Sometimes we just get lucky...

[smschriefer]

On Saturday I saw two garage sales that interested me - one listed as a tool sale and one as an all house sale to include tools in the shed. I opted for the tool sale as it seemed more promising. I should have known better, the prices were high and I only bought two items. A hold down for the table saw and an adapter to run my RAS as a router/shaper. For $10, I was okay with it. They were both new in the box and coated in the original packing grease.

 

[smschriefer]

Oh, you saw the wrenches in the last picture? Yeah, I got those at the second place. It was where I should have gone first. Tons of stuff and sadly - no time for me to do a complete search. The wrenches are a set of SAE Proto Professional wrenches. I got them for $10. Anyone know how to tell their age? BTW, that isn't rust on the wrenches. They sat in a puddle of old 2 stroke fuel and that is just varnish. It should clean up easily.

 

[smschriefer]

I also found a set of older Craftsman chisels - $5.

 

[smschriefer]

Still not impressed? I got this assortment of ratchets for $5 total for the lot of them. All work just fine.

 

[smschriefer]

So I spent $30 and I then spotted a rust old hunk of arn hiding on a shelf. I moved things aside and found a vise hidden from prying eyes. It was a Wilton Bullet 3" jaw 9300 series. I got really excited, but then got sad as it was frozen solid with rust. The lady told me to take it and an old Craftsman drill for free. Yeah, I took them!

It sat since hurricane Isabell had submerged it in 4ft of water years ago. I figured I would try to fix it.

 

[smschriefer]

I took it home and submerged it in vinegar while I went about my weekend duties of family duties. Long story short, I was able to disassemble it Sunday, wire wheel off all the rust, prep it, clean it and then paint it. I think it looks good.

 

[toolchaser]

Let me be the first to give you a "You **** Award"! BTW that Wilton will free up there are numerous post on here about locked up Wiltons

 

[cowboy73]

YOU ****! Awesome scores.

 

[Cameronl]

Great Googly Moogly! Nice. I hear a tremendous sucking sound...

 

[smschriefer]

Let me be the first to give you a "You **** Award"! BTW that Wilton will free up there are numerous post on here about locked up Wiltons

Thanks. I got it to break on Sunday morning. It ended up only being 1/4" or so that was rusted on the screw. The grease preserved the rest. So it runs through with no issues now. The only issue I had was with the "c" washer (no idea of the proper name) that holds the screw in the vise. One of the screws wouldn't budge and I had to drill it out. That is the last thing I have to fix. I will get that done today.

 

[north]

Congrats. You ****. Big time.

 

[sooperdave]

Good for you!! Great score

 

[woody 73]

Sometimes if I can see a person has no clue as to the value I will give them a more money; so that I can sleep better at night....

 

[jeffmoss26]

Wow!!!

 

[smschriefer]

Sometimes if I can see a person has no clue as to the value I will give them a more money; so that I can sleep better at night....

I completely agree with you. Sadly, in this instance they just wanted the stuff gone. They weren't interested in the money aspect. They told me that they sold a two piece Craftsman tool chest for $20 right before I got there. It was an old set - rounded corners and full of tools from the same era. I told them they could have gotten $100's for what they sold. Their reply was they were happy they didn't have to run it to the scrap yard. I have no idea why they were so pressed to sell everything in one day. Sad on all counts.

 

[cj7365]

Great amount of SUCKAGE, did you get the vice unfrozen

 

[jtbinvalrico]

Pics of the free drill?

 

[allinon72]

We need to have Obama go to your house and redistribute the wealth. YOU ****

 

[lbgradwell]

Awesome scores!

 

[davesnothere]

Yowza.

 

[larry_g]

As for the Proto wrenches I have a similar set that I bought in 1970. Good tools. If your passing it on let me know.

Thanks
lg
no neat sig line

 

[Travisnd]

If you want to sell the Craftsman V selector ratchet, let me know!

 

[Outlawmws]

"Thou suckith!"

 

[lowbucktruck]

Wow! Mega-score! I mean, come on now... who sells several ratchets for $5 bucks???
And the Wilton vise was some serious good karma... great that you were able to get it freed. The Wilton sure cleaned up nice!

 

[smschriefer]

Pics of the free drill?

Sorry, I forgot to post the pic of it. It is a Craftsman '60'. Not the best drill for the time, but I love the aluminum bodied tools. It was submerged in saltwater and I haven't opened up the motor yet. It is seized tight, but I was able to get the chuck cleaned up and operating. I guess there is hope for the remainder as well. If not, I will use it for parts.

 

[bcradio]

I'm impressed with the tool score, but not nearly as much as the fact that you were able to do a complete vise restore in a day (including painting). Holy cow that's good.

 

[LawnDart79]

A free Wilton vise...HOLY HELL!!!!!!!

 

[5lima30]

You ****!

 

[earlthegoat2]

Might be a good contender for the "You **** of the Year" award.

 

[twincam00]

[deleted]

 

[JeremyManning]

Nice scores, great job on the vise resto and I also noticed the vintage license plates in the background, wish I had one of those on my wall

 

[Gregster]

That vise is the deal of the century!

 

[Talus]

I was going to stop hitting up tag/estate sales because I didn't find anything. Now I definitely need to.

 

[simplec6]

You are one big son of a B. That is a helluva score buddy.

 

[B17E1943]

You most DEFINITELY ****!

I was going to stop hitting up tag/estate sales because I didn't find anything. Now I definitely need to.

You only gotta hit the jackpot once to get the juices flowing.

 

[kb2tha]

I'll take that flex head ratchet off your hands for you. It won't be any good to you with a bent handle Nice score on everything. All great quality tools there.

 

[gatewaysysop]

Good lord man, you definitely sucketh! What a score!

 

[smschriefer]

Thanks for all the kind words. I left a message for the family to contact me if they had anything left. I got an email that they had donated it all to charity. They said most of the tools were still there. Bums me out to hear that. They wouldn't say what charity they gave it to. There were three more vises, I know one was a newer Wilton, a Columbian, and another one that I didn't see a name on. I could kick myself for not getting them, but I didn't think I would get the Bullet rebuilt as easily as I did.

 

[jamesemery728]

Holy cow, did that seller have a seeing eye dog or what?

 

[WNYflyer]

Holy Moly..........Great score .

I would have had to consciously told myself to slow down to keep myself from running to the car. I would have been worried that I didn't hear them right and they were going to change there minds !!.

Major Suckage.