Where to find good used tools?

[redline380]

thanks to this site, i've been on a tool binge for the last couple months. I like name brand stuff, but i hate paying name brand prices. of course i hit up the obvious choices like craigslist and ebay daily, and of course head to the pawn shops around town weekly, but where else are you guys finding good used stuff for cheap? in minnesota, garage sales dont come out until may usually, same goes for swap meets.

 

[Super Sport]

Estate sales and auctions are great. I prefer them to garage sales.

Most of my truck brand stuff I essentially got for free by buying and "parting out" large toolbox lots.

 

[CNGsaves]

If you're near a military base, there are gov liquidation sales where giant lots of tools are periodically sold . . . even some toolboxes. There were a bunch of lots in OKC that were pallet load of end wrenches . . . . like hundreds of pounds of wrenches . . . only wrenches!

You'll have to bird dog these pretty hard to buy at the right time, and there's also a 10% buyer's premium (ie auction fee).

CL is still good source as plenty of guy's needing cash at times.

 

[Davefr]

Every region is different.

IMHO garage sales and private estate sales are decent along with certain flea markets. (hit them early in the g-sale season and right when they start). I do it because it's fun. If you don't like the thrill of the hunt then save your time and gas. It's a number game. You need to hit lots of them to score and lots of scores to reap a harvest.

Pawn shops and professional estates sales are the worst if you want good deals.

CL is a waste of gas and effort most of the time.

Ebay is OK because you save time and gas but you pay higher prices. It may actually be the most cost effective approach if you do the math and place a value on your time.

We don't have too many local auctions here so I can't say.

It's all a tradeoff. Try all of the above.

 

[reptilezs]

i prefer garage sales. less competition. i do go to estate sales but it is competitive unless you want to wait in line which i don't.

 

[Super Sport]

Pawn shops and professional estates sales are the worst if you want good deals.

I've had good luck with estate sales. Most of the companies in my area specialize in collectibles and antiques, they don't know name brand tools.

I do, however, get there before they open and get a number/stand in line if there is or might be some deals I really want. Going late in the day or on the second day can still lead to good deals, but often the best stuff is gone within hours of the sale opening.

 

[redline380]

the thrill of the hunt is indeed an appealing part of the process. i certainly enjoy coming across a good deal, whether i need whatever it is or not. i was just wondering if there is some website or some form of sale that im unaware of.

like i said, garage sales are nonexistent in minnesota during winter for obvious reasons, and same goes for auctions/estate sales. im not a huge fan of pawn shops, but i come across some deals.

 

[Super Sport]

http://www.estatesales.net/estate-sales/MN.aspx

 

[toolstools]

OK, I'll say it. Check the classified on here occasionally. Lots of great guys selling stuff. I've gotten a blue point ratchet for $25, snappy 13/16 wrench for $15, 3 other snap on wrenches for $20, And maybe something else. All prices included shipping. Great guys sell great stuff here all the time. And trust me, no on is going to rip off anyone's money on here. Good thread on what happened to a guy on a 4x4 forum. 20 pages of stuff to read through, it wasn't good. Maybe someone could post the thread.

 

[hemifalcon]

Here's my pic..

Craigslist..
Estate Sales
Garage Sales
Auction
Ebay (yeah--I know..)
and your local classified ads in the paper!!
If you want the good deals, sometimes you'll have to stand in line--I've found over the past year that estate sales are a great way to find things--and waiting in line is part of the game unless you want the leftovers which are usually ****-o-la...

 

[redline380]

OK, I'll say it. Check the classified on here occasionally. Lots of great guys selling stuff. I've gotten a blue point ratchet for $25, snappy 13/16 wrench for $15, 3 other snap on wrenches for $20, And maybe something else. All prices included shipping. Great guys sell great stuff here all the time. And trust me, no on is going to rip off anyone's money on here. Good thread on what happened to a guy on a 4x4 forum. 20 pages of stuff to read through, it wasn't good. Maybe someone could post the thread.

well duh!!! of course ive been checking out the classifieds on here, i just feel like theres some awesome source of good cheap tools that i dont know about

 

[toolstools]

Sorry.. didn't know if you knew or not...

 

[Thunderbisciut]

I get most of my stuff from Ebay. I have gotten many tools that don't appear to ever have been used for less than 1/10 the cost of buying new many many times. Just tonight I got a metric 7-24mm 18pc set of Proto 500 wrenches in like new condition for $120 ($115 for all but 9mm, $5 from another auction for the missing 9mm). Not the best deal I've gotten by a long shot, but pretty good nonetheless. They'll go right next to the 8-19mm Armstrong reversible ratcheting set I got for $66 (which included a 1/2" breaker and speeder), and the Proto ASD satin 5/16 - 15/16 set I got for $50. Deals aplenty if you keep your eyes open.

