We had break in the rain today, so I snuck off to two estate sales north of me that had a bit of promise. Everything else was "online" or "virtual", hard pass.
1st stop was the estate of a plumber with poor organizational skills. **** was everywhere, sale run by the family. He was also a bit of a hoarder, and there we several broken power tools, a Sawzall with wires coming out between the case halves, a dewalt drill missing the motor and switch, dead water heaters......
Main thing of interest that caught my eye was a 6w x 3 high set of drawers and the frame by Curtis. Just barely grabbed the pic before the rain started, so minimal details on the plumbing stuff inside. Most of the drawers were empty, but some have sink or shower control valves in them, pipe hangers etc. The ferrules and fittings will get put aside, the other stuff may get tossed. This was screwed to the wall, quick glance said drywall screws, I had my tool kit in the truck, no big deal.
(Edits)
Also grabbed a small oil can, two power cord converters that stuck together, a side handle, hopefully for a US threaded 1/2" drill, and a
foot switch, ( assuming
incorrectly it is reversing for a pipe threader). Finally added an organizer box, has a few fiber washers inside, but will help my get my $hit together.
Oh, and the tool bag wasn't in the truck, so I used a reversible Craftsman Ph #1 screwdriver, and my Gerber leatherman type tool to get it out. Three screws were short drywall, 2 were long fine threaded beasts. That took a few minutes, but got'er done.
The second sale was professionally run, with much higher prices. The estate was a guy who made goofy wooden animal shaped toys, planters, etc. Some vintage tools, an old TS and RAS, not sure where his router / table got off to, did not see it in the pix. Saw a bit of the Craftsman allure, a set of 6 auger bits, with the plastic tip covers, in a carboard box for $35. I willingly paid $10 for a wooden box 17 or so, a forstner bit for a brace being the gem. Also found a Blue Point high tension hack saw,, pair of maybe bonsai shears, Eclipse honing guide, Stubs mini file set, no name dowel former, and a box of split rings and a box of brass and other hardware. Not a screaming deal, but good enough.
This sale was creepy by the one guy who was naming every tool he found but didn't buy. Thought my honing guide was a mini tubing cutter.. He thought I was nuts for taking the brass screws, and that SS screws were stronger. Had to explain that SS doesn't always look right on a vintage restoration (not that these would fit in) Took my pile and scurried away
My first in the wild GS or ES type score since late October.