2026 Garage Sale Thread (15th Annual)

[Outlawmws]

I hope this will not be considered an inappropriate post and certainly mean no offense to anyone. I love seeing what others have acquired, but am always left with a burning question of ... why? Are you building displays of older tools? Are you completing sets for re-sale? Are you filling in gaps in your own tool sets? Are you using the items to build trophies for engineering/building competitions? Again, no offense with the question, but any insight would allow me to sleep easier. Perhaps some photos of completed sets or antique displays?

If you have to ask you probably won't understand the answers...

 

[ctuai]

Estate sale ($9): 9" PS&W Extra no. 1 draw knife; SK #1 philips screwdriver; Hoppe (W. Germany) 1-1/4# hatchet; SK 1/4" deep socket; Snap On 1/2" impact socket.

Not much out there this week, but some nice pieces to move on to someone who needs them.​

 

[ctuai]

I hope this will not be considered an inappropriate post and certainly mean no offense to anyone. I love seeing what others have acquired, but am always left with a burning question of ... why? Are you building displays of older tools? Are you completing sets for re-sale? Are you filling in gaps in your own tool sets? Are you using the items to build trophies for engineering/building competitions? Again, no offense with the question, but any insight would allow me to sleep easier. Perhaps some photos of completed sets or antique displays?

I'm a reference librarian and enjoy researching what I've found. I also resell to feed and justify the habit, which for the 2025 calendar year, I grossed about $20k. I also enjoy cleaning things up things that are really well built and moving/selling them on to the next generation, rather than have them end up in the dumpster. If you see my latest post, the axe and draw knife really aren't worth my time selling, but I know there are people out there who can really appreciate them. Lastly, it allows me to participate, in particular this forum, but also other specialized discussion groups.

Collections... well here's about 100 lbs of incomplete sets of sockets and wrenches. 69 lbs of (SK & Craftsman wrenches and ratchets) + 39 lbs of SK sockets + and a smattering of Snap On, all of which, I wish someone would take off my hands en masse. SK and Snap On are like junk food, which I indulge then throw into box.

 

[3baygarage]

I hope this will not be considered an inappropriate post and certainly mean no offense to anyone. I love seeing what others have acquired, but am always left with a burning question of ... why? Are you building displays of older tools? Are you completing sets for re-sale? Are you filling in gaps in your own tool sets? Are you using the items to build trophies for engineering/building competitions? Again, no offense with the question, but any insight would allow me to sleep easier. Perhaps some photos of completed sets or antique displays?

Even tool hoarders, (Oops!) I mean collectors, have a display sometimes. There was a thread.

What I had going before I moved. I knew where everything was!

 

[bmwrd0]

Some days you get the bear, some days you get the grizzly.

Friday, I had some appointments in the AM, and needed to get the dog out for her excersise, so I was unable to hit the one sale in town that looked interesting until late in the day. It was of a small cattle ranch, 20-30 head or so. So, I headed down to the barn to see if anything was interesting down there. Didn't see much at first pass, picked up a couple small things, and was getting ready to pay up, when I spotted to small cases. Neither one had pricing, which was odd, considering the company handling the sale. I picked them up, checked the contents, and asked for a price.


Craftsman 1/4" socket set (with the oft missing crossbar), Craftsman bit driver set, and a Plomb LA brake wrench. $10 for everything.

Today, Saturday, I had five stops scheduled, and I found just a pair of MT1 bits. So it goes.

 

[bmwrd0]

I hope this will not be considered an inappropriate post and certainly mean no offense to anyone. I love seeing what others have acquired, but am always left with a burning question of ... why? Are you building displays of older tools? Are you completing sets for re-sale? Are you filling in gaps in your own tool sets? Are you using the items to build trophies for engineering/building competitions? Again, no offense with the question, but any insight would allow me to sleep easier. Perhaps some photos of completed sets or antique displays?

Yes.

 

[Marsim]

The watch was $1.00, and the tattoo stuff was $10.

