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qqzj

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Nov 28, 2017
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3,747
Since the pandemic started, I suddenly got a lot more time looking at things at home that I can fix myself and therefore spent WAY MORE time on how to get tools for cheap or, even better, free. To my surprise, I actually did get a fair amount of stuff for free. So here are the stuff that I got for basically nothing after pandemic. This is mainly from buying tools cheap online and flip them local. Or, buy a big package of tools and sell them piece meal, only keep stuff I really want. I also got a lot of tools doing the credit card/bank signup stuff. But it is kinda hard to tie them to specific tools. So I am going to skip all of that. Pictures of the tools to follow next.

P.S. I do not have wonderful friends to give me things for free. So if you are THAT lucky, all the power to you!
 
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qqzj

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Nov 28, 2017
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3,747
First up is the Husky 3/4 set. I discovered they are on sale at Home Depot. Bought two, sold one. In the end, I got a set of tools, and about $25 if memory is correct.

20211123_115823.jpg
 
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qqzj

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Nov 28, 2017
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3,747
Next are engine oils. Got 10 jugs of the Shell gas truck oil of various viscosity from Pepboy's and 2 gallons of Castro edge from Walmart, and made about two or three bucks.

20211123_120211.jpg
 
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qqzj

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Nov 28, 2017
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3,747
A pretty awesome hammer sent to me by Walmart for review. I honestly think it's very good for most of the folks. The stubby ratchet and flex head torque wrench were sent to me by GW for review. Both are very good. The torque wrench is accurate within 3% whole range. That's awesome. Would be great when I have to change spark plugs on my Subaru. The funny thing is that the only contact I had with GW was 10 years ago because a magnetic spark plug socket I bought had peeling chrome. GW sent me a new one and a free return shipping label after one short call. As far as my experience goes, GW has very good quality tools with excellent warranty. I am amazed that GW would remember me after 10 years and send me free, high quality tools.

I also bought a lot of GW tools with own money and all of them work great. Spending additional amount on some supposedly better tools is just like ******* money away.

20211123_121720.jpg
 

Mallen

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Joined
Aug 11, 2021
Messages
649
Since the pandemic started, I suddenly got a lot more time looking at things at home that I can fix myself and therefore spent WAY MORE time on how to get tools for cheap or, even better, free. To my surprise, I actually did get a fair amount of stuff for free. So here are the stuff that I got for basically nothing after pandemic. This is mainly from buying tools cheap online and flip them local. Or, buy a big package of tools and sell them piece meal, only keep stuff I really want. I also got a lot of tools doing the credit card/bank signup stuff. But it is kinda hard to tie them to specific tools. So I am going to skip all of that. Pictures of the tools to follow next.

P.S. I do not have wonderful friends to give me things for free. So if you are THAT lucky, all the power to you!
Last year I bought a Metabo HPT 36V multivolt 1/2" 1260ft/lb impact wrench, angle grinder, reciprocating saw ,and impact driver and circular saw. White Cap had a promo where if you buy a ith reciprocating saw, an impact driver or an angle grinder they would give you a free set with a 36v drill , 2 batteries a charger ,and a nice carrying case. So I got three of those for free. They retailed for $399 each, I sold two of them for $300 each and kept one. Lowe's had a deal where if you buy a circular saw they would go e you a free battery and charger that retailed for $150. I sold the battery and charger for $100. Metabo had two rebated going on. One was a 25 dollar rebate for any power tool on the list. Not only did all the tools I buy except the circular saw qualify,the drill kits were listed as line items with a price of 399 then a separate line item for a discount that made it free. So I applied for the rebate for all 7 items. They sent me a check for 175 dollars. Metabo also had a rebate where you cod get a free battery or a free AC adapter that allowed the tool to be used as a corded tool. The AC adapter was worth more so I got 8 of those. They retailed for $150. I kept one and I sold the rest for 100 bucks each.

I registered them all online. After a few weeks Metabo HPT contacted me by email. They offered me a free 4 port charger if I would write a review of it. So I did that was worth about $150. Then a couple months after that, they offered me a free 18v light weight drill and driver set if I wrote a review of that. So I did. Those retailed for 189.


