Amazing Retired Mechanic's Estate Sale Tool Haul

[@KyloRen0127]

The 1/4 inch extension at 24:47 is a Craftsman branded one because of the V next to the word extension.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

You've got sharper eyes than me. I'll file it with my other Craftsman set pieces. Thanks!

[@KyloRen0127]

@floridarusticrepairs No problem, I'm glad to help you find another Craftsman tool to add to your collection!

[@greghomestead8366]

I thought the same as you that the work surface was just a flipped over drawer until you pointed out that there isn't a handle like the other ones. I sure enjoy your channel. My wife and I just started going to estate sales this January. I think we've been to a dozen or more. Lots of fun for new retirees. I started putting together some sockets sets to use in my outbuildings so I won't have to walk back to my main shop every time I need a tool. Have a Jesus filled day everyone Greg in Michigan

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks! I do the same thing. I've got a set in my trucks and a set at each workbench now. I still find myself grabbing my set which I've had since 1983 most of the time though. :)

[@MarzNet256]

Very cool boxes. The dividers inside the drawers are unique. Definitely quality units worth the effort to restore. Also, the modified extension was probably for a stripped inside square drain plug, and that Proto ratchet was reassembled backward.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks for the info! I'll need to go and fix that ratchet.

[@charlescox3535]

Those are the same kind of drawer slides that are on my snap-on KRA box from the 70s I'm sure other people use them but I think mbc made all the boxes for snap-on and a bunch of other ones during that time

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Yes, I agree! My guess would be that this is an MBC also. Just heavier duty than most of the ones I've come across.

[@michaelsurratt9593]

Starting off with the Supervisor, Outstanding!

[@floridarusticrepairs]

That's Mugsy. If I'm outside he wants to inspect what I'm doing.

[@rickhammar1636]

If you grind a hacksaw blade down & put a slight bend in it, it makes a great drawer removel tool. You'll have to heat the hacksaw blade to bend it or it will snap

[@michaellindsay8934]

What a bargain for $150 I would definitely restore the tool box. I got the two sets of books last week and I'm taking them up to my granddaughters in Indiana on Thursday. Really looking forward to seeing the restorations from this tool haul it's a lot of interesting stuff. Thanks for sharing your expertise

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thank you! I hope they enjoy the books! All of the characters in the books were real pets that I had. I had finished the battery charger before I even unloaded the Suburban so that video is coming up next. One my workshop is officially finished I'll be getting to all of the other tool rebuilds. I'm thinking of doing the B&D polisher first. I've never done one of those.

[@harryerhart5978]

I sold Vulcan tools in Buffalo NY a division of the J H Williams Buffalo NY also in New Port Richey Florida also J H Williams is still around they are owned by Snap On 👍👍

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks for the info! I've been gathering some Williams pieces to hopefully build a set. Now I know where Vulcan comes from.

[@harryerhart5978]

@@floridarusticrepairs great tools started in 1882 J H Williams is on Vulcan St in Buffalo NY were the name comes from😊

[@patricksquires77]

Man I would have purchased the box too early 😂… Hard to believe it did not sell sooner!

[@floridarusticrepairs]

I think it's because the other two tool box sets were in better shape and not nearly as heavy. Also, pricing this mismatched set at $175 was high for an estate sale. That being said, for $50 I wasn't going to say no. :)

[@whattherust]

Don't restore it. Bob's message to his coworkers should be preserved for generations to come.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

You weren't supposed to read that! 🤣

[@michaelsurratt9593]

Definitely hit that box with a power washer, sand and paint

[@floridarusticrepairs]

I've been thinking about doing this one. It's more work than most because of all of the drawers but if I pair it with my SK top box I'll have a cool home for any SK tools I come across.

[@ravenbarsrepairs5594]

Given the MAC sticker, I'd think it was an old MAC box. It you have sandblasting abilities, remove the drawers, then hit the exterior and any rusty bits with a sandblaster, than some high build primer(prehaps a couple coats), then sand the visible parts smooth and give it a paint job. The last sale of the type I visited, the guy had dies years before, and the house/shop was heavily mouse infested. The family had brought in an estate sale seller to sell everything remaining. She had no clue as to tool prices, so I was filling buckets and boxes, and making what I considered a reasonable offer, and all were accepted.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks! Did Mac make their own boxes or were those re-badged MBC? It looks a lot like the older MBC tool boxes I've come across. I've never seen a Mac box. Sounds like you had quite a haul at that sale. It's tough to beat the crowds around here but every now and then I get lucky.

[@ravenbarsrepairs5594]

I've got an old drain plug wrench, and the modified extension looks a lot like one of it's bits.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Could be. I kept it on the odd chance i figure it out and have a need for it. Thanks!

[@GuitarJourney1]

The stuff one can find is just crazy . . . .

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Yes. You just have to be willing to risk the drive. I've been to some duds but when you find one like this it's well worth it.

