5 More Of The Best Tools To Buy Used At Garage Sales

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The garage sale landscape is particularly well-suited to value shoppers. Tool users everywhere have a special affinity for garage sales and other used marketplaces. A pre-loved tool has something special imbued within its soul, whether it's a hand tool or a powered solution. Tools that have been used (and sometimes abused) hold a unique story. These pieces of gear don't need to have been part of a famous owner's collection to continue providing value to new buyers, either. Whether you're a DIY auto mechanic working out of your home garage with specialty tools or a professional renovator who travels to other people's homes to help make dreams become reality, used equipment can help elevate your game. Perhaps more importantly, used gear tends to come at a decent price reduction, if not a huge discount. There are lots of excellent tools that buyers should be on the hunt for at garage sales (we've previously covered numerous additions to this vaunted catalog). These five offer unique value when found in the pre-loved marketplace.

In many instances, garage sale vendors aren't fully aware of the value they're offering. At other times, you'll encounter a fountain of information in the seller as they seek a worthy new owner to give their old gear new life. Either way, the garage sale offers an excellent source of great value on amazing tools that are unique in their personal histories and still have plenty of service time left to give. Each of these finds can deliver value in a big way if you come across them.

In no uncertain terms, Stihl makes phenomenal chainsaws. Not only are the brand's offerings routinely powerful and durable, Stihl builds a huge variety of chainsaws. This means there's a Stihl model that can support just about any chainsaw user's needs. One of the more notable features of high-end chainsaw brands like Stihl is the price tag, however. This equipment doesn't come cheap, even at the lower end of Stihl's lineup. To combat this sometimes extreme price hurdle, users looking for an excellent piece of gear at a great price should look to the used marketplace. There are over 1,500 listings on eBay for "Stihl chainsaws" at the moment. Admittedly, some of these items aren't working models, and some listings are for parts or accessories. But the volume found just on this one site should indicate the robustness of the secondhand market for Stihl equipment.

Moving off the online marketplace, plenty of homeowners across the country own chainsaws, and when people downsize their homes or retire, they often look to sell equipment they no longer need. This gives shoppers looking for excellent outdoor power tools a substantial marketplace to find good-quality gear at a reasonable price. Moreover, unlike the digital marketplace, you can start up one of these chainsaws and inspect it thoroughly before buying when shopping in person.

Box-end wrenches are a great piece of equipment to look for in the used marketplace. Many hand tools experience substantial wear and tear throughout a lengthy life of usage. Adjustable wrenches, pliers, and many other gripping and turning tools see their surfaces worn down with each new intense pressure applied to the geometry. But the box-end wrench is a bit different. These are combination wrench builds that feature an open jaw on one side and a round, full-contact turning feature on the other. The box-end is a totally enclosed unit that grips onto a bolt or hex nut at every point around its perimeter. More importantly, because the box-end side of the wrench is enclosed, the contact surfaces are largely protected, and the comprehensive grip helps preserve the tool. It's entirely conceivable that a set of box-end wrenches that has been well cared for could last an entire lifetime, if not longer.

As a result of this immense value that these tools bring, searching for high-quality examples can give you a tool with plenty more to offer at a great discount. Naturally, not all wrenches of this sort are made to the same exacting standards. If you're seeking out solid hand tools at garage sales, focusing on tool truck brands and others that exhibit the same high-quality standards is a must. Some of the best (that mechanics love to work with, in particular) include Snap-On, Matco, MAC, Williams, Proto, and even older Craftsman equipment.

Stiletto hammers are perhaps the Bentleys of handheld striking tools. These hammers are a seriously premium product, and professionals who swing the tool on a regular basis consistently reach for Stiletto gear as a result. They can set you back quite a bit of cash when purchased new. However, a Stiletto hammer is a tool that can last for decades without even the slightest inkling of requiring a replacement. For those looking to purchase excellent equipment that will serve them well long into the future, seeking out a Stiletto hammer is a great option. Finding a used example at a garage sale can get you an excellent tool that avoids this extreme price barrier.

Stiletto makes a number of different hammers, so it's worth exploring the brand's catalog before scouring garage sales for the item you want. Also, there's no reason to fault a high-quality steel hammer head, but if you're looking at discounted tools of this caliber, opting for second-best equipment is a compromise you simply don't need to make. Titanium hammer heads are lighter, absorb shock better, and remain highly durable. They deliver improved striking force that allows you to swing a lighter hammer and get the same result. In practice, this means you can use a lighter hammer while still driving nails with the same force. Over the long term, this means less stress on your elbow and a healthier body overall.

Large shop equipment is an interesting inclusion. You might be hard-pressed to find big woodworking gear in a typical suburban sale. But that doesn't mean these kinds of tools aren't out there in neighborhood offerings. Plenty of people these days are getting into woodworking for the mental and physical benefits that the hobby provides. But these benefits have long been understood, and many older woodworkers have spent years honing their craft with the help of specialized equipment. The drill press is a particularly valuable addition. This isn't a tool that gets heavy usage, but when you need it, there's no true substitute. Drill presses are essential for cutting holes at the perfect angle all the way through a workpiece, be it wood, metal, or something else. This naturally makes it a tool to think carefully about when shopping for one.

Drill presses are particularly valuable when found in the used marketplace. If you're looking to level up your skills, gaining access to this advanced piece of equipment can be a big deal. But new gear is expensive in many instances, and the drill press is certainly no different. Compromising can lead to disappointment because of important features left out of options you can realistically afford. The used market offers a great bridge between these two extremes. Older equipment is no less robust or valuable than new gear. Drill presses are complex pieces of machinery, and finding a well-cared-for example at a garage sale can get you a bargain price on a phenomenal tool that'll teach you the ropes of advanced processes.

Clamps underpin everything a DIYer does. Whether you're involved in welding, electrical tinkering, or woodworking, the ability to grip things without having to hold them in your hands is a force multiplier that drastically improves your experience. There are so many unique clamps to choose from, and many people own a collection that includes numerous solutions. From lengthy pipe clamps down to one-handed quick-lock grippers, it's virtually impossible to pin down a figure that might serve as the "correct" number of clamps to have in your collection. There's seemingly always a need for more gripping solutions in a wider array and format.

This is where the used market can play a substantial role. Finding used gripping gear allows you to "squeeze" more life out of a tool that's difficult to break or damage. Clamps tend to remain viable hand tool accessories for many years. This is particularly true of high-quality brands. Bessey is one name that comes to mind. Woodworkers everywhere gush over these clamps, and if you find discounted options at a garage sale, you should jump on the opportunity. Another good solution in this regard is Irwin. Irwin is among the best hand tool brands around, and it offers a valuable blend of cost efficiency and tool quality. New Irwin gear isn't generally going to set you back like some premium brands. However, when buying a large set, there's no getting around the high price. Finding a collection of Irwin equipment at a garage sale can get you a lot of bang for your buck.