2022 Garage Sale Thread

[83VillageRepair]

Well this is my first entry in a garage sale thread, hopefully someone will appreciate what would normally be considered a pretty boring item, a soldering iron..lol

I needed something a little more heavy duty then my Weller 150/100 and I came across this Hexacon 550 for $20. I knew nothing about it at the time, and it was brand new in the box.

I figured I was getting a pretty good deal considering how heavy duty this thing was, but I had no idea until I got home and googled it. This thing retails for about 390 bucks!

The strange part was the seller knew this. As he was plugging it in to show me that it worked, he mentioned these things go for close to $400. I laughed and nodded my head, thinking he was joking. No idea why he sold it for 20 bucks, but I’m pretty sure it should out last me..lol

Doesn’t look brand new after a few hours of use, but what a beast this thing is. I added the other iron to the pic for reference.

You will like that...so much better than a soldering gun. Gives you much more work time. I think for $20 that is worthy of a you ****!

 

[Old Man Roger]

You will like that...so much better than a soldering gun. Gives you much more work time. I think for $20 that is worthy of a you ****!

I was worried it would get the battery too hot, but it actually did the opposite. Because it solders so fast, the rest of the battery never even gets warm. Sometimes when I’m using too small of a gun I have to hold the gun on longer to get the solder to melt, and that gives time for the heat to transfer to the battery. The thing really is pretty awesome. Wish I had it back in the slot car days. Silversoldering those frames together would have been a breeze withe this thing.

 

[RTM]

HexACon makes some great soldering irons. My buddy who does lots of amp soldering agrees. I got a bunch of their tips, and priced out a tiny iron to hold them. Won't be making that leap yet, unless ebay has one cheap. Won't find it $20 cheap tho. Nice work

 

[Old Man Roger]

HexACon makes some great soldering irons. My buddy who does lots of amp soldering agrees. I got a bunch of their tips, and priced out a tiny iron to hold them. Won't be making that leap yet, unless ebay has one cheap. Won't find it $20 cheap tho. Nice work

I’ve never even heard of them before, but I’m going to keep my eyes open for them from now on.

 

[bmwrd0]

Yeah, that jump from amateur equipment to professional equipment. Worth it every time.

 

[mikeinri]

From what I’ve read, they’re designed to solder sheet metal, copper plates, and roof flashing.

I'm sure that's true, but they'd be perfect for welding those cracks (if not overkil).

Mike

 

[txlonghorn1989]

I don't think it's shootable at all because I don't see a flash hole, which is what the ignited powder in the pan goes through to ignite the powder in the barrel. Here's a pic from my dad's repop Belgian musket from the 1970s.

So you're telling me it's just a GD coffee table prop?! Well, that's what I get for getting outside my comfort zone.

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice haul bmw! I like that air pistol. I'm curious. What makes the Stanley driver an "electrical" one versus just a screwdriver?

You'd think I'd have learned by now. One of these days, maybe. Sigh...

There's been a wooden box of Russell & Jennings advertised on CL for awhile as part of a group of "antique tools". The seller wouldn't sell them separately. She finally agreed to $25 which was high IMO. I went over to see them on Sunday. I wanted to check on how many of the bits were in fact Russell & Jennings. It turned out only two were and those were stamped very differently so probably from different sets. I told her that I couldn't do $25 but I'd do my original offer of $20. She was fine with that. The duct tape around the box would probably have been a clue for a brighter person that there might be more to check than just the number or brand of bits in the box but I wasn't having any of that! As I was exiting the garage I saw a flintlock pistol on top of one of her garbage cans. I picked it up. Heavy and solid. Removed that plastic bag with tape that had been wrapped around the end of the barrel. I ended up giving her the $30 she asked for it. It wasn't until I got home and checked the baggie that I see it had the broken pieces in the pic. That's also when I discovered that the bottom compartment of the box has a crack in the wood at the hinge. The corner completely separates. Took me that long to realize why there was originally duct tape around the box. Even in the original pics! Doh! Sometimes I get so excited about something that my brain just quits working. Dang it!

I know nothing about guns beyond my old squirrel rifle. Is the pistol fixable or can I find parts? I couldn't see a maker stamped anywhere on it. I just hope it isn't a modern remake. Anyone have any idea?

