What to bring to an auction?

also, remember to look for rust spots, only you can determine what is too much. Get there early enough to be able to be sure that electric tools can be plugged in and started. You might also take a small list of average prices of tools you would be most likely to want or find. There will always be stuff you didn’t think of and if you are not careful you will spend almost as much as you would spend on new stuff at the store. I love auctions. I have gotten good deals and spent too much. I try not to want it too bad. Easier said than done. I now set a limit before I start to bid on something. Mostly, I stick to it. Most important, have fun.

Is it inside or outside? Will you need a chair, umbrella? I take my husbands hunting seat, it has a compartment for drinks, a strap for carrying and folds up.

-- Berta in NC

Bring along a friend that’s strong, & has a pickup. <(:O)#

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

What Dick said, or maybe a big trailer. Honestly take a small flashlight, some fine grit sand paper (to see if rust comes off of the table of the band saw) and calibrate your fingers. When ever I go to an auction I look the tools over adn if it looks okay, I begine to dig deeper. I twist the knobs, pull the pullies and make sure all moving parts move. If you aren’t afraid of a little work, almost anything is salvagable. One thing I avoid is cracked cast iron. I know there are those that say it can be repaired, but I have never seen repaired case iron stand up to the abuse that regular cast iron can take.

One other thing to take is bug repellant to scare the bug away that you are about to be bitten by. Good luck and enjoy: I know I do.

-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.

Bring a awl(check welds,remove dust cacks),adjustable wrench and extra batterys.

