Just for the heck of it, this afternoon I stopped by a pawn shop I drive by from time-to-time...it always appears busy so I stopped & spent a few minutes digging around in the loose socket bin...paid $.50 apiece for Craftsman sockets (& some of them were new)!

Craftsman rachets were $12.95-$14.95....I'm going back when Jerri's not with me & I have time to really go through the loose socket bins thoroughly.

That sounds good. I wish we had a Sears here... as it is I have to buy what I want and have my daughter pick it up or shipped to her, and then bring it over when she visits.

Kind of a hassle, but it cuts WAY down on the impulse buying....

I have picked up some good stuff at pawn shops from time to time. Of course there is a bunch of crap there too, but sometimes you get lucky.

Carolyn has got to the point that she asks me if we are stopping anywhere so she can sit in the car with a book while I am browsing

have you had any luck with pawn shops in Canada? I tend to find them pricy.

Pawn shops can be pricy, Hock shops and swap shops are a bit better

Went back today...just got through checking everything out in the Sears catalog...I searched bins for about 2 hours finding what appears to be new sockets, new ratchets, & new extensions....cost at pawn shop...$51.00, no tax....price through Sears...$160 & change plus tax!!

Sounds good...

My problem is that I've already got virtually everything I need and whatever is available second hand or new, unused is usually duplicates of what I've got.

So I look, but its mostly futile....

James, I admire your control. I, on the other hand, am a confirmed tool junkie and have duplicates of most of my tools. I carry a fairly complete selection in my travel kit for the car and also have a collection that I carry in a smaller box for those trips to the salvage yard etc. I'll have to check out the local pawn shop next time I'm by there. I've noticed the socket bin before but I was looking for power tools at the time and didn't stop and really sort through. A good idea on how to pick up some good quality items at a bargain for the trunk. Thanks Tony.

You are welcome, bill....guy at the pawn shop told me that the next time I come by, I should have a list of what I want - that way I won't continue to make duplicates....but, hey, you can never have too many 1/2"x3/8" drive sockets!

Mr. Autoist,

PUHLEEZE, do not let Mr. Tinster know the address of this pawnshop... Can you imagine how overloaded the rear suspension would be of his poor little "Amos" if he was turned loose on one of these tool fishing expeditions????

Mele Kalikimaka, Haouli Makahiki Hou!

Ron....did you see my answer to you in another thread, re: "Mele Kalikimaka, Haouli Makahiki Hou!" How was my Hawaiian?

Yup, just saw it after I posted this...

Mahalo, and Primo..

We have to speak Hawian now?? Aloha!

Stuart.

Aww man, the only Hawaiian I know I learned at the end of that movie "Grumpy Old Men".

But, James, some of them looked 'brand new'...& one of the ratchets had a place where the chromium plating was coming off...I took it to Sears y'day & they gave me a new one!

James, you also are an addict and we both need to attend some Tool Hoarders Anonymous meetings I guess. I also went from the "marijuana" of hand tools on to the harder items such as air tools and sheet metal tools. I almost have to have a direct injection into the veins now with a TIG welder or such to get a decent high.
I do admit I can still get a bit of a rush when I use my English wheel or hammer out some sheet metal with the mallets and shot bag though. Right now I'm on a maintenance routine of checking Craigslist for a MIG welder for a friend and almost daily e-mail coupons from Harbor Freight. Got a 20% off coupon from HF today and it's off to them tomorrow for a pipe expander or two to complete the set. My next wish from Santa will be for a third roll around triple stack tool box for those items that are overflowing right now. I've got it bad, bad, bad.

I also got the 20% coupon, bill....but, tomorrow's the Alabama-Florida football game so I'll be out of town!