TX the crack in the box should be glue-able if the wood is still there. it nay need s tiny wood screw to help the repair (I had to repair my camping "pantry" after a trailer crash - I think I posted that repair in my camping thread)

Is the flintlock an incomplete kit? Any markings? If a real shooter, (acknowledging the "no fire hole" comment) it should have some markings at least. And if a shooter, there are several [parts houses that sell some of the parts for black powder guns. (Just not the hammer I need for an old derrenger...)

 

[Outlawmws]

Pictures as asked for. Someone spent a bit of time polishing it to a nice finish. But some ***** put some divots in the face still for the price I paid, I will just put a new handle on it and use it. Any idea on the maker? I just rehandled this long straight picking hammer that is a fairmount and painted it to blend in with my other Proto hammers

SS I'm not an expert on every hammer Plvmb/Proto ever made but that smacks of one of theirs flat ground on the sides a bit - maybe at the time of the polishing? I'd clean up that planishing face and mount it up! How big/ heavy is it?

 

[Smokeshow69]

SS I'm not an expert on every hammer Plvmb/Proto ever made but that smacks of one of theirs flat ground on the sides a bit - maybe at the time of the polishing? I'd clean up that planishing face and mount it up! How big/ heavy is it?

Here it is next to a common Proto 1428 picking hammer! It is about the same size and weight. The face is really flat like someone took a bit of material off it… probably trying to get rid of some of the dings in the face. It is totally getting mounted up and used! I got it as part of a lot I paid $20 for and you can never have too many body hammers!

 

[3baygarage]

Now I know why there was little for me to buy, you got there first.
Didn’t we have a conversation about you coming on my side of the river for sales?
I’m sorry I missed the party, I generally will speak up and suggest they leave also. I’ve on more than occasion “become” a family member in times like that.

Oh, I went back this past weekend, you left a Snap On wrench wrap and two brand new hole saws!

Well technically, I was on my way to the flea market on that side of the river but the weather sucked I mean my mom lives on that side of the river and I was headed there to do some chores when I spotted the sign. Oh, and the inlaws are staying on that side also, so I reluctantly happily paid them a visit, and on the way back hit the second sale you told me about.

 

[Old Man Roger]

I don't think it's shootable at all because I don't see a flash hole, which is what the ignited powder in the pan goes through to ignite the powder in the barrel. Here's a pic from my dad's repop Belgian musket from the 1970s.

I don’t know anything about flintlocks, muzzleloaders, or muskets, but is it possible someone just sealed up the hole? I saw something on TV just the other day where they converted an older gun by sealing up the hole and making it into percussion cap.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Outlaw Absolutely no markings on the pistol that I can see. And no hole to release any gases during firing. Incomplete kit? Not sure how I'd know the answer to that one.

 

[Old Radar]

I don’t know anything about flintlocks, muzzleloaders, or muskets, but is it possible someone just sealed up the hole? I saw something on TV just the other day where they converted an older gun by sealing up the hole and making it into percussion cap.

I don’t know anything about flintlocks, muzzleloaders, or muskets either, but the first thing I noticed about Tex's example was a complete lack of a ramrod or any visible hole in the stock to accommodate one. I can't imagine an authentic firearm of this type would be produced and require the bearer to dig a ramrod out of his pocket or go home to reload.

 

[Old Man Roger]

I don’t know anything about flintlocks, muzzleloaders, or muskets either, but the first thing I noticed about Tex's example was a complete lack of a ramrod or any visible hole in the stock to accommodate one. I can't imagine an authentic firearm of this type would be produced and require the bearer to dig a ramrod out of his pocket or go home to reload.

Didn't even think of that.

 

[Outlawmws]

Actually it not uncommon for "dueling pistols" and derringers to not have a ramrod storage slot. Muzzle loaders for hunting and fighting? Different story.

With no proof marks or Mfg marks it's not a functioning gun, its a decorative wall hanger.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Guys, I'm still going through boxes and stuff from the estate sale haul a week ago Sat. A couple of things I was going to look at to see what they were and might be worth at resale. A NOS Italian lens reflector. Looking online I see two NOS like this one. Those may likely be the same one with the guy trying to sell it multiple places but he's asking $99. Doesn't mean he'll or I would get it but the listing says it a rear tail light lens for Moto Guzzi, Ducatti, and another bike Pe* something. I'm wondering if anyone knows how old of a Moto Guzzi motorcycle would this lens be for?

