2026 Garage Sale Thread (15th Annual)

[WNYflyer]

Been pretty quiet so spits an dribbles around here tool wise and given the weather pretty much only pro sales except one last weekend.

From some pros estate sales as of the first of the year.
Max 1/4 torque wrench, Wizard 1/4 ratchet, Blackhawk dual regular/refrigeration ratchet, Snap-On line wrench


Vulcan SAE wrenches & breaker, Williams hex sockets


Last weekend last minute private sale down the road, good thing I checked FB in the morning. Mechanic from the Bobcat dealership aging out so getting rid of excess stuff.

John Deere SAE wrenches mostly Taiwan


John Deere Metric wrenches, all USA and look like Armstrongs


A couple Snap-On and a Mac wrenches


Big set of Bonney SAE crow foot

 

[ctuai]

Backstory:
The buck saw was dropped off on my front porch by an individual unbeknownst to me. I do not know the person, nor did I ask for the item or tell them where I lived. It just showed up and was on my front porch when I returned home after a ten-day trip. Needless to say, I was not at all pleased.
The individual then had the temerity to request that I call them when I had it refurbished so that they could pick it up. We assume this was an attempt at humor, as this individual had been making some snarky remarks regarding my tool restoration efforts.
Under any other circumstances, I'd probably have simply tossed the entire thing into the trash, but a subsequent attemp at "taking a shot" was made, along with a reminder to advise them when it would be ready for pickup after restoration.
The circumstances call for a proper and innovative restoration. One which will command a high dollar amount on some outrageously overpriced platform like ebay.
Nothing could give me more satisfaction than making a monetary profit from another person's idiocy.

Oh... and no, I will not be restoring any buck saws in the future.

Are you sure it's not @Beerhippie just pulling your chain?

 

[Beerhippie]

this individual had been making some snarky remarks regarding my tool restoration efforts

That sounds familiar....

 

[four.cycle]

^ was not a GJ member.

 

[RTM]

I have an old buck saw here that a previous owner attempted to repair by driving about half a pound of 6-penny box nails into it.
I need something to get all the nails out without damaging the wood too badly, and that's the only thing I could think of that might accomplish the task

How the heck did 1/2# of 6 penny help, and still be restorable? I've got a couple laying around, and if one piece was that split, I'd replace the wood with something fun. Mine look like birch or beech, Disston only calls one as Maple, the rest are "wood". If I replaced wood, I would put a nice piece of something contrasting and complementary.

Not sure glue, unless really well worked into the splits, would work well, but time will tell.

 

[alinc100]

Quick local pick up today. Got me some much needed drawer space. I predict my garage will be spotless in no time after this.

 

[Outlawmws]

I predict my garage will be spotless in no time after this.

Sure it will...

ps: nice find!

 

[four.cycle]

Not sure glue, unless really well worked into the splits, would work well, but time will tell.

Talked this over with my shoe guy, Alex.
Alex recommended one of the large big-box pet stores, like "Petco".
Rawhide doggie chew toy - largest size available.
Drop chew toy into bucket. Soak in water about a week until soft.
Cut into long strips. Wrap around split portion of wood frame wet, secure, allow to dry.

When I climbed up inside the ceiling of the Mormon Tabernacle in SLC, our "tour guide" explained to me how they used this method to prevent the hand-hewn wood roof beams (which were cut and put into place green - before the wood had fully cured) from splitting.
A workman climbs up into the ceiling with a small bucket of water and a ladle and puts a few teaspoons on each rawhide wrap as is needed.

As soft as this wood seems to be, I think that method should work just dandy.

 

[RTM]

Talked this over with my shoe guy, Alex.
Alex recommended one of the large big-box pet stores, like "Petco".
Rawhide doggie chew toy - largest size available.
Drop chew toy into bucket. Soak in water about a week until soft.
Cut into long strips. Wrap around split portion of wood frame wet, secure, allow to dry.

As soft as this wood seems to be, I think that method should work just dandy.

Split as you've shown, some hide glue and clamps first, then adding the rawhide when dry, and before tensioning, should give a strong and rustic looking repair.

Last I saw with splits was around the mortise, looked like it went sideways when not tensioned, and I would fear that much more than what you have.

 

[CoogarXR]

Stopped at a surplus store and went through their crusty old tool bins. Picked up a pile of vintage NOS weird sockets:

The bottom row: a small security torx, some impact e-torx, a weird big heavy socket with a small torx head in the center, a big T60, and a small telescoping magnet.

