The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Pawn shop finds

I have noticed a lot of 'Bolters saying they hit the pawn shops for good deals on tools, like Snap on, Mac, Matco, etc. So post up the details of your best find.

Hank

I used to do well in pawn shops in the 80's and 90's but then they got to where they were selling their good stuff on eBay. With eBay cooling off, maybe they are trying to sell stuff out the door again. I used to find unbelievable deals on specialized stuff that no one knew what it was.

crenwelge hit the nail on the head! if they know what it is they are going to ask a lot for it. most pawn shops seem to be one step under sale price of new, and may have half their life used up. i still go though, looking for bargans. i find one once in a while. i got a sunnen valve guide hone for $20, a single bay box full of good tools for $100, several other things. i find auctions to be much better if you run onto a good one, you can really clean up their. i couldn't list all the stuff i've got super cheap there.

Hank, I use to check around at the ones on #9 and the ones out on hwy 221 but they have gotten like the salvage yards on most stuff. Someone above mentioned that they charge "just under new prices" and I've found that to be true. YOu know they are not giving much on "pawn" for stuff so it looks like.... well, Greed!!
But I still look around and watch the auctions. We just have to know what we're looking at and....of coarse luck and timing has a lot to do with it!!

Several times a year, I will scan a pawn shop or two. I usually look for individual sockets or wrenches, normally paying a buck or less each for tools made in the USA. On average, I will spend about 10 to 15 dollars per visit.
So far, I have not found any sensational deals on any big ticket items. But, I still watch for them.

John

Ya gotta remember that those pawnbrokers are trying to make money,that is why they are in business.If you dont buy their merchandise ,someone else will.

I've been in a couple pawn shops and never found a good deal on something I needed. Some of the power tools I've seen with higher prices than new...

I did however win the bid on ebay for a complete and nearly new Snap-On 3/8" impact driver set, the big set that cost about $600. Came from a pawn shop who was selling it on ebay, they had it incorrectly listed as a torque wrench set, I paid next to nothing for it, very pleased with that purchase.

Grigg

Heck of a find Grigg!

Alvin,
Checked the Highway 9 crew a couple of times and found little or nothing of interest. Actually got a nice set of welding clamps (big rascals) off of Craigslist for cheap.

Hank

I agree with Hankdogg. Craigslist deals are better than spending the day driving around to pawn shops where prices are close to new. And a lot more fuel efficient.

craigslist is the way to go! I got my 'bolt on craigslist. bought a oxygen and acetylene bottle (big ones) and a cart for $150. couldn't have touched the o2 bottle for that. Have bought several RKI truck toolboxes. Just watch them. Every now and then, there will be someone who is in a pinch and needs some cash. They are willing to deal.

I just got a 6 drawer Craftsman tool box that has rollers on it with a 1/4 and 3/4 drive ratchet, about 25 sockets each with 2 extentions each, a full set of allen wrench sockets both SAE & Metric, and a full set of Torex sockets, all Craftsman, and a Harley-Davdson rachet and set of common size sockets both regular and deep welled with an extension(Snap-ON makes HD I think) for $140.00 on Craigslist. I had to drive to Virginia, but only an hour from here. Now I got a box for the Garage, and don't hafta walk out to my shop everytime I need a tool. I like Craftsman (older), but I don't make a living turning wrenches, so I can understand a professiional usuing Snap-On, Mac and the like. I have some of them in the shop. Craigslist is part of my daily routine since retiring. If I have to go to Ft.Bragg to the PX or something, I hit the pawn shops there. I have forund the ones around military bases to have more stuff at cheaper prices.

Just before Christmas a friend of mine told me about a MIG welder at a pawn shop for $25,I had to go look at it.It turned out to be the Century 220(Big red),he told me not $25 but $50,needless to say I bought it, took it home, wired it up and IT WORKS!!! The guy said when tried it out ,it would run for a little bit, then stop,and then run again.I told him I would let him know what I would find wrong with it.He had it on the stitch setting.So I am now the proud owner of a $50 welder.

In early December I had about an hour to kill near Houston Hobby airport so I hit some pawn shops. I found a disc and belt sander Dayton which had never been used. They were asking $150, but of course I couldn't check a 350# item. Just about the time I got to the car rental return I thought about getting on the WW Grainger catalog with Google that is on my T-Mobile phone. It was over $2500 in the Grainger catalog so I turned around and put the sander in layaway. The next week my wife had surgery in Houston and she preferred driving in her 4 door pickup rather than flying. I stayed in a hotel near the airport while she was in the hospital and picked up the sander before I picked my wife up. It took a couple of guys to load it. Right before I left, the manager told me they had had it for 5 months and no one had ever known what it was. She asked me if I knew what it was or if I just bought it because it was cheap. I still do a little woodworking and a table model disc and belt sander will be nice.

My best pawn shop buy was on a small welder. I took a look at the price, only $25, and in red magic marker was written "Broken - Wont Feed Wire - Sale Final!"...

So I bought it and went home to do some welding. It is amazing how well a $15 welder works when you use the right WELDING RODS!!!

Local pawn shops are rip offs here - tools go for more than the local retail sale prices in many cases.

Same thing around here, (Chicago western burbs) they are all to aware of ebay and put everything worth while on it. I've also seen pickers for the antique shops working the back room then they put the leftovers out on the floor at the church thrift shops and Goodwill.
DG

Just an update on my $50 Mig welder, I did'nt have enough money to buy the bottle for it,so I went to Harbor Freight and got the flux core wire,put it in,grabbed some metal,and did some testing with it.I tried the spot feature,the stitch feature,and the continous feature.All work fine, probably the best purchase I will ever make.

craigslist has been good around this area as well, picked up some nice snapon and mac welding clamps.

I have had success in placing “wanted “ ads on Craiglist , You would be surprised how many sellers also have a bad experience with the Pawn Brokers....!

I also put "Come To You" in the location box. It has worked out well and have got some great deals and it almost always leads to other items unrelated to what I was asking for

I love Craigslist...We have a 21ac place near Miles City, Mt that we are fixing up to move to next year..Complete set of oak kitchen cabinets (17) $1000, 600 sq. ft. R-38 insulation-new $140, 2000' new PEX tubing $200, etc, etc...Got a 14" bandsaw and 16" scroll saw last week for $40, Miller 200amp portable welder with 50' leads $400, new Lincoln Weld-pak wire feed with a full bottle of argon-3 spools of wire-swapped for my old 2k Honda genset, got a Honda 3500 elec start genset for $200...I don't even waste my time going to the pawn shops anymore..Like everyone has said overpriced and worn out junk..Even the folks pawning the stuff know its worn out..Also scored a Milwaukee Hole Hog, case and 14 augers for $75 last week..Got my new PEX crimper and rings for $55 off e-Bay..