2026 Garage Sale Thread (15th Annual)

[WisJim]

Found a few things at the Pueblo flea market. Small set of USA drill bits in a Huot case, another MF bit extension, a nice Lenox hacksaw and an odd drill attachment. $9 for all

 

[Outlawmws]

Very slow day - Easter W/E is always like this for me...

One planned one TOO... Xcelite driver from the TOO for a buck Working LED lantern for two from the planned stop. I have several of this style but this one has the magnets so may be handy.. These make good quick emergency lights with lithium batteries installed.

 

[bmwrd0]

This morning I was up mighty early and decided to look online for estate sales. That led me far out but it turned out to be a Picker's Paradise. Most everything old. Small garage and small house. Tools and tools boxes stuffed everywhere in the garage. All sorts of stuff from ammo and reloading to fishing to model hobbies.

The pics didn't do it justice. I went because I thought I saw a Prentiss Vise and a couple good ratchets. Turned out way better than I thought.

The man who passed was 92. After is wife passed he moved there in parents' house with brother and SIL. He was the last one. Major bachelor type sale.

There were many safes. The guy running sale was busting them open with a hammer. I found one under a bed and contained documents only. Apparently the sale guy found 10k worth of silver in a closet!

I had fun because the guys were cool as heck and very fair with me and everyone. Also, first time I've heard someone say they were glad they didn't put signs around because it would have been a nut house. He actually said "I'll let the pros do their thing.". I took that as a huge compliment!

The first 1/2 hour it was two guys, maybe father/son, and me in the garage. I was there 3hrs 45 mins pulling stuff out. People kept pulling boxes I hadn't seen yet. I got on the stepp ladder till I saw it all. Another guy was checking the rafters. Good picking fun and enjoyed the chatter there.

I found a cast iron pot in the garage, and when I went inside I asked about cast iron, thinking anything good would be gone. That's when I found out the cupboards were untouched. I was told there was likely some cast as the man was 92. I found myself laying on the floor with my phone light. I was happy what I saw. Cupboards were loaded and very neat. Pulled out another box of tools and dug in that too. Going to take some pics.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE sales like that! My wife, on the few occasions that she comes with me, hates sales with out everything priced, I think those are the best.

 

[Provincial]

Found a few things at the Pueblo flea market. Small set of USA drill bits in a Huot case, another MF bit extension, a nice Lenox hacksaw and an odd drill attachment. $9 for all

The "drill attachment" is a micrometer-adjustable countersink. They were very common in WWII aircraft factories, and even later. The bits have a pilot for the rivet or flat head screw, and screw into the tool with 1/4" threads.

 

[3baygarage]

Took some quick pics. Family time tonight.
Didn't go through the boxes.

 

[3baygarage]

Pics cont.

 

[Beerhippie]

@3baygarage I see some keepers in that lot!

And you've definitely earned yourself a hale and hearty YOU ****!

...and that was before you posted the last batch... you double-double ****!

 

[3baygarage]

Last couple:

 

[Outlawmws]

Huge Haul! And yes, 3bay *****!

 

[Beerhippie]

Please! Stop the suckage now!

 

[WisJim]

The "drill attachment" is a micrometer-adjustable countersink.

Thanks for the identification! I thought it was worth a buck try to find out what it is.

 

[LesserSon]

Amazing! 3bay *****!

 

[Jayman17]

Found a few things at the Pueblo flea market. Small set of USA drill bits in a Huot case, another MF bit extension, a nice Lenox hacksaw and an odd drill attachment. $9 for all

The "drill attachment" is a micrometer-adjustable countersink. They were very common in WWII aircraft factories, and even later. The bits have a pilot for the rivet or flat head screw, and screw into the tool with 1/4" threads.

Those countersinks are still used today in aerospace factories.

Pics cont.

3bay, I somehow pictured you as more of a red toenail guy, my bad.

 

[3baygarage]

Those countersinks are still used today in aerospace factories.



3bay, I somehow pictured you as more of a red toenail guy, my bad.

You have to do what you have to do at an estate sale to scare off the other customers!



Edit: btw the wife already claimed the cornbread pan and tried to walk off with the roaster.

 

[woody 73]

I apologize for the lack of pictures, but I have one from the web to give you the general idea of the scope of my haul.