[@rightlanehog3151]

When will you be expanding your new garage to accommodate the tools, tool boxes and estate 'hauls'? 😉

[@floridarusticrepairs]

lol! I donate a lot of it out so I try to make sure there's room for treasure hunting.

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@floridarusticrepairs All in all, tool collecting and restoration are relatively affordable and harmless hobbies. If at some point the garage needs to be expanded, so be it.

[@TheDodge610]

That is a definite resture able project

[@floridarusticrepairs]

I think so. I'm thinking of pairing it with my SK branded box to make a full set. Of course then I'd be tempted to paint them both green.

[@TheDodge610]

@@floridarusticrepairs Go for it i custom color all mt restorations to make them one of a kind

[@markthompson666]

I need to know your secret to finding old tools and tool boxes. I live in a city of 250,000 and I can’t find squat. Flea market, Facebook only have recently made used tools that they be wanting retail prices for. And I can’t find any estate sales in my area. I would love to find a 1950’s tool chest. Anyway I enjoy watching your tool hauls and I definitely can’t wait to see a restore on the tool chest. Cheers from NC.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Hi Mark, I guess part of my success is that i live in somewhat rural FL so there's a lot of older tools here and FL is also where people are retiring/dying/downsizing more. i look on Marketplace and Craigslist twice a day. We also have two excellent flea markets nearby. For estate sales go to estatesales.net and enter in your zip code. Sometimes you get lucky at those. If you happen to be in Florida, I've got a few older tool boxes around I'm willing to part with.

[@whattherust]

Auto swap meets are a good place. NC has lots of them, and there is a big one coming up soon in Moultrie, GA.

[@patricksquires77]

Hey Mark - I have learned to appreciate many listings types that I used to be annoyed by. -My recent favorite - The bad lazy blurry photo listings and stuff like that… these people likely are not getting allot of inquiries thus available to you & they likely take less than retail cause its a low effort/ no pride in it / just want gone thing. -The way way way over priced listing. This sometimes is a unreasonable seller… BUT sometimes is just a very uninformed seller or just marked high to negotiate. You never really know… but again.. their not getting much action due to crazy price. You can often just reach out to them anyways and be like - hey thats a cool box - my hobby is collecting them and fixing em up (or whatever). I generally pay x for something like that one and describe that one with its good and bad - would that work for you? Just make it lower and bump it to what you would pay if they say no. Don’t be embarrassed to ask. Way overpriced listings are coin flip in my experience which are not bad odds. -The above two together is an absolute waste of time as expected THEN the biggest haul ever the next. -Search for estate in vehicle listings and sometimes there is a car listed and it says ‘part of an estate’. Just ping em - nice car an you noticed its part of an estate. Mention that you live nearby and your looking for x - maybe with photo of types of toolboxes/tools your looking for in your hobby. Wish em a nice day and best luck selling the car. -FB Marketplace is a stinker for searching and seeing most recent listings. Watch some yt videos on hacking marketplace searches. I have learned to not trust sorting closest and recent etc. The date listed filter of last 24 hr s is best to see everything and just scroll through search results occasionally. -Definitely setup FB marketplace search alerts.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

@@patricksquires77 I agree that Facebook search is a waste of time. Another thing about facebook is that if you see an ad and then five minutes later want to find it again, good luck. Unless you've saved it as a favorite it's nearly impossible to find. Another lousy "feature" is if you are in a category like vehicles and you enter a vehicle name, half of what it gives you isn't even vehicle related. Your description of the burry photo ads is great. There's been an add for a toolbox with tools listed near me for months and it's got a blurry video that is supposed to show what's in the draws but somehow doesn't because the camera moves too fast and isn't aimed well. I've never heard of "Search alerts". Thanks for the tip!

[@michaelsurratt9593]

Yes, restore the box!

[@floridarusticrepairs]

I'm thinking yes as well. I have an old SK top box that appears to be also made by the same company so I may make an SK set.

[@huntercromwell7620]

Not sure if anyone has said this, but on the bottom right of the back panel on that box there will be a part number which should indicate it’s a snap on.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks for the info! I'll check it.

[@robertmiller-yj4or]

Do you ever clear coat your restored toolboxes? Love your videos. Keep them coming.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Good question. I have not. The hammered paint i usually apply is tough as nails and has a decent gloss to it. The Rustoleum performance red also gives me a nice shine when i apply enough coats. Do you think clear coating would toughen up the finish?

[@robertmiller-yj4or]

@floridarusticrepairs Honestly I haven't tried it yet.I think I will on my next box. I was just wondering if you had. Thanks for replying. Please keep the videos coming. Merry Christmas.

