Picker "go-bag" kit

[twertsy]

Ok, y'all might remember (or not) from the 2015 Garage Sale thread and my "warning order" that Beatcad and I have what could turn out to be the pick of a lifetime on Sunday morning. For those who haven't read those posts, we have 4 unmolested outbuildings (and a purported "houseful of tools") with "piles of tools everywhere" from a deceased elderly gentleman to pick through on Sunday and we are "supposedly" the first ones in the toolsheds, the house has been picked.

I'm (we) trying to put together a "go bag" that will ensure we have covered most contingencies. For example, a vise, grinder, anvil bolted to some kind of base. A wall hanging bin, or sign bolted/screwed/nailed to a wall, upper/lower toolboxes that need to be separated, etc.

So, with that in mind, I have a plethora of tool bags from previous purchases to choose from, and I've chose the Milwaukee Tool Bag from a Grinder purchase. Not huge, not small, but should suffice. I don't want to overload the truck with tools (not ones I brought anyway) but want to insure we can address any needs that may arise. Here's what we have so far:

2 hammers (claw)
2 sets of wrenches - 7/16 - 3/4"
1/2" drive impact, with 7/16 - 3/4" impact sockets + 2 batteries (Sadly, I don't have 3/8 drive impact sockets............which will be addressed in short order!)
2 magnifying glasses
4 flashlights w/extra batteries for each
4x flathead, 4x Philips screwdrivers
2x Mayhew prybars - 1 small(ish), 1 medium (to fit in go-bag)
1x can of brake cleaner, with about 20 shop rags
2x emery cloth
1 small and 1 large wire brush
1 small, 1 medium, 1 large pairs of pliers
1 plierswrench
1 pair medium Knipex nips
Full sets of Allen wrenches (1 mm/1 SAE)

Without bringing my body cart, rotisserie, cherry-picker, compressor, etc.........Can you help us think of what we might be lacking? Not sure about Beatcad, but this is my first "major" picking experience, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.......

 

[NJ Marty]

I have needed a hacksaw a few times and when one is not around when you need it, it really *****. Good luck on the pic.

 

[xtremek]

Visegrips, cresent wrenches and a 5'-6' prybar and a small bottle jack?

 

[warmpancakes]

Cash? Extension cords and a work light. The ones on the poles

 

[twertsy]

Ok, thanks for the responses thus far. Cash? Really? Never thought of that

In terms of the hack saw, vice grips, etc...........I put the Fuel grinder in, and I think the pliers wrench covers "vice grips," in my opinion anyway. As far as the shop lights on long poles...............we'll just climb with flashlights for that one. Bottle Jack? For what? I'm bringing a sturdy dolly, which again should suffice.

 

[jakemac]

A tape measure to measure how wide the doors are for moving things out.
A handtruck or dolly for moving heavy pieces.
Work gloves for digging through the piles.
Bags and boxes to carry things home in.

 

[xtremek]

Bottle jack in case you need to move something heavy. Jack it up, put rollers (fence posts, pipe, etc) under it and move it with the 5'-6' bar.

 

[jeremy v]

dust/rat feces mask.

 

[xtremek]

Vise grips would also double as clamps, just in case. And by heavy, I mean something closing in on the 1k mark.

 

[xtremek]

Post pics of your haul. Are you taking a trailer?

 

[jeremy v]

If you have one you might want to bring a headlamp in addition to the regular flashlights. Having to hold a flashlight in your hand while picking can get tedious quick.

If you are looking at anything with a motor, bringing an extra fully charged car battery might be nice.

Also, if the whole world works like American Pickers you can't leave home without a coin for flipping to agree on a final price.

 

[twertsy]

xtremek, Beatcad and I discussed taking a trailer at length. I spoke with the lady for about 40 minutes on the phone, she's a real sweetheart, and I'm not joking around on that point. We decided that, should there be anything that doesn't fit in the Raptor, I'd trust her to hold it for us for a couple days. I certainly didn't want to seem overbearing and show up with my 20' enclosed 'en-tow, and further, we simply decided we could fit a couple tool boxes and a ton of tools in just my truck. We'll go straight back to there on Monday if we have to in order to pick up any stragglers!!!

 

[twertsy]

If you have any you might want to bring a headlamp in addition to the regular flashlights. Having to hold a flashlight in your hand while picking can get tedious quick.

NICE!!!! Just threw a couple in!! Great catch!

 

[Thumper68]

Kind of a no brainer but cordless drill/driver and bits

 

[jeremy v]

You might want to bring several 5 gallon buckets to slowly fill with all the small stuff you find.