 

[d42jeep]

An interesting looking sale popped up in the Oakland hills this morning. We went on all back roads to get there to avoid using any freeways. Although the previous owner sprayed many of the sockets pink, I’m sure that will come right off and they are mostly unused Craftsman US made metric sockets which will end up in the GJ classifieds. I really liked the little clamps.
Champion
clamps
Draw knife.
Modern Cee Tee pliers.
Barcalo DBE wrench.
The second sale in Montclair that mentioned tools was mostly a bust. At least the almost full can of WD40 and rusty vise grips were free.
I‘m sure the vise grips will respond to evaporust.
-Don

 

[JonahBrown]

Any and all of the above, yes.
Some of us are just trying to find the answer to "How big can you make the pile?"

The pile is never big enough!

 

[Outlawmws]

I broke the 34 day YS/ES/Flea drought today! (otherwise today would have been day 35...)

EDIT -Finally on the board for 2026! I don't think its ever taken me over two weeks to get on the board!

Most was from a HS Flea, plus one YS and one delivery from EPrey, All between 8:30 and 11:00AM! Eprey delivery was in my mailbox when I got home, so USPS had their act together...


A buck each for the boat and navel ship from different sellers - I passed on one Syd would have liked a real pond sailer, maybe 16-18 " long?, ( sails and rigging not there, but the rest was - at $35 it it stayed - maybe the price drops n a month, maybe its not there...):



A buck for the full FireFly series. if you are not familiar, its a Sci-Fi but actually a "space Western." I like it, and the follow on movie was good too.




Not certain what this is for, but I suspect its a small vise base. Why do I think that? the mounting surfaces both scream vise to me.. needs research. For $5 I'll find a good use for it regardless.











Research was quick! its for a Stanley No. 400 miter vise:




1959 Gun digest (13th year of publication) for $3:




$5 for the 18" X a bit over 36, Morracan made tapestry. I liked the subject, and it will make a good mat for between the bed and door in my van. (my "dressing area")



that was it for the Flea - one Yardsale had these for a buck each. 2 wire wrap tools, and a Proto 1312-P BPH - 12 oz.





And the EPrey buy was from 5 days ago. It came in today for the clamp on base only - all the blue parts I had but those suction cup bases only work on a really smooth surface, Glass, at least 6X6 glazed smooth tile, Formica in good shape. not a lot of that handy!

The black clamp-on base is from a Wisler Western Arms Double Jaw Rotating Gunsmith Vise Base. I made inquiries and the rotatng sleeve clamp matched the Taiwanese vises well enough! I'll get a 3/16 X 1-1/4" ID O-ring for the end gap, if only to keep grit out of the rotating sleeve. otherwise, perfect fit!

I had one of these vises from about the 5th or 6th grade til I busted the main nut over-tighteng it. I think I was trying to bend metal in my room...

I decades later reacquired both of these blue ones separately but don't particularly like the suction bass - Yes, they **** - the bad way!

Still need to clean it up a bit but I'm liking it! This will become a portable "travel vise" for the most part.



1959 Catalog page - I got a good guess where the Asians stole the design from!:

 

[LesserSon]

I really liked the little Champion clamps.
-Don

I like them too. And I saw one yesterday, but I wasn’t going to pay $5ea for it (reckoned by signage). I believe those are quilt frame clamps. And that Champion was a hardware goods manufacturer (small vises and cabinet catches, etc) that was bought out by Stanley.

 

[Outlawmws]

I really liked the little clamps.

I like them too. And I saw one yesterday, but I wasn’t going to pay $5ea for it (reckoned by signage). I believe those are quilt frame clamps. And that Champion was a hardware goods manufacturer (small vises and cabinet catches, etc) that was bought out by Stanley.

Me three - those are very cool light duty clamps.

