That old workbench at the habitat restore changed how I shop for tools

I grabbed a used craftsman vise for $15 there about 6 months ago. Thing must be from the 1970s, weighs like 40 pounds, and it works better than any new clamp I ever bought at Home Depot. It got me thinking about how much stuff we buy today is built to fall apart after a couple years. Now I spend more time at estate sales and pawn shops looking for the older stuff. Anyone else finding better deals on used gear than new?

2 comments

2 Comments

kellyg145d ago

That rusty old vise is a perfect example of what I've been telling my kids about tools. Jessica_dixon, you hit the nail on the head about that Stanley brace drill - my father in law gave me one from the 1940s and I use it more than my modern one for fine work. The metal just feels different, heavier and more solid, like they actually cared about making something that would last instead of just hitting a price point at the factory. Estate sales have become my Saturday morning routine now, and I've found complete tool sets from the 60s for less than the cost of a single cheap replacement part at the hardware store. It's not about being cheap, it's about respecting the craftsmanship that went into making these things in the first place.

jessica_dixon5d ago

Oh man, do I look like a total tool nerd if I say I get excited about old rusty vises now? I mean, my wife gives me so much side eye when I come home with another beat up plane or chisel from a garage sale. But honestly, I got this ancient Stanley brace drill that's probably older than my dad and it still drills straight holes better than my cheap cordless from Lowe's. It's like once you use something that was actually made to last, it's hard to go back to the flimsy plastic stuff. I'm not saying every old tool is gold, but I swear my grandpa's old socket set will outlive me, while my new Husky set already has a cracked ratchet.

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