Mega pawn shop crawl - need some help/info/suggestions

[WR250F]

A couple of friends and I get together once every few months and make a pawn shop crawl out of a weekend.

In the past, we've found some interesting stuff, some incredible bargains, some way over-priced junk and in general had a great time. Stop for a good burger or some good BBQ and hit the next one.

As of late, I'm trying to rebuild a decent set of tools. I'm not a tool collector, I don't have the time, or knowledge. Since we're going to hit maybe 30-40 pawn shops this weekend, I'm going to scour the tool bins in search of a decent array of SAE wrenches and try and put together a decent socket set or two.

I expect the bins of tools to be filled with chicom junk and probably won't find a matching set of anything. I am going to use the tools I come up with as my truck tools.

I stopped in a pawn shop near the house this afternoon and found a plethora of wrenches and sockets available for sale. I know the chinese stuff is mostly ****, and anything marked WalMart (wrench sets ?) is probably **** too.

I saw several Proto, S-K and one or two SnapOn's in fairly bad shape all marked at $5 and up. I saw a bunch of different brands including Buffalo, Gedore, Performance Products, GoodWrench, Allen, Warner, OEM, Kobalt and Husky.

I also saw several different Craftsman wrenches. Some appeared to be better made than others, but all were marked USA. Some marked V, some marked VA etc..

We start the crawl Saturday morning at 6:00 am with breakfast, then hit it until the pawn shops are closed for the day. Sunday we will do the same from 8:00 am or so until they all close up.

I know Proto, Snap On and Craftsman etc. are probably all decent wrenches, but of others, which ones should I look for, which ones should I avoid ?

What brand wrenches are good quality and what isn't worth looking at ? I'm assuming anything china, india or taiwan is a definite pass.

Thanks for the help

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Mac, Matco, Cornwell, Indestro, Wright, S-K, are good US brands. If you're lucky you may find some Plomb tools as well. For wrenches, I wouldn't pay more than $2-3 at the most for them, unless they're larger sized....3/4" and up. Craftsman are okay, but the above brands are preferred over them IMO.

Don't write off anything foreign made necessarily. There is some good stuff made in Japan and Taiwan...you just have to look at the tools and trust your own judgement.

 

[muddyjoe15]

Mac, Matco, Cornwell, Indestro, Wright, S-K, are good US brands. If you're lucky you may find some Plomb tools as well. For wrenches, I wouldn't pay more than $2-3 at the most for them, unless they're larger sized....3/4" and up. Craftsman are okay, but the above brands are preferred over them IMO.

Don't write off anything foreign made necessarily. There is some good stuff made in Japan and Taiwan...you just have to look at the tools and trust your own judgement.

^^^pretty much sums it up real good!

 

[AL`]

JH Williams is another good brand. Since Snapon bought them, some of their stuff is now Taiwan, but still stuff made in the USA too. I think you pretty much have the list of good stuff to look out for. Just be sure the condition is good. A great brand tool that's totally worn out isn't a good buy. So look over the sockets, boxends, etc. Put the ratchet's through their paces. Inspect screwdriver tips, etc. Sounds like fun and hope you score some sweet finds. KD Tools is another decent brand, although they went offshore some time ago.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Also Fleet, None Better, Hinsdale, Bonney, Herbrand, and Thorsen. I'm sure I'm still missing some...

 

[Borrego]

Bottom line: look for USA tools. Some brands, such as the ones you mentioned, are on everyone's radar and are priced accordingly. Other quality brands are not as well known like Williams and Bonney and will be very affordable. The quality is there, just not the popularity. That's fine with me, especially if it cost me fewer dollars out of my wallet........If a tool was well made 30, 40, even 50 years ago and is still in decent condition, that speaks volume about the quality.
Another brand that just came to mind: Challenger (made by Proto), VLcheck is a solid brand as well.
Beware of brands that were once made inthe USA, such as Stanley, which are now mostly produced overseas and imported. On sockets, where it was made should be indicated. Kobalt and Husky are associated with Lowe's and Home Depot, respectively. Not terrible quality, not the greatest, either.

As a pawn shop veteran, you know the price on a tool is just a starting point......Good luck.

 

[Pukeballs]

Don't forget Armstrong.

 

[ibedayank]

Mac, Matco, Cornwell, Indestro, Wright, S-K, are good US brands. If you're lucky you may find some Plomb tools as well. For wrenches, I wouldn't pay more than $2-3 at the most for them, unless they're larger sized....3/4" and up. Craftsman are okay, but the above brands are preferred over them IMO.

