2026 Garage Sale Thread (15th Annual)

[Beerhippie]

Had to go back for "it's all gotta go" day at the fence co. yard sale.

Picked this up for the brewery:



It'll be a spare for the hops scale. $30 of someone else's money.

 

[Shergar]

A few recent finds from before my holiday, and some from today, all bought for coffee money ️

First up a selection of Britool DOE and King **** ring spanners, sorry wrenches all a £1 ($1.35) a pop:




Next more £1 a pop wrenches, £1 Eliiot Lucas side cutters, £1 Stanley Magnum and Steadfast screwdrivers, a foot long Diamond Caulk & Horseshoe adjustable wrench - which is very unusual in the UK which I why I only gave £2 ($2.70) for it. Smooth as butter still!



Next up the English Stanley 3/4lb hammer was really nice, it still has the sticky mark where the label was, I think most of the damage was from rattling round in a tool box. A pushed the boat out to a huge £3 ($4.05) for this



Finally I came home with this selection this morning from the bootsale (flea market over the Atlantic).

Just £4 ($5.20) total netted me a Tyzak & Turner brass topped tenon saw (mid to late 80’s) a nice Fisco metric/imperial metal tape, a couple of Stanley Magnum screwdrivers and a Philips Steadfast (see a pattern emerging here?!).

Finally I really didn't need a 22” Sheffield steel Spear and Jackson saw, but how many of you have walked past a everything $1 dollar tarp without stopping (A lot of the rust scrubbed off too after I snapped it which was a bonus).

 

[bmwrd0]

Very nice! I for one cannot pass a dollar table unscathed.

 

[bmwrd0]

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!
I love Sundays, as that is when everything is going cheap. People just want to get rid of it, and estate sales are now under the gun to get everything out of there. So, I swung by the hanger estate sale I hit on Friday, and picked though it to find some bargains that got missed by the savages, who had clearly been going over everything with a fine comb. But I prevailed, and came home with some excellent stuff for pennies on the dollar:

So, for $3 I got a vintage Nicolson Swiss file set in box (partial, but I probably have the missing ones), Pacific sharpening stone in box, HF optivisors with light, a pair of file handles, Goodell Pratt push drill (no bits), Starrett nail set, electricians snips (Wiss, Klein), Stanley nut driver, Dunlap DOE, misc. sockets (Snap-on, Proto metric, Challenger, SK, Wright, Bog, Hinsdale). Again, I left some stuff behind that I either have too much of, no use for, or flat out didn't want to carry out to the car.

And I bet you are wondering about the Matco impact set (which needs the 5/16"). I picked that up with the following at a sale WAY out in the boonies of a former logging truck mechanic:

Not sure of the maker yet, but a watchmakers lathe with the tailstock, rest, motor pulley, and collet chuck is not to be passed up, not at the price they offered. $30 for the pair.

I love Sundays.

 

[ctuai]

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!
I love Sundays, as that is when everything is going cheap. People just want to get rid of it, and estate sales are now under the gun to get everything out of there. So, I swung by the hanger estate sale I hit on Friday, and picked though it to find some bargains that got missed by the savages, who had clearly been going over everything with a fine comb. But I prevailed, and came home with some excellent stuff for pennies on the dollar:

So, for $3 I got a vintage Nicolson Swiss file set in box (partial, but I probably have the missing ones), Pacific sharpening stone in box, HF optivisors with light, a pair of file handles, Goodell Pratt push drill (no bits), Starrett nail set, electricians snips (Wiss, Klein), Stanley nut driver, Dunlap DOE, misc. sockets (Snap-on, Proto metric, Challenger, SK, Wright, Bog, Hinsdale). Again, I left some stuff behind that I either have too much of, no use for, or flat out didn't want to carry out to the car.

And I bet you are wondering about the Matco impact set (which needs the 5/16"). I picked that up with the following at a sale WAY out in the boonies of a former logging truck mechanic:

Not sure of the maker yet, but a watchmakers lathe with the tailstock, rest, motor pulley, and collet chuck is not to be passed up, not at the price they offered. $30 for the pair.

I love Sundays.

Nice lathe. Neither of mine have a tailstock chuck, I think it would make them much more practical as I can't quite sell them nor can I quite figure out what to do with them. Any plans for using it?

 

[bmwrd0]

Not sure yet. I have one, like yours without a tailstock, and I have three other lathes, from a Unimat to a Logan, so I am really covered on that front. But, it is cute and complete. So, I will probably sell the Unimat and keep this one.