I spent about 1100 dollars on all the tools. I made 1275 on all the extra stuff I didn't need and the rebates. So I got almost $1500 dollars worth of power tools and put 175 bucks in my pocket.
 
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qqzj

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Joined
Nov 28, 2017
Messages
3,747
Last year I bought a Metabo HPT 36V multivolt 1/2" 1260ft/lb impact wrench, angle grinder, reciprocating saw ,and impact driver and circular saw. White Cap had a promo where if you buy a ith reciprocating saw, an impact driver or an angle grinder they would give you a free set with a 36v drill , 2 batteries a charger ,and a nice carrying case. So I got three of those for free. They retailed for $399 each, I sold two of them for $300 each and kept one. Lowe's had a deal where if you buy a circular saw they would go e you a free battery and charger that retailed for $150. I sold the battery and charger for $100. Metabo had two rebated going on. One was a 25 dollar rebate for any power tool on the list. Not only did all the tools I buy except the circular saw qualify,the drill kits were listed as line items with a price of 399 then a separate line item for a discount that made it free. So I applied for the rebate for all 7 items. They sent me a check for 175 dollars. Metabo also had a rebate where you cod get a free battery or a free AC adapter that allowed the tool to be used as a corded tool. The AC adapter was worth more so I got 8 of those. They retailed for $150. I kept one and I sold the rest for 100 bucks each.

I registered them all online. After a few weeks Metabo HPT contacted me by email. They offered me a free 4 port charger if I would write a review of it. So I did that was worth about $150. Then a couple months after that, they offered me a free 18v light weight drill and driver set if I wrote a review of that. So I did. Those retailed for 189.


I spent about 1100 dollars on all the tools. I made 1275 on all the extra stuff I didn't need and the rebates. So I got almost $1500 dollars worth of power tools and put 175 bucks in my pocket.
That's really cool. I bought a lot of DeWalt stuff and registered them. DeWalt never gave a flying hook.
 
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qqzj

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Joined
Nov 28, 2017
Messages
3,747
I got TWO of these last time I got on the SO truck.

SNAP-ON-USA-POCKET-FLAT-SCREWDRIVER-WITH-CLIP.jpg

He didn't "charge" me for them per se, but I have a strong feeling that they weren't free.

The best way to deal with the SO truck is that if you buy the tools for the company and can get reimbursed. That would be a very nice job.
 

Dumber than lumber

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 19, 2015
Messages
1,898
You guys are killing me.
Had a neighbor sell his house and he gave me more pvc sprinkler fittings and spray heads than I could imagine.
Gave me an electric pressure washer, and a gas powered one.
And a wheelbarrow. And my wife got a raised garden frame.
My buckets runneth over.
 

Clasik

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 2, 2021
Messages
52
Location
Austin MN
2 Wilton C1's have landed in my lap over the last month.
Restoration time!
I have a thread going on for them, just felt like posting here as well 🙂
 
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Ton ton

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Joined
Oct 16, 2019
Messages
4,592
Location
Page County,VA
First up is the Husky 3/4 set. I discovered they are on sale at Home Depot. Bought two, sold one. In the end, I got a set of tools, and about $25 if memory is correct.

20211123_115823.jpg
You **** when it comes to 3/4" drive. I went to the Home Depot in Harrisonburg, VA and could not find a 3/4" drive set period. I did ask employees too.
 

The collector

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 26, 2022
Messages
218
A pretty awesome hammer sent to me by Walmart for review. I honestly think it's very good for most of the folks. The stubby ratchet and flex head torque wrench were sent to me by GW for review. Both are very good. The torque wrench is accurate within 3% whole range. That's awesome. Would be great when I have to change spark plugs on my Subaru. The funny thing is that the only contact I had with GW was 10 years ago because a magnetic spark plug socket I bought had peeling chrome. GW sent me a new one and a free return shipping label after one short call. As far as my experience goes, GW has very good quality tools with excellent warranty. I am amazed that GW would remember me after 10 years and send me free, high quality tools.

