OldTools Archive
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275536 | Kirk Eppler | 2022‑05‑07 | Estate Sale Score |
Hit a hugely under advertised estate sale today, only a few pix, and none really showed the magnitude of tools available, just text saying lots. This was a hoarder's garage and shed. When I arrived at the opening time, there was already a couple of people quarrelling in the garage, profanity clearly heard from outside the front of the house. Entrance was through the side gate, into the backyard, where there was a shed, and two spreads of tools in the yard, plus the packed to the gills garage. Right next to the cashier was a pile of stuff, including a couple of OLD vises, the single attachment swivel type. Turns out that was someone's pile. Argh. A skinny walkway into the garage, past the Craftsman stack seen in the ad, piled with extra stuff, boxes and piles of stuff everywhere. The stuff in the yard was only slightly interesting, the shed had three people in it, so I tried to get into the garage. Guy I knew was coming out, probably one of the sources of profanity. Next guy was rolling out an anvil (~30#) on a small cart. Helped him out, then worked my way in. First cross "aisle" had a large vise sitting on the edge of the piles on either side. While protecting that, I managed to look into various boxes and piles and cupboards, looking for more. Off at the end of the pile was a greasy box with what looked like a plane peaking out. Grabbed two planes, and decided it was time to commit, so I relayed my heavy vise, and other goodies to a pile near the cashier. I had no idea what they were going to ask for any of this, and didn't dare ask. I went back in and grabbed a lot more stuff, then went into the shed, found some exotic wood stuffed into the rafters, then circled the yard piles again. Grabbed more goodies, then went to check out. Got a good price on the lot, much less than I expected to pay just for the vise. I loaded all my junk into the truck, and went back in for another pass through everything. Was fun once the early birds all left, guys helping each other extract heavy as hell tool boxes from a cabinet, with 4' wide piles of crap in front of the cabinet, joking about how this was probably "the guy" to fix stuff in the hood. As we unearthed stuff, found a Clausing vertical mill, Craftsman DP and metal lathe, and a 14" vintage grinder. Lots of survey rods, guys carrying them that had no idea what they were, lotsa clocks and old radio equipment in various stages of disrepair. Heard someone fire up a circ saw to try to shorten some 2x10s, and when that failed, he tried a hacksaw, ignoring all the 30 handsaws laying about. By this point I was hot and sweaty, my glasses would no longer stay up, so I gave up. My second batch cost almost as much as the first, probably due to the nice Proto puller, with all 4 pairs of jaws. The seller's goal was to empty the house, and get stuff to people who would use it. Two or three of the buyers seemed to be flippers, most others seemed to know how to use what they were buying. Anyways, here are some images of the haul, too much for clear pix in one pass. Many things will be posted in other smugmug folders if interested. A few items may get flipped, or I may upgrade my stuff with this stuff. https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Woodworking-Tools/i-xXpjWHD Part of the first pass L-R, bigger brace, 4.5C and 8C Stanley planes, Chas Parker 206-1/2 vise (128# of goodness), 3 skewed rabbet planes, matched T&G planes, 2x Stanley 65 spokeshaves, Thorsen box in nice shape, 2x auger depth stops, IOB, Starrett 99 12" Level, rough IOB, Starrett dial indicator in a different brand box, tapered pin reamers in a Snap-on socket box, Machinery handbook 13th edition from 1940's, and an Alford hand vise, no other accessories. https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Woodworking-Tools/i-hh8VHzP 5x Disston & Sons saws (1 panel, 1 thumbhole rip), and a Keen Kutter too. [image: PXL_20220507_191827488-X2.jpg] Exotic Wood, I think the two on the left are purpleheart, the one in the center may be ebony, one looks like walnut, no idea on the other. https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Woodworking-Tools/i-sPMD59L The second pass through, L-R, Japanese sharpening stone, drills, sockets, rethreading dies, Jacobs chucks, sockets, parallel clamps, 6" pip wrench, Thor copper face hammer, 1.75#, small files, gouges, 2x auger bit sets in rolls, Proto puller with 4 jaws, Estwing hatchet and a bunch of NOS handles. The wife is encouraging me to return tomorrow, see what else has been unearthed, but I'm running out of places to ditch stuff right now, I need a major cleanup prior to bringing more in. Not quite Alladin's cave, or the Menlo Haul, but a nice haul, especially in light of all the other people there. -- Kirk Eppler in Half Moon Bay, CA, hiding out from the howling wind. -- Kirk Eppler in Half Moon Bay, CA |
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275537 | Darrell <larchmont479@g...> | 2022‑05‑07 | Re: Estate Sale Score |
