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2026 Garage Sale Thread (15th Annual)

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four.cycle

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2015
Messages
29,152
Location
Tacoma, Washington
IIRC, the bottle-opener alligator wrench should have a screwdriver extending from where this one is sharpened.
^ Correct. The unit with the "alligator" jaw had the screwdriver tip on the 7/16" end.
The "alligator" opening was only on later sets. (post WWI as near as I have been able to tell)
Earlier (pre WWI) sets had a7/16" x 25/32" wrench and did NOT have the screwdriver:
 

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Tarantula

Active member
Joined
Apr 25, 2026
Messages
35
Midweek estate sales are a different breed.
Naturally, they're hard to attend, but when you can pull it off...

IMG_20260708_203458690_HDR~2.jpg
You pile your **** up and leave happy.
I only showed up after seeing this box in the preview the night before. Didn't expect to see it still waiting for me.
Or to find it so full. If anyone's missing a socket, it may have teleported into this pile.
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I only added the O-ring box, Land Rover wrench, 7 of the sockets, and 2 screwdrivers all found scattered around the garage. A lot of this is unbranded stuff but plenty of nice US pieces are in the mix.

Can I even leave a sale without some knickknacks and tiny critters? Probably not.
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If my grandpa was still around he'd be getting those cards. He was Camel or bust.

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This is cool, if you push the button on the back, the bear pulls away and swings the hammer at the nail. Probably does a better job than me.
If you find a working computer, why not swipe it? The only item that came with a price already set, 20 bucks. Maybe I should have tried the other one too.
IMG_20260708_204533477_HDR~2.jpg

Well, that was fun. Time to check out and haggle for my pile.
One last peek in the garage couldn't hurt though, right? Just in case.
Amazing what you can find in a filthy old soup can on the floor.
IMG_20260708_203843593_HDR~2.jpg
 

Beerhippie

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Joined
Oct 13, 2023
Messages
9,968
Location
Far NE Oregon
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Them things is prone to worms. Hate a wormy apple.
 
OP
P

Provincial

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Joined
Sep 21, 2011
Messages
6,874
Location
Near Salem, OR
I pulled black tape off all kinds of objects in those boxes.

There was a small bottle of a clear liquid. Didn't have much smell to it at all. Thin. Not as thick as fingernail polish, but in the same type of bottle with a little brush cap. What would that be doing in a case of telephone tools?
40+ years ago, when I was around telephone guys, they used Scotch 88 tape for everything, including first aid!
 

Beerhippie

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Joined
Oct 13, 2023
Messages
9,968
Location
Far NE Oregon
I pulled black tape off all kinds of objects in those boxes.

There was a small bottle of a clear liquid. Didn't have much smell to it at all. Thin. Not as thick as fingernail polish, but in the same type of bottle with a little brush cap. What would that be doing in a case of telephone tools?
That would likely be an insulating shellac for magnet wire--windings in motors, coils, etc.
 

mikeinri

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2019
Messages
8,266
Location
MA
The contents of these boxes contained not ONE used crimp-on electrical terminal, burned-out glass tube fuse, half a book of paper matches, loose staples, or any of the usual detritus one would ordinarily expect.

Pretty sure my oldest toolbox (that I populated myself) contains a bunch of this stuff...

...whoops...

Mike
 

knock knock

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 30, 2024
Messages
80
Estate sale with nothing priced gave $7 for the pile. Went back and filled the bucket for $50. I offended the guy running the sale with an offer of $20 for the bucket.
 

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knock knock

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Joined
Nov 30, 2024
Messages
80
And the bucket.
 

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Patrickm82

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Joined
Feb 27, 2021
Messages
822
Location
Massachusetts
Hit a couple of Friday sales on my last day of vacation. Here’s what I got.

