eBay alternatives?

Go to a MWTCA meet...

Deadblow

>If you don't know, it stands for Midwest Tool Collectors Associaciation(www.mwtca.org, I think). Check the website to see where there is a meet near you and go to the tailgate day. Bring lots of $$$ and a box to put your loot in. Better prices than the 'bay and you get to inspect before you buy.

Same way you get to Carnegie Hall

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>In our area, at least, certain areas will be predictably more likely to be rich in tools than others; and I scope out the words in the garage sales. For instance, around here, it's best to avoid sales with the word "HUGE" in the description - they will usually consist of eight or nine old plastic Avon bottles, a few stuffed toys, and some clothes that Kmart put out on clearance the day they hit the store (kind of like "direct to video" movies).

That said, a lot of it is practice, and some more of it is going to sales that turn out to have meant a hacksaw missing its front part and a bent screwdriver when they listed "tools" in the ad.

In some areas (this isn't one of them; Price, Maryland is), there are weekly auctions of tools, and you can get a good sense by going to them whether they'll be worth it. Same with flea markets.

To sum it up, then, quoting from the punchline of the old joke (tourist to New Yorker: "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?"), "practice, practice, practice."

This being a family forum, I won't tell my favorite New Yorker joke, but am willing to tell it to anyone who pings me offline and can handle crude language.

Re: Go to a MWTCA meet...

joel

>Go to the MidWest meeting.

Also the local organizations.

Every month the LI tool collectors get together and there is a great swap meet before the meeting.

Crafts too.

Collectors want the weird stuff and sell the stuff users want off.

I personally get up too late to be a real flea market dude. so most of my better stuff comes from auctions or dealers, usually the former.

Therefore there is very little stuff I got a real bargain on but twenty years later everything has appriecated so much it doesn't matter.

I certainly pay a premium for tools in good shape but in general I refuse to buy a kit project tool.

Some people like the chase - others don't.

Re: Same way you get to Carnegie Hall *LINK*

walt quadrato

>I guess I am flea dude..I'm an early riser..so fleas and tag/garage sales have been a part of my life for over 38 years. There's no guarantees; sometimes you find treasure...most times you find trash. For me it's the thrill of the hunt. I always look under the tables at a flea..that's where the good rust is. No dealer is going to put old rusty tools next to their fine glassware(that's just looking for trouble!)Sometimes you hit a flea and all you find are rusty coes wrenches...next week you find a Stanley 12 3/4. No rhyme or reason to it. Most of all it's just dumb luck assisted by perserverance and the notion that the early bird catches the most worms. "In the wild" heck, I've rummaged through debris from old factorys being demolished in my town..that's the real "wild". Most dealers at fleas don't want to carry around heavy old tools for too long..they want to move them ASAP so they can buy more beanie babies or other such foolishness. You may also want to try estate sales and auctions..though around here auctions don't usually turn up too many good tools. I've taken to hitting the anteek shops and passing out my card to dealers..tools come in..I get a call...tools go out..quick and easy buck for them..and I get first pick. Don't get discouraged..keep plugging away and eventually you'll be rewarded..though I still have yet to find that #1 for $5....someday

walt q


toolworks

Re: eBay alternatives?

Todd Hughes

>Tools are were you find them....I don't go to many yard sales myself,I live out in the country and I have never had much luck with finding any tools there.I have friends that live in more urban areas that do do well with them so might be worth a try.I have the best luck at Flea Markets and Week day auctions.Many of these are never advertised.I go to one every week , 27 acres with 3 auctioners, hundereds of people, probably one of the largest on the east coast and i have never once seen it advertised.If you lived 5 mi. away probably a good chance you wouldn't know about it.I would stop in some antique shops,[I have some good luck hunting there too and always stop in ones I see] talk up the help and tell them you are looking for tools and ask about any auctions or flea markets.Some people are hesistant to tell where they get stuff but I have found once they know you are after Tools,[which they don't want] they don't worry to much.Those small free Add papers often have auctions listed and sometimes flea markets as well....Todd

Thanks for the advice!

JustinW in Ann Arbor, MI

>

Re: eBay alternatives?

Andy Lincoln in Dearborn ,MI

>Justin,

The first Sunday in May there is a decent flea market at the Flat Rock Speedway.Most of the tools are "user" quality and prices are reasonable,definately not a steal or anything.Maybe we could get Cooper Sutter to come up from Toledo and bring a truckload(he was there last spring).Also as of last weekend both of the local antique shops I frequent,here in Dearborn ,had a few old wooden planes.I was suprised to see tools finally show up but didn't buy yet.

Andy

Re: eBay alternatives?

Ernie Miller Topeka

>I do alot of garage sales but there are ways of telling where to look I go the the old part of town where houses have been in the family for years. if they list baby cloths or kids toys don't waist you time. most that list tools will be stamped steel wrenches and cheep screw drivers. It takes time but you will get a feal for where to look. ( wives selling off Husbands tools) estate sales are good as they are usualy for old people but prices arn't the best. Flea markets are tuff as they don't advertise often. you have to drive the old pat of town where buisness rent is cheep and look for junk stores. These places rent booths 10'X10' to venders who sell stuff. 1-2% might be tools look under table and in boxes and buckets. Saws are often found with base ball bats and canes. Then there are farn estate auctions look in the local paper. Now there are some places that just don't have tools for the most part but there will be some but looking might be a waist of time. Some one told me just last week That Wyoming was for cow boys not fine woodworkers so there are some regional problems. you are not going to find cabinet maker tools like Todd in california ot pattern maker tools like you will in the rust belt. but there are some every where.