Pardon Our Interruption...

I picked up not one or two shaper bits like the above link but 31 of them for 50 cents each, now I knew those suckers were expensive, but I never dreamed just how expensive they were. I think I did ok.

 

[bmwrd0]

Went out and tried a few sales

First stop was a tool sale, where I picked up the things in the top right: Hinsdale sliding T and socket, Snap-on 1/4 ratchet, Williams hex socket, and Herbrand tapet wrenches. Next stop was a vintage sale, and it looked like the interesting things sold yesterday, but I did find the vintage .30 Lugar partial box. After that it was off to the used tool dealer I hit when I am down that way, and I found the Schwinn Approved cone wrench, vintage metric DOE, Kraeuter bearing scraper, and early Magna-tip driver (metal cap),

After that I hit my favorite thrift store,

where I picked up some books (vintage travel books about Ireland and Asia, along with an early Dorothy Sayers) and a very nice flannel.

 

[alinc100]

@3baygarage *****, I was convinced just with the 40-'s 50's Craftsman pearhead sets but you iced it with the Griswold. That would be a fun pot to cook in.

 

[alinc100]

Went out and tried a few sales

First stop was a tool sale, where I picked up the things in the top right: Hinsdale sliding T and socket, Snap-on 1/4 ratchet, Williams hex socket, and Herbrand tapet wrenches. Next stop was a vintage sale, and it looked like the interesting things sold yesterday, but I did find the vintage .30 Lugar partial box. After that it was off to the used tool dealer I hit when I am down that way, and I found the Schwinn Approved cone wrench, vintage metric DOE, Kraeuter bearing scraper, and early Magna-tip driver (metal cap),

After that I hit my favorite thrift store,

where I picked up some books (vintage travel books about Ireland and Asia, along with an early Dorothy Sayers) and a very nice flannel.

Vintage ammo and vintage flannel. Very good day.

 

[d42jeep]

After the shock of filling up the car we checked out some very local sales. The first sale in Richmond was listed on Craigslist and mentioned tools. They seemed to all be gone except for a nice looking claw hammer.
The brand appeared to be a faint acid etched “Drop Forged”
Heading towards home we picked up some groceries and some cash at the ATM. We spotted a TOO in El Cerrito close to where my Jr High School used to be. The rusty treasures were REALLY rusty.
Knocked most of the rust off ot the wire tying pliers and discovered that they are Channellocks missing the spring.
Harrold pliers, of course.
Craftsman metric combo.
Added the rest to the evaporust tank. We next looked for a sale in Berkeley that seemed to have disappeared so we moved on to the last sale at an apartment house close to the Berkeley campus, I’m not sure why I never owned a 24” Trimo pipe wrench but I do now. Patented 3-5-18.
The Beetle convertible is for the Grandaughter, the little DOE wrenches are Ford and Moore Drop Forged.
Did a little cleaning on the pipe wrench.
-Don

 

[genog]

It looked to be a slow day at the Flea Market today......
Talked to a couple friends who said, there's a lot of people here today, but nothing good to buy.....

As I was finishing up my last lap, I found a Vermont American tap and die set that looks darn new and unused
A cool ole vintage 30 cal ammo can
and.....a useful metal cabinet which the seller said....I think this came from Lowes

 

[Outlawmws]

A cool ole vintage 30 cal ammo can

That type is my favorite "in field" Ammo box. I added a slot in the latch for a U-bolt I added as a hasp for a lock.

Why my favorite? near silent open and close. the more common and newer type snap and slam for the latch. not good for added noise when getting stuff for a hunt.

I do need to find a source for a decent gasket replacement though.

 

[d42jeep]

I like the ammo cans that have the cool ORD bomb logo. Good find!
-Don

 

[misterbill]

My daughter wanted to harvest some peonies from my parents' home before we put it on the market. (These flowers have been split for at least three generations and my daughter wants to keep it going.) So, we drove together the three hours so she could spend a couple hours digging them up. During the drive she mentioned that she could use "something like a tackle box" to store some office supplies in her classroom. While she was digging I busied myself sorting through things in the garage and I found her a nice Union tackle box filled with vintage hooks, sinkers, lures, etc. - and some DOEs. Williams, three Ford, a 1940 Wright, and an 8/10mm Fiat.



