5 Tools Best Bought Secondhand
Days when you buy a new tool are bright spots in the seemingly endless slog of working on a project car. Placing a shiny new tool onto a bench covered with rusty, crusty parts and pieces can reinvigorate your desire to work. Often that new tool makes or breaks our ability to get the task done. Tools are important, but that doesn’t mean you need to go into debt when buying them.
Finding used tools has never been easier for people with a little grease under their fingernails. At times it’s almost easier to find used tools in good condition than it is to find new ones of high quality. Remember, if you can’t test the function of a tool, assume you’ll need to rebuild or repair it. You can consume a great deal of time and money getting a cheap used tool up to the condition you thought it was in when you bought it.
However, not all used tools are money pits. Here are a few that make sense to purchase used.
Box-End Wrenches
Box-end wrenches really don’t wear out if used properly. Since they are easy to inspect, you can easily know whether the ones you are buying are damaged or abused. For DIY newcomers, there is no better option; even if you do buy a “better” set of wrenches later, this one will be perfect for filling out road-trip tool kits. You might even modify a few for special jobs.
Ratchets
When it comes to ratchets, you can save a lot of money if you are willing to put in a little extra work. Get familiar with the one you want, and what it takes to refurbish it. Rebuild kits can turn a beat-up, high-quality ratchet into a near-new one in an afternoon and the process is easier than you might think.
That said, success isn’t guaranteed. I love my Snap-on ratchets and didn’t hesitate for a second to buy them right off the truck because I was having a hard time finding the tools I wanted, in rebuildable condition, for a price that made any sense.
Hack Saws
These simple saws come in clutch from time to time. Hack saws pop up at garage sales regularly and are often only a couple bucks. Since the blade is a consumable, something you will be replacing anyway, you only need to inspect the frame to make sure it’s not twisted or broken. That’s easy to check by eye. The consequences for error are relatively low: Should a hacksaw frame fail, there is not much risk of significant injury, so long as you are using it properly. Plus, the design has changed little over time.
Clamps
Since evolution has yet to give mechanics the third hand we so desperately need, it’s basically impossible to have enough clamps in your shop—anything that can help hold pieces of your project, from locking jaw pliers or long pipe clamps. Finding good used examples can save some money, and the only difference between new and used may boil down to appearance.
Punches
To be honest, I can’t tell old hardened steel from new hardened steel if you put both in my hands. Even the best punches eventually get used, as they are tools that are either sitting in storage or being struck with other tools. They lead a rough life, but punches can last a very long time, especially specialty ones or oddly sized versions. Those make for great swap-meet finds.
What else in your toolbox would you rather pick up used than purchase new? Tell us in the comments below.
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Keep in mind some tools like ratchets and torque wrenches have a lifetime warranty, I have taken a few broken ones in and walked out with a new one.
One of the handy items are a professional “carpet Kicker”. If you have carpeting anywhere they are super heavy & can do the job on re-carpeting or just stretching loose areas. I’ve bought these at yard sales for $5 – $10 dollars & a good one new is around $100 ish at Home Depot or Lowes
I have used those bit my knees these days would protest too loudly
Do not buy any cheap hack saws. A couple years back one of the big stores had a special on a really good hack saw and being, let’s say frugal, I was hesitant to buy one. I have 3 that are OK that I had for 40-50 years. But my wife said that looks good, buy it, so I did. I forget the brand, but its white. That saw cuts better, faster, more accurate than any other. Should have bought one long ago. I think its ability to really hold the blade tightly is the secret to its usefulness. And the frame holds a couple extra blades. Do not buy any more cheap hack saws.
Cycle mechanic for 50 years I guess I am a Snap On addict. Not that I don’t have some Mac, Matco, Cornwell, Sears and even Harbor Freight. People can say what they want but there is a big difference in tools. My every day wrenches and sockets are the Snap On. A starting out mechanic just can’t afford the high end tools but look in his toolbox after 10 years.