 

[billymade]

All of the above; I find the best deals at garage sales and the flea market; I've gotten snapon screwdrivers for .50 cents, wrenches for a $1 and ratchets $5... now this doesn't happen every day but it can and does happen! The key is consistency; I actually have developed buying friendship/relationships with the vendors out at the flea that are out there all the time and they have come to know what I want. I tell them what I am looking for and you might even give them your contact info, in case they run across something you want. It really is a **** shoot; I have gone seemingly months with NOTHING; then, WHAM! I will get a day where there is so much tools; that I have to pick and choose what to buy and what I can afford. There is no way to know; when a good day will be but keep looking, you will hit a good day... then, you won't believe what you can find and you will get hit will the addiction that we all seem to share on here.. As noted above; it comes down to time and money; what do you have more of? That will guide you in your process and where you buy your tools. Good luck and keep us posted on your tool search and finds...

 

[redline380]

guess this thread was just out of frustration from having no garage sales/auctions/swap meets. minnesota really ***** during the winter. my tool lust has only recently been aquired. although i did get a good snag last august at a car swap meet. chrome mac metric and chrome matco sae short 3/8s sockets with grey 3/8s deep metric and sae impacts for $80 for everything, including hansen trays. i thought it was a hell of a deal. thats the kind of thing im looking for everyday

 

[BradTx]

Houston's pretty dry when it comes to used tool sales. Most tools listed on Craigslist are construction tools and those at estate sales are normally yard tools. It's fairly hard to find mechanics tools unless it's a few Craftsman wrenches or a full Snap-On box for $3k+.

 

[softailgarage]

I think a lot of it (being luck) is regional. Pawn shops and Estate sales seem to be pretty rewarding for guys in the mid west and east coasts. In So.Cal., most of the Pawn shops and Estate sales I've been too (and thats a lot) the prices aren't much better than a retail stores "sales" prices and selection isn't all that. Craigslist is always decent but I've noticed that the good deals all seem to happen at once after a month or two of nothing but **** up for sale. I'm into vintage tools, toolchests and machinery, so I'm a little more pickier. Some of my better "scores" have come from The Pennysaver magazine. I dont know if they're national but The Pennysaver is a small, coupon and local personal for sale and garage sale postings.. With todays internet, Craigslist, Ebay, etc.,publications like Pennysaver are slowly going away and being supported by the senior community... And they're the ones with the tools! Vintage tools, 1 owner, well maintained and they're not looking to get rich. I've bought 5 Craftsman Table Saws from the 40's & 50's each for less than $65.00 ,good condition and running smoothly. I find that some of best deals come from the Desert areas too. Now that I let out my secret, I guess what I'm tryin to say is keep at it and the "scores" will come in time. You'll figure out what works for ya and wont dont.

 

[crewchief888]

lately, i've found my best deals in the $1 bins at a couple of select pawn shops.

not all pawn shops are created equal

truck brands, vintage SK, sockets, wrenches in good usable condition for next to nothing.

between the pawn shops, flea mkt's (1 in particular), and an thrift/resale store, i've been finding truck branded & SK flare nut wrenches in excellent condition, some unused, for $4-$5 each.

 

[Jsf721]

Where do you look to buy tool box lots of good stuff?

Estate sales and auctions are great. I prefer them to garage sales.

Most of my truck brand stuff I essentially got for free by buying and "parting out" large toolbox lots.

 

[TDLMOMOWERS]

Where I live, there are quite a few thrift stores. I've found some good buys on tools at these stores. The last score was a New Britain tool box with a set of 1/2 drive sockets and a ratchet for 15.00$. There are a lot of people, hurting for money and they are selling stuff they don't need. If you wanted to sell tools, where would you go?

 

[Stuart in MN]

There's not a lot of choice in Minnesota for buying used tools, in my experience. Like you mentioned the garage sale / estate sale / swap meet season doesn't really start until May, and what little I've seen in pawn shops isn't much. I've had the best luck in finding tools at the big car swap meets at the state fairgrounds in St. Paul. The first one of the year is May 5, you can keep track of swap meets and shows here: http://www.autoswalk.com/

 

[unslow1]

I buy at auctions and pawn shops. I have a help me identify thread on here right now. It's in free parking.

 

[sberry]

I am with crew cheif here, if I was going to go that route and its worth it on occasion but wouLd be looking at second tier brand stuff that worked for a buck. If its a hobby its great if you need it fast not always so good.