Also a pair of bolt cutters might be nice just in case there is a side room with a padlock on it, a locked cabinet without a key, etc.

 

[twertsy]

You might want to bring several 5 gallon buckets to slowly fill with all the small stuff you find.

Also a pair of bolt cutters might be nice just in case there is a side room with a padlock on it, a locked cabinet without a key, etc.

Yup, got a couple, and a couple storage bins. Good call though!

 

[jeremy v]

In addition to a socket set for your impact you should probably bring some 8pt sockets, because square headed bolts/wood lags are quite common on old stuff. You don't want to be unscrewing multiple 3" long square headed wood lags threaded into old growth timber with a pliers wrench or open end wrench.

 

[WhoWhatNow]

I second 8-pt sockets. Invaluable when removing square head bolts. Cordless ratchet, a bunch of the HF dollys, and bungee cords.

 

[twertsy]

Damn Jeremy, why don't you just fly on out and come with us?!

 

[twertsy]

I second 8-pt sockets. Invaluable when removing square head bolts. Cordless ratchet, a bunch of the HF dollys, and bungee cords.

They are now in the bulging and completely stuffed bag!

 

[jeremy v]

Damn Jeremy, why don't you just fly on out and come with us?!

Haha. I would love to, believe me. There aren't many picking gold mines on the west coast, but I think I need to stay here in Seattle to critique the football inflation levels on Sunday.

You might want to bring some PB blaster or liquid wrench.

If there is anything engine related maybe a can of starting fluid.

 

[nahuebsch82]

I have learned a bit going to pick-and-pull's so here is my 2 cents;

1)Gloves
2)Something on the lines of the Knipex 8" bolt cutters or good wire cutters
3)Cresent wrecnch or the Knipex pliers wrench
4)Small set of ratcheting wrenches 3/8-3/4 should be ok
5)3/8 ratchet and a universal socket set
6)Hammer
7)Head lamp and flash light
8)A couple pry bars
9)Bit driver with slotted/phillips/torx bits
10)Water always bring water or gatorade

 

[bigcaddy]

Ok, y'all might remember (or not) from the 2015 Garage Sale thread and my "warning order" that Beatcad and I have what could turn out to be the pick of a lifetime on Sunday morning. For those who haven't read those posts, we have 4 unmolested outbuildings (and a purported "houseful of tools") with "piles of tools everywhere" from a deceased elderly gentleman to pick through on Sunday and we are "supposedly" the first ones in the toolsheds, the house has been picked.

I'm (we) trying to put together a "go bag" that will ensure we have covered most contingencies. For example, a vise, grinder, anvil bolted to some kind of base. A wall hanging bin, or sign bolted/screwed/nailed to a wall, upper/lower toolboxes that need to be separated, etc.

So, with that in mind, I have a plethora of tool bags from previous purchases to choose from, and I've chose the Milwaukee Tool Bag from a Grinder purchase. Not huge, not small, but should suffice. I don't want to overload the truck with tools (not ones I brought anyway) but want to insure we can address any needs that may arise. Here's what we have so far:

2 hammers (claw)
2 sets of wrenches - 7/16 - 3/4"
1/2" drive impact, with 7/16 - 3/4" impact sockets + 2 batteries (Sadly, I don't have 3/8 drive impact sockets............which will be addressed in short order!)
2 magnifying glasses
4 flashlights w/extra batteries for each
4x flathead, 4x Philips screwdrivers
2x Mayhew prybars - 1 small(ish), 1 medium (to fit in go-bag)
1x can of brake cleaner, with about 20 shop rags
2x emery cloth
1 small and 1 large wire brush
1 small, 1 medium, 1 large pairs of pliers
1 plierswrench
1 pair medium Knipex nips
Full sets of Allen wrenches (1 mm/1 SAE)

Without bringing my body cart, rotisserie, cherry-picker, compressor, etc.........Can you help us think of what we might be lacking? Not sure about Beatcad, but this is my first "major" picking experience, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.......

You might be overdoing it a bit but there is nothing wrong with being prepared. I usually carry a flashlight and a bag to put my haul in. As,for tools, I leave them in the car and try to use what's handy unless there is nothing.

I've actualy had estate companies accuse me of stealing a crescent wrench with my name engraved so I avoid the hassle

The only thing I can think of that you don't have is a magnet. Good for telling if something is steel or non ferrous and on a string can fish out dropped screws or tools

 

[twertsy]

Haha. I would love to, believe me. There are very few picker gold mines on the west coast, but I think I need to stay here in Seattle to critique the football inflation levels on Sunday.

