Early Access Video: Winter tool hunting at antique stores
Added 2020-01-04 13:00:02 +0000 UTCFriends:
It's cold outside and my usual places to find tools are all closed until summer. But I have the sickness; I must buy old junk. What will I do during the long, dark night of the Ohio winter?
I will go to antique stores!
And it will be difficult. If you've ever tried to buy tools from an antique shop, you know the problems; poor selection and sky-high prices. But you know I've got the tips that will help you navigate the minefield of over-priced garbage.
So let's go get some tools!
Happy Saturday!
--Rex
Comments
Yikes!!
WhatMeWorry
2020-01-11 20:13:40 +0000 UTCHere in Anchorage, Alaska tool-hunting is a pain even in the summer. I saw a pretty average Stanley #4 at an antique place here with a $425 tag on it. The search continues.
Joshua Nicholson
2020-01-09 15:35:45 +0000 UTCHere in Phoenix it's the opposite. This is the perfect time of year for flea markets. In the summer, I go early and want to be out of there by 11:00 AM. I check out the antique mall near me every few months. They had a mall wide sale and I picked up a 28" Union transitional plane in great shape for 24 bucks. Totally worth it to me.
WhatMeWorry
2020-01-09 12:54:55 +0000 UTCIf you do decide to go, Mansfield is the largest, but functionally useless for tool or antique hunting. Mostly that one is food, infomercial stuff, and knockoff purses
Ethan Chitty
2020-01-07 13:26:45 +0000 UTCI've heard about this one many times. Sounds like exactly m kind of party!
Rex Krueger
2020-01-07 11:40:37 +0000 UTCMike, get those planes up and running! Post pictures when you do. We all want to see them.
Rex Krueger
2020-01-07 11:33:43 +0000 UTCThat's a great haul! You cleaned up!
Rex Krueger
2020-01-07 11:32:54 +0000 UTCgreat timing, i just went tool hunting last weekend. i got a Disston 14 back saw ($8), Stanley #78 ($12), a stanley victor 1120 block plane ($8) and a GT western file ($6). and it was a great day of browsing in Snohomish, WA. thanks for the content, as usual, very informative. i came home sharpened the blades and they all work perfectly.
Mike Hobby
2020-01-07 00:03:08 +0000 UTCMy mom had a booth at a local antique mall. I was leaning the Stanley Plane direction but when I'd find them they were pricey. I eventually found a booth in the back where the guy priced things to sell, not display. Bought a couple Stanleys, not sure which ones, got to get them out of storage now that I know what to do with them thanks to Rex. Also have an old wood plane I believe to be from at least the late 19th century that was my great-grandfathers. I now know what to do with that too! Will soon no longer be a decoration in the shop.
Mike J
2020-01-06 20:55:32 +0000 UTCGlad to hear you're feeling well and had some time with family. You might consider this one for later in the year (though it'd be a long trip, it runs for 2 weeks and covers several counties). We've been regulars for several years, and it's a giant collection of small towns hosting flea markets, pop up sales, and yard sales. https://www.coveredbridges.com/parke-county-covered-bridge-festival
Ethan Chitty
2020-01-06 14:37:26 +0000 UTCWho cares if you paid too much? 20 years from now, you'll have forgotten what you paid, but you'll still be using that tool. I've overpaid MANY times. I don't let it get me down!
Rex Krueger
2020-01-06 12:49:07 +0000 UTCWelcome back. Glad you took time to get well and enjoy the holidays. Great video as always. I found a bit brace at an antique store but I paid too much - still though, I finally got a good one and now I have it always.
Mark Fannin
2020-01-05 20:06:32 +0000 UTCThat's true! Coincidentally, I happened to stop at a local estate sale place and picked up a nice small ball-peen hammer with a hickory handle, and a set of drill bits and small screwdrivers.....all for $3.50. I've been looking for a nice ball-peen for a while, so I was happy.
Yohann_M
2020-01-05 17:32:39 +0000 UTCIt's a super-fun place to browse. I wish I got down there more often!
