what handtools to buy at the boot sales

[00dannyboy]

I have moved to england specifically RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk. I want to frequent the boot sales and pick up hand tools.

I would like to know what names to look for. Ive heard the Norris infill planes are highly sought after. dont know if i'll find one though. also, i plan on looking in the antique shops.

any other advice wold be appreciated.

cheers,

dan

 

[Timmo]

Well I was at Chelford Car boot fair last weekend and the first stall I went to I found a nice old Record Imp 80 vice in a box full of other tools...Had an MOD stamp on and the date 1950..Jaws were nice and fitted well. I asked the chap how much he wanted for it, thinking he would sting me for a tenner or more and he said he wanted £3 I almost bit his hand off. Walked around the rest of the boot fair and couldn't find a single other thing worth getting..but I was happy!
Have a look on e bay for some of the older tools..there are usually loads on there and the prices don't go too high...I picked up an old Marples No. 5 plane one there for less than a tenner if I recall correctly..

 

[dennis]

Dan

Are you looking for tools to use or collect it will be much harder to find real collectibles but the beauty of car boots is that anything can turn up you just have to be in the right place at the right time but I have found that everyone is getting more knowledeable now with the internet and telly programmes so real bargains are harder to come by but can still be there,2 weeks ago I got a 1 inch splitproof marples chisel hardly used for 20p and the same stall sold a stanley and rapier smoother and plumb hammer for 50p each so get looking.I think that you will struggle to find a real bargain in an antique shop but you never know.ther are lots of names to look for other members will tell you more than I can.

Good luck

Dennis

 

[Smudger]

You're not going to find a Norris at a boot sale unless your middle name is Midas!

But, I got a Record T5 for £30, some nice chisels, a couple of smoothers and a Stanley router. I've also seen broken, rusted, ruined rubbish at the same price.

Mostly, now, I go to old tool shops. You don't get the annoying patter of someone who automatically takes you for an silly person, and the condition (of the tools) is usually better. You can also ask that the owner keeps an eye out for certain items for you (I got a Record vice and a tool chest that way) and keeps you in mind.

Or there's eBay. I got a nice cutting gauge for £2 a week ago (and missed a Marples rosewood bevel for £6). Planes on eBay can be a bit of a lottery, ime.

If you are in Suffolk you will be close to Tony Murland at Needham Market.

 

[Harbo]

Ray Isles sells old tools - he is based at Horncastle, Lincs.

http://www.oldtools.free-online.co.uk/

Rod

 

[bugbear]

If you are in Suffolk you will be close to Tony Murland at Needham Market.

Not venue for bargains, IMHO. You'd do better at the nearby Saturday car boot.

BugBear

 

[lurker]

Dan,

I reckon you could do a lot worst than sucking up to Ol BB.

evidently he is something of a Car boot warrior

PS: I believe he has a reputation for being a bit of a git :lol:

 

[woodbloke]

lurker wrote:

PS: I believe he has a reputation for being a bit of a git

...but being based at Mildenhall, I guess you're from the other side of the pond, so some exploratory work may be required to find out what lurker means :lol: :lol: - Rob

 

[lurker]

Yeah Robs right, frinstance:

BB says in his last post "IMHO" this means "In my Humble opinion" which is a bit of an oxymoron when uttered by BB :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Racers]

Hi, 00dannyboy

"6 planes for a tenner" Lurker gould give you some tips on collecting as well :wink:


Pete

 

[lurker]

Pete,

Yeah well I got lucky :lol:
right place at the right time - in the pub! 8)

However its all very well finding the things what us learners need is someone to help sort the wheat from the chaff and as I say, Dan could do much worst than BB.

 

[bugbear]

Yeah Robs right, frinstance:

BB says in his last post "IMHO" this means "In my Humble opinion" which is a bit of an oxymoron when uttered by BB :lol: :lol: :lol:

Yep; never knowingly wrong.

But then, who is?

BugBear

 

[Racers]

Hi, Lurker

Not objecting to the term "collector" then? :wink:


Pete

 

[cambournepete]

There's an antiques place not far from Mildenhall in Ely that usually has quiote a lot of reasonable old tools.
It's near the river opposite The Maltings.

 

[00dannyboy]

thanks all,

i'll be hunting for whatever i can find the whole time im here. i've hit up a few antique stores and one boot sale thus far and have found nothing. i believe that once you include all the money spent on petrol, you'll have paid for the tool in full.

cheers,

dan

 

[Racers]

Hi, 00dannyboy

Buying new is o/k but you don't get the thrill of the chase :wink:


Pete

 

[big soft moose]

Yeah Robs right, frinstance:

BB says in his last post "IMHO" this means "In my Humble opinion" which is a bit of an oxymoron when uttered by BB :lol: :lol: :lol:

Yep; never knowingly wrong.

But then, who is?

BugBear

I don't know about that - I'm often wrong but never uncertain

and on subject - tools for self reliance (who take old tools and ship them to the third world) sometimes sell off the more interesting of their donations and reinvest the cash in more useful (to their clients) modern kit

i got a nice big hefty round nosed scraper from them - while a mate got a treadle lathe !

 

[bugbear]

and on subject - tools for self reliance (who take old tools and ship them to the third world) sometimes sell off the more interesting of their donations and reinvest the cash in more useful (to their clients) modern kit

i got a nice big hefty round nosed scraper from them - while a mate got a treadle lathe !

I hope (for once) they weren't a bargain

BugBear