A pro-active rust hunt?

[Matt Ranum]

We live in a pretty rural area, some might refer to it as "out in sticks" and it can be difficult sometimes to find older tools outside of the internet. Well there is a AM radio station not too far away that runs a "swap shop" for 30 min every weekday morning. I used this last year with great success finding and old shopsmith and thought for s--ts and giggles why not try it for some old hand tools.

My little want ad aired 3 times now and two old guys called me. The first said its too hard for him to get out to his shop anymore and he would sell what I'm interested in "pretty reasonable", then said, "in fact if your interested in anything I'll sell it VERY reasonable".

And then another guy calls me and says "hes got a bunch of old saws, some drills, and just a bunch of stuff". I was telling him how much I like working with this old stuff and going through the cleanup and then he says "you know I maybe have a bunch of what I think is junk you could maybe use then". He started describing some tool he had on the wall," its got a big wheel you crank to run it, kinda like a drill press but its not a drill press but its an auto feed system that comes down.....you know what I'm talking about?" I didn't have a clue but sure am curious to see what he has.

Both of these guys sounded like they were well into their 70's. The hard part is that I'm going out of town for the weekend in a couple hours and won't be able to go look at this stuff till sometime next week.

Talk about anticipation. I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas to see what "junk" these guys have.

Has anyone else ever tried doing this before, a radio ad, and what was your results?

[Bill Houghton]

see http://www.beautifuliron.com/thepost.htm, or Google "post drill" for more pics.

I've got one - my son used it for metal work and liked it, but moved on to a Horrible Fright drill press, later replaced by a pre-WWII Delta press that I found for $25 for him, when he started earning money in the shop.

They're nifty tools.

Good luck with the rust hunt, and it sounds like you may have found a workable scheme for your area.

[Jim Koepke]

We live in a pretty rural area, some might refer to it as "out in sticks" and it can be difficult sometimes to find older tools outside of the internet. Well there is a AM radio station not too far away that runs a "swap shop" for 30 min every weekday morning. I used this last year with great success finding and old shopsmith and thought for s--ts and giggles why not try it for some old hand tools.

My little want ad aired 3 times now and two old guys called me. The first said its too hard for him to get out to his shop anymore and he would sell what I'm interested in "pretty reasonable", then said, "in fact if your interested in anything I'll sell it VERY reasonable".

And then another guy calls me and says "hes got a bunch of old saws, some drills, and just a bunch of stuff". I was telling him how much I like working with this old stuff and going through the cleanup and then he says "you know I maybe have a bunch of what I think is junk you could maybe use then". He started describing some tool he had on the wall," its got a big wheel you crank to run it, kinda like a drill press but its not a drill press but its an auto feed system that comes down.....you know what I'm talking about?" I didn't have a clue but sure am curious to see what he has.

Both of these guys sounded like they were well into their 70's. The hard part is that I'm going out of town for the weekend in a couple hours and won't be able to go look at this stuff till sometime next week.

Talk about anticipation. I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas to see what "junk" these guys have.

Has anyone else ever tried doing this before, a radio ad, and what was your results?

Gee Matt, you get todays honorific "man you suck" award.:D
I can not speak for everyone else, but I would bet they are just as jealous.


kinda like a drill press but its not a drill press but its an auto feed system that comes down.....you know what I'm talking about?"

Sounds like a post drill. If you do not want it, I will do what it takes to convince my wife we need to send you some money to box and ship it. Heck, if I have to, I'll go into town and stand on the street bumming change.

I have not tried a radio ad, but my lathe came to me by putting up a 3X5 "want to buy" card on the grocery store bulletin board. It was a great score.

How are they going to know you want to take it off their hands if you don't find ways to let them know?

Congratulations on the big score and here's hoping for many more... as long as you live a few thousand miles from my hunting grounds.

jim

[Matt Ranum]

Nothing is bought yet, and they aren't advertising. They simply responded to my wanted ad which was,

"Looking for some old woodworking hand tools, planes, saws, chisels,etc, I can clean up and use in my shop, rusty cruddy stuff is just fine." call me at ***-***-****

I won't even see what it is they have until next week sometime but I can almost taste the anticipation. Maybe they don't have anything I want or maybe what they want is more than I can afford right now, don't know till I see & meet them. I just got to try and do some more research on general values before I go see them. I'm sure from talking with these 2 guys that no matter what the tools haven't been used in a looooong time.

[Matt Ranum]

see http://www.beautifuliron.com/thepost.htm, or Google "post drill" for more pics.

I've got one - my son used it for metal work and liked it, but moved on to a Horrible Fright drill press, later replaced by a pre-WWII Delta press that I found for $25 for him, when he started earning money in the shop.

They're nifty tools.

