Old Tools Worth Money: What to Look for in a Garage or Workshop

Don't throw out the tools

Every time I walk into a garage during an estate sale setup, I hold my breath. Because half the time, the family was about to throw everything in a dumpster. And half the time, there's $500 to $2,000 worth of tools in there.

Hand tools that collectors want

Stanley hand planes, especially the No. 4 and No. 5 bench planes. If they're pre-1960 with the original blades, collectors will pay $40 to $150 each. We sold a set of six at a Beaverton sale and they were the first things out the door.

Chisels and gouges from brands like Buck Brothers, Greenlee, and Stanley. A good set in a wooden box can go for $75 or more.

Wrenches and socket sets from Snap-on, Mac, and Matco. These hold value like nothing else. Working mechanics and hobbyists buy them at estate sales because they're cheaper than retail but still last forever.

Power tools

DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Makita are the brands people ask about before the doors even open. Table saws, miter saws, drill presses, routers. If it works and it's a known brand, it sells.

Even older Craftsman stuff from the Sears era has a following. The quality dropped after they moved manufacturing overseas, so the older American-made pieces are actually more desirable.

The weird stuff that sells

Machinist tools. Micrometers, calipers, dial indicators. These are precision instruments and people pay accordingly.

Anvils. If there's a blacksmithing anvil in the barn, that's $200 to $500 depending on weight and brand.

Old hand-crank drills, brace and bits, drawknives. Woodworkers doing traditional joinery snap these up.

What's not worth much

Harbor Freight anything. Rusted beyond function. Tools with cracked handles that can't be replaced. Random bins of mismatched screws and nails. We'll still sell them, just for a dollar or two.

Before you clean out that garage

Walk through it first or have us take a look. We've found valuable things buried under tarps at sales in Hillsboro, McMinnville, and everywhere in between. The walkthrough is free and takes about 20 minutes.