Swap Meet Deals?

[Patrick123]

Does any one ever get any good deals at swap meets? I have not been to one for years.

 

[balane]

Our Swap Meets are now more like Walmart stores without all the charm.

 

[Hyd.Mechanic18]

Mostly a bunch of new over priced HF tools at the swap meets in my area

 

[Flatintoone]

This year was my third trip to the twice-annual Jefferson, WI swap meet, and the first time the weather was halfway decent. I spent all the money I brought before seeing everything-and still left good stuff behind.

That said, tool vendors at swap meets seem to come in several varieties:
Dealers selling at retail/ebay/collector's prices
Dealers selling new and old stuff at good-to-low prices
Guys with a pile of tools or a beat-up box of tools

 

[Patrick123]

So with 2500 spaces at this one I might can find something it sounds like.

 

[flht1997]

At Iola a few years ago I got a 40' Ford banjo steering wheel for 15$, sold it about an hour later for 120$

 

[Patrick123]

So sounds a lot like the popular local fleemarket. Some pros selling for high prices. But here and there mixed in guys just cleaning out their shops.

 

[Danglerb]

It all depends on your area, local economy past and present, local issues. Here in SoCal OC there are about a dozen swap meets within driving distance, maybe half of those close enough to visit on any kind of regular basis.

Long Beach and LA fairgrounds do big car oriented swap meets every two or three months, and they such for tools. Usually a good amount of top grade tools as well as new Chinese junk, but retail prices. During the hour or so of setup time before the public is let in the tool sellers walk around the buy all the good tools, or make offers that bump the prices up and remove any bargains.

Most of the other swap meets are "Mercado" dept stores by the space selling new cheap merchandise from socks to washing machines, but some have a few tool sellers. Good deals on name tools fairly rare.

I have found a fair amount of decent deals, but dug through a lot of junk. No question the best deals have been from yard sales etc. Estate sales have been almost a total bust for me so far.

 

[Patrick123]

Hmm I do well at yard sales and local estate sales that are run by the family. I am kinda sick might skip the hour and twenty minute drive and 10 miles of walking and just do the garage sales and estate sales. They have been good to me lately

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Last week I picked up this 41" 13 drawer ball bearing for $119. This is one the old good ones from about 1999 or so.

Needed two BB slides, but came home called Husky and they are sending them to me.

 

[Patrick123]

Reminds me wonder how they are for vintage tool boxes. I could use the top boxes for my vintage Mac and Matco bottom boxes.

 

[Patrick123]

Picture finally came up Dave. Looks like a pretty good box for $119

 

[Brad54]

I'm biased, because I run the NE Georgia Swap Meet... but I've gotten some killer deals on tools and shop equipment, my buddies have gotten killer deals on tools and shop equipment, and i sell decent tools at good prices when I come across them.

There's also a lot of stuff I don't need, or think is too high-priced. Just like everywhere else you see used items for sale.

I've gotten so much stuff for my shop over the last few years, I can't even begin to list it all.

Hell, even if you come home empty-handed (and you've really got to work at leaving a swap meet empty handed!), for a couple bucks' entry fee, you get to hang out with your buddies and look at tools, signs and car parts for a day.

-Brad

 

[87Pomona]

Last week I picked up this 41" 13 drawer ball bearing for $119. This is one the old good ones from about 1999 or so.

Needed two BB slides, but came home called Husky and they are sending them to me.

I think I saw that exact box on C-List a few days ago....hmmmm

 

[Patrick123]

True they are fun even if you do not get a lot of stuff. But being sick kinda makes me down on everything haha.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I think I saw that exact box on C-List a few days ago....hmmmm

In SoCal? I did too. Two in one week of this old box. Quite the coincidence. I told my buddy to buy it, as I have no room, but he had no money

 

[87Pomona]

Yeah in SoCal; Inland Empire

 

[RobertMo1988]

i go to most swap meets up in northern california area within a 2 hour driving distance. Recently bought 10 of these key chains for $17 at the sac raceway swap meet, got a decent deal on some buddy seats/tilt too

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have found a few decent items...older US made tools, license plates, that sort of stuff.
There is always going to be the new JUNK as well.