Wow Kirk, that's quite a score! I'm glad I don’t run into deals like that, otherwise I would be unable to work in my shop due to lack of space. Congrudgulations -- wood hoarder, blade sharpener, and occasional tool user On Sat., May 7, 2022, 7:10 p.m. Kirk Eppler via groups.io, |
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275538 | JTG <jgrot@s...> | 2022‑05‑07 | Re: Estate Sale Score |
Snip "... but I'm running out of places to ditch stuff right now, I need a major cleanup prior to bringing more in." Gets to the heart of my question. Jeff |
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275539 | John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> | 2022‑05‑08 | Re: Estate Sale Score |
> On May 7, 2022, at 7:11 PM, Kirk Eppler via groups.io |
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275540 | Erik Levin | 2022‑05‑08 | Re: Estate Sale Score |
Kirk: Color me envious. Quite the haul, and a tale well told. (writing from beautiful(?) NJ, where the rain gauge says 75mm in the last 24 hours and I lost another anemometer to the 100+Km/hr gusts) *** This message was sent from a convenience email service, and the reply address(es) may not match the originating address |
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275541 | scottg <scottg@s...> | 2022‑05‑08 | Re: Estate Sale Score |
Hey Hey Brother of mine What a story, what a score, what a triumph!! High quality goods. Life changing sale. Whoo hooh hooo! Vise is outstanding. Parker is up there in vises. That level is incredible! And a Starrett dial indicator too The saws are rockin! Is that a 3/4" chuck? 1lb Thor mallet? Does the knife still work? OMG I couldn't be any more excited than if I'd found it myself. Sooooooooooo way to go,............you lucky bastard!! hehheheheeh yours scott -- ******************************* Scott Grandstaff Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca 96039 scottg@s... http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/ http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/index.html |
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275542 | John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> | 2022‑05‑08 | Re: Estate Sale Score |
Kirk, Don't keep us in suspense! Everyone on and under the Porch is vicariously enjoying your acquisitive adventure. Please! Tell us that you didn't forgo one of the opportunities of a lifetime! Tell us you went back for another truckload! Or two! John Ruth Metuchen NJ |
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275543 | Paul Gardner <yoyopg@g...> | 2022‑05‑09 | Re: Estate Sale Score |
> She, Kirk, is a "keeper"!!! Unless Kirk has a wife I don't know about, I'm assuming this was the hoarder's SWMBO. If I'm mistaken, I'll be sure not to be the one that accidently alerts Kim. Paul, tight lipped in SF. |
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275544 | John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> | 2022‑05‑09 | Re: Estate Sale Score |
Kirk, Awww...I just assumed that "the wife" that encouraged you to return to the hoard was your wife! Paul is correct; your OBVIOUS intended meaning is that you were referring to the late hoarder's widow. I'm going to make a tongue-in-cheek comment here: I'd solve the problem by proposing to the widow! That way, I'd score the whole hoard and a place to put it! ( I am totally joking here! ) Seriously: If it's that good a deal, surely your family and friends can stash a tool chest or two for a couple of months until you sell off your duplicates. John Ruth |
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275545 | Paul Gardner <yoyopg@g...> | 2022‑05‑09 | Re: Estate Sale Score |
Miner Kirk has apparently tapped into a rich vein in our neck of the woods. What a haul! Lots and lots of enviable items pulled from this seam. And quite the treat to read the write up this morning. There are few things in these parts that can elicit fisticuffs so easily as an anvil in the wild going cheap. Of all the amazing goodies on display, I'm rather delighted to see the hat trick of rebate planes. I've been trying to focus Kasper's "great magnet" energy on these for a few years but I see the focal point needs calibration and landed with an adjacent Fleabagger. I'll adjust my scope and correct for wind speed and try again. I'd say this is one for the books Kirk - between Menlo and Pacifica ya think? Adding my congrudultaions to Darrell's. -Paul, in SF. On Sat, May 7, 2022 at 4:10 PM Kirk Eppler via groups.io |
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275546 | Mike Lynd | 2022‑05‑09 | Re: Estate Sale Score |
" surely your family and friends can stash a tool chest or two for a couple of months until you sell off your duplicates." *Sell off your duplicates!!! * What sacrilege is this? Mike |
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275547 | Kirk Eppler | 2022‑05‑09 | Re: Estate Sale Score |
On Sun, May 8, 2022 at 2:34 PM John Ruth |
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275548 | Bill Kasper <dragon01list@g...> | 2022‑05‑09 | Re: Estate Sale Score |