I also bought a lot of GW tools with own money and all of them work great. Spending additional amount on some supposedly better tools is just like ******* money away.

20211123_121720.jpg
For review on u-tube or they just sending people tools to review
 

bonneyman

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 22, 2010
Messages
8,802
Location
Desert SW
We have this thrift store that sells all kinds of stuff cheap, and all the proceeds go to the local fire department. Tools, chemicals, clothes, plumbing fixtures, etc. Maybe your town has one like it? Can't hurt to look.

 

ecotec

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 5, 2010
Messages
5,448
We have this thrift store that sells all kinds of stuff cheap, and all the proceeds go to the local fire department. Tools, chemicals, clothes, plumbing fixtures, etc. Maybe your town has one like it? Can't hurt to look.

Jeff Moss cleans up at his local Restore. It is a charity for Habitat for Humanity, where people donate construction materials, furniture… and the proceeds go to building more houses.

We have a lot of them, but I haven’t been as lucky. About 20 years ago, I got about 20 mini recessed can lights for about $4 each.
 
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kaymccampbell

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Joined
Feb 27, 2015
Messages
29,518
Location
Upstate New York
Mostly I just pay for stuff, cause there isn't much free to be had, as the locals usually want new prices for rotted out ****. However, I have been a bit luckier recently.

Last year I got 2 dead trailers for free. With some cash and time, made them into one decent one. With the money I made hauling away my assdemic scrap pile, it paid for itself.

This year I got a free 14' chunk of rough oak, that I milled to make a new beam for the Dingo shed. And about 60 rubber gym mats that I used to pave behind the woodshed for a cleaner scrap/strategic materials pile.
 
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qqzj

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Nov 28, 2017
Messages
3,747
Time flies! A whole year is gone in the blink of an eye. I reviewed what I got last year and seems that I did better this year :)

First is 4 jugs of Pennzoil oil like this. There was a Walmart pricing error. Then I submitted one rebate and Pennzoil sent me two checks. Can't complain!

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Next is a jug of coolant that a neighbor gave me

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Another neighbor gave me some clunkers. Still nice to have thou.

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Then I bought a tool lot, sold it piece meal and got this one left and it is basically free. I don't really need it, so it took quite some effort to persuade myself to keep it.


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Then I bought two DeWalt hammers for $19. Sold one and this one is free.

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Then the good guys at GearWrench set me 90T 80550 3/8 drive 57 piece full set for review

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And the 1/4 drive interchangeable head torque wrench

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Finally sold off a couple sets of Carlyle wrench sets I bought b/c help here. In the end, I got a full set free and a dozen extra bucks. Took me a long time thou.

1673306603398.png

and its shorter companion set.

Had I not collected some vintage tools, I could have made some small money from playing with tools.
 
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qqzj

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Nov 28, 2017
Messages
3,747
Yes. I actually find all the hammers in home Depot, swing them for a while and it's the best. Better than the famous estwing!
 

Houdini5150

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 17, 2022
Messages
566
Location
Arizona
Ummm do tools being left behind at my GFs house and they ventured into my collection count? If not, no. I got some tools for cheap from auctions but not free.
 

alfadan

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Joined
Mar 9, 2007
Messages
2,109
Location
Augusta, ks
Got a free Horrible Freight sandblaster cabinet from my neighbor because I feed his cats sometimes. Just needed new gloves and gun parts.

He also offered me some of his 40 gallons of tire slime. Umm, no thanks.
 
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qqzj

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Nov 28, 2017
Messages
3,747
Got a free Horrible Freight sandblaster cabinet from my neighbor because I feed his cats sometimes. Just needed new gloves and gun parts.

He also offered me some of his 40 gallons of tire slime. Umm, no thanks.

That is really nice. I always want to paint my calipers and this thing would be really handy!
 

subroc

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Joined
Apr 22, 2017
Messages
781
Location
Dover, NH
I am sure I have some stuff here I could call/characterize as free but i am most happy with my miter saws deals. This was several years ago now. 4 buying transactions and 4 selling transactions left me with a Dewalt 12" slider (dcs782) for $90 and a Dewalt 7-1/4" battery powered slider for $150.00. Bought 4 miter saws sold 2, a stand and a battery-charger set. I own both saws for $240.00.
 

imagineer

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Joined
Dec 13, 2015
Messages
1,009
Location
Ohio
It pays to be in charge of the company asset list as well as the keeper of the off-site warehouse inventory.