You might want to bring some PB blaster or liquid wrench.

If there is anything engine related maybe a can of starting fluid.

Damn dude, almost fell out of my chair..........inflation level complaints may be your only savior............(I'm not a fan of either, nor the NFL at all for that matter, I'm an NCAA type guy) but, good luck!!

 

[twertsy]

All right all, leaving my shop in about 15 minutes and I CANNOT come back before we go on our pic on Sunday (little one's Bday tomorrow). So please, if you see anything we missed, speak accordingly!!!

 

[jeremy v]

Handi-wipes and safety glasses? Other than that I am now empty.

Good luck, and have fun.

 

[twertsy]

Got 'em both..............I'm outta here! We'll probably start a new thread while on our pick (depending on whether or not it's worth it) as we go. Love this ****!@!@

 

[dngrmse]

what about a cordless sawzall? good luck

 

[twertsy]

Ya, don't have a cordless sawzall. Oh well, I'm sure we have at least the function covered....

 

[tedsters]

now you need a kids wagon to tow all your tools around...lol

 

[Smokeshow69]

l always have sets of disposable nitrile work gloves in my car and you should probably bring some ratchet straps and cardboard/blankets/tarps to cover your finds.

 

[southalabama]

Cellphone or camera to document the event and to make the rest of us jealous.

Plenty of flashlight batteries

 

[RedRabbit]

Portable phone charger with cord. You might be out for a while.

 

[beatcad]

i love you guys
twertsy and i were chating on the phone around the time he posted this question.
a bunch of the items i told him we may need have been suggested by you guys.
i think were covered...maybe.
i've not been on a bunch of tool hunts, but i've been on hundreds of car/motorcycle/bicycle hunts.
the 2 suggestions i wouldnt have thought of is the bottle jack and the dust mask.
both great ideas.
my other idea that i put aside to put in my pocket will be a few pads of steel wool. if some tools are rusty a few swipes will show if it's a keeper or not.

 

[Danglerb]

Camera and something to tag items you want to buy or bought, 2" painters tape and a marker. Maybe a lock if you want to claim the contents of some whole room and can't take it with you.

 

[oak_park]

I'm probably too late, but the number 1 item Twersty should bring to a big pick/estate sale is pre-printed "SOLD to TWERTSY" stickers that he can slap on any item he wants to buy.

 

[bluebolt]

I didn't see a chisel. I always have a Craftsman plastic socket box in the truck with 1/4-3/8-1/2 sockets and some added wrenches, vise grips, wire brush that gets most stuff done and then the big Craftsman 4 drawer toolbox with bigger and specialized stuff.

 

[Outlawmws]

If you have one you might want to bring a headlamp in addition to the regular flashlights. Having to hold a flashlight in your hand while picking can get tedious quick.

If you are looking at anything with a motor, bringing an extra fully charged car battery might be nice.

Also, if the whole world works like American Pickers you can't leave home without a coin for flipping to agree on a final price.

NICE!!!! Just threw a couple in!! Great catch!

I may be a bit late, and I think you are actually covered quite well, however, for light I always carry a single AA LED flashlight (small so you can hold it in your mouth or get it in a nook or cranny, and it takes almost no space.

Instead of a head lamp, a baseball cap with the LEDS in the brim. You don't really need an aircraft landing light for digging in a barn or basement or unlit garage cabinet.

90% of the time the tools I need to dismount something is right there.

A pocket knife you don't care about for scraping crud...

a key chain 3' tape measure, for measuring something you think might be good but are not sure of the size...

I keep a tiny folding pocket magnifier since the eyes ain't what they used to be...

Lastly a 4" Crescent, It's in my pocket so its handy and 90 % of the time it's all I need.

Some of this is duplicate, but it's all in my pockets not a tool box in my rig. going back for tools can sometimes cost you the item, (unless you have already paid for it..)

Good luck! I wish I were going with you!

 

[twertsy]

The go bag will stay in the truck until/unless we need it. Good news is that this is not a traditional "estate sale," we will be the only ones there so tagging items won't be necessary.....unless beatcad and I are fighting over items! Officially 24 to pick kick off

 

[CNGsaves]

Hope you brought plenty of ratchet straps to secure the goodies for the transport home. Another handy thing to have for long transports are pieces of cardboard or foam to protect items rattling together in pickup bed if you really have the loot packed in tight !! Good luck.