Best Tool Find

[Bad Jackson]

I wanted to see/hear about your best used tool find.

Mine was either the my Snap-On screwdriver (60's Logo) for $1 at the Starvation Army.

or

My Matco topbox / Snap-On bottom for $400. I guy I knew was getting a divorce and moving accross country and needed $$$.

Lucky me.

I have seen some sweet deals listed here, but I haven't seen a thread dedicated to this topic.

 

[lbgradwell]

Best tool you've ever found in the street

 

[Ghostrider]

I rescued my Wilton 800s from being scraped at work for FREE. Still get a warm feeling everytime I think about it lol, and it's been almost a year!

 

[KX250Fmotoracer]

I found a Snap-on F-715 flex-head hard-handled ratchet in the bumper of a 78 Corvette that I was putting a radiator in. The handle was all melted, but the ratchet looked brand new! I had my Snap-on guy put a new handle on it, and I've been using it for almost a year now!

 

[Bad Jackson]

lbgrandwell-
I would venture to say that Finding a tool on the street is different than finding a sweet deal on CL or at a yard sale. The thread dedicated to finding them for free is neat though. But I was meaning finding a Ridiculous price on a tool. (not from the dealer)
Thanks
Munsk.

 

[fm2176]

I think I have the wrong job...

A coworker told me a couple months ago about all the stuff that was up for grabs when his unit gshut down. He's an 88K Watercraft Operator, and came back from lunch to be told he was in another unit. He said tools, toolboxes, boat parts, and so on were all written off and people took what they wanted (including a senior NCO who ended up with two new outboards).

The Army uses Snap-On from what I've seen, and needless to say my truck would have been loaded. As a taxpayer, though, I have to admit to being a little pissed about the wasted money.

It's been years ago and I've forgotten what I paid for most, but I used to buy all the used Snap-On tools I could find from my dealer. Couldn't afford the new stuff, so outside of specialty tools and a few that weren't available at Sears I never bought new tools from the trucks.

I got my best friend a job at the Cadillac dealer I used to work at and he lasted only a couple of months. When he left he gave me his Snap-On screwdriver set, Craftsman box combo, and a few other tools. He had a nice IR composite impact and some other stuff, but it got stolen.

 

[Outlawmws]

I know I can't list them all, or even pick one as "the best" but then I try to be in places to find deals...

Here are some:

Snap On nut splitter, #NC52 .50c ($60-70 retail)

Snap On CJ118 series puller with 3 sets of jaws and all the other bits, $20 (over $700 retail I was stunned to see...)

6" Paramo vise (English, similar to the more common Records) given to me free along with a good workbench with heavy steel legs, and a 4' long 6 ton high lift floor jack,..)

1/4" Snap On ratchet .50c

Winchester and a Marbles No. 5 safety hatchet, $2 ea.

Set of 7 SK swivel sockets in 3/8 drive in the original vintage box (riveted name plate) for $5.

Just a flavoring of my better deals...

 

[Jeeprz!]

Not to Hijack your thread but -
"I have to admit to being a little pissed about the wasted money."

I spent more time than I care to remember on the flight line, in the cold and the rain and the sleet, with every bird and piece of gear we had that ran on JP-5, - watching it idle for hours on end, like 18 hours at a shot.

The military logic was that if you didn't use all the fuel in your budget for that quarter, then you didnt need it and they would lower the allowance by the difference automatically for the next quarter.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

Does an auction count?
Got this for $90.00, had to put about another $100.00 into it, but still.
Oliver wood lathe.

 

[Hootbro]

I think I have the wrong job...

A coworker told me a couple months ago about all the stuff that was up for grabs when his unit gshut down. He's an 88K Watercraft Operator, and came back from lunch to be told he was in another unit. He said tools, toolboxes, boat parts, and so on were all written off and people took what they wanted (including a senior NCO who ended up with two new outboards).

The Army uses Snap-On from what I've seen, and needless to say my truck would have been loaded. As a taxpayer, though, I have to admit to being a little pissed about the wasted money.

It's been years ago and I've forgotten what I paid for most, but I used to buy all the used Snap-On tools I could find from my dealer. Couldn't afford the new stuff, so outside of specialty tools and a few that weren't available at Sears I never bought new tools from the trucks.

I got my best friend a job at the Cadillac dealer I used to work at and he lasted only a couple of months. When he left he gave me his Snap-On screwdriver set, Craftsman box combo, and a few other tools. He had a nice IR composite impact and some other stuff, but it got stolen.

First of all, what that unit done was not legal and that NCO taking two outboards is criminal under UCMJ. With the exception of expendable and perishable items, all that stuff should have been properly turned in and either reallocated or sent to DRMO for auction as surplus.

Lastly, most of that Snap On stuff is probably already code for military contracts and civilian warranty of those item can and probably will be denied.

 

[camarotoolman]

Bought a wood plane in an antique shop for $20 sold it for $800.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

Bought a wood plane in an antique shop for $20 sold it for $800.

Stanley # 1?

 

[fm2176]

First of all, what that unit done was not legal and that NCO taking two outboards is criminal under UCMJ. With the exception of expendable and perishable items, all that stuff should have been properly turned in and either reallocated or sent to DRMO for auction as surplus.

Lastly, most of that Snap On stuff is probably already code for military contracts and civilian warranty of those item can and probably will be denied.

Of course. I ran two armsrooms and am well aware of the proper means by which to dispose of certain items. But, on the other hand, I have seen some stuff that was not accounted for or had to be disposed of (mostly consumable items or unauthorized spare parts). If my coworker's story is factual (we don't always see what we think we do) it is hard to say what I'd have done. I doubt a commanding officer or property book officer would place their careers on the line by discarding durable items.

Back to the thread topic: I bought a bunch of Companion shovels at Sears for $1.97 last year. Also, paid $42 for an electric power washer that retailed for $130.

 

[KX250Fmotoracer]

Oh another Slightly off topic one- I found a Carhartt jacket on a rack at sears with no tag on it. It didn't match anything else in store, but the similar ones were going for around $120. I bought it to the register and the woman rung it up as $11!

 

[NUTTSGT]

I bought my blast cabinet out of the clearance section at Summit for $75.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-919050/

Mine is red.