 

[Shergar]

Today was national holiday in the UK, so I went back to the sale for another roam around. Guess what I bought more **** I didn't need



Moore & Wright 400 14” engineers square, Wanner grease gun (which wasn't greasy!!!) and a Rabone fish tape. Out the door for £15 ($20) which the Wanner will cover when I move it onwards. More info on the square and the fish tape here.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/moore-wright-meets-depeche-mode.560425/

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/vintage-tape-measures.392356/post-11743428

 

[Shelbylex]

... bought more Bonney and SK tools

Bonney 1/2 drive
A760 Universal
A740 Speeder, 14”
A722 Flex bar
A606 5” extension
4090 5” extension
A40 1 1/4
A36 1 1/8
A34 1 1/16
A32 1
A28 7/8 x2
A26 13/16
A25 25/32 x2
A24 3/4 x2
A22 11/16 x2
A20 5/8 x4
A19 19/32 x2
A18 9/16
A16 1/2 x2
A14 7/16 x2
8 point
AS14 7/16
AS 16 1/2
AS 18 9/16
4124 ¾
3/8 drive
LT20 5/8 deep
T20 5/8
TH16 1/2 x2
SK ½ drive knurled
40114 7/16
40116 ½
40118 9/16
40836 1 1/8 deep
Challenger 1275 3/8drivespeeder

Around $37 ($35 + approximately 1/2 gallon of gas...)

... This will hopefully let me put together a full AM20B (1/2 and 3/4 drive set in a box) set from 1960 catalog and AA20B set from the same catalog (NB - I cross posted this in the Bonney addiction thread with the catalogs posted for the sets after the first and this sales...)

 

[designer485]

A few recent finds:

Kraeuter 1/2" Drive Set (1/2- 1 1/4"), Ratchet, Extension and Beaker Bar - Made by SK Tools.















A few Williams DOE Wrenches.







And a Snap-On Belt Buckle (looks cool, not to use).

 

[lu787a]

A few recent finds:

Kraeuter 1/2" Drive Set (1/2- 1 1/4"), Ratchet, Extension and Beaker Bar - Made by SK Tools.



This ratchet handle looks pretty uncomfortable with those two ridges. Is it intended to have a comfort grip that went missing?

 

[jeffmoss26]

Picked up a few smalls on Sunday

 

[coachwash]

Online auction lot. The nut drivers should clean up nicely. The Huskey socket set is missing a few items, ratchet and extensions. The Taiwan socket set will get passed along.

 

[knock knock]

Family run estate sale $26. Have kinda been looking for a lead hammer and found 2 today.

 

[Patrickm82]

Nice score @knock knock !!

 

[d42jeep]

designer485 said:
A few recent finds:

Kraeuter 1/2" Drive Set (1/2- 1 1/4"), Ratchet, Extension and Beaker Bar - Made by SK Tools.

This ratchet handle looks pretty uncomfortable with those two ridges. Is it intended to have a comfort grip that went missing?


That is how the handles were designed on most Kraeuter ratchets. They are useable but maybe not the most comfortable. A few had a more comfortable conventional handle.
Redesigned handle.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ No... that's how they designed that one.
Goofy, huh?
What were they thinking?

 

[LesserSon]

I have or had one of those Kraeuter ratchets. I don’t see how the handle would be uncomfortable, unless you’re using it as a hammer. The two sides you actually put pressure on to turn it are smooth and round/convex (or are they flat…I don’t recall).

The cross section of the grip is very similar to Bonney CV, Zenel & Bonaloy DBE patterns that persisted for decades, and not very different from Lectrolite DBEs.

 

[3baygarage]

^ No... that's how they designed that one.
Goofy, huh?
What were they thinking?

This is where the blood will drain off

 

[Patrickm82]

Pretty good morning today. Got totally skunked last weekend so it was nice to find some cool stuff today. 3 stops produced here’s what I got.

Adjustable clamp on the card and Fuller clamp for a buck.


Next stop I got this sweet Walden Worcester I think no. 27 socket set in the original box, almost complete. I’m missing a few sockets, I think! Also had a mossberg no. 350 ratchet and black hawk sockets $25


Last stop I got a nice genuine Plumb Boy Scout hatchet on the original handle. Still nice and tight and decent edge.
Snap on E code 71-10 1/2” ratchet
$6



Edit: just found this add looks like I’m missing all the hex drive sockets and a couple square drive or it’s a 26 set?

 

[four.cycle]

I don’t see how the handle would be uncomfortable,

Point taken.
To be fair, I never "used" the thing. I just owned it for several years. It's gone now!
I remember first holding it - it just felt weird. Maybe I'm too used to nice smooth handles on my 1/4" drive ratchets.

