Our long time member - John Frame - put together this comprehensive list and information about buying and selling used tools. You won't find better info out there!
Grab a cup of coffee (or a beer!) and put your feet up - this is a long one!
Locally sourced tools.
I should point out that we live in the desert. Literally, and figuratively a tool desert. With that said, when it comes to the used tool market, there is just not much here.
Lets not forget, we do have this nice Woodcraft here. And I buy a fair bit here. However, for me and my budget, I have had to rely on the used tool market as I started to play with the whole hand tool idea. I started with old Stanleys. And I now have mixed a little bit of modern tools into my inventory when the deal was there. And a few custom makers when I could afford to splurge a little.
So, Let's talk a little about Facebook. I was just about to delete my account. A few years back I actually deactivated it for about 6 months. I came back after a kid (ha-ha!) showed me how to unfollow, and filter out most of the BS I was seeing. I then discovered a vast woodworking community here. And there is a woodworking group for everything you can imagine. Brands, sales, restorations, just to name a few. it just goes on forever. Not all are that good, so you have to figure that out.
So I decided to dive into hand tool woodworking, and found a couple Facebook groups right away. One was about tips and tricks on restoring old rusty tools. Another was a parts supplier. This led me to a group called CIHI - which stands for “can I have it” - it’s a vintage tool and auction group.
And it has sort of blown up from there. For the most part, I am following maybe 20 groups now. And many of the same people are in all these groups. I won a couple auctions on CIHI and discovered local estate auctions. With that I started picking tools for fun. With the local auctions. Tools are sold in lots, so I would have to buy several tools to get the one I wanted.
Then I started selling the tools I did not want on CIHI. That led to FB marketplace, Offerup, and a little bit on eBay. And honestly, for me it has gotten a little out of hand. I find myself flipping tools instead of woodworking. So I have really cut back.
But, if you want to find tools locally. This group right here (the Sin City Woodworkers) is a good start. Ask ourselves do we have any tools to sell? Over on CIHI, we have Teaser Tuesday where we post recent tools we pick, and that are available to buy outright, or post in the weekend auction, and wishlist Wednesday where you have the opportunity to ask the group if they have what you are looking for. As I write this, CIHI is a little over 16.5k members now. That's just crazy.
But our little group here can have some hidden gems too. And as many know we tend to do a community tool/yard sale about once a year.
Part of the FB community led me to James Write, aka Wood by Wright. He has good Youtube content, funny, and his website. He has created a Hand tool finder resource. If you go to his web site, https://www.woodbywright.com/ And go to the resources tab. you will find tool events, A tool finder map, that's places to find hand tools all over the world. Lumber finders, clubs and groups, and trusted online sellers.
Before I head out on a road trip… I check his tool finder map. And maybe a pit stop is in order at some antique shop? And of course if you find a tool source that is not on the map. Just drop him an email, and the maps will get updated. Mention MWTCA Midwest Tool Collectors Association. https://mwtca.org They have tool meets all over the country. I have not made it to any of them yet. But it is on my list. James Writes YouTube channel covers them.
Ok, on to where to buy tools and what to watch out for.
Tool sales sites, no auctions here. These two guys are professional tool resellers. They buy and sell just about any hand tool you can imagine. And some you can't. And they both post new tools daily. I have bought a few tools from Jim Bode, and have chatted with Michael Rouillard a few times. But I have yet to buy from him. Most of what they sell will be top grade, and may be priced to reflect that. But I have found Jim Bodes prices to be about right with what the market is. You have to watch Michael, he can have a good deal, but he can be a little greedy too. So it is alway important to know what the tool you are looking at is actually worth.
https://www.jimbodetools.com/collections/whats-new
https://michaelrouillardtools.com/
Here we have pretty much the same as above, but they are both auction sites. Martin Donnelly, or Mjd is my favorite. And I have given him most of my tool money in the past year. He tends to only have a single photo posted to bid off of. But the descriptions are good. And if you get something that is not what they promised. It is returnable. That has not happened to me so far. You can call them and ask questions if need be. I have not been disappointed with any of my purchases. They tend to have auctions on the 1st Tuesday and Wednesday of each month. Some months skipped. And then in July they have a three day event live in Avoca, New York. However the July auction has the same pre bidding that starts about two weeks early. And the live auction runs Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. These live auctions broadcast on their website, and you can bid live from your phone or PC at home. Since this is live, Hammer strike wins the lot. First Tuesday and Wednesday are timed auctions with a two minute soft close. https://mjdtools.nextlot.com/auctions
Fine tool, or Brown auction is ok. But I don't like the format. And the one lot I have won here…. turned out to have a broken tool. So buyer beware.
