Keep checking the Restore;

[HeelSpur]

Got these for a buck a piece, they also had a boatload of no name old hacksaws for 2 a piece. Someone like silver paint.

 

[Techie1961]

I love Restore. I have picked up some incredible deals from them and go back often.

 

[lilredex]

Got those Restore duck bill pliers for a buck, yes they are from China but really good quality. The others, bike tools, came direct from Hong Kong (Amazon) and were also cheap.

 

[woody 73]

You guys have some killer finds.

This is what I have learned from the central "Ahia" Restore:

First off the guys that first find the tools keep what they want; Although you could argue that is a no-no it still happens.

Second thing that happens is the tools get collected and sent to the Restore, and the staff there gets second crack at keeping what they want.

You start seeing where this is going...

Third and last in the chain is the very bottom feeders get a crack at buying what is left over (that would be all of us bottom feeders), and what is left over is 99.999% Chinese, broken tools, rusty, bent, and just plain worn out from years of use.

Now notice I said 99.99% that means that a few good tools do on rare occasion slip by everone and you can sometimes get lucky.

Still good finds from the op so good job!

 

[1badbird]

Just picked up 5 wrenches for 50cents each and a bunch of u.s.a made sockets for 30cents each from their yesterday. Also got a steel bookcase that was pretty cool. Love that place but of course it is very hit and miss.

 

[1badbird]

Some pictures of my findings.

 

[woody 73]

Hey 1badbird you did good see I told you a few goodies slipped by all those early hands!

 

[Model A Fan]

What is the Restore?

Cool finds!

 

[justanengineer]

What is the Restore?

Its the Habitat-for-Humanity Restore, a storefront run by Habitat whereby donated materials are sold pretty cheap. Think Salvation Army or Goodwill but with household supplies and material rather than clothes. In this area, the Restore gets all manner of brandy-new material leftovers form the big-box and other hardware stores, paint stores, etc free to sell in exchange for a tax writeoff. Habitat also takes old materials from folks renovating, tools, furniture, and any other household items they can resell to raise money to help build houses. As I'm moving and couldnt take it w/me, I just donated a small pile of furniture grade lumber I had last week, better used than burnt.

Google it to see where your nearest one is, feel free to thank us later.

 

[Jazz1]

I got this old trunk to keep tools in my truck last October at Restore for $10. I noticed the seal inside when I got it home..also a couple vixen files for .25 each The trunk is water tight with all brass hardware and latches...
\

 

[lilredex]

Jazz.....Got to be some history (and story) behind that box, coming from Liverpool.

 

[Model A Fan]

Its the Habitat-for-Humanity Restore, a storefront run by Habitat whereby donated materials are sold pretty cheap. Think Salvation Army or Goodwill but with household supplies and material rather than clothes. In this area, the Restore gets all manner of brandy-new material leftovers form the big-box and other hardware stores, paint stores, etc free to sell in exchange for a tax writeoff. Habitat also takes old materials from folks renovating, tools, furniture, and any other household items they can resell to raise money to help build houses. As I'm moving and couldnt take it w/me, I just donated a small pile of furniture grade lumber I had last week, better used than burnt.

Google it to see where your nearest one is, feel free to thank us later.

Interesting, as in my town there is a store called the "ReStore" which sells used building materials and such. Its where I purchased most of my vintage Craftsman machinery and hand tools. There is also a Habitat for Humanity store too, but they usually have less inventory.

My complaint is the pricing. Some of it is just insane at the ReStore. It bugs me that they get it for free and they sell it for some outrageous prices sometimes.

 

[454ragtop]

My Restore is more miss than hit, although I did get a real nice SK 3/8" drive set in the classic green box there a month or so ago. Pricing is about the same, no rhyme or reason, some stuff, like the SK stuff, cheap, some stuff just stupid. They had a bottom of the line Sears roll away tool box there a little while back, wanted $250. for it, with the tools that were locked inside, they had the key. Didn't even bother to ask them to show me, figured anyone who'd buy that box probably had **** tools too.
Jim

 

[Kevin54]

Interesting, as in my town there is a store called the "ReStore" which sells used building materials and such. Its where I purchased most of my vintage Craftsman machinery and hand tools. There is also a Habitat for Humanity store too, but they usually have less inventory.

My complaint is the pricing. Some of it is just insane at the ReStore. It bugs me that they get it for free and they sell it for some outrageous prices sometimes.

Same store everyone else is talking about, but they just don't capitalize the "S" in the word. Technically it is "ReStore" and is tied in with Habitat for Humanity. That is where Habitat gets a lot of their funding from. I've actually gotten some good deals out of there. But with ours, tools are few and far between. I did pick up a super nice office desk for $10 on day. I bought deck wash for $2 a gallon, 4" paint brushes brand new for $2 each. Paint pan liners for $.25 each. I try to make it in there at least once a week to see what has come in new.