Don't write off anything foreign made necessarily. There is some good stuff made in Japan and Taiwan...you just have to look at the tools and trust your own judgement.

you forgot proto
JH WILLIAMS
snap-on
blackhawk
armstrong usa stamped
craftsman pro with the tiny K stamped in them on the back side usa made of course

johndeer stamped
Caterpillar stamped Cat

 

[woody 73]

Allen
Billings
Blackhawk
Crescent
Mossberg
Herbrand
P&C\Utica
Wright
Walden
Thorsen

Hey my mind is old maybe some moreout there, I am unable to think of at this time!

 

[lwlobo]

Also keep an eye out for european tools brands. Sometimes you find them thrown in with the cheap import stuff.

Facom, Stahwille, Geodore, Knipex, Wera, Wiha, Hazet, and others.

Most stuff made in USA, Europe, or Japan is good. Combine COO with common sense and how the tool looks and feels, then negotiate, and you'll come out very well.

 

[Packard V8]

You didn't ask for this advice, but IMHO, your time would be better spent hitting the same number of estate sales, garage sales, thrift stores and craigslist sellers.

The only reason I go to pawn shops anymore is to keep current on the used retail pricing structure. That way, when I see tools at an estate sale, I'll know just how good a bargain.

jack vines

 

[64merc]

You didn't ask for this advice, but IMHO, your time would be better spent hitting the same number of estate sales, garage sales, thrift stores and craigslist sellers.

The only reason I go to pawn shops anymore is to keep current on the used retail pricing structure. That way, when I see tools at an estate sale, I'll know just how good a bargain.

jack vines

Yup, I'm going to have to agree. I used to find good deals at pawn shops but lately I have pretty much stopped going. For whatever reason, I'm walking out empty handed more times than not.

 

[Even 11]

Sounds like a fun weekend. I was kinda thinking about doing the same. Are your pawn shops open on Sunday? I guess its against the law around here for some reason.

-Dane

 

[WR250F]

Yes, they are open on Sunday, a couple are open 24hrs, but I can tell you, they attract some shady characters.

We started the crawl this afternoon and I scored a Snap On torque wrench for $100 OTD

I will do the CL/Estate sale thing, and thank you for the suggestion, I hadn't considered that.

In the region we are hitting tomorrow, there are areas clustered with pawn shops, so it is relatively easy to hit several in a short time. We're all looking for different things, so it makes for an easy trip and a fun way to burn a weekend every now and again.

More than anything, it just three long time buds hanging out together, eating good and (maybe) not spending any significant amount of cash.

If we trip across a great deal, then that's just icing on the cake. If not, then we tried and had a good time doing it.

So far, I'm hoping I can piece together a set of SAE wrenches and sockets to use in a pinch, that I wouldn't cry too much if they got lost or stolen - read CHEAP !

For my main stuff at home, I use a little better grade stuff, but with the ever present risk of some idiot breaking into my truck and cleaning me out, cheap and/or mismatched will work fine, as long as it isn't total junk.

Plus, tomorrow is all you can eat day at a local BBQ joint, so we're going to tear that up in fine form

 

[Even 11]

Yes, they are open on Sunday, a couple are open 24hrs, but I can tell you, they attract some shady characters.

Wow, never heard of that! Where are you located?

More than anything, it just three long time buds hanging out together, eating good and (maybe) not spending any significant amount of cash.

If we trip across a great deal, then that's just icing on the cake. If not, then we tried and had a good time doing it.

That part sounds better than any of it!

Plus, tomorrow is all you can eat day at a local BBQ joint, so we're going to tear that up in fine form

That part sounds pretty good too!

-Dane

+3 Char

 

[WR250F]

90 miles outside Dallas

This isn't pay day weekend for a lot of folks, so, we're thinking there may be some good stuff available at least in a couple places.

We've found the best time to hit shops is the weekend before the end of the month, but this is the only time we can all get together and make it work.

The absolute best time ever to hit a pawn shop is in January, from the 10-14th or so. Lots of people pawn stuff for Christmas money and don't pick it up before it goes up for sale.

During this time, the pawn shops are full to the rafters with stuff

For now, just trying to trip across something before payday hits and people clear out all the good stuff (as good as pawn shops stuff can be anyway).

 

[ForceFed70]

Next time might I reccomend a garage/yard/estate sale crawl? You'll find much sweeter deals and nicer people ta boot.

 

[BFBOB]

I've got to relate my one pawn shop score: A McCullough electric chain saw. No, they're not toys any more. This one was sitting on a "Broken - As Is - No Refund" table. Marked $5. Took a quick peek; the chain and bar looked nearly new. They would fit my gas saws.
So, I beat feet for home. Plugged it in, hit the trigger and ZOOM! Works perfectly.

Oh, yeah, did I mention the safety switch? In my quick peek I noticed the handguard operated safety was tripped.

The point is, as others have advised, if you do your homework, you may just know what you're seeing when others don't. Happy hunting!