And while it is online Proxy bidding, on the closing day online bidding stops, and a live auction takes place. I had a Proxy bid for a tool for $325 and was winning at $290 when online bidding closed. I could not make it to the east coast for the live auction. And the tool sold for $326.
https://www.finetoolj.com/
Fine Tool Journal.net
Then we have eBay. This site is a love/hate for me. But I use it all the time. Buying here can be tricky. Some great deals to be had on occasion. But BUYER BEWARE. Watch the photos! If you see an ad for a tool with 10+ nice and clear photos, chances are you have a reputable seller. But often there will be tools with few, and or dark photos that are hard to really see what you are bidding on. Or they have photos, but missing key views. Like why are there no photos of the bottom or the right side of that hand plane. Ask the buyer for more and or better photos. Sometimes you get lucky and have a seller that just does not know what they are doing. But more often than not, it's a seller trying to hide the true condition of the tool.
I have picked a few good tools here. But lost or skipped 50 more. So good auction sites like Mjd.com have what is called soft closing. This varies a bit, but typically means that any bid inside the last two minutes starts a two minute clock over again. so you can not wait till the last 10 seconds, and make a last second bid and win. eBay does not have this. On eBay, when the clock runs out, it's over. And you will have a winning bid of lets say $50 on a $300 tool. and think you are getting a great deal. and BAM, with seconds to go, ten others bid on it and it sells for $190. You can enter a max bid. Let's say you are winning at $50, but you are willing to pay $210. You can prebid it, and if someone bids against you. It will keep you as the winner by $1, until your max number is reached. https://www.ebay.com/
So that was all the trouble, or my hate with eBay. Now here is the Love where eBay has a good tool. Just about everything gets sold here at one time or another. So you are shopping for a tool, and you see it anywhere. Seller wants X price for it, or you are on an auction site and wonder how high should i bid? Well, type any tool into Ebay's search bar. And instantly you will see asking prices. Remember, I can ask any price I want. No matter how ridiculously high it may be.
But on a PC, scroll down the left side column. These are filters, and you will find a sold tab. Click on that, and you will see what the tool has sold for in the past. And if that tool has 4 or 5 sales, you now have a good price range to consider.
On an Android device, Search, and then filters are top right. scroll down and hit show more, and then you will see the sold tab.
Sorry apple users, you are on your own. lol.
So that covers most of the places I buy tools, aside from Facebook. And let's talk a bit more about facebook.
All sorts of woodworking groups, and I will list off a few of my favorites here. Many of these you have to join the group. No Cost, ever! Just to maintain a good environment. We have rules to follow, but they are simple. And differ some with each group.
So I covered CIHI pretty well, https://www.facebook.com/groups/CanIHaveItToolAuctions
If you start selling, then there is a second group for the sellers to help each other out. https://www.facebook.com/groups/cihisellerscollective
And then there are groups like this one. I have yet to buy from anyone here, but I check it every now and then. https://www.facebook.com/groups/antiquetoolsbuyselltrade. and here too, https://www.facebook.com/groups/685470101557006
And here is a Stanley tool restoration site. but you can ask about fixing any old rusty hand tool. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1465213087054992
And then you will always find tools that are missing parts. Just plane fun, the parts division. This is Michael Jenks Business page. if you need a part for an old hand tool. This is the place to go. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1690633051116716 Careful though, Depending on the part. It can be cost prohibitive. The individual pieces are often worth more than a complete tool.
I can go on and on, but I'll just post these last two. I like Veritas tools, And this group is Veritas tool nerds. lol. And the second is Fans of Lie Nielsen.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/veritastools
https://www.facebook.com/groups/42683402827
So below are some of my favorite websites.
And a few you tube channels.
https://www.woodbywright.com/antique-tools
https://mwtca.org/
https://www.timetestedtools.net/
https://paulsellers.com/
You have ever had questions about a tool, here is a couple of good sites.
helps id what you have.
https://virginiatoolworks.com/
http://www.hansbrunnertools.com/Stanley%20by%20numbers/Stanley%20History.htm
leevalley.com
https://www.lie-nielsen.com
YouTube...
So I already talked about Wood by Wright, But here is his YouTube link.
I'm not really into his projects. But he has had many tips and tricks sort of stuff that as a new hand tool guy. I have found it to be good info.
https://www.youtube.com/@WoodByWrightHowTo
This one is Jamie Harpester, Bat Cave creations. He also runs the Veritas tool nerds Facebook page. And that will be self explanatory on his channel. lol.
He has a ton of Veritas tool reviews, and comparisons to other brands.
He also has a brand new 501c that is just getting going. So you may see you tube content, from Plain Wellness. He will be offering woodworking courses for individuals with Mental Health Diagnosis (anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc.)
There are also good guest videos by Shea Alexander.
https://www.youtube.com/@BatCaveCreations/videos
