered mixed in with a set of Snappy sockets that I got during an estate clean out. I got old tools in exchange for labor. This is an odd ball duplicate size to the other (normal) TM12 that matches the rest of the set. What’s up with the 4 little divots around the top edge? And all of the little grooves on the circumference are to get a better grip with greasy fingers, right? Does that feature date the socket to a particular period?

Is this part of a different set or is it for a special purpose?

 

[LesserSon]

Shift,
Dunno about the divots. The 1948 date code (“8” like an hourglass, unless I’m seeing it wrong - it could be 1938 if the top and bottom aren’t really flat) is just visible in one of the pics, but the style of the logo and the vertical lines of the “finger assist” look pre-war manufacture (1929-1937).
Edit - Ah-ha! Looks on Collecting Snapon site that the 1/4dr style didn’t change through WWII, like 3/8dr and 1/2dr did, so 1948 IS right.

 

[Outlawmws]

I think the 4 divots were owner applied for marking it theirs. A better shot of the date code mark is needed, but LS probably nailed it.

That first shot almost looks like someone draw filed the top?

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks for your input, guys. I just snapped a better pic of the date code hourglass.

 

[Outlawmws]

Yep, '48 as suspected

 

[r_olson_06]

Well, as we huddle inside, I see we are working on projects! So, here is what I have been doing:

I have a very small shop, but I do have an area to keep my vintage tool collection, and I have been working on reorganizing both of them. I want them to be good to go as I get older so I can keep fetling things well into my dotage. So, I took some of the spare lumber I had sitting around and build a display to hold toolboxes and my other recent project the Stanley cabinet. When I got that the finger joints were seperating and needed to be reglued. And, as I am an Elmers guy, I can say it did a fine job. Then, I started organizing my Plomb 3/4 sockets. Post war on the left and five ring on the right. Drive tools to the side.
Here is the newer set:

Those were all purchased (not the ratchets) at the small swap in Sacramento about five years ago.

Keep up the good work.

Looking for a Plomb 3061 Pebble Open End.

 

[BlueBomber]

Well, the stay-at-home order in Mass is an advisory, so when you find a great deal during the Great Pandemic, you calculate the risk/rewards, take the appropriate precautions, and (in my case), act!

When I had the '60 Impala out last fall, the Powerglide started slipping. When I mentioned to SWMBO that I would need to rebuild it, she asked what it would cost to put an overdrive ****** in it. Have I mentioned before how much I love that woman?

So, I started scanning the online sales venues. While I was looking, I'd occasionally scan for 6.0 LS engines, because while the Impala's 283 is a solid, reliable engine, it really is a bit small for such a big car. Yesterday, I hit the jackpot.

Saturday, I found a 6.0 V8 for sale out of a mid-2000s truck w/ 100k miles, 2-wd ******. It was an hour and a half away, had been advertised for a week, and had just had the price lowered to $850 for the pair! By mid-eve, I had established contact, gotten answers to my questions, and sealed the deal.

Now, I'm sure many of you are thinking that the risks i was contemplating were those of going out into the pandemic to pick up an engine and ******. You would be right, but that was the secondary risk. The primary risk was telling SWMBO I was going to pick up an engine and ****** on EASTER MORNING. Nevermind the virus!

Although she was not amused, to say the least, SWMBO set me up with some hand sanitizer and one of her homemade facemasks and off I went. The guy selling it told me he had bought the truck as a donor to replace the engine in his son's truck, only to have the son decide he wanted a diesel. He claims it ran just fine when they got it a few months ago, so I'm crossing my fingers that it's as good a deal as it seems.

I'll probably put a new cam, intake and headers on it, and I'll have a dead-reliable 400 hp and overdrive that'll turn my cruiser into a real hotrod!