The top row:

All NOS SAE Koken. Weird to find in the USA. I've never even seen a Koken socket in person. Knowing this store, all of these sockets have been there since at least the 1980s.

And then:

a mid-deep SK USA 13mm, and a humorous 9/16" 3/4-drive Indestro Duro impact socket (just in case you have a 9/16 nut that you want to send into space).

The big 3/4 socket was $2.49, all the others were 0.50, plus they were having a 30% off tools sale. So I had about $7 in the whole pile.

 

[four.cycle]

Split as you've shown, some hide glue and clamps first, then adding the rawhide when dry, and before tensioning, should give a strong and rustic looking repair.

I figured I would need to get the thing kinda-sorta "back together" before wrapping with the rawhide strips. So you would glue and clamp it and then allow it to dry first?
And yes, "rustic looking repair" is what I'm looking for. I intend to make a decent profit on this one.

 

[Beerhippie]

I figured I would need to get the thing kinda-sorta "back together" before wrapping with the rawhide strips. So you would glue and clamp it and then allow it to dry first?
And yes, "rustic looking repair" is what I'm looking for. I intend to make a decent profit on this one.

I quite litterally can't give a bucksaw away out here. I had two of them for free at the last yard sale we held and I still have them.

 

[RTM]

I figured I would need to get the thing kinda-sorta "back together" before wrapping with the rawhide strips. So you would glue and clamp it and then allow it to dry first?

I prefer to really let glue dry before putting things near it. I used TiteBond to make a file rack, and used it 24 hrs later. All my files developed rust near the glue joints. Similarly, this might discolor your rawhide.

I never use bare metal clamps directly on wood, always a wood buffer, sometimes with wax paper depending on how close to glue the clamp will be. If you put clamps directly on the wood, and they slip, try making a sacrificial board as a jig. Drive a few nails in to match the inner curve of the arm. Then choices of clamps, dogs or screws com into play.

Add glue to the arm, push against the nails. Then add blocks, holding it closed, nail down

Or nail down a bigger block a little further away, drive a screw thru parallel to your board to drive the split closed . (Did this with Tee nuts once)

Or nail down a bigger block a little further away, use two tapered shims as a wedge to push it closed

Or pin down a clamp across your arm, use it against a prior nail to pull the split closed (pinned so it can't walk on the curve)

So many options, depending on how much it wants to fight you.

 

[RTM]

I quite litterally can't give a bucksaw away out here. I had two of them for free at the last yard sale we held and I still have them.

Sometimes braces do that too. But here, post the saw on CL for $50 as decor, and people seem to snap them up. I don't get it.

 

[LesserSon]

I think Beerhippie has the right idea - unless this particular saw was used by a historically important figure, it could never recoup the value of your time in my markets.
However, I read that this is a matter of personal pride and reputation, so you have to do something. But what?
I disagree with RTM in that the glue is worth the effort. It will contribute some stability, but the shrunken rawhide is all that would be holding the grain together. The fibers will split again between the repairs if the rawhide is weak anywhere. The grain is short; the fibers pass from one side of the piece to the other in too short a distance. That piece of wood should never have been used. It was always going to split from the day it was cut, and the nails are all the repair it deserves.
If it has to be salvaged, I think your time would be put to better use cutting a replacement from wood with a compatible grain orientation.

 

[ctuai]

Estate sale ($50): Soldering tweezers; 30-06 wad cutters w/ stripper clip; Smart Wool socks; Hubbley Colt 45 cap pistol; Oxwell linesman pliers; Marble bird bath

Getting to old to be moving stone birdbaths, but how often do you come across a marble one. It's taken damage, but I figure, a bit of polyester resin and thickener should do the trick.​

 

[LesserSon]

After I was cleared for my no-longer-broken toes this morning, MrsLS & I went to a sale advertised as selling the house and everything must go. Got there five minutes after the advertised start time, along with a half-dozen other cars, and waited around five more minutes to avoid getting my toes re-crushed. There was a man in the garage bewildered by the prompt arrival of shoppers, and he wound up escorting most everyone else into the house. I took the moment of solitude to look over the tools, priced with stickers.
The most interesting item was a 1/4hp Dunlap benchgrinder, not priced. But I really don’t need another benchgrinder. The small, cleverly-cobbled-together bandsaw and a small table saw were priced $150 and $200. Overall, the tools were ho-hum, well-used cheap nonames priced like brand new.
Still slow on my feet, I went into the house, found the cellar. Mostly cigarette-saturated sewing stuff - a lot of it. MrsLS was done, already headed out with nothing. I didn’t see much either, but the extensive pegboard and variety of hooks caught my eye. I pulled a small handful of hooks and asked. Like everything else, used priced like new. $5 (for 5 hooks). I countered with $2, but no. Okay, that’s fair. So we left with nothing.
BUT tomorrow Jake’s Flea opens for the season, and the formerly-predicted rain looks like it may take a different path!