There was a couple of things of grease that didn't look like your usual grease from Auto X. This tube of Halocarbon 25-5S grease cost $99.** new. Holy ****! My nose starting bleeding trying to read the paperwork in the cardboard container. I never liked Chemistry in high school or college. Anyone ever used this stuff? Could you use it in everyday shop use for anything? Do I have to handle it with a haz-mat suit?

 

[Outlawmws]

TX the grease seems pretty safe: https://halocarbon.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/HC-SILICA-GREASE-WPS-HAL-009-SDS-ENGLISH.pdf


Halocarbon 25-5S grease is a thicker bodied, moderate viscosity PCTFE oil thickened with silica designed for applications over a broad range of temperatures. This inert oil is manufactured by a controlled polymerization process and then is stabilized to give it some very unique properties. This oil is safe, chemically inert, nonflammable, and is oxygen and chlorine compatible. It has good lubricity, high thermal stability, and low compressibility.

The thickener used in this grease is a very fine silica powder. Silica is a commonly requested grease thickener, but its chemical stability is more limited than the PCTFE oil. Silica-thickened greases can be prone to attack by chemicals active toward silica, such as alkalis, hydrofluoric acid, and fluorinating agents. Compatibility of silica-thickened greases should be confirmed before being used in applications in contact with these chemicals.

This grease is considered to be an all-purpose grease useful over a broad temperature range and often used in oxygen, chlorine, and other reactive gas service applications.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Thanks Professor Outlaw!!!

 

[alinc100]

Picked this one up today. Had popped up on FBM yesterday, I contacted the seller and worked out the logistics after a couple messages today. It was 50 miles one way, the wrong way from home, but The price was affordable and I figured its best to not let it get away. Gerstner O42 #404. Just got it in the house, got the usual junk out of the drawers ,etc. Hardware will need some work. Going to clean the wooden parts with Murphy's and Howard's feed and wax. The impending snowstorm MAY give me an extra day to work on it...we shall see. The seller had it listed as a Kennedy, which WE know it isn't,made a comment that" probably could have jacked the price by $50 if the Kennedy badge hadn't been missing" . I bit my tongue ,thanked the man and headed to my now 1-1/2hr ride home. He said Messenger was blowing up all day but ,I had sounded first,firm and apparently trustworthy enough that I got dibs.

 

[Old Radar]

This was a first for me. I saw an estate sale advertised for tomorrow but with "pre-sale" appointments for today. They had a pretty good tool representation in the ad, so I called and got an appointment. The garage was laid out just like the pictures so I'm willing to bet no one had made more than a cursory pass through it before me.

It was an eclectic assortment of tools--everything from 1/4 drive up to 3/4 drive; a lot of pneumatic sockets and associated tools. Anyway, I had the garage basically to myself for two hours which is practically heaven as far as estate sales go. Many things were priced but many were not, so I was fairly judicious about my selections at first. When my first pile was valued at only $20, I immediately pulled my secondary selections out for another $20. What you see cost me $40 plus tax.

The Blue Point and Snap-on pile:

BP Tap & Die set No. T.D. 2500--Everything is Blue Point except the smallest tap (4-36).
Four BP Caster-Camber Obstruction wrenches--first two dated 50 & 49, both heavier ones dated 37
Everything else is Snap-on.
GA-121 Crankshaft Gauge
SO emblem
Scary 1/4 box I haven't delved into yet
VS 5226 ('65) 30/60* obstruction wrench
040 ('61) offset screw driver
Tommy Bar
F-5-L Sliding T ('48)
Ferret FX-11 Extension ('48) and F-70N Ratchet ('45)
No. 94, 4-1/2" needle nose pliers ('62)
SN-18A 18" Breaker bar

Everyone Else:


MAC Metric Combo Set SCM14K 6-19mm, missing 11mm but plus 21mm & 5/16
Empty Duro 1/4" socket set box
KMO-366 Upper Support Arm Eccentric Bushing Wrench--They had quite a selection of heavy, vintage Kent-Moore impact sockets.
4" Barcalo Buffalo adjustable
Cornwell 1/2" Ratchet
Proto mfd 235 ignition pliers
New Britain NB60 (US) 3/8 universal
Long C Craftsman (BE):
-- 1/2d 20" ext
-- 1/4d 6" & 3" exts
-- Two 3/8d 8pt sockets
-- 1/2d deep socket
-- 3/4d 1-1/4 socket (BM) and a 1-1/16 from S-K, the obvious BM manufacturer

Micrometers:

LS Starrett No. 230-F, 0-1" & No. 226, 3-4"
Lufkin No. 1933, 2-3"

Mystery Box:

This 8 x 4 x 1" metal box was at the very bottom of an American Tourister makeup case like my mother used to have. This one was turned into a makeshift tool box but the estate agents didn't want to risk tetanus so they just put a $15 price tag on the whole thing... I've had my shots so I dove in. The nasty Snap-on 1/4" case was just above this one in the same makeup case. I haven't been able to open it yet, but there is a least one hefty thing inside--or more likely, and encrusted several somethings. They didn't charge me for either box.