Rob, save me one of those keychains?

 

[DandDMachine]

I have gotten some amazing deals. You need to get there early to get them, and bring cash. Most local swap meets say they start at 8:00 but many will open the doors a little early. Being one of the first in line makes a big difference.
I have driven 5 hours to get to swap meets. They are fun even if you dont get anything. You will have walk past a lot of overpriced stuff but the deals can definately be found. Do your research ahead of time if you can for what you are looking for so you know what to look for, and what to pay.
I bought a Craftsman tool box with some Snap On tools inside for $120. A guy right before me offered him $100 and he wouldnt go any higher. I gave him his asking price asap for it. I parted it out and sold the tools for over $1000, and kept the tool box.

 

[eighthd]

I try to go to the swap here every sat and sunday if I can, You dont know from one day to the next what you will find. A month or two ago I found a baby wilton vise for $3.00 It seems like almost every weekend I come home with some good.

 

[hifi_hokie]

Guess this is more for the NC crew - has anyone had any luck at the State Fairgrounds swap meets?

I haven't been in years, usually for other things - don't wander over to the swap meet area at all.

 

[Patrick123]

Well just back back from the swap meet. First one I had been to for a very long time. Any way lots of walking but got some snapon, mac and plomb tools for a good price. Pictures coming later

 

[Patrick123]

Here are the tools I got today after I decided to go they are older snapon, plomb and mac with a couple of proto things in there. I think it was $22 total.

 

[Jarhead0408]

NC here.
Never gotten a good deal at the fairgrounds. Prices are always sky high.
Thought about swinging by tomorrow after the gun show but had to cancel. Kids are sick.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Well, from an estate sale today. $127.00. And then $8 at the Swap Meet.

Overview of the goods.
<a href="http://imgur.com/pIEHb"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/pIEHb.jpg" alt="" title="Hosted by imgur.com" /></a>

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<a href="http://imgur.com/S0bD7"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/S0bD7.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

<a href="http://imgur.com/Gi9oT"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/Gi9oT.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

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<a href="http://imgur.com/fnurj"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/fnurj.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

<a href="http://imgur.com/iPSmb"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/iPSmb.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

Bin full of hardware
<a href="http://imgur.com/1R293"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/1R293.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

Taps and Dies and endmills, all USA, HSS,
<a href="http://imgur.com/noiKi"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/noiKi.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

<a href="http://imgur.com/gJksn"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/gJksn.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

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<a href="http://imgur.com/IcLp2"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/IcLp2.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

Kennedy Toolbox, swear it's never been used. Looks Brand new inside.
<a href="http://imgur.com/B6SNp"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/B6SNp.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

<a href="http://imgur.com/P6uPh"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/P6uPh.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

Craftsman box with 2 drawers at bottom with lid/cover
<a href="http://imgur.com/eWBH4"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/eWBH4.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

SK box from Swap Meet for $8, it actually cleaned up good just now.
<a href="http://imgur.com/LBVXh"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/LBVXh.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

<a href="http://imgur.com/RrrcC"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/RrrcC.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

So, that was my day.

 

[Exceller8]

Yeah in SoCal; Inland Empire

Yep, great deals to be had here in Banning. Not much HF here, just good used American made tools.

 

[Patrick123]

Nice old boxes etc .

 

[nine4gmc]

real good score Dave, what size is that Superrench?

 

[Flatintoone]

Nice stuff there!

 

[Mohawk Dave]

real good score Dave, what size is that Superrench?

Thanks, The superrench was a 3/4. I got the orange wrap and set (sans the 1 1/4) last weekend for 10 bucks. Wrenches are in dang good condition, the wrap tells history. It needed a good cleaning.

The wrap goes from 5/16 to 1 1/4 (I added the 1 1/4). Does anyone know if it was supposed to start at 1/4 and just go to 1 3/16? Just wondering.

And I had the others which go to 1 1/2. So I just stuck them in there by doubling them up.

And the three at the bottom are duplicates.

Then my drawer of big wrenches...Proto and PRC. And some Oly-Pros Metric 9-32mm I picked up somewhere.

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