3 Proto professional 3/8 dr sockets
Proto swivel spark plug socket
Proto extension
2 Proto double box, 1 ratcheting
Craftsman slip joints
King **** combo wrench (never see them)
Snap on fx-11 extension
Big safety pins
$10
IMG_7537.jpeg

Stop 2

New in package Craftsman pry bar set
Kobalt inflator
Almost full 3” deck screws
$26
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alinc100

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Joined
May 26, 2013
Messages
3,037
Location
Dearborn,MI
Week of 07/10/26

Craftsman BE 3/8” drive 7 piece swivel set 3/8” to 3/4” 12 point
Craftsman 3/8” dr 34797 socket set
Craftsman 1/4” drive set 3/16” to 1/2”
Craftsman 3/8” dr metric swivel set
Craftsman 3/8” dr sockets:
1/2” 12 pt shallow Circle H
5/8”,11/16” 12 pt shallow BE
3/4” 12 pt shallow CF-24
BE speed handle,BE flex handle,=v= flex handle
Craftsman 1/2” drive:
BE speeder handle
1-2 12 pt shallow (early) BE
5/8”,2@3/4” 12 pt shallow BE
10” extension BE
Craftsman 1/4” x 5/16”,3/8” x 7/16”,19/32”x 11/16”,5/8” x 3/4”,3/4”x 7/8” doe
Craftsman 5/8” x 11/16” offset dbe
Craftsman 1/2” x 9/16” short deep offset dbe
Craftsman 3/8” x 7/16”,1/2” x 9/16” offset dbe
Cornwell ⅜” combination
Auto-Kit II 3/8” x 7/16”,1/2” x 9/16”
 

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Outlawmws

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Joined
Aug 9, 2011
Messages
39,312
Location
The Badlands
So last night and the AM were "free days" for me:
Freecycle PU for SWMBO's bell collections a schoolmarm bell:


FCC-Bell.jpg


And a curb PU last night after spotting this on the curb during my walk - I went back later in the car - As found:


Curb-PU-228-12-66-as-found.jpg


And after a quick wipe down: not pristine but pretty nice 228 F! Original Globe; 2 small chips in the vent, one at a spot weld; Valves all turn; The fuel cap 3rd piece is stuck so need to get that off, still has a little fuel, the pump needs oiled or a new leather. its dated 12-66.


Curb-PU-228-12-66-wipe-down.jpg


Chip at 6 O'clock and the spot weld pop at about 8:30


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Jacobs976

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2020
Messages
831
Location
Indiana
Got a few lots recently.

$15
5389.jpg
$22 plus compact farm jack from the 90s(?) not pictured because it didn't feel like much of a show item and annoying to get pics
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Here's the more showy stuff cleaned up:

Diamalloy Handyman(well used but functional)
Midwest Foundry bottle opener(looking for more info)
US made Walsco bdog bone(probably a new keychain, haven't looked into it yet)
Chrome Vanadium 1/2 drive flip socket(probably nothing since it's not branded but it's new and maybe useful)
Ball peen(haven't identified mark yet but pretty nice proportions)
"Coconut maul" (forged blunt spike hammer)
Sears & Roebuck Cobbler hammer(wanted one and it happened to be decent condition)
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Anybody have a guess on spike hammer? Forged so no markings but all I see is a great coconut cracker or a mini ship maul/spike maul.
 

mikeinri

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2019
Messages
8,266
Location
MA
Thanks. Those were an Ebay purchase from earlier in the week/last week. I made an offer ,it was rejected, seller counteroffered, I chose to let the auction play out and I got them for $3 less than my offer.

I think (hope) I'm the only idiot who could have screwed themselves this way...

I bought something via an eBay "Make an Offer" once. Unfortunately, I somehow got the price just below the threshold for free shipping, and ended up paying MORE (out of my pocket) than if I'd have paid the asking price and gotten the free shipping. The seller would have made more too.

What a ***** (I was)...