i can finally say congratulations in the large, my friend. CONGRATULATIONS to you and kim. and i'm surprised, way back in your earliest report of this, that you said "i need a major cleanup before bringing more stuff in." isn't that what friends are for? i am sure kim wouldn't mind. :) the variac is a nice one, i have one that looks identical. take a pic of the motor plate (whatever) showing its amperage etc.. simple to check, if the fuse is good: plug in, set to 0, insert probes into hot and neutral (on a dmm set to ac volts), and bring up to 30v. it should read somewhere near that. then move up 60/90/120, and you'll see if you have a straight line or some variance. i always set mine to actual output voltage rather than using the scale on the top... glad you were able to get to this haul, and looks like you got a ton of great bits. bill felton, ca just say "whew, i can have a chat about your nuptials with the other fleabags, now." On Mon, May 9, 2022 at 9:40 AM Kirk Eppler via groups.io |
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275549 | John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> | 2022‑05‑09 | Re: Estate Sale Score |
Kirk, First, congratulations on tying the knot. Great drive-by. Second, I think you are being far too selective!!! You're only taking the cream of the crop! There are probably things you can sell or trade at a profit; go get 'Em ! Very wise to get the bitstock screwdrivers, dowel chamferer, countersinks, and the Yankee bits!!! You've now got the perfect excuse to have multiple braces and Yankees, each with a unique sort of bit!!! Your first post showed a natural Japanese Waterstone, finishing grade. Sheesh! The likelihood of finding one of those in the wild is very small ! John Ruth Metuchen NJ |
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275551 | Erik Levin | 2022‑05‑09 | Re: Estate Sale Score |
Day two looks like a real win! Congrats on that. And the wedding. The arbor press is a cutie of a thing and the bit-brace screw drivers are a great score. I gotta say that, to me, the pencils are the MAJOR score. There's nothing like a good pencil. I get weird looks when I glom them up, but a few years ago I ran through the last of my old Blackfoot's and classic Faber-Castels, so glom them whenever I can, especially the from about 3H to 4B grades. I dread running out of inserts for my Tru-point pointer. Recently, I did replace the blade on my draftsman's prism sharpener (leaves the lead untouched) and may need to modernize there next time. Question on the Kennedy: Can you post photos of the drawer slide setup? Just curious how they have changed. Also, if you haven't dealt with them before, check the powerstat wiring carefully, and look for shorts to the core/frame. I had one go a couple years ago, and, fortunately, it was on a GFCI. Also, check the configuration (0-120V, 0-140V, or something less common) to avoid unfortunate incidents. That looks like a 3A unit. Did I guess right? *** This message was sent from a convenience email service, and the reply address(es) may not match the originating address |
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275553 | Thomas Conroy | 2022‑05‑11 | Re: Estate Sale Score |
John Ruth said to Kirk Eppler: "surely your family and friends can stash a tool chest or two for a couple of months until you sell off your duplicates." And Mike Lynd replied: "*Sell off your duplicates!!! * What sacrilege is this?" Hush, Mike, you'll spoil John's Cunning Plan. See, he persuades Kirk to park lots of "duplicates" with us, and after a few months he forgets about them, and we don't remind him. Then we get to keep the "duplicates." Easy-peasy. Kirk, please add my congratulations to all the others. You couldn't have found a nicer partner, or (as best I can judge) one more suited to you. May you both live long and happily. Tom Conroy p.s. For those of you who don't know Kirk personally, he is perhaps the most generous galoot I know. Where others take pleasure in finding and accumulating tools, he seems to take even more pleasure in passing them along to appropriate homes. I have often benefited from this character trait of his, and feel a bit treacherous in making up the Cunning Plan I foisted on John---but I'm not going to suppress it. Someone might smile. t. |
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275554 | Paul Gardner <yoyopg@g...> | 2022‑05‑11 | Re: Estate Sale Score |
Sir Tom has a cunning plan... >See, he persuades Kirk to park lots of "duplicates" with us, and after a few months he forgets about them, and we don't remind him. you forget you are talking about a man who catalogs his tools on spreadsheets, accessible by mobile phone, and consults them routinely during our Flea market ramblings. No chance of him forgetting. I think a modification is in order. Convince Bill that you desire a certain item that happens to be one of Kirk's duplicates/triplicates, Kasper casually mentions it in passing to Kirk, and then see it magically appear on your doorstep the next time Mr. Eppler is passing through the East Bay. Really, it's foolproof. Paul, in SF On Tue, May 10, 2022 at 5:20 PM Thomas Conroy via groups.io |
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