 

[JMP]

I hope this will not be considered an inappropriate post and certainly mean no offense to anyone. I love seeing what others have acquired, but am always left with a burning question of ... why? Are you building displays of older tools? Are you completing sets for re-sale? Are you filling in gaps in your own tool sets? Are you using the items to build trophies for engineering/building competitions? Again, no offense with the question, but any insight would allow me to sleep easier. Perhaps some photos of completed sets or antique displays?

A few years I barely had enough tools to assemble a piece of Ikea furniture. I really hated the feeling of having to borrow a basic hammer from a coworker when I moved into my first apartment. I eventually found different hobbies and started doing different DIY maintenance such as home, auto and bicycles. Now I have my hands full. I do love the thrill of the hunt trying to pick up tools for cheap to either use, restore, or just to collect. Another part of it for me has been the pursuit of knowledge in learning about tools and picking up new skills.









My aviation box for A&P school


My bedroom toolbox


Old picture, now filled to the max.

 

[Beerhippie]

@JMP: Bedroom toolbox?

Wait--just forget I asked....

 

[RTM]

My first decent find in a while, both stops were “antique / second hand stores”. One was a known quantity from several years back, the other was going out of biz sale. I only had 15 mins in the first, and 10 in the second, so had to go quick, before the dogs got too antsy.

The mailbox lock was the first find, a match to one from a month or two back, will use it for a poor toolbox front cover lock. The double hook for MLW’s closet was next, then saw the Chapman set. Complete, but with a broken lid pivot. Appears one of the Phillips bits is taller than the rest, and someone may have forced it closed. Any good ideas on repairing it to functional would be great, the ear on the lid is missing.

Next up came from a closing vintage store, a 3/8” drill, bell hangers length brace bit, big Nicholson triangle file, and a smaller screw starter driver, forget the patent, but it’s a known one. No makers marks at a quick glance.

 

[3baygarage]

It was off to Flywheelers the other day for a beautiful fun filled day of picking and poking around. Nothing like being at a nice outdoor flea market setting like that doing what I enjoy.

Flywheelers won again. Trekking on foot, it’s impossible to see everything, buy everything, carry everything, talk to everybody. Still, I came away with a load of small items. Some interesting ones in there.

Pic 1 is all Snap-On. More pics in the SO thread. Ferret stuff, 1/4” set and additional deeps, nice 1/2” swivel sockets, metric and SAE randoms, 4 lkttle screwdrivers, a couple Blue-Point, 1/2” rat, etc..

I assumed the box set was 9/32 without checking it but turned out to be 1/4. The Williams spinner was also found there and fits in nicely.

Seller painted box

Random assortment of Euro wrenches from one seller. British brands including Gordon, King ****, Britool, etc.. Some German, a couple Facom including the flexible magnet. Two Craftsman single end ratcheting wrenches, a Par-X, S-K, Snap-On. New Britain screw starte. General brand punches.

mostly Mac wrenches and misc.. Some other small items like Bonney and Vaco, etc..

Snap-On 3/4 breaker bar

Bonney set in tattered old pouch. Pics in Bon thread.

Misc pliers. Unknown German?, Billings mystery tools, Lectrolite, Ford plier by Herbrand, Keen Kutter, old Klein, another Truth water pump it plier!, Lightning adjustable wrench. Two files with THE LAUBER file handles.

Ford, Lectrolite

Keen Kutter, Klein,Truth

 

[3baygarage]

Drive tools.
-Herbrand rotating extension
-Milwaukee Tool 1/2” t handle
-Wright 3/8” t handle
-Plomb 3/8 breaker bar
-Sparta 1/4 breaker bar
-PWA 3/8 dr. wrench
- Browning 3/8” driver handle
-Ratchets: Craftsman box head, Walden Worcester, Chrome Alloy
-sockets: s-k, mac, blackhawk, proto, Plomb u-joint, Craftsman, Cornwell flex, DI deep, another Vlchek deep from same seller as last time.