 

[RTM]

disagree with RTM in that the glue is worth the effort. It will contribute some stability, but the shrunken rawhide is all that would be holding the grain together. The fibers will split again between the repairs if the rawhide is weak anywhere. The grain is short; the fibers pass from one side of the piece to the other in too short a distance. That piece of wood should never have been used. It was always going to split from the day it was cut, and the nails are all the repair it deserves.

I don't disagree with you generally. I do think the glue will help keep the ragged edge of the split together. I've seen similar repairs, where the rawhide generally held, but the wood edges got ratty between the wraps of rawhide.

 

[bmwrd0]

I needed to stop by the Restore, looking for glass fronted cabinet doors for a project, and while I did not find any of those, I did find these

Ohio #4-1/2 corrugated, and Billings (Wright) speeder and socket. I was the Easter sale, so half off!

 

[d42jeep]

We decided to try a sale in Concord put on by a company we bought from last week. They recognized us as regular buyers and went down a little on the price. The metric Craftsman set was missing a 10mm shallow and I didn’t have a spare to fill out the set
Just missing the one socket.
My favorite find was the Snap-on 1/2” drive speeder dated 1944.
A Wright 3/8” drive tootsie roll flex handle and socket for misterbill.
Walworth Stillson wrench dated 1947.
Wide opening Diamond green handle adjustable with damaged plastic.
Obligatory Visegrip find.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

The next sale was the second estate sale day of a usually expensive company. There wasn’t much left of interest. A couple of rusty screwdrivers and a couple little cable clamps for a clothesline project.
P&C screwdriver.
Cleaned up.
Mystery wood handled screwdriver Made in USA.
Cleaned up.
Cable clamps.
-Don

 

[Beerhippie]

Cable clamps.

Never saddle a dead horse!

 

[LesserSon]

I think that screwdriver is a Harrold.

 

[bmwrd0]

Hark! The Harrold driver turns...

 

[Provincial]

***** to Bluebolt for the Listas, and ctuai for the Williams set!

 

[d42jeep]

Another rusty treasure from the first sale was this item of local interest. I can’t quite tell who made it, even with chalk.
The subject of Fuller‘s US made screwdrivers has come up recently so I picked this one up at the first sale.
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

Another rusty treasure from the first sale was this item of local interest. I can’t quite tell who made it, even with chalk.

J.H. IRONS
S.F. Cal

 

[bluebolt]

I'm supposed to be getting ready for my own garage sale but had errands to run in town so I figured I could I could stop at a couple of estate sales LOL. At the first one at 9 AM all I got was the little Indestro ball peen hammer for $3. As I was going to my errand at Barksdale AFB clinic I passed a pawn shop going of business so I swung in. I picked up the big cans, Pepsi and Canada Dry crates, 4 Budweiser mugs and Gulf can for $60. After pizza and beer with a friend I went to the last estate sale and picked up the sled, Craftsman Allen wrenches, Thorsen metric set and other goodies for $27 total. A good day!

 

[d42jeep]

J.H. IRONS
S.F. Cal

I agree with that marking on one leg. After looking at the chalked markings fo a while I believe that the wing divider was made by Bemis & Call Co. The second line is Cast-Steel.
I found this tidbit on a Google AI search. Seems likely to me.
-Don

 

[LesserSon]

Ah-ha! I see that now, too. BEMIS & CALL co \ CAST STEEL, so maybe JH IRONS SF CAL is retailer or end-user

geez, Don: are you up late or up early?

 

[d42jeep]

Up late. Some Google map pictures of the building. I slept earlier through the Giants game.
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

I slept earlier through the Giants game.

SWMBO's trick here. she's the huge fan, and usually misses more than she witnesses...

 

[NYBODYMAN]

I think I did okay for $35 for the box of tools.
The erector set was $20. Going to do a little research on it but it appears to be complete and from the '60s. Not sure if anybody has any info. Let me know.

