2026 Garage Sale Thread (15th Annual)

[zachgeo]

Just some small items from an estate sale yesterday. They actually had some nice vintage tools, but nothing I particularly needed or was looking for. Might go back today to look through the vinyl LPs. The faux pearl handle knife is an Imperial that was cleaned up and sharpened a bit prior to the photo (it was coated all around and inside in grease and oil) The other knife is a CamCO electrician's knife which will probably need more work than the Imperial. I dont know why I'm obsessed with these old style oilcans, but whenever I see one in a size I don't have I pick it up! The soldering iron stand with cage gizmo is unused. Definitely an improvement over the rinky-dink tin stand that came with my Radio Shack soldering iron that I bought in the '90s...

 

[3baygarage]

Today’s mixed finds from the two Sunday flea markets.
-Blue-Point adjustable
-Matco 1-1/16 combo
-Napa long 1/2” ratchet
-Craftsman 3/8 polished ratchet
-Proto 4061 puller
-Westcott 6” curved adjustable
-Cochran 24” pipe wrench (pat’d 1908)
-Dewalt misc. new and used bits
-Craftsman professional screwdrivers


More small finds:
-P&C black adjustable
-Heyco BMW pliers
-Craftsman punch
-small Vise-Grip
-Snap-On 3/8 extension
-Easco 1/4” spinner w/female end
-Powr-Kraft 1/4” spinner w/female end
-Companion 1/4 ratchet
-Craftsman socket for rat. wrench
-Matco trim clip tool
-Kal USA 1/2” ratchet

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice finds! Nothing going on here today...

 

[ctuai]

Estate sale ($25): Northstar pressure washer (3 gpm, 2000 psi).

No gas in it when I bought it so took a chance and got lucky as it fires up and pump works great. Got a jug of house wash and a gas can thrown in. Been avoiding the hassle of small gas engines, but pressure washers seem to be one of the few places where they're still king.​

 

[Beerhippie]

Estate sale ($25): Northstar pressure washer (3 gpm, 2000 psi).

No gas in it when I bought it so took a chance and got lucky as it fires up and pump works great. Got a jug of house wash and a gas can thrown in. Been avoiding the hassle of small gas engines, but pressure washers seem to be one of the few places where they're still king.​

$25? Working Honda engine?

You ****!

Cart was designed by the same folks who designed our Champion PW cart--folks who have never used a tool on wheels. I hate that cart but still haven't gotten around to modifying it. Wheels go in the back, damnit!

 

[NJ Marty]

Came across this today, from an old auto shop mostly Ford Model A era parts and stuff. What would this have been used for? Full bottle and it does weigh a pound.

 

[Outlawmws]

No Idea, It used to be used to remove lead from gun barrels, but you didn't find it in a gun shop...

Worth quite a bit too. I'd guess a couple hundred bucks turned in to a recycler that can handle it.

 

[RTM]

What would this have been used for

To upgrade a Ford into a finer automobile?

Maybe for trunk and hood switches?

Or maybe to refill a manometer after it leaked out?

Strictly guessing here

 

[ctuai]

Came across this today, from an old auto shop mostly Ford Model A era parts and stuff. What would this have been used for? Full bottle and it does weigh a pound.

I once bought a flask with about 7 lbs of mercury at a garage sale and figured it would be interesting to put it into a large petri dish and spin it into a parabolic mirror with a magnetic stirrer. I mean what else do you do with that much mercury.

It's actually not as toxic as people make it out to be, as long as you don't heat it up and inhale it. On the other hand, if it escapes it's container, it's almost impossible to clean up as it breaks into a zillion little non-absorbent blobs, which is obviously no good for you or the environment. Very difficult to sell or at least I couldn't figure it out. Goof around with it and take it to your local hazardous waste disposal depot... or give it to a buddy whose curious enough to take it

 

[3jakes]

Came across this today, from an old auto shop mostly Ford Model A era parts and stuff. What would this have been used for? Full bottle and it does weigh a pound.