-Craftsman C Series u-joint
-unknown maker 3/4” to 5/8” adapter

I was excited to find these two:Craftman C series joint, unbranded 3/4 to 5/8 adapter


Wrenches including Plomb LA, Billings and Billings Special, Williams, unmarked aircraft? wrench with hex end, Blackhawk, Bonney, Walden Braunsdorf Mueller adjustable, Armstrong, ratchet line wrench, Goodell Pratt tap wrench. Vanadium tool offset screwdriver, 3 Buffum chisels.


Buffum chisels. There was a nice seller with estate tools from Ohio, mostly 20’s-40’s tools, cheap. I had a lot of fun digging through his tables. Picked up a bunch from him. Only wish I’d gotten there sooner.

 

[d42jeep]

My first decent find in a while, both stops were “antique / second hand stores”. One was a known quantity from several years back, the other was going out of biz sale. I only had 15 mins in the first, and 10 in the second, so had to go quick, before the dogs got too antsy.

The mailbox lock was the first find, a match to one from a month or two back, will use it for a poor toolbox front cover lock. The double hook for MLW’s closet was next, then saw the Chapman set. Complete, but with a broken lid pivot. Appears one of the Phillips bits is taller than the rest, and someone may have forced it closed. Any good ideas on repairing it to functional would be great, the ear on the lid is missing.

Next up came from a closing vintage store, a 3/8” drill, bell hangers length brace bit, big Nicholson triangle file, and a smaller screw starter driver, forget the patent, but it’s a known one. No makers marks at a quick glance.

Nice find on the Chapman set. I found the same one last month in Marin County.
-Don

 

[3baygarage]

Dupe post

 

[zanyad]

Craftsman 1/4" socket set (with the oft missing crossbar), Craftsman bit driver set, and a Plomb LA brake wrench. $10 for everything.

Very nice! You ****!

The watch was $1.00, and the tattoo stuff was $10.

Neat!

A buck for [t]he full FireFly series. if you are not familiar, its a Sci-Fi but actual a "space Western." I like it, and the follow on movie was good too.

Concur. I enjoyed both the series and the film.

 

[four.cycle]

that Champion

oh boy.
yet another "Champion"?

company name? city? dates of operation?

 

[Outlawmws]

And that Champion was a hardware goods manufacturer (small vises and cabinet catches, etc) that was bought out by Stanley.

oh boy.
yet another "Champion"?

company name? city? dates of operation?

I have a corner clamp-on Champion wood workers vise that is cast iron, and has 1917 patent dates. Not that great a distance from vises to clamps...

 

[LesserSon]

I have one of those, but the “Champion” script logo ones don’t have the “patent applied for”, and the patent ones have a plain logo like mine. If I can find my quilt clamps or cabinet latches, I’ll post them, too.

Geneva OH, USA.

 

[INSP380]

Decided to sleep in this am and missed first prize….A bounty of Snap-On, Cornwell & Mac…. Can’t win them all. Same seller offered up a Proto set for the same type of money $18. Sold… he had a table full of adjustables for $2 each, Diamond, SK and Blue-Point…..He took the Wilton 633-1/2 Shop King off his bench for $15 and tossed the new Hickory 4 lbs. sledge in for another $2 . Very pleased with the buy’s. He has a nice 1966 20’’ two drawer Craftsman box and a Craftsman Chevron lower chest as well that he’s getting back to me on before he moves. Man took care of his tools, but its time to downsize. A true Gentleman.

Steve

 

[four.cycle]

I have one of those, but the “Champion” script

I know we're gettin' out in the weeds here, but if there's yet another "Champion" that we have not already identified, please let me know.

 

[bmwrd0]

What I do find interesting is what floats each persons boat. Not that I never use them, but adjustables are pretty much a-do-not-bother-with from me, unless Plomb or some such. Others around here find them of the greatest interest. Then again, I love books, and I know some are "how is that garage oriented" when i show some fiction. And that is what makes this thread great!

 

[Outlawmws]

I know we're gettin' out in the weeds here, but if there's yet another "Champion" that we have not already identified, please let me know.

I have a Champion wood handed driver, but that is likely the hardware company again.