 

[Outlawmws]

Some cool finds in there OR! I like the 4" Barcalo Buffalo adjustable and Proto ignition pliers! The SO ferret ratchet seems longer than Std? Maybe its just the pic.

Very curious about the yellow box.

 

[mikeinri]

@Old Radar $40 for everything in that post? You don't need me to tell you that You ****!!!

Mike

 

[Old Radar]

Outlaw--The Ferret ratchet is 6 - 13/16" and that "yellow" color is solid corrosion.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

OR You **** on the $40 haul!!!

 

[Gebirgekind]

I went out to grab a decent if not old 1/4" ratchet since I'm away from my tool box right now, and even though I struck out at several pawn and thrift shops I still managed to find these for $3.00. Looks like a 1934-1947 era Williams first generation superratchet, along with some stout German F.D. carpenters' pincers with a clever buil-in nail claw.

 

[Raineman]

OldRadar....YOU ****!

Now, tell me about the little Blue Point DOE below the die set in the first pic. Is that a S-810? If so, we need to powwow.

And the SCM14K....Uh....I hate you...lol

 

[ChefRex]

Old Radar, what can I say besides, you ****.

 

[ForrestT]

OR with the ****.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

BP Tap & Die set No. T.D. 2500--Everything is Blue Point except the smallest tap (4-36).

Is there a decal on the top of the lid? That might be the earliest Blue-Point T&D set I have ever seen. Judging by the straight up and down font on the branding it's at least 1940's and the paper looks maybe older. There are a few on the T&D thread, including mine (Set No. TDM-109, metric, complete from 4 to 12mm) and snapmom's Whitworth set, but they are both early 50's with shiny transfer decals on the top of the lid. I'd love to see close-ups on the T&D thread. Made by Hanson, by the way.

 

[Old Radar]

Now, tell me about the little Blue Point DOE below the die set in the first pic. Is that a S-810? If so, we need to powwow.

And the SCM14K....Uh....I hate you...lol

It is an S-810! Sorry I overlooked it in the post above. Sadly, the PO ground down the 1/4" side to the thickness of the shaft. He was in no way shy about modifying his tools as you can see in the photo of the other three tools that had an encounter with the grinder. There were many more items I left behind because of that. Let me know if you still want it.

Is there a decal on the top of the lid? That might be the earliest Blue-Point T&D set I have ever seen. Judging by the straight up and down font on the branding it's at least 1940's and the paper looks maybe older. There are a few on the T&D thread, including mine (Set No. TDM-109, metric, complete from 4 to 12mm) and snapmom's Whitworth set, but they are both early 50's with shiny transfer decals on the top of the lid. I'd love to see close-ups on the T&D thread. Made by Hanson, by the way.

Here's the cover decal. I've been afraid to clean the dried grease spots off since decals and I have had a rocky relationship in the past. The white areas are where the decal has been scratched off--not by me!! The inside paper label is not attached to the lid and except for a 1/8" diameter spot on the back I don't see any evidence that it ever might have been. I'm amazed that it has remained with the set.

 

[BlueBomber]

+1 on OR's suckage count. Nice haul!

Nothing in sight around here. I'm monitoring a hospital surplus auction an hour's drive away from me. The lots start to close on Monday, so if the prices stay low, I may pick up a flammables cabinet and a few other trinkets.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

BB Good luck on that flammables cabinet! I keep hoping to find one on the cheap on CL for our son's hand painted sign shop.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here's the cover decal. I've been afraid to clean the dried grease spots off since decals and I have had a rocky relationship in the past. The white areas are where the decal has been scratched off--not by me!! The inside paper label is not attached to the lid and except for a 1/8" diameter spot on the back I don't see any evidence that it ever might have been. I'm amazed that it has remained with the set.

The mysterious "Chevy" decal!

GJ member royudc posted a B-P T&D set with the same decal on the Snap-on thread a few years ago and that was the first time I had seen one! EDIT: His is also a TD-2500! See page 78 post #3,105 on the 'Snap-on' thread.