Proto, SK, Action USA, Dunlap wrenches
CMAN USA wrenches including a full set of DBE metric from 6mm-19mm.
VISE GRIP USA made which makes me very happy
Kraeuter and Channellock mini diagonal cutters, Stanley 100 Plus (don't know much about) screwdrivers in New condition
Stanley Handyman screwdrivers
Stanley Jobmaster USA screwdriver
2 unmarked C clamps
Armstrong mini adjustable, SK adjustable, Walden adjustable

The Proto socket set case is ROUGH but I had to save it. The saw is wood handled but unmarked. The cement shaper/groover is an old S&H Clinton 58 Wis. And the egg beater says "High Speed Center Drive Beater" "Made in United States of America" which is cool. No idea if there's any value there.

 

[four.cycle]

@NYBODYMAN -
Gilbert / A.C. Gilbert Co., New Haven, CT (also Gilbert Mfg. Co.) / "Erector" toy sets and tools / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/incredible-a-c-gilbert-erector-shop-2.538420/ / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...-and-their-tools-for-boys-of-all-ages.497394/ /

egg beater says "High Speed Center Drive Beater" "Made in United States of America"

manufactured by the Edward Katzinger Company of Chicago, Illinois. (aka "Ekco")
patent 2049727 Aug 4 1936 Myron J. Zimmer

* please post that in the "Made in the United States of America" thread if you would.

 

[Outlawmws]

I think I did okay for $35 for the box of tools.

That's a USUCK deal

The erector set was $20. Going to do a little research on i

Very collectable.

The saw is wood handled but unmarked.

Many of the jeweler's/watchmakers saws are made in Germany

 

[four.cycle]

Many of the jeweler's/watchmakers saws are made in Germany

Yes. Looks very similar to mine. Look very closely at the frame just below that thumbscrew - that's where mine is stamped "GERMANY" in itty-bitty letters.

 

[Outlawmws]

Yes. Looks very similar to mine. Look very closely at the frame just below that thumbscrew - that's where mine is stamped "GERMANY" in itty-bitty letters.

They will also take blades much smaller and delicate than coping saw blades.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Yes. I first learned how to use a jewelers saw in Mrs. Wojtowitz's art class.I used one to cut small pieces of sheet copper, which I then enameled. Somewhere around here I have a newspaper clipping showing a sculpture I made about 1969 titled "Pecking Order" made of walnut and pieces of enameled copper. It was quite a hit at the student art show put on for the parents. Did quite a bit of work with that jewelers saw... still have it here in a box.

 

[LesserSon]

MrsLS & I drove down to opening day at Jake’s Flea Market, PA100 just south of Bally PA. En route, we spotted several fishermen in the various trout-stocked creeks - it’s opening day of PA trout season as well. But my fishing buddy is busy with forest fire season, and by the time the leaves unfurl to put an end to that, it will be birch pollen allergy season for me. Spring is here.
Jake’s was heavily attended; we had to park where we have never parked before. Recent rains had left some standing water on the flats, and even the hill was soft. I ran my usual clockwise circuit in reverse for the novelty, and picked up a few small items for $12, which I eventually tossed into a gray Kennedy Kits box that had been color customized for the Man of Steel, then a GE logo sticker applied, and that mostly buried under a strip of masking tape. It had a few items in it already, which I felt justified the $2.




McD USA slipjoints, PEXTO slipjoints, Barcalo and No23 DOEs, small red wrench clip, USMC DOE, Vigor B.Jadow Inc Switzerland brass tweezers, Lindstrom Eskilstuna dikes, Plomb WF-97 DOE, Splitdorf & Remy ignition tools, twist-forged pick, 2 shellfish/nut picks, 2 pencils, BOSTON hose nozzle (now I have a collection), Harley Davidson dealer print block, unbranded squareshaft 1/4dr spinner, CM pocket driver, 5 XceLite mini nutdrivers, Bonney CH12 nutdriver, 7/16” Williams 1/4dr socket, Lutz file handle, Lehigh 3/16” wire rope kit, VA masonry drillbits, ILCo door cylendar w 3 keys, hammer wedge, CM staples, 20A outlet, 3 offset hinges, more drillbits, drill stop and 2 countersink woodscrew bits, pack of Griffin6-1/2” coping saw blades, couple driver bits, hex wrenchs, raingutter roofrack clamp, assorted leftover hardware bits.
My leftbehinds included a bowl of 50 corn husking aids. $2 ea (or $90 for the lot). I had to ask. The guy had collected them for years - he says he has about 1800 - and his adult kids don’t want them, so he’s downsizing. I wished him luck.
Another leftbehind was a working-condition buck saw for $20. Just sayin’.

 

[3baygarage]

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.