Mike
 

d42jeep

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Joined
Oct 22, 2014
Messages
16,581
Location
Northern California
A last minute Craigslist ad for an estate sale in Gardnerville, NV showing a Snap-on stack and saying “tools, tools, tools”, got us headed for Nevada this morning. Of course by the time we arrived three hours after the sale started the stack was nowhere to be seen and most of any desirable tools were gone. I picked through the dregs and came up with these items. IMG_9029.jpeg
I have a project in mind needing the length of chain. The old Craftsman spinner had a drive socket in the handle. The Channellocks looked to be salvageable. The Snap-on test light and Phillips driver had been missed by earlier shoppers.IMG_9031.jpeg
The 1945 Ridgid 18” pipe wrench will clean up and has quite a bit of its’s original black paint showing. IMG_9042.jpegIMG_9041.jpegIMG_9043.jpeg
A little S-K tools 9 mm metric combo.IMG_9033.jpegIMG_9035.jpeg
Our annual visit to a sale that happens once a year in Minden produced only these tiny screwdrivers and an abused screw starter. IMG_9039.jpeg
The seller said that all the other tools available had sold by 6:15 AM, 45 minutes before the sale was supposed to have opened. The last sale was a bust so we filled up with less expensive Costco Nevada gas and grabbed lunch and headed for home.
-Don
 

d42jeep

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Joined
Oct 22, 2014
Messages
16,581
Location
Northern California
We had to stop and take some pictures of this potential treasure we spotted as we drove by a yard in Minden. IMG_9023.jpegIMG_9025.jpegIMG_9026.jpegIMG_9027.jpegIMG_9028.jpegIMG_0875.png
I had to make sure that it wasn’t the one we sold a few decades back but it was just a look alike. My wife commuted in hers for over 100,000 miles after I restored it.IMG_3178.jpegIMG_7052.jpeg
Post freeway rear ender repair.IMG_1789.jpeg
-Don
 

alinc100

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Joined
May 26, 2013
Messages
3,037
Location
Dearborn,MI
I think (hope) I'm the only idiot who could have screwed themselves this way...

I bought something via an eBay "Make an Offer" once. Unfortunately, I somehow got the price just below the threshold for free shipping, and ended up paying MORE (out of my pocket) than if I'd have paid the asking price and gotten the free shipping. The seller would have made more too.

What a ***** (I was)...

Mike
Ehh, it happens, The details only become clear and obvious after the auction. I had one a few months back some Craftsman wrenches, listed cheap, so I bought them at $8 with free shipping, The seller then proceeded to ship them via Priority mail at $13.90 . Their business model isn't very profitable. I had another purchase last night a seller listed the Craftsman sockets that were sold with the Stainless/Lifetime ratchets, I needed a 13mm and a better 10mm to complete a set. A seller had them listed individually, with $9 shipping per unit. I had to buy them, pay the double shipping and then requested a refund for 1 unit shipping. The seller did not have to, but did refund one shipping charge. I didn't want to risk waiting for an invoice/ask to combine shipping ,someone could have bought the single in the interim.
 

NYBODYMAN

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Joined
Sep 10, 2013
Messages
4,887
Location
NY
I was able to hit a few sales this morning. The first one the lady said she had no tools but told me I could take a look at the pile in the corner and I found this small pile she initially wanted $20. I offered $10 and we settled on $12. Not the biggest bargain but I think I did pretty well.

Diamond calk horse shoe company adjustable
Channellock Dykes
Utica adjustable
The red handle ones I thought were Klein but after clean up they are made in Korea but actually still a decent pair