Bill

 

[alinc100]

Facebook Marketplace ad led me to the local flea market that was pretty empty (and cold) . The S-K and Craftsman stuff was the bonus found while there, the other was the intended target, original reason/sale.
Snap On OEX100-OEX240 5/16”-3/4” Combination wrench set
Snap On OEXM16 16mm combo wrench
Snap On OEX-14 7/16” combo wrench
Snap On OEXL20 5/8” combo wrench
Snap On RS1820B speed wrench
Snap On FTXL40 3/8” dr T40 socket
Snap TW-141 1/2” dr 7/16” 6 pt shallow
Proto 4990-¼ 3/8” dr 1/4” hex/allen socket
Craftsman 3/8” dr 3/8” -v- ,3/8” =v= 12 pt swivel sockets
S-K 18mm stubby full polish
S-K 16mm full polish combo

 

[NYBODYMAN]

3Bay *****!

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Sometimes you strike out, sometimes the free pile has some redemption, and sometimes you have to let the future Mrs. W bring home 45 lbs of free books. Today was all of those days

 

[CoogarXR]

I was helping some friends of my wife move, and they had this stuff in a "free" pile out by the road:



Nothing mind-blowing, but I can always use more cases and hardware. Plus, I always need romex. I have some recessed lights to install in my kitchen, and it'll be a bunch of short 14/2 runs. So even this short roll will help.

The yellow case has removable cups/bins too. That's nice, just in case I want to use the bins in my drawer cabinets instead of keeping them in this case.

Not a bad haul for free, lol.

 

[Patrickm82]

Huge SUCKAGE for @3baygarage!! Nice haul.

 

[Patrickm82]

Slow weekend although I did pretty good at 1 sale. Weird 12:30 start time but only 10 mins from home. Here’s what I got for $80


3 like new files 1 Nicholson 1 heller and no name
Craftsman 12oz ball peen
Vise grip #10
Blue point 6” adjustable wrench
Plomb wf-37 1/2” breaker bar
Herbrand 1/2” extension
Yankee little tiny 991 drill vise

Herbrand 19mm combo
Craftsman fine tooth 3/8” ratchet
Craftsman vanadium nippers
Par-X screw drivers
Snap on flat tip screw driver
Snap on test lead missing all the electrical now just an awl



Underline C craftsman plane
A.L. Whiting & co plane, funky little thing!
Craftsman crown logo rule
GTD tap handle
Craftsman needle nose
Starrett center punch index missing a few
Standard tool co. Center drill/ counter sink index


Wd-40 and 3/1 oil both new
Starrett conversion chart
Starrett drill and wire chart
Starrett 436 mics a 2-3” and a 3-4”
Starrett 2” rule
Starrett 178A and 178B filet gauge sets
Unknown V block

 

[RTM]

Here is my haul from the last two weeks / weekends.
The left side is some of my dad's old stuff, given to me by my mom. Couple of vintage Swiss watches, and a newer Citizen. The blue knife is an older Victorinox, marked for Resistronics Switzerland. My dad alway carried that around, so I've already bought a new one, and a used one, in that same format. Nice slim shape, hides in the pocket. This one will stay on around the house duty, not going out in public where it may get lost. Instead, it may just get misplaced for a year or two.

The stuff in the middle is vintage chest hardware, from an antique store in Orange, CA (Muffshardware.com). I was there 15 years ago, saw all the cool stuff, and didn't buy much. There was a period when they weren't very active, but now they're back. Top is two small chest handles (NOS I believe), middle is a roundish mortise lock, destined for my Gerstner leatherette case when I rebuild the front flap, bottom left is a made in Germany mortise, think a repro, and lower right is a smaller mortise lock. Looks a bit older. Bottom is a 7" ***********, 12" capacity Wetzler clamp, missing the swivel pad. Just ordered a new one from McMaster. Another Antique store purchase, but well below true value. And a can of Singer sewing machine oil, from an ES cleanout, last day, piles of stuff for cheap.





Today I ran up to day 3 of another ES closeout, pix showed some nice long wood clamps, and they were gone, but I was hoping to grab the unknown to most" dregs of a woodworkers shop. I didn't do too bad for $5. 2 sheets of Norton sandpaper, misc. sized 3/4" ply scraps, Dremel sized bits, misc. wingnuts, yellow box is SS screws, a bunch of files, some Simonds, Nicholson, and many unmarked, 6-1/2 pairs of aluminum French cleats, one big SS French cleat, and a shopvac-sized nozzle. Apologies for the poor pix lighting, the sun was really bright today for the coast.