Good luck with the rust hunt, and it sounds like you may have found a workable scheme for your area.


That does sound like thats what it is.Thanks for the link.

"it sounds like you may have found a workable scheme"

Gezz don't make me feel guilty about stealing something before I ever even look at the stuff:eek:

:D

[Jim Koepke]

Nothing is bought yet, and they aren't advertising.

I won't even see what it is they have until next week sometime but I can almost taste the anticipation. Maybe they don't have anything I want or maybe what they want is more than I can afford right now, don't know till I see & meet them. I just got to try and do some more research on general values before I go see them. I'm sure from talking with these 2 guys that no matter what the tools haven't been used in a looooong time.

Their not advertising is the best part, you are the only buyer.

The taste of anticipation is one of my favorite flavors. The bitterness of disappointment is washed away quickly by the thrill of the next hunt.

Getting good pricing information is like gold. My method is to look at a lot of completed sales on eBay and visit a lot of the tool selling sites.
My final decision comes down to what won't get me in trouble with the wife and what would I rather have, the tool or the dollars and can more be done with the dollars or the tool.

jim

[Bill Houghton]

"it sounds like you may have found a workable scheme" Gezz don't make me feel guilty about stealing something before I ever even look at the stuff

Sorry, I meant "scheme" in the British sense, that is, "plan," rather than the American sense, "dastardly plot."

It's clear you won't rip off these nice gentlemen.

I've found more than once - and am now old enough myself to have seen it from both sides - that knowing that a tool is going to good, respectful hands makes a big difference for someone who's put mileage on a tool.

[Nate Folco]

Sounds like a post drill. If you do not want it, I will do what it takes to convince my wife we need to send you some money to box and ship it. Heck, if I have to, I'll go into town and stand on the street bumming change.


I hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes, but since Jim seems so into post drills I saw this one on CL:
http://appleton.craigslist.org/tls/1007264875.html

[Jim Koepke]

I hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes, but since Jim seems so into post drills I saw this one on CL:
http://appleton.craigslist.org/tls/1007264875.html

Nate,
Actually, my comment was meant to be humorous more than anything else. Currently, there is not a place for a post drill in my shop, though one could likely be found quickly if need be. My philosophy is that being patient will bring one my way eventually and most likely when my shop is in a better condition to accept it.

jim

[Matt Ranum]

Well I made it to one gentleman's house today to look at some of the tools. He had a box waiting for me, wanted me to look through it then proceeded to show me around every shed he had on his place, looking at everything from old cars to homemade stone cutters. A nice old man, who sad to say is not in good health at all. Some stuff I really didn't want but what ya gonna do, he wanted me to take it since his kids didn't want anything to do with it. Nothing really gloat worthy I don't think, but a pile of rebuildable stuff just the same. The cost was $50. and he set the price. Says he knows he has more around there but can't find it yet, if he does he's going to let me know.

The other gentleman I won't get by until Thursday or Friday to see what he has. I was told to make sure I come during the day as everything is in a old grainery with no lights.

To start- 3 wooden levels, Disston 26" in nice shape but missing a vial, A Stanley No.0, and a 18" thats missing the top brass plate brand unknown starts with a "M", and a 12" combination square
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k65/mr_matt3764/DSCF2348.jpg

Then we have 3 braces, 2 Stanley, 1 unkown(that one has a broken chuck) and a breast drill and a small eggbeater drill.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k65/mr_matt3764/DSCF2350.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k65/mr_matt3764/DSCF2351.jpg

Miller Falls 214 saw set
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k65/mr_matt3764/DSCF2361.jpg

Auger bits, I think I counted 26 all together.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k65/mr_matt3764/DSCF2352.jpg

Hand planes- HSB & Co. #28, 2 Defiance Jacks, 1 Fulton Jack, and 1 parts plane on the end. And a Stanley 110 not pictured.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k65/mr_matt3764/DSCF2349.jpg

An Atkins 26" rip saw, the rust is lighter than it looks.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k65/mr_matt3764/DSCF2357.jpg

2 unknown (yet) rip saws
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k65/mr_matt3764/DSCF2360.jpg

And the best for last, 2 Disston saws. A D-7 with what looks like a laminated handle( 1950's?) and what looks like a No.112, but this one has 2 medallions on it and I can't find a reference for that.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k65/mr_matt3764/DSCF2353.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k65/mr_matt3764/DSCF2356.jpg

[Jim Koepke]

It looks like the medallions are from different makers. One of them was likely used to replace a nut that went missing.

This is a page with a lot of links, I think one of the links is to a page about braces and rebuilding some of them.

http://www.georgesbasement.com/

jim

[Matt Ranum]

Thanks Jim I haven't come across that link before.