 

[Fred Knox]

I think I may have broken Outlaw’s YS/ES/Flea drought record! In any case, first purchases of the New Year:

Wizard 8" rotating head ratcheting adjustable wrench
Long-C Craftsman BE 3/8”-drive sliding T-handle
Harrold 6” thin-nose pliers (great knurled handles)
Plomb Tool Mfg Co offset DoE wrench 1/4" x 5/16"
Plomb Pebble #4011 jaw puller; #4015 jaws
Plomb Mfd. No. 5649 Pebble ratchet; 3/4-drive
Penens Corp. Chicago USA 9/16" x 1/2" DoE wrench; forge mark T.8.2.
Western Giant Chrome Alloy #4270 ½”-drive ratchet
Williams Superrench No. 7033C 1" x 15/16" DBE
early Bonney 555 A standard nut 3/4" x 7/8" DoE wrench with Shield logo
copper Wilton 6” vise jaw pads
GTD (Greenfield) Little Giant 10” offset adjustable reversible wrench
Lowell Wrench Co. (Worcester 8 Mass) 18” strap wrench Warnock
Smart Brockville blacksmith No.4 anvil vise (Brockville, Ontario, Canada)
Snap-on TM70 B 1/4"-drive ratchet
Snap-on Vacuum Grip #387 diagonal wire cutter pliers
Snap-on 1/4" x 3/8" B1463A brake bleeder wrench
Snap-On VS 16 4-way angle 1/2" open end wrench
Tubelox hammer head #N2949 Scaffold ratchet
Tubelox #N2949-8 7/8" socket
"Chrome Alloy Forging" (SK?) 4" mini-ignition slip-joint pliers
MAC P-2 miniature 4" pliers (great knurling)
tiny countersink brace bit with "APELERBACK" stamped on one side
Lakeside (L-Keystone logo) 4" bicycle wrench
Herbrand Van-Chrome No. S-116 1/2" socket

 

[bmwrd0]

@Fred Knox if you ever want to move that black Plomb ratchet along, I have the rest of the set in black from the factory, and it is looking for the right ratchet!

 

[Outlawmws]

I think I may have broken Outlaw’s YS/ES/Flea drought record!

Depends on how many days into December you started the drought!

But Man, What a haul!

 

[Fred Knox]

@bmwrd0:
I’ve seen your trading prowess with most of the members on this thread, so might as well go one more! Hard to deny an overture from a HOF picker and still stay in the GJ club—especially if it’s the last tool you need for the set!

I’m out of town for the week, but PM me after that and we’ll figure something out.

 

[bmwrd0]

HA! Now everyone knows what floats my boat. I forgot to say, @Fred Knox , that that is one heck of a haul!
And, YOU ****

 

[Etchase]

72 empty bins!! Now I just need to make room for them.

 

[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.....

 

[WisJim]

Picked this 1998 Ford Ranger Supercab 126" WB XLT (120,000 miles) today for................ $70.

We had one of these, 1998 4cyl 5spd with a topper, same color and wheels and similar mileage, and sold it recently for $700. Ours had dents and dings and not much rust, considering Wisconsin and road salt, and we see it around town on occasion.

 

[SC Fly Guy]

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.....

I’ll double your money!?!

 

[gearhead1960]

I’ll double your money!?!

Sure thing. I'll PM you with the address....but I'll still keep the truck....

 

[brockmub]

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.....

The "diseased"? Better get a mask.

I'm kidding, great little truck and deal, you ****.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Picked these up at the restore yesterday.

 

[misterbill]

As a followup to the tote I posted upthread, these three items were in the tote when I found it. They were all so rusty that I was sorely tempted to just throw them out. But, not being one to give up on an item just because of a little "patina", I spent some time trying to bring them back to life. The Stillson pattern pipe wrench with the missing woodent handle is from Atlas Tool Co. The (what I think is) a 16" farrier's rasp is marked "Disston Porter USA". The file on top is a 14" Heller Nu-Cut 2655.







Bill