Couple years ago I bought a like new Rigid 36” pipe wrench at a yard sale My wife was questioning my sanity, again. But it cost $5. How could you go wrong? And wouldn’t ya know, the next year we added a drain into our soil pipe. Guess what wrench was the only one to do the job?
I am always on the look out for Snap On diagnostic gear, dwell tachs, voltmeters, etc. These lead hard professional lives in most cases and when they stopped working, they were shelved. I have about 10 now and in all cases, it was the cable leads that were bad, not the instrument. Once the cables were replaced, they worked great (and look great in my shop).
David and I think alike. I’m doing that now with my new young neighbors.
Made clamps from 12in pieces of 2×4 (two per clamp cut to shape) & a 10” carriage bolt with washes & nut.
I would post a photo of one if it was possible
I buy serious C clamps from swap meets and antique stores. The worst you can do is bend a15 pound 100 yr. old clamp. Over stress a Harbor Freight clamp and it will shatter sending shrapnel across the garage. I bought a cheapo angle grinder from HF and when it failed it literally broke out in flames that had to be extinguished. My collection of 12 Makita grinders, drills & polishers (between 5 to 50 years old) only had one failure. The gears on an angle drill wore out.
And number 6
A Dodge Viper.
I respectfully disagree with buying your core tools second hand. There are more and more counterfeits of premium brands every day. Combination wrenches and Phillips screwdrivers are the heart of my tool set. I wouldn’t think of compromising on them after using Snap-on and Vessel (respectively) for many years. Same goes with my ratchets and chrome and impact sockets. The work depends on good fitting sockets and ratchet mechanisms that don’t fail. It’s Gray Tools (Canadian) and Snap-on all the way.
It doesn’t matter how cheap the tool is, if you aren’t ever going to use it, it’s a waste of money. Any nicely-priced second-hand tool should be evaluated on need above anything else. Anyone who has dealt with the estate of an accumulator knows what a pain it is to deal with a mass of physical items, particularly those not needed, or even worse, not understood.
Since I am one of those “boomers” that still likes to pursue my restoration hobby I have amassed a good collection of tools over the years. Some of my best buys are from garage sales. If I see a sign up I stop and do a quick “look see” for tools and see if there is anything of interest. I got a great deal on some over 1/2″ drill bits for a pittance that I turned down to 1/2″ shank that have served me well. Other tools I think are a good buy are slide hammers, (air) rivet guns, tap and die sets, etc. when you need them often times they may be the only solution. Oddball tools are great find at garage/estate sales. And you youngsters out there don’t forget that guys like me are on the back nine and soon our stuff will be sold off for discount prices by are our families. A used tool glut is coming! LOL!
That tool glut is here. I go to a lot of automotive fleamarkets and there are always more than one guy with dollar tools. The last guy I dealt with was selling his recently deceased older brothers (he was 81) tools to help out his sister in law. These tools were worn but usable. I think the prices are down due to people retiring and less young people getting into car repair. The average age at this one fleamarket must be 60.
I’m still kicking myself for passing up a vise at a yard sale two years ago.
I still kick myself for not grabbing the bandsaw from the junk yard. Cost was $10.00. Complete with motor , wiring, bulb & blade. It worked. But alas I had no place to keep it. Same as today.
My neighbor next door has 3 FULL large toolboxes filled with wrenches,sockets etc. when I asked how he could afford them he said that he buys snap on, Mac, etc used at flea markets and when they break they get replaced for free. Smart guy
Quite a few years ago, we built a weekend cabin in north Georgia. I had a very good set of tools in rollaround cabinets at our primary house from sports car racing days, some 1950 Craftsman pieces inherited from my father. I started searching craigslist (and yard sales of course) and bought two upper and lower boxes with partial sets of tools. Also bought groups of tools without boxes. Prices from $50 to $200. I’m now retired and in a single house/garage. The extras have been used to assemble tool sets for children of friends just starting out; sold one box with tools for a bargain price to a mechanic starting out. These can be true legacies.