Why buy yard sale junk?

[bonneyman]

You gotta kiss alot of toads to find your prince.
One man's trash is another man's treasure.
You've gotta dig alot of dirt in order to find diamonds.

There's probably alot more sayings out there that say the same thing, but you get the picture.
My wife feels the same way. "What thrill do you get out of digging through other people junk?" I tell her, "You just never know what you'll find!" More often than not - way more often - the good stuff I find far outweighs the junk I have to wade through. But it is, shall we say, and "acquired taste".

If nothing else, buy some "junk" and post some pics on the forum. You might be surprised at how many offers you get!

 

[HankMurphy]

I realize finding that old tool for removing antlers from left handed albino jackelopes is cool but alot of it is discount tool brands from pittsburgh, etc.

YOU HAVE THE LEFT-HANDED ALBINO JACKELOPE ANTLER REMOVAL TOOL!?!?!?!?


I'm jealous. I've been looking for that forever now. Is yours 7/16" or 3/8"?

 

[mkdive]

I'm in the (gradual and lengthy) process of replacing every tool in my shop that says: China, Tiawan, Korea with old (or new) tools that say "USA". Not a bad change!

A shiny socket from China vs an old dirty socket that says Plomb or SO? I'll take old and dirty.

I agree....any day! Plomb!!!

Remember, one mans junk, is my complete tool collection.

Good one mickey.

Guys, I realize i'm relatively new here but this question has been bugging me so I figured I'd ask. I see lots of pictures and posts about people all excited about their yard/estate/dead guy/ sale scores and all the stuff they got and how great it is. I look at the pics and am just amazed at what **** it looks like. I realize finding that old tool for removing antlers from left handed albino jackelopes is cool but alot of it is discount tool brands from pittsburgh, etc. They look like they've been living in a junk yard and sprayed with salt water for 10 years. I truly believe in "to each his own" and I mean no disrespect by this but I just didnt get it.

I can respect your opinion. Just not sure you fit in here. Hopefully you see the light someday. I personally like the "hunt" of looking for old tools. The cleaning, restoring is fun to me?!

I found some big old ball peen hammer heads last week, rusted to heck, but thought it would be fun to restore them into a nice usable hammer. Not for antique value, but for use & character. You guys have got me out there sifting the junk and it is a lot of fun, just wish I had more time to do it.

I did the same thing. I have 7-8 ball pien or peen hammer heads I removed rust, removed crappy old handles. And Im in the process of installing all new handles. I will have a nice set of really cool hammers when done.

I appreciate the responses guys and as I said in the original post, I wasnt out to offend anyone. To comment on one post though, I have been "around here" for quite some time I just was slow to start posting. I also have been using my tools to make a living for more than 20 years so tools aren't new to me either nor is their cost. I understand collectors and for them the chase makes all the sense I was just trying to understand the other users. I have learned in my years that people are generallys sensitive if they feel their hobby is being put down and I promise that wasnt the case. Just trying to learn. For me, tools are what I use to make a living as well as support my hobbies, I take pride in my collection but at the end of the day they are very much tools first.

Lets see what you got? Have you posted in the tool box thread yet?

This thread has sure stirred up lots of emotions ... that's why I stay out of the /yard sale/ - /pawn shop/ - /flee market/ threads.

You know I never realized you didint post in those. You just buy new off the truck? I guess I never really noticed a post made by you about buying vintage or old tools. Don't start Merk....that's just more tools for me out there.

 

[Merkava_4]

You know I never realized you didn't post in those. You just buy new off the truck? I guess I never really noticed a post made by you about buying vintage or old tools. Don't start Merk....that's just more tools for me out there.

Some of the "artifacts" I see posted on here put me in mind of scrap metal rather than tools.

 

[Lump]