 

[bluebolt]

A week ago I picked up my first "Burgundy" Coleman 200A dated 4 62. The Burgundy Colemans were only made a short time in late 1961 and early 1962. I also picked up my second Coleman 202 Professional lantern dated 2 57. They were at a local antique store, a local Coleman Collector has been reducing his collection. Paid $159 with tax for both, a decent deal.

 

[bluebolt]

Yesterday I went to an estate sale for the elusive Craftsman "Spinner" ratchet I had spied in the photos. Unfortunately there was another guy after that same ratchet and he beat me too it . I still got some goodies! In the Sears photo the hardware box is Craftsman Crown logo. I've already got most of the hardware in a metal scrap bucket and did a full cleaning of the box and drawers. The gray rack of sockets are Craftsman metric 6 point. The photo of the sockets and burrs the there are 21 Snap On sockets that came out of a $7 Zip Loc bag of sockets. The photo of the chemicals and Coleman Keychain lanterns includes a FULL can of Johnson Paste Wax! Total was $57.

 

[Shiftless]

Brought these Salterini radar chairs and table home from a thrift store for $150..

Sorry… I fell behind on reading one of my favorite GJ threads.
Gotta award a big “you ****” to gearhead1960.

 

[Outlawmws]

I didn't do bad for a 3 Day W/E - more sales than expected, but still slow on finds:

No pics on the first $1 purchase, as it went into hiding til Xmas.

Second $1 PU is a windshield washer-squeegee - I had hoped the head would transfer to my worn out washer that has an extender handle, but the screw for the head was changed... Oh well 24" handle will have to do:





$3 for these clamps. I liked the knurled heads and the 2" has a bronze frame




Last stop I for three DBE's Herbrand, Hinsdale, and Tru-Fit, as wel as a metal detector wand for $12 Not a steal, but the Metal detector is very sensitive and will live in my van for things dropped camping, or my buddy Randy that keeps dropping tiny screws in dirt when working on lanterns... it even works for brass! (tested that before I left and retested on a tiny brass screw at home.)

 

[Outlawmws]

Metal detector is very sensitive

So I was looking this up and while they don't cost a lot, they can find nails in walls and that will make finding studs much easier! My texture is so thick and rough the usual BB store "Stud detectors" are useless...

I'm thinking find the nail area with this and use one of those old fashioned "magnet" detectors to get an exact location. - Pretty sure I have one too. I just tested the Metal Detector for this and it found nails/screws easily!

 

[INSP380]

Quick hit at a local garage sale this afternoon. Place was a total $hitpile. A three car shop loaded , barely room to walk. A LOT of scrap and the son was very high on prices. I made a quick pile and got out for $40. I don’t think the Model box has ever been used, the immaculate green box has no name, the black socket box is a Remline and the resprayed P&C is killer. Add in a Vaco 4 in 1, Matco stubby, a Craftsman 50ft, torque wrench & 6pc cutter set. The Starrett M1 & Lucus x-tra are brand new. Looking forward to cleaning these up.

 

[INSP380]

More…

 

[Shergar]

Whats in the box!



Picked this far too heavy, and completely unnecessary carpenters box up today. Seller wanted £20 ($27) I countered only if he carried it to the car he countered carry it yourself and £15 ($20)

So whats in the box…..



Now like the rest of us I need more old saws like, well you fill in the blanks. However they appear fairly well cared for and sharp so I might find a use for them. The rest of the contents appered to be not just carpentry but a bit of everything, some good some ok. Stubbs and Tyzack files are nice, the baby trowel is lovely and the wood handled scrapers and spatulas have all cleaned up well and are in the re-lacquering pile. Wrecking bar is lovely and has a good density, it’s already in the keep pile so I’ve happily covered my outlay (and got some bonus* junk too).

Obviously being GJ there was not one but THREE Shaw tile cutters

 

[Outlawmws]

Now like the rest of us I need more old saws like, well you fill in the blanks.

OK you got them out of the box, can you get them all back in?

Tetris time!