DWise's imperial size sets (see 'T&D' thread, Page 3, Post #91), my No. TDM-109 set ('T&D' thread, Page 3, Post #107), and snapmom's Whitworth set ('T&D' thread, Page 5, Post #156) all have the same decal and it's the oval gold one with red trim.

I think the "Chevy" decal is older and the branding on your surviving contents list sure hints at that, too.

If collectingsnapon.com still had their old catalog system up it would be so easy to figure it out. You could just find a TD-2500 set in any catalog, wouldn't matter which, click on the part number and go to the oldest catalog it appeared in, but they only have a smattering of cats showing now and they no longer have them linked by part number at the bottom! So disappointing how downhill that site went.

 

[gpw_42]

+1 for OR's suckage!

Just posted my TD-2500 to the Tap and Die Set thread, https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/anyone-collect-vintage-taps-and-dies.373559/page-8 It came from a 2020 estate sale, but I didn't show the cover/decal when I posted it to the 2020 GS thread.

GREAT backpacking trip this past weekend, designed as sort of a cold weather gut check. The weather cooperated maybe a little too well...lows around 15 at night sure made it easy to turn-in after dinner; high on Saturday of 32-35. My first backpacking trip in 30 years; used an Optimus International stove which I picked up in late 2021 for cheap (vs. ebay prices...). The local estate sale didn't have much appealing, so I didn't miss anything in that regard, I don't think.

 

[WNYflyer]

Well done Old Radar

 

[Old Radar]

Private Lugnutz said:

GJ member royudc posted a B-P T&D set with the same decal on the Snap-on thread a few years ago and that was the first time I had seen one! EDIT: His is also a TD-2500! See page 78 post #3,105 on the 'Snap-on' thread.

DWise's imperial size sets (see 'T&D' thread, Page 3, Post #91), my No. TDM-109 set ('T&D' thread, Page 3, Post #107), and snapmom's Whitworth set ('T&D' thread, Page 5, Post #156) all have the same decal and it's the oval gold one with red trim.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Interesting in that both royudc's & DWise's sets, the layout is slightly different than mine. They each have a larger cavity on the bottom left and their taps are three on each side. Mine has four taps on the left and two on the right. It may be that my box is slightly shorter front to back at 4.25 inches.

 

[Old Radar]

Time for the big reveal on the rusted shut Mystery box.​

Results were unsurprising yet vaguely disappointing it wasn't another Antikythera mechanism--although it was almost as crusty--or at least a Snap-on set. The PO frequently repurposed his boxes--remember this case came from the bottom of an American Tourister makeup case...
It was fun placing things back where they were found--I wasn't about to do all the nuts, screws and similar dreck--not even the fuses, but they were relatively easy so I just kept going. In the second to last pic, you may be able to see "Chicago" on the shank of the hex driver. I can make out "Products Co." before that, but nothing else.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's a Duro Metal Products radio set. Five (5) of the sockets in that mess should fit and self-store on the shank of the spinner. There are lugs on the shank that slide in slots on opposite corners of the sockets. Hosford design patent D111,026, granted August 23, 1938. It's actually a blatant rip-off of a Perry-Fay design. The story gets even worse. Duro sued Perry-Fay for the Perry-Fay design infringing on their Sedgley Hex-All design, which was spurious in my opinion. So Duro sues Perry-Fay, stopping their production, then turns around 12 years later and copies the Perry-Fay design. (I like Duro, but not one of their finest moments, in my harsh historical judgement. You can read more about it on my Perry-Fay thread down on the VB and be your own judge!) But I'll stop there so as not to detract from what is actually a nice find and should turn that frown upside down for you.

Link here...

c. 1924 Perry-Fay Company (Elyria, Ohio) "Set-O-Six" Radio Socket Wrench Set

As you guys know, I am a huckleberry for efficient, self-contained socket sets, so imagine how psyched I was to find this funky midget hex drive nut driver set at the flea market this morning. I could see a marking, but it was largely illegible, so I had no idea what it was, who made it or when...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[RTM]

Time for the big reveal on the rusted shut Mystery box.​

Results were unsurprising yet vaguely disappointing

damn, that picture gave me the willies. I’ve opened a few boxes like that before, and they always break my heart. I’ve seen WW and metal working and mechanics tools all suffer the same fate. Only gardening tools don’t bother me as much.