Rex Krueger
2020-01-05 13:42:34 +0000 UTCStories like that are exactly why I own 5 saw-sets!
Rex Krueger
2020-01-05 13:42:04 +0000 UTCWhen I lived in FL, I went to the Waldo flea almost every weekend. It was great. It's near Gainesville.
Rex Krueger
2020-01-05 13:41:43 +0000 UTCOkay, that link works. That's a GREAT vise and those clamps are OLD as heck. Not a bad deal.
Rex Krueger
2020-01-05 13:40:35 +0000 UTCI've done some pretty good deals re-selling tools. It takes time, but it can be worth it.
Rex Krueger
2020-01-05 13:38:52 +0000 UTCI can't follow that link :( but I do need to checkout makketplace more. You're right!
Rex Krueger
2020-01-05 13:38:05 +0000 UTCI find real furniture so much more instructive than anything I see in a book!
Rex Krueger
2020-01-05 13:37:05 +0000 UTCI'm quite fond of Continental planes. They're very comfortable. As far as that filister plane goes...you could do a lot worse!
Rex Krueger
2020-01-05 13:36:18 +0000 UTCThanks for the video. I will have to check out that Antique mall as I am in the Cleveland area too. Good tips on what to look for.
Robert Bullock
2020-01-05 00:12:28 +0000 UTCFunny world. I needed a rebate plane, don’t have one. Been cleaning up my tenons by hand, and doing my rebates by hand. I went the local pawn shop and antique stores and did find Record 78, for $450, OMG. So, I checked out eBay, I have gotten a lot of great deals on eBay: I found a Stanley 75 in its original box for 16usd. I bid 20. I was watching 5 other auctions for the same kind of plane. One sold for 450, the lowest was 225, I won my plane somehow for 16usd. And then I ran into a brand new post war Stanley 78, never used, still sealed in the original box, $125, I bought that as well. It was at a demo salvagers. They had found it in wall in a garage on top of a cross brace.It is a bizarre world for sure. But just shows, keep your eyes open and don’t discount any place to search.
William Allen
2020-01-04 23:57:32 +0000 UTCI've got two antique malls I frequent here in the Florida Panhandle and have managed to score some nice deals just like you've mentioned... lower shelves, digging, and looking under things. My wife thinks I'm absolutely nuts but is starting to understand.... sort of... lol
The Idle Hands Workshop - Stephen Miller
2020-01-04 20:28:00 +0000 UTCHere's another neat example - I never saw one of these before - https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1009224499452054/
Howard Tuckey
2020-01-04 16:17:10 +0000 UTCcopy/paste the url into your browser - scroll down through, and you'll see lots of "vintage" tools, often at very decent prices. You do have to do your homework, but I've gotten some decent deals this way. You can also make a buck or two occasionally, if you see something advertised for a price you know is low, and you already have the item, pick it up anyway, then resell it for a higher price later, or even swap for something else.
Howard Tuckey
2020-01-04 16:05:15 +0000 UTCAnother place to look in the winter time, or any time, for that matter is your local Facebook marketplace. For example, ours currently has this, https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/606227796585329/
Howard Tuckey
2020-01-04 16:01:10 +0000 UTCThis is a great choice of topic, Rex. Like you I also get stir-crazy in the winter and haunt the antique stores more than usual. As you say, the prices there are usually really horrible, but sometimes you can get a decent deal. I've picked up a few tools at antique stores over the years - only a few were steals, most were solid deals and some were overpriced mistakes. The main reason I go these days is something you also covered in this video - looking at the furniture. I spend a lot of time examining the furniture they have there, looking at the design choices and build techniques. I've learned a lot from just looking at the work of these old craftsmen.
Yohann_M
2020-01-04 15:19:21 +0000 UTCSo you're telling me I need to drive down to Ravena and pick up that fillister plane? Just yesterday I bought a German made "continental" style plane at Antiques and Uniques in Wickliffe. I don't know if it will be usable but the price was right and I fell in love with it as soon as I picked up.
Eldon
2020-01-04 15:14:30 +0000 UTC