We're all different in how we think about our tools and equipment, and that's cool. I used to work with a mechanic dude at a Goodyear tire store when I was a kid trying to get started as a professional "wrench" myself. He left the industry to go to work in the fast-food industry (managing a Taco Bell). When I happened to meet him working at his food store one day, he asked me if I knew anyone who wanted his tools. He wanted to sell EVERY tool he owned, 'cause he never wanted to turn a wrench again. To him, they were only utility devices to be used in pursuit of a paycheck, and when he left that field, he wanted rid of them ALL. Of course I wanted them, but could not afford. But later when I too stopped wrenching for a living...my tools, and my Dad's tools, grandfather's tools, and great-grandfather's tools became precious family treasures which I still enjoy using on my car hobby and my home garage. But over the years I have not been able to justify prices like $179 for a single set of sockets, when they no longer are used to make me a living. So I have ended up with way too many Chino tools. Now, I plan to replace all of those with rapidly-disappearing USA-made quality tools, and I want to match the rest of my vintage tools in my various sets. Along the way I enjoy buying most any old top-quality USA-made tools if I get a super-bargain price. Hopefully I can sell a very few of these to help defray my costs. A couple weeks ago I posted pix of 599 sockets I had bought for just over $40 total. There were Mac, Snap On, Cornwell, Plomb, Proto, Craftsman, and loads of others. If my math serves me correctly, that's less than 2 cents apiece. Some of them turned out to be junk, and I'll throw or give them away. I'll sell a few, but I won't get rich. This activity makes me happy. Others should do it their own way.

 

[Fedwrench]

I agree somewhat with the original post. Really, how many rusty open end wrenches do you want? I know, one or two of every size,classic brand, length and possible variation, etc. I also agree that sometimes it's more about the quest for tool gold, the bargain of all bargains, the snap on this or that, or that magical wrench that isn't made any more that has fasteners loosen just by showing them the wrench..
The bottom line is that you guys should buy what you want and have fun doing it. It doesn't have to make sense to anyone else.

 

[G1K]

This was a "rusty piece of junk" when I picked it up:

Now not so much:

The machine had paid for itself several times over including my labor in the restoration.

R

 

[Mickey O]

This was a "rusty piece of junk" when I picked it up:

Now not so much:

The machine had paid for itself several times over including my labor in the restoration.

R

Beautiful job.

​

 

[mkdive]

Nice job G1K!!

 

[Walterchang]

It's a hobby. People will always need tools unlike beanie babies. Also it is a far more economical way to buy good tools. I have been phasing out any **** in my box, they go into the junk box. I just bought a dewalt 18v hammer drill for $30 kinda beat up but it works and is way cheaper than new. I once bought a Dewalt impact driver for $15. The guy said it didn't work, I put a charged battery in it and presto it worked!

 

[arkangel06]

G1k thats an awesome looking lathe!

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

Some of the "artifacts" I see posted on here put me in mind of scrap metal rather than tools.

My sentiments exactly...

 

[bonneyman]

Nice job G1K!!

Right on!

 

[Teken]

This was a "rusty piece of junk" when I picked it up:

Now not so much:

The machine had paid for itself several times over including my labor in the restoration.

R

Geeeeeeeeeeeeese!

 

[Mickey O]

Geeeeeeeeeeeeese!

2 day project.

 

[woody 73]

Hi,

I can not speak for the other members, but for me it is the thrill of seeing old tools that I have never seen before.Just this week I bought a Bonney speeder from a member that lives only 30 miles from me,I have never seen one that is somewhat different then the usual speeders.

I think it is the thrill of finding that elusive old tool,so that I can care for it and then pass it on to the next generation.

Yes I do see a lot of peoples junk,but I keep moving on,it is all in the hunt that makes it fun.

Hope this helps you out.

 

[HankMurphy]

Really, how many rusty open end wrenches do you want?

How many have you got? )

 

[Wrenchette]

but yard sale junk is the best!!

 

[Bull]

I enjoy the hunt. Other than needing a pocket full of cash, it is drop-dead simple to walk onto a tool truck or into a tool store and buy some new chrome wrench or ratchet. Yay.

But, to have to wake up early in the morning, savor a coffee as you anticipate the day's hunt and hopefully haul, then wander around and sort through boxes of detritus, interact with colorful characters, and finally to return home with dirty, neglected, tarnished, rusty tools is a whole experience.

For me, taking a dirty, corroded tool and making it look clean and presentable again is fun. We can't as humans reverse what the ravages of time does to our bodies, but often we can make a neglected tool twice as old as ourselves look young and fresh again.

That's powerful stuff right there.

 

[cheap bastard]

The hunt, the find, the interesting folks one can meet, the old freinds that I see and the time spent with my lady are the real resons to frequent sales, auctions and flea markets. The great deals are just something to brag about, like the 10mm- 19mm stubby Snap-On wrench set I got for $10 last May. The $125 American made Milwaukee Port-a-Band that had very little use was a good deal about 5 weeks ago, too. Oh yeah, the same guy sold me 7 Wilton clamps for $10 or so. They were 7 and 10 inch units.

 

[Rickster]

The good stuff is out there, you just need to be patient and search for it.