The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Cheap Name Brand tools!

This may seem pretty obvious, but during these times of economic stress, a great source of slightly used name brand tools at great prices, is your local pawn shops.

Over the years I've upgraded my inventory with some good looking, barely used name brands at a fraction of what they sold for new. I pass on the "beaters" and you can always put an eyeball on them, plug'em in and make your deal.

Once the shop owner realizes you're serious about buying up the good "low mileage" stuff at a decent price he'll pay a little more to pick it up knowing that you will take it off his hands quickly without tying up his capital. Leaving a contact phone number has been beneficial.

Dave

Good advice.

ya know the best place for craftsman tools is the LANDFILL ???? my step father is a trucker ..an this is what he tells me ..when the Truck from SEARS shows up the place SHUTSDOWN !..AN EVERYONE WAITS FOR WHAT COMES OUT !..LOTTSA returned brand new tools sets missin a few items , & he has gotten me a brand new set of regulators & gauges for gas cutting out of the pile GO FIGURE!

Where is that landfill???

Anywhere there's a landfill, I guess.

The two pawn shops I have been to, one in VA, one in CA, actually wanted more for used power tools than they cost new, I was very surprised..

Grigg

Dale,
the landfill is in Jersey , one time he actually threw a BRAND NEW 50 gallon hot water tank in the sleeper of his truck and brought it home ! ...it is still in use in the basement of my Moms house , only thing wrong with it was a dent in the outer tin

heehe, reminds me of when we would follow the supply truck to the landfill on the base where I was stationed. The guy would radio a couple of us. I used a pilots helmet when I drove a race car and had insulated boots like new along with a few other goodies. It was amazing what was thrown a way including lots of furniture! Maybe thats why they closed the base!!!

Hey Chip, an old pilots helmet for a race car? Boy your really dating your self aren't you, those were the next step after the coconut half shells for a helmet, weren't they??? Kiddin ya I hope ya know.
I drove midgets for a while right after the era of no roll bars, Ked for shoes, tee shirts and red tag Levi's were the race car drivers uniform. Sure has changed a bunch now days. Costs ya two grand just to get dressed up before you can even sit in a race car. They done took all the challenge and daring out of it. Ya used to have to have big Kahoka’s to climb into the cock pit, now they're even safe enough for the girls to drive.

Garbage dumps around here are off limits unless you’re a licensed carrier, no chance of digging through it.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Forget the garbage dumps, try to scrap metal recycling yards. My Dad worked for a recycling yard and once a month or so the trucks would bring in the scrap boxes from the tool manufacturer. Anything that didn't pass inspection at the plant was dumped into the scrap/recycle bin. I had a set of wrenches that the only thing wrong with them was the size stamped on the wrench was off center. All it cost me was the price of the scrap metal.

Pawn shops in my area are rather proud of their used tools. I agree with Grigg on that comment. Maybe it is a function of location. I have had relative success with www.craigslist.com

I get some good buys at yard sales and estate sales. They are advertised in the local paper. The problem is, they are mostly during the summer months. No pawn shops around here that I know of.

I once worked in a large automotive warehouse that accepted S-K returns,They would build up a couple boxes,the rep would come in write down all the numbers and GET READY then throw them away!!!!Guess who took out the trash that night!!I happened often enogh to see some of the same tools come threw over and over!It also happened when Felpro gaskets and monroe shocks changed there boxes!Still have some.Ahh the good ol'days Al

Not tool's but I used to get brand new mufflers from the local chevy dealer.People would want there exhaust modified and the shop would pile the stuff they cut off out back, told me to take whatever I wanted.Alway's found correct part's for the chev!!