Used Tools Work Just as Well
While Home Improvement and tool specialty stores offer the best selections of all types of tools, an often overlooked option for getting the tools you is buying them second-hand. So I was thinking, what better place to look than Craigslist?
I took a quick look at our local (Baltimore) Craigslist tools section. All I can say is: Wow. There were A LOT more tools for sale than I expected. And, there weren’t just tools. For instance, I found this Home Depot $50 Store Credit Card listed for $40. If you’re like me (in this case meaning a substantial part of your income goes to the big box home improvement chains), that’s like someone handing me a $10 just for driving to their house! Who knows, I might even be able to bargain the guy down to $35. I didn’t see one tonight, but I’ve also heard of people selling the 10% off coupons HD sends in the mail - usually for $10-$15. Those are good for up to $200 off at HD. It’s worth checking your local listings before you make that next big purchase.
Any other ideas? Besides the obvious borrowing from family and friends, any other good ideas for where to get tools on the cheap?
February 5th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
I have to agree on the craigslist option, even though friends and family is always the cheapest option. I find that eBay, the pennysaver and yard sales are all also good options. You often find moving, divorce or estate sales are the best place to pick up tools. I have also come across a couple of “handymen” in past years that are selling off tools due to lack of need or money, you normally find these types of things in news papers or at least that is where I have seen them myself. Discount coupons, outlets and places like harbor freight tend to be the next best option for getting cheap new tools in my experience.
February 6th, 2008 at 7:31 am
Be careful with the gift certificates… make sure you meet at Home Depot or where ever to verify the amount… AND you spend it right away. Even if they verify the amount with you, if you don’t spend it they can still drain it with online purchases using the numbers on the card. If the 3 numbers on the back are still covered (not scraped off) you are pretty safe from this, though.
I’ve been finding cheap tools at Habitat, of course… also, I’ve gotten a few to keep or borrow off of freecycle.
Borrowing a tool (expesically an expensive tool) can be a good option, and a great way to make a community. It works especially well if people in the same neighborhood each buy one not so used but oh so important tool, and then share them out.
February 6th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Forgot to add my FAVORITE place for used tools! Pawn shops. There are all sorts of tools there… you can generally bargain them down to something like 50% of retail for a new looking tool, to 10% for a beat up version.
We have our $8 jigsaw, our $20 table saw, and our $15 solid wood (the laminated kind) level and plumb.
February 6th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Great idea to use craigslist. We use kijiji quite often for the same reason. My husband bought a nailer (I think that is the right term…to nail hardwwod floors??) We are going to resell it after using it for our floors. Thanks for visiting my blog the other day!
February 6th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Andrew: really good tips! I hadn’t even thought of looking for handymen divesting themselves of tools. (Although I’ve frequently asked my father when he’s going to finally hand over the proverbial hammer - he told me when I can pry it from his cold, dead hands). Some handymen never part with their tools.
Jennifer: Good tip on the gift certificates. I know that you should call the number on the back when you obtain the gift card. I would think you have some recourse options if you know where the person lives. (At least, I wouldn’t want to sell someone a bum card if they came to my house to get it). I’m looking forward to making a run to the habitat restore. Its about 25 miles away from my house, so its not really convenient, but from the sounds of it, it will be worth the trip. I agree on borrowing tools, and was actually going to look online for any borrowing communities - the idea just makes sense to me. And, an $8 jig is a GREAT deal.
forever and ever house: The tool is probably a hardwood flooring nailer. I used to think these were called toe nailers, but I couldn’t find anything to back that up online. HWF nailers tend to be expensive (upwards of $300). So if you got a good deal, that’s great!