![]() ![]() You can never have too many 40-watt fluorescent ship-light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. If you found a nasty, rusty Mac or SK or Craftsman socket in the size you need, pick it up, then turn it in to the company for a new one at no charge. I also got to be a good enough customer at the local pawnshop that its owner would let me pick through the bucketfuls of stuff he had in the basement. I have several sets in my toolbox made up by parsing through garage-sale sets that were mismatched or missing sizes. But I never pass up a partial set of good sockets or a brand-name ratchet. They'll round off and bark your knuckles. Don't even bother with non-brand-name, nonwarrantied tools. I have 6 jack stands around the shop, and there have been days when I needed all 6. Jack stands and ramps, which never wear out.Many of those items are now reproductions, but they still look cool in the garage or the basement rec room. ![]() Memorabilia, like bar stools with flames, or old gas pumps (fat chance) or enameled signs.Here are some of the top automotive tools, parts and vehicles to look for: But that similar-looking Marantz 6170 might not even be worth $9. An original 1972 Technics SL-1200 turntable that some guy wants $10 for could be worth hundreds of dollars on the collectors' market. But you've got to know what you're looking for. A 10-year old set of Infinity speakers should work as well as a new pair.Īgain, all this advice goes out the window if you're talking about vintage electronics. Receivers may have changed drastically in the past few years as digital audio, iPods and home theater have evolved, but the speakers that plug into them still work via the same old analog audio tech. The best finds are likely to be in technological subcategories that haven't been drastically changed by the digital revolution. Internal connectors, wires, outdated interfaces, all things that can be hard to find in stores but may be useful in your projects. If you're the type of guy with a soldering iron and an antistatic strap at your desk-side, then yard sales can be gold mines for spare parts. We've got a different set of advice for computer enthusiasts. And you have to ask yourself: If they are functional, why is this person getting rid of them? There's no way to tell that computers, TVs, MP3 players and other electronics work just by looking at them. And is this set 720p resolution or 1080p? Any new set would be 1080p, but that wasn't true a few years ago.īefore you spend a thin dime for yard-sale tech, insist that the seller turn the thing on and show that it still works. The guy selling it may have paid $1500 three years ago, and from his perspective he's taking a huge loss, but these days, Wal-Mart sells new 40-inch sets for $500. Is that a 40-inch flat-panel HDTV sitting there on the lawn for $400? Wow, that's a steal, isn't it? Actually, no, it isn't. ![]() Yard sales can offer tempting bargains, but there are several reasons to beware a deal that seems too good to be true. So bone up before you scavenge and remember: The good stuff goes early. But I never pay more than $20 for anything, so if that trimmer I bought needs extensive repairs, I can pitch it without feeling too bad. For sure, not all of my garage-sale purchases have been so successful. I've used the device for over 10 years, and while original replacement parts are impossible to find, I've managed to keep it going with stuff from the local hardware store. I got it home, drained the gas tank, and put in fresh fuel and a spark plug. ![]() There was some resistance in the tug, which led me to believe that the piston and rings might still be generating some compression. My greatest find was a well-used, nonrunning Toro snowblower that I bought for $10.īefore I plunked down a Hamilton, however, I pulled smartly on the starter rope. Personally, I'm fond of gas-powered yard equipment. Everyone has a particular genre of yard-sale goods they scout out. ![]()
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