Short version: Went to a sale, found some tools. I’m happy.
Long version: How good does it feel to score some tools on the cheap?
It feels good. After many years, it feels even better.
Facebook marketplace and sundry buy/sell/trade groups are always fun, and so
very accessible from the couch, but we all know that the deals come from farther
up the stream.
A family was finally ready to let go of dad’s stuff, one year after he passed. I
don’t blame em. When it’s time, it’s time.
So the sale was posted on a FB group with the standard siren song. “Dad had lots
of tools”, “30 years a general contractor”
I messaged her with a few pictures of what I already knew I wanted to buy. Asked
her if she took forms of electronic payment that would allow me to pre-pay.
She wrote back pleasantly, and agreed to set em aside for me.
One 6 x 12in tub had ALL manner of punches and nailsets and cat paws. They
wanted $1 each for large ones, 50c each for small ones. Another tub had a bunch
of chisels. Too poor of a picture to go on.
I ended up awake at 6:30 this morning and decided to drive down (25min). That
would allow me to peruse the entire garage.
It was a very pleasant experience for me. Literally my first garage sale to walk
through in at least five years. Felt good. My darting eyes were still tuned,
still discerning.
I started the pile.
Always looking for mid carbon steel to heat and beat, so ALL the large punches
were mine. Then I heard from the cashier’s corner, “You can always make an
offer, the prices aren’t fixed.”
Lady, I love you.
I didn’t say it, but I thought it.
So I grabbed a pile of 20 small and mid size punches, drift pins, nailsets,
centerpunches, and cats paws. What’s this? A small leatherworking texturing
tool. Yes. $8 for this pile? Yes.
The tub full of chisels was a complete bust. Nothing caught my eye.
The tables were next. Everything was a dollar. Nice swiveling oil filter wrench
for my truck. Yes. Old and heavy and large Vise Grip brand Vise grip. Yes. Beefy
8in C clamps. Yesx2. Very large sharpening steel. Yes. A robust leather
punch/plier with the rotating punch wheel? $1 yes.
I’d be curious as to what all of you would put in your “I have a Lifetime Supply
already” list.
I mean clearly we all generally have that in tools, many times over, but what
about consumables? Do you get the same feeling I do when (at 49 years old) I
make a mental note, “This will be the last time I’ll need to buy (this
consumable), cause I won’t live long enough to use it up.”
Today, for $1.50, I did that with a gallon ziploc of electrical twist
connectors. Big and small. Winged and not. I’m set for life now. Never need to
think on it again. Done.
Dozens of toolboxes below the tables. Mostly plastic, but for $5! I think not.
What have we here? A white box that says, “hollow punch set” next to the $1
sticker. At this point other leatherworking tools did not surprise me. They were
sprinkled around. Yes to those 6 punches. (17cents each)
And at a far flung corner there was a smallish box with the tell-tale signs of a
BBQ Rotisserie, the prongs, the small geared down motor. But no
spit……hmmmm……where in this garage where would it be…….a HA, the table…..Yep,
same finish, same plastic handle. Done-zo for a dollar.
And while my eye was down low……what are these underneath the “tables”, which are
just plywood on saw horses…..except these are no sawhorse, but the familiar web
of aluminum that all galoots have come to know…..
Workmates!
“So, hey, are ya gonna sell these two table stands at the end of the sale?”
(lots of looking back and forth between the widow and the adult kids)
“Yea, sure, make us an offer.”
“I’ll pay you $30 for the pair, so $50 total including all these tools"
“Yes, we’ll do that.”
($50 get handed over)
“Can we use them til the sale is over”
“You….betcha”
A fun morning. I don’t know yet which type the workmates are. I hope they’re
complete, didn’t even see the tops.
Enjoy your weekend, ladies and gents!
Matthew Groves
Springfield, MO
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