Managed to "scavenge" a new, unused Jet belt Grinder, a well used but functional Ellis 1600 Band Saw and a Steel City 10" table saw.
jet.JPGellis.JPGsteel city.JPG
 

WWheeler

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Joined
Jun 23, 2015
Messages
4,105
Location
Middleofnowhere USA
Got a keychain/bottle opener from Matco this morning
F792BABD-68A8-4321-94E1-89CE7FCB0657.jpeg

That reminds me. I did get a FREE "beerwrench" from Chris @ Astro back in 2016.

Astro Beerwrench.jpg

Not really sure if/when I've ever gotten any other tools for 'free' (that wasn't some sort of 'buy one get this' type thing that isn't really free).

I did once find a Snap-on 10mm socket left in the wife's car after it was worked on and I meant to stop by and return it when I was back down that way but then I lost it somehow.
 

BigLeagueSmoes

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Joined
Feb 10, 2022
Messages
314
Location
Central IL
That reminds me. I did get a FREE "beerwrench" from Chris @ Astro back in 2016.

Astro Beerwrench.jpg

Not really sure if/when I've ever gotten any other tools for 'free' (that wasn't some sort of 'buy one get this' type thing that isn't really free).

I did once find a Snap-on 10mm socket left in the wife's car after it was worked on and I meant to stop by and return it when I was back down that way but then I lost it somehow.
You lost the 10mm socket because it’s a 10mm socket!! :lol:
 

BigLeagueSmoes

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Joined
Feb 10, 2022
Messages
314
Location
Central IL
A few weeks ago I texted my former boss if I could borrow his cordless Milwaukee hammer drill because I don’t have my own and I needed to drill some holes in my brick wall so I could sink some tapcons for my TV mount. Well he said I could but the hammer mechanism was flakey and didn’t always work and that it was on its last leg but I said hey I’ll come pick it up and try it. He also told me he would look for his corded one too (I didn’t know he had a non SDS corded one). I get there and I grab his cordless and go find him kicking around in the tall weeds behind the shop. I ask what he’s looking for and he said he thought he remembered it getting left outside 4-5 years ago and never getting picked up and I thought to myself, “uhhh isn’t that kind of a STUPID place to leave your electric power tools?? And after sitting out for that long how do you expect it to work!?” And low and behold he bends down and pulls this thing out of the weeds, covered in silty dust, rusty, damaged cord, looks like junk. I had worked for him for 3 years and never once saw that corded drill. There is no telling how long that thing was sitting back there. He looks at me and says “if we can get it running, it’s yours”. Ummmm how exactly do you expect that thing to function it’s been in the rain and snow and elements for YEARS. But I humored him and we worked on it. Chuck was completely rusted shut. Soaked it in a cup of liquid wrench and used CRC freeze off on it paired with a pipe wrench. We eventually broke it free but it took some elbow grease and we managed to put a dent in it. We opened up the internals and surprisingly it didn’t look too awful. We lubricated the gears. We cleaned the brushes. We blew out as much loose silt and grass pieces and **** as we could and put it back together. The cord casing was cut open but the wires were in tact so we taped it back up. Plugged it in, crossed our fingers, voila! Ran PERFECTLY. The selector switch still worked for drilling and hammering settings and so did the two speed selector switch. I tested it on a chunk of granite rock with a new bit and it functioned perfectly. I said my thanks, took my free hammer drill home, drilled my holes in the brick, hung my TV, and felt very accomplished. This hammer drill is a beast!

8213A558-62EA-440A-ABA5-F9660D01B8EA.jpeg7E4A4A5B-94DC-4007-B31B-A87D7D01E464.jpeg5AC9FD62-D714-4C13-83B3-FA7F13EC0BFA.jpegFD3C55A9-42D1-4713-8CE8-8EF4E20AFFED.jpeg
 
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