[@jonpeters2700]

You need a sand blaster to get rid of the rust.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Yes. Something I haven't got but maybe someday I'll come across one. One thing I like about restoring these boxes with Hammered Paint though is that it seals over rust and doesn't require primer. It makes restoring a rusted box like this mostly a matter of sanding and painting as opposed to trying to strip it to bare metal. Several of these that I've done had actual rot holes in the chassis. I guess when you consider that they're 50+ years old it's understandable.

[@unimog401]

I think that proto ratchet the anvil is on the wrong side it should be flipped around

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks! I'll be flipping that back when i clean it out.

[@jonpeters2700]

Brake fluid helps loosen rust.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks for the tip! I've used Mystery Oil but never brake fluid. Interesting.

[@jonpeters2700]

@@floridarusticrepairs Back in the early 80s I had the rear brake drums on a 74 Duster that would not release from the hubs because of rust. A neighbor told me that if I put some brake fluid on the hub around the joint that the brake fluid would loosen the rust and let it be removed, and it worked.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

@@jonpeters2700 Thanks for the tip. I spent 38 years in MA dealing with rusty cars. I even had aluminum brake drums stuck on a 1961 Buick. I wish I had known that trick.

[@91Z50]

Great tool haul! The box looks real beefy. Do you have a link for the casters you used. Thanks for the video

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks! Here's the link: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BG9PG211/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?

[@oldschooltunervw]

I would say mac, take the top drawer out and see if it has a model number on the back wall of the box

[@floridarusticrepairs]

That's a great idea! When i restore the box I'll need to take the drawers out so I should be able to see it. Thanks!

[@Jcdrums6781]

Yes you should restore the old tool box

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks! I'm thinking of matching the lower box with my upper SK and making a set. Maybe even go green...paint, I mean.

[@Jcdrums6781]

I would go green because I think it would look really good on it

[@Jcdrums6781]

Also at a estate sale I bought a snap on tool box full of tools for 25$ with craftsmen top box

[@floridarusticrepairs]

@@Jcdrums6781 Wow! That's an awesome deal! you never know what you'll find out there.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

@@Jcdrums6781 Thanks for the input. I want to see how it'll look.

[@hughdudley1792]

Top box is a Snap-On Kra 53.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks for the info!

[@michaelsurratt9593]

With all those Action tools, after restoring the box and the tools, maybe put all of that brand in one of the drawers.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Great idea! I've been separating out the brands to build sets and I don't have an Action set yet. So far I've got drawers for Fleet, P&C, Williams, Proto and Indestro. No full sets of any yet though except maybe Proto.

[@michaelsurratt9593]

@@floridarusticrepairs yeah, separating them into drawers by brands helps with organization for sure

[@mavision6525]

My vote is to restore the tool box and the two Craftsman tools and the BD.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks! Will do! I'll eventually get to the tools. The box may be sooner though.

[@markkomminsk3592]

Get some Kroil penetrating oil expensive but the best you can get.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks for the info! I've never used it but I'll take your recommendation.

[@seenithere]

Yes Plz restore the boxes.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Will do. I'm thinking of making this the lower box to my SK set. Of course then I may want to paint it green. 🤔

[@rightlanehog3151]

Please keep the plate joiner, let "The New Yankee Workshop" videos inspire you to put it to use. Please restore the American made power tools. Tool restoration videos are a permanent resource to help extend the lifespan of irreplaceable domestic tools.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

My friend Tyron does a lot of projects with me. If I don't keep it, I'll donate it to his shop since he's close by. I'll check out the New Yankee Workshop. As a former Massachusetts yankee myself I bet I'll enjoy it.

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@floridarusticrepairs The host Norm Abram used the Porter-Cable plate joiner on nearly every project.

[@michaelsurratt9593]

Gasoline candy! Lol

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Yes. Never smelled anything like it before. I wonder what was coating the tools stored in this one.

[@josephphillips865]

I don't think I'll ever understand why every old timers box has 40 different brands of sockets and wrenches rather than any complete sets.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

I agree! I thought I was just a bit obsessive compulsive but I don't like to mix brands in a set unless absolutely necessary.

[@josephphillips865]

@@floridarusticrepairs The only exception I've seen was a tool lot I recently purchased from an estate. Almost every single tool was Sears/Craftsman.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

@@josephphillips865 That sounds like a good haul!

[@christoperspeer2300]

Restore the red tool box!!!!!!!!!!

[@floridarusticrepairs]

I plan on it but have not gotten to it yet. For now the bottom is storing my SK tools. The top is in my workshop somewhere.

[@genesmith-x7x]

restore it.

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks! That seems to be the most popular choice. Now to figure out what color. Hammered is a lot easier to work with but doesn't come in red.

[@rickhammar1636]

If you grind a hacksaw blade down & put a slight bend in it, it makes a great drawer removel tool. You'll have to heat the hacksaw blade to bend it or it will snap

[@floridarusticrepairs]

Thanks for the info. I've tried that but have not had much luck with it. I guess I'll try it again. Removing these drawers is a skill for sure.