Anyone that has one in their town and has never checked on out, be sure to stop sometime. You never know, you may get a killer deal on something.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

I picked up some Dunlap (Sears "off brand" from the 50's and 60's) screwdrivers at the ReStore in South Bend, was surprised they were there. Had other tools but didn't see anything I needed. Also, before Xmas I saw a couple of radial arm saws (B&D brand maybe) in the ReStore / HFH in Avon, IN.. Don't need a radial arm with a power miter.. but neat none the less..

 

[Rileysan]

Jazz - that trunk is awesome. I'd look into its history a bit before relegating it to your truck bed.

All - ReStore employs volunteers, primarily. Prices are supposed to be standardized, but standards are rarely followed so prices will vary from day-to-day depending on which volunteer priced it. As for your finds, you need to visit early and often as their inventory moves quickly. It's a rare day I don't come home with something useful or great at near give-away prices.

Brian

 

[930dreamer]

I bought a case of these last week at the Restore.

 

[Model A Fan]

I picked up some Dunlap (Sears "off brand" from the 50's and 60's) screwdrivers at the ReStore in South Bend, was surprised they were there. Had other tools but didn't see anything I needed. Also, before Xmas I saw a couple of radial arm saws (B&D brand maybe) in the ReStore / HFH in Avon, IN.. Don't need a radial arm with a power miter.. but neat none the less..

They always have their radial arm saws really priced high. Currently, two sitting at $175 and $150!

Jazz - that trunk is awesome. I'd look into its history a bit before relegating it to your truck bed.

All - ReStore employs volunteers, primarily. Prices are supposed to be standardized, but standards are rarely followed so prices will vary from day-to-day depending on which volunteer priced it. As for your finds, you need to visit early and often as their inventory moves quickly. It's a rare day I don't come home with something useful or great at near give-away prices.

Brian

They seem to have a lot of "volunteers" who seem like those who would not be able to get a job due to past history and a couple permanent staff. One in particular who runs it like its his own stuff on sale. No negotiating at all.

 

[JR 42]

Interesting, as in my town there is a store called the "ReStore" which sells used building materials and such. Its where I purchased most of my vintage Craftsman machinery and hand tools. There is also a Habitat for Humanity store too, but they usually have less inventory.

My complaint is the pricing. Some of it is just insane at the ReStore. It bugs me that they get it for free and they sell it for some outrageous prices sometimes.

Same store everyone else is talking about, but they just don't capitalize the "S" in the word. Technically it is "ReStore" and is tied in with Habitat for Humanity. That is where Habitat gets a lot of their funding from. I've actually gotten some good deals out of there. But with ours, tools are few and far between. I did pick up a super nice office desk for $10 on day. I bought deck wash for $2 a gallon, 4" paint brushes brand new for $2 each. Paint pan liners for $.25 each. I try to make it in there at least once a week to see what has come in new.

Anyone that has one in their town and has never checked on out, be sure to stop sometime. You never know, you may get a killer deal on something.

Oddly enough, there's a store in Bellingham called the RE Store that's affiliated with a local environmental non-profit, not Habitat for Humanity.

I shop the local architectural salvage places (the Habitat store just moved inconveniently down south to Kent, haven't been there since), and the luck is all in the timing - if you're there when the new stuff's put on the floor, you can find some great deals. I've gotten a bunch of (user, not tool-polisher-grade) Snap-On combo wrenches for a buck each, old CM Crown Top hand boxes for $4, 24" Ridgid pipe wrench for $12, ugly S-K Wayne 1/2" breaker bar for $2, etc. etc. etc.

I've also spent a lot of time pawing through junk, finding nothing worth owning... but the good finds offset the wasted time.

JR

 

[Richard Cranium]

Our Restore, just expanded into a new building and the prices tripled. I guess they have to pay a higher rent. Our Restore has two paid people up front and 2 paid people working in the back and then a bunch of volunteers.

 

[papavolume]

There was one near the old shop I worked at and I made it a point to go at least weekly, but I think I have only been once in the past 6 months. Its not far from the powdercoater we use and I need to drop some parts off tomorrow so maybe I'll go check again. Right near that restore is another store called "Stardust building supplies" and it is basically the same type of thing too so it was always a 2 for 1 stop and shop experience.

 

[kleinkaliber]

OK, this thread encouraged me to stop by the local ReStore. A bunch of wrenches, screwdrivers, and sockets. I grabbed a nearly complete set (missing 9/16") of Barcalo-Buffalo Barcalloy combos, a couple random Bluepoints, a couple early CM knurled 3/8 drive sockets, and a 7mm-8mm Toyota open end combo for my brother who collects Toyota tools. $7.40 for all.

There was a Craftsman crown table saw, an even earlier CM table saw with the engine turned front panel in really nice shape for $90, and a CM crown scroll saw in its metal box with all papers, looked new, for $40.

So, yeah, check ReStore often!

 

[BFBOB]

Lucky dogs. The ReStore here is just building materials. The one thing they have really cheap is glass. If you need thin, large sheets of glass, there's nothing cheaper than their aluminum storm windows from old triple-track. Great for picture frames or fixing broken triple-tracks. (yeah, I still have a few).