1000015267.jpg

Next was the estate sale. Here's the hits from the black&Decker box
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CMAN, Stanley and Fuller screwdrivers
Made in Germany needle nose pliers
CMAN adjustables
Stanley red handle adjustables
Stanley hack saw handle
Wallace USA pruning shears
Utica red handle dykes
CMAN 3/8 and 1/4" ratchets with thumb wheels (no USA markings so not sure)
PoweKraft 3/8 ratchet and extension
CMAN combos and DBE
Unknown DOE wrench
CMAN right angle drill attachment
Speak plug gapping tool
1000015272.jpg
Misc CMAN sockets
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Next up was an estate sale up the block from my house. I'm usually late to these things even when I'm early so I got there about a half hour before open and was the first one. A few minutes later another car lined up behind me and then another one. The seller arrived about 5 minutes before it was about to open and then the guy behind me hops out and cuts me in line. Not cool but I'm really not up to fighting in with an old guy so I let it slide. The homeowner came out and I went right for the garage and saw the hirsh tool stool. Then the third guy who was in line behind me started picking through the bottom of the stool with me and I just asked the guy hey how much for the entire stool? He said 20 bucks so I said get your hands off it's mine now 🙂. Not sure why people feel the need to be like that. If I had seen somebody looking through something I wait for them to be done but people are animals. I then went through a few more things and found the plastic Black& Decker box filled with miscellaneous tools which I got for $5. I think I did well.

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CMAN ball peen
Numerous CMAN and Stanley drivers
Motor Spec Duluth K16 USA adjustable S

mall clear handle CMAN Phillips pocket screwdriver 9 41542 F (never seen)

My favorites are the Hirsh bench and the small CMAN clear handle driver. That is all.
 

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alinc100

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Joined
May 26, 2013
Messages
3,037
Location
Dearborn,MI
Next up was an estate sale up the block from my house. I'm usually late to these things even when I'm early so I got there about a half hour before open and was the first one. A few minutes later another car lined up behind me and then another one. The seller arrived about 5 minutes before it was about to open and then the guy behind me hops out and cuts me in line. Not cool but I'm really not up to fighting in with an old guy so I let it slide. The homeowner came out and I went right for the garage and saw the hirsh tool stool. Then the third guy who was in line behind me started picking through the bottom of the stool with me and I just asked the guy hey how much for the entire stool? He said 20 bucks so I said get your hands off it's mine now 🙂. Not sure why people feel the need to be like that. If I had seen somebody looking through something I wait for them to be done but people are animals. I then went through a few more things and found the plastic Black& Decker box filled with miscellaneous tools which I got for $5. I think I did well.
This makes me want to attach a taser or some other electrical device to the other end of my flashlight. Few quick ZZZZZ and the message will be delivered.
1783784541003.png
 

ctuai

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 24, 2019
Messages
562
Location
Des Moines, IA
Estate sale ($3): Plumb national pattern (2.5#) hatchet; Gransfor Bruk (1.1#) hatchet.

The plumb handle looks the right color, but unsure as to whether they made a national pattern with a straight handle. First Gransfors Bruks found in the wild. The handle is stamped "STRO-BRO" and below it "Strohecker & Broesamle"​

PXL_20260711_164543137.jpg
 
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GarageHobbyist

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 18, 2024
Messages
366
Location
Illinois
Hit a few sales today, didn’t find much and only spent $13 total I think.

IMG_3104.jpeg

Proto Ring Compressor, Chicago Northwestern Railroad and GTE mugs, a few dvds, Salem playing cards, cassette Walkman, a very dubious looking flashlight, some dremel disks, bronze 3lb hammer, Master Lock 150, Hurd Navy Marked Lock, singer and unbranded thumb oilers, and a bunch of lead holders and lead.

Not pictured: Dog grooming book for my daughter, and a Punisher comic book.
 

alinc100

Well-known member
Joined
May 26, 2013
Messages
3,037
Location
Dearborn,MI
I have some extra swivel sockets to help fill the case up if you’re interested. Let me know!
image.jpg

Thanks, I'm pretty sure I might have the missing pieces. been a hectic week, no garage time yet....If I don't we'll surely talk.
So I cleaned up the swivels, went through my spares and "need" a 3/4" 6 point =v= series. When I say "need" it only means I'm not pulling one from another set to complete this one. I may have to sneak off to the local flea market tomorrow A.M. before cutting the grass.
 

Caleb T

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 17, 2011
Messages
499
Location
Upstate NY
I got a few other things, bit this one I wanted to put on here quick!

$2 for this drill sharpener in the original packaging!!
 

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