 

[alinc100]

One sale two visits. I wasn't planning a return but I sold a Craftsman intermediate box today and this sale had one, cheaper than what I sold one for, but alas it had sold before I got there today.
Freud 7-¼” saw blades
Wixey digital angle gauge
Craftsman 5 piece Auger bit set
Craftsman ½” dr Metric socket set 9,10,12,13,14,15,17,19mm =v= with steel rack
PowrKraft push drill
Dunlap 3/8” x 7/16”,5/8” x 11/16”,3/4” x 7/8” doe
Craftsman 1/2” x 9/16”,19/32” x 11/16”,5/8”x 3/4”,15/16” x 1” doe
Craftsman 8mm,10mm,7/16”,1/2”,5/8” combo
Gearwrench pass through ratchet
Craftsman 1/2” sliding tee =v=
Blue Point Supreme 7/16”x 1/2” broken tip
Easco 1/2” x 9/16” dbe
Easco 1/2” x 9/16” doe
Armstrong 3/8” x 7/16” doe
Hexite 3/4” x 7/8” doe

 

[misterbill]

Not getting out much this season as I'm spending most of my time dealing with my parents' estate. I am, however, (re)discovering tools that were around the house when I was a kid. Today's garage find was this Estwing (8-20-54) hatchet. I remember it primarily because I wasn't allowed to use it! Dad always kept it in good shape and the sheath and handle were always clean and oiled. Somewhere along the way it must have gotten lost outside or fallen out of favor because it is rusty, pitted and the back is severely mushroomed. Based on the amount of dirt covering every surface it may have become a garden implement after its downfall. Interestingly, it still has an edge, though. I'd like to restore it as a user. I've watched SO many YouTube videos where they grind and polish the poor things to within an inch of their lives - not my thing. I'm debating whether to attempt the original stacked leather washer approach or try a wooden or micarta handle. It seems like every video I watch the person doing the restoration has another (better) one to use as a pattern. Does anybody have one handy that they can measure the base metal disc? That seems like a good starting point.



Bill

 

[Tarantula]

Just got back from Sears, can't wait to unbox my brand new Craftsman tools, all made here in the good ol' USA! Extensions! Extractors! Ext...screwdrivers!

Just kidding. Not often I find sealed packaging.

I was completely out of it at the estate sale and I will remain grateful for all the patience and care the staff showed me. Not my proudest afternoon.

Because I just bought blades a day ago, this Bosch pack had to appear in front of me. Later found a Stanley plane for more woodly endeavors.


Couldn't ignore the Williams 607 1-1/16" or the mini Craftsman adjustable. Pics of picks.


There was an overflowing Craftsman tool kit case that was strangely refilled with Allen stuff. I pulled the 3/8 ratchet out for the novelty and noticed the first-gen Kobalt 7/8 deep socket from the Williams years. Wicked. Kinda wanted the rest but I was afraid of the cost. The big toolbox from the ad was gone but scattered in the remains was a pair of Penens slip joints with a cutter and a Craftsman multibit driver. Bits missing so it's more nulltibit.


I keep finding this book at different houses so I took it as a sign. Took all the good 2x4s the basement had on homemade shelves too, but dragging those out again tonight will be a hassle.
Maybe I'll learn something.


Obviously I said screw it and went back for the sockets. Tons of Allen and Craftsman and Husky USA pieces. I'll probably dump most of it somehow but I never find Allen anything, so I can't ditch those. When the heck else am I gonna find them in bulk?
The other Kobalt sockets have been Danaher era so I guess I only had one shot. Still neat. Cleaning this up is gonna be a doozy.


Bought a closet, drained the towels. We donate them to our veterinarian's office. Good batch today.

 

[Outlawmws]

Does anybody have one handy that they can measure the base metal disc? That seems like a good starting point.

I believe kits are available for the leather stacks, and I'd bet the steel end cap as well.

 

[Beerhippie]

I believe kits are available for the leather stacks, and I'd bet the steel end cap as well.

Yep. Estwing sells 'em.

 

[genog]

Fun day at the Flea Market.....saw a few friends and spent so much time laughing and carrying on, I am surprised that I found anything significant
But.....I managed to find a decent Snap on KR-58 top box
Dirty grungy but solid, no rust...
a Dazor desk lamp in nice shape...
Thorsen 1/2 drive socket set..
and a few other small things

 

[bmwrd0]

There was an overflowing Craftsman tool kit case that was strangely refilled with Allen stuff. I pulled the 3/8 ratchet out



Somewhere here on the Journal is the part number for the Allen/Craftsman/all others torque wrench rebuild kit that will allow that particular ratchet to be transformed into a 1/2" in a 3/8" body. Very handy, much useful!

 

[bmwrd0]

On Thursday I needed to get out of the house, so I hit the local Restore and good thrift shop

From the Restore: Schwinn brake/shifter wire, Toyota driver, Stanley speed square, and a brace with the shortest throw made.

And from the thrift store:

Motorbook Int. Mercedes Benz; Silencers, snipers, etc; The Aeneid; and a Marilynn Robinson novel-Housekeeping. Some are for trade, some to read and trade, and the Mercedes will go in the collection, while the silencer book will go up for sale as it is actually worth some money in that edition.