 

[Tellingthem]

Really hit or miss for me. Sometimes I find some good stuff others junk. For tools its almost always junk. But I love to dig through the hardware bins and find all sorts of nifty stuff for cheap. I grabbed a ton of wall anchors and these for 10 cents a box. I like the designs and nice to have some new vintage hardware to use on projects.

 

[Notgrownup]

Bought 2 craftsmen steel top cabinet and 2 8' upper kitchen cabinet and a lower kitchen cabinets fur $420.00....perfect find for my shop

 

[Techie1961]

I've been a number of times and these are some of the deals that I got.

Really nice steel cabinet for IIRC $80

These PanAm Games storage boxes for $10 each

File cabinet for $100 that I use for power tool storage now

 

[Model A Fan]

Found a home made valve spring compressor for $4 (it had been there for about 6 months) and a two claw puller by Craftsman. Spent $12 today...

I usually only buy tools, not usually building materials. Its usually pricey. $4 per pane on windows, doesn't matter how small the window is. Makes the old barn/house windows pricey at 6-8 panes per 3'x4' window...

The ReStore in Bellingham is the one I am referring to.

What are your best Restore finds?

 

[Jazz1]

Got a Gray tool box to fit behind my driver seat. $5.60 USD! I was looking for cabinets for a friend...

 

[kleinkaliber]

Stopped by ReStore again today. Only find was an amber handled Craftsman screwdriver, but the clerk told me a big donation of old wrenches, screwdrivers, etc. just came in and they will have it all priced and on the shelf first thing in the morning. Guess where I'll be at 9AM tomorrow!

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Stopped by ReStore again today. Only find was an amber handled Craftsman screwdriver, but the clerk told me a big donation of old wrenches, screwdrivers, etc. just came in and they will have it all priced and on the shelf first thing in the morning. Guess where I'll be at 9AM tomorrow!

Any scores?

 

[kleinkaliber]

Any scores?

A few goodies. 1/2, 9/16, and 5/8 S-K combos, 2 Proto screwdrivers, Mastercraft needlenose pliers, and 2 Craftsman =V= 1/2 and 7/16 open end/socket end combos. $10 for all. There was a lot of HF type stuff that outnumbered the good stuff around 10 to 1. Was told to come back in the morning as they hadn't got the ratchets and sockets priced yet. Everything I saw in there that I reported on in this thread 2 weeks ago was gone and when I mentioned this to the clerk, he said there is a regular group of guys that come in about once a week and clean out the good stuff.

 

[jakemac]

Scored some SnapOn on my trip to the ReStore today. Story here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5453292#post5453292

My previous best score from there was a Craftsman 12" bench top disk sander for $35 about 2 years ago.

 

[Hawk]

Use to get some great deals at the ReStore here, such as Stanly Fat-max tapes 3/4 x 25ft. for 3.75 each. Yes I bought around a dozen and use them regularly. But after a fire totaled the store, when they moved to another building they decided their prices should increase dramatically on most items.Safe rule is to know what you are buying and have a limit to spend.

 

[Norcal]

I bought a case of these last week at the Restore.

Not meeting current code requirements is a likely reason for the donation, they need a shield on them now.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

A few goodies. 1/2, 9/16, and 5/8 S-K combos, 2 Proto screwdrivers, Mastercraft needlenose pliers, and 2 Craftsman =V= 1/2 and 7/16 open end/socket end combos. $10 for all. There was a lot of HF type stuff that outnumbered the good stuff around 10 to 1. Was told to come back in the morning as they hadn't got the ratchets and sockets priced yet. Everything I saw in there that I reported on in this thread 2 weeks ago was gone and when I mentioned this to the clerk, he said there is a regular group of guys that come in about once a week and clean out the good stuff.

Interesting finds and thoughts .. I'll bet the regulars are either flea market or eBay sellers.. or re sell-sellers lol. I hadn't realized until this thread how many tools there are at these sorts of stores....

 

[kleinkaliber]

Interesting finds and thoughts .. I'll bet the regulars are either flea market or eBay sellers.. or re sell-sellers lol. I hadn't realized until this thread how many tools there are at these sorts of stores....

I'm sure some of them must be resellers. The clerk told me there are a couple regulars who are hobby blacksmiths that are always looking for larger, older wrenches as they want the steel the tools are made of for their projects.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Our re-stores got sued, I guess there is a second hand store some where on the west side of the state that used the name Re-store so all the stores in Washington State has to remove the "Re-" from their names.

 

[Jazz1]

Not much of anything,,found this 50 cent Rolls Royce wrench,,says 1/2 BSF. Measures 5/8". Deeming it not worthy of a place in my tool box it is now key fob for spare garage keys..

 

[jakemac]

BSF stands for British Standard-Fine.
While the US measures the bolt from the size of the shaft, the Brits at that time measured the bolt from the size of the head, IIRC

 

[kleinkaliber]

BSF stands for British Standard-Fine.
While the US measures the bolt from the size of the shaft, the Brits at that time measured the bolt from the size of the head, IIRC

Other way around. And at first it seems really strange using the Brit stuff. After you use it for a bit, it actually makes sense. A 1/2"-26 nut takes a 1/2" BS wrench even though the wrench is quite larger than 1/2".