Got any friends that are tearing apart computers & other electronics,
and have no need to fear neurotoxins?
How Mercury Gold Recovery Works (The Mechanics)
In artisanal and historical mining, mercury is utilized because of its unique ability to alloy with other metals: [1, 2]

1. • Amalgamation: Liquid mercury is mixed directly into heavy mineral concentrates or crushed ore. The mercury chemically bonds with the gold particles, creating a silvery, solid or semi-solid alloy called an amalgam. [1, 2, 3, 4]
   • Separation: Miners typically squeeze the wet amalgam through a porous fabric like a chamois cloth or canvas. This presses out the excess liquid mercury for reuse, leaving behind a hard amalgam button. [1, 2]
   • Burning (The Hazard): To isolate the pure gold, the amalgam button must be heated. Because mercury has a relatively low boiling point (356.6°C), it vaporizes into the air, leaving behind raw gold. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Severe Dangers of the Mercury Method

• • Lethal Vapor: Burning mercury releases invisible, odorless, and highly toxic mercury gas. Inhaling these fumes causes permanent neurological damage, brain damage, kidney failure, and death. [1, 2]
  • Bioaccumulation: Vaporized mercury settles into the surrounding soil and water supply, converting into methylmercury. It permanently poisons local ecosystems, fish, and subsequent generations of people living nearby. [1, 2]
  • Chemical Hazards: Attempting to dissolve the mercury using nitric acid instead of burning it is equally hazardous. It creates highly toxic mercuric nitrate liquids and dangerous explosive byproducts (mercury fulminate). [1]

 

[four.cycle]

On the other hand, if it escapes it's container, it's almost impossible to clean up as it breaks into a zillion little non-absorbent blobs,

Yes. When the container was dropped in 7th grade science class, the stuff ran every whichway all over the floor.
We had fun "sweeping" it back into one place on our hands and knees, using sheets of notebook paper as "brooms".
We finally got it corralled, scooped it up with sheets of paper, and got most all of it back into the jar the teacher had opened to show us the stuff.
Fun times!

 

[Shiftless]

Yes. When the container was dropped in 7th grade science class, the stuff ran every whichway all over the floor.
We had fun "sweeping" it back into one place on our hands and knees, using sheets of notebook paper as "brooms"

Around that same era, I was in a science class where the teacher poured out a little puddle of mercury into a student’s hand so they could feel how heavy it was and how you could roll it around and pass it from one hand to the other without any “wetting”. Each student in turn took it into their hands to play with.

Yes... Fun times indeed.

(The neurotoxin angle, although delayed over 60 years, possibly explains my obsession with collecting old bench vises)

 

[Outlawmws]

Around that same era, I was in a science class where the teacher poured out a little puddle of mercury into a student’s hand so they could feel how heavy it was and how you could roll it around and pass it from one hand to the other without any “wetting”. Each student in turn took it into their hands to play with.

Yes... Fun times indeed.

(The neurotoxin angle, although delayed over 60 years, possibly explains my obsession with collecting old bench vises)

Had a similar - non science class thing happen in grade school only the mercury was brought by one of the girls in class and passed around without the teacher being told...

 

[Beerhippie]

I once bought a flask with about 7 lbs of mercury

"Flask" is the standard unit of measurement for mercury in commerce. It's defined as 76 lb and is about a quart at room temp.

Spilled mercury is "mopped up" with copper wool, as it forms an amalgam with the copper.

And yes, we did play with mercury in school. Cool stuff. We also inhaled lead all day, every day, and sprayed our produce with potent neurotoxins considered too dangerous for use on the battlefield.

What were you saying?

 

[four.cycle]

no wonder we're all crazy as hell....

 

[GaryM909]

I forgot about the mercury fillings I grew up with. I thought all I dealt with was asbestos and lead paint.

 

[Beerhippie]

I forgot about the mercury fillings I grew up with. I thought all I dealt with was asbestos and lead paint.

Oh, no--mercury is perfectly safe in your mouth!

 

[Outlawmws]

Oh, no--mercury is perfectly safe in your mouth!

Unless its in the fish you are eating.