"

 

[coachwash]

We traveled up to the Texas Panhandle to unfortunately attend a close friend’s funeral. While we were there we went by the Council of the Blind thrift store, I picked up some wrenches for $5. On our road trip home, we stopped at an antique/junk store in Clarendon. I found this very rusted Hinsdale G20 box with sockets stuff. The box had dirt in it and had been sitting out in the elements. I probably paid too much considering the condition but I could not leave it behind. Paid $30. Once we got back home, I had to put everything through the wire wheel just to try and read any markings. I am going to put the box in some evaporust and try to preserve it. I love a challenge. A few of the sockets were BOG MFG Co. I have never seen them before. Sadly some of the others were to pitted to read.
here is what I got.

 

[Provincial]

3bay ***** for that massive haul!

 

[Provincial]

I haven't had time for much scrounging, but did get to two garage sales in March. I spent a total of $8.00.


Akro-Mills drawers with some useful contents.
Tire pressure gauge
12", 30 cm. steel rule
6" , 150MM steel rule
7MM rod with 1/4-20 threads
Home-made pry bar
Midwest snips (Wiss as source?)

Best contents of the drawers:

Lots of taps, both US and Metric. Down to #2-56 threads. Some Ace, but many USA HSS.
Many dies, both US and Metric. Mostly Ace
Lots of hardware. Drywall anchors, pushbutton switches, and fasteners.

I wonder if all Akro-Mills drawer units are missing one drawer. I think I found a photo of the founder of Akro-Mills:

 

[Provincial]

After missing three in a row, I made it to the local monthly flea market today. $24.00 out the door:

Plomb USA 9708 screwdriver
Plomb USA 5464 Looooong 1/2 drive extension, plain steel
Plomb USA 96 3/8 punch
Jack handle to fit my 20-ton hydraulic jack
two Husky utility knives. For a buck each, I can leave these scattered around the various shops.
Combination square blade cut short
Starrett 491 protractor head, seems old. Good bubble, good clamp, and rotates smoothly.
Starrett 823A Inside micrometer set box with handle and 4 extensions. Box is in excellent shape.

 

[RTM]

wonder if all Akro-Mills drawer units are missing one drawer. I think I found a photo of the founder of Akro-Mills:

I recently bought a stack of loose drawers to try to cure this disease. Ping me a size.

 

[Outlawmws]

I wonder if all Akro-Mills drawer units are missing one drawer.

Not all but many, and most at least have a couple/few cracked/broken.

I recently bought a stack of loose drawers to try to cure this disease.

Good solution I've used. or one with a damaged case.

But my faves are the similar ones with all aluminum trays. I have 2 cases complete now. Still sorting the contents of the most recent one and deciding on its use/purpose (So in no hurry).

 

[Etchase]

I have a soft spot for the premium Proto ratchets.

 

[four.cycle]

a nice Lenox hacksaw

very nice.
you're going to love it.
really well-designed piece.

 

[Beerhippie]

I sorted out this haul of end wrenches I got at a storage sale a couple of weeks ago:



Asia and India:



Mostly USA:

Bunch of Craftsman:



-V-, =V=, =VV= and the black tappet wrench which is barely legible.



ROCO--new to me--and a Stanley.



Bottom to top: Wright, Armstrong, Drop Forged w/11 on the back, Westline, Wilmar, Superench ignition wrench, Williams, Sunshine (Japan?), Powr-Kraft.



B-T: SK, Wright, Plomb, Vlchek, Duro-Chrome, Billings, Neon (?), Electrolite Trufit X2, Forged Steel, Barcalo X3.



L-R: Billings, Blackhawk, P&C X2.

I'm hoping to flip all of these--except maybe the Crafty ratchet.

 

[WisJim]

very nice.
you're going to love it.
really well-designed piece.

That Lenox hacksaw looked stiff and sturdy with a good blade tensioning system, and only $3 (I thought that the seller said $4, but he only would take $3)--I now I should have at least 3 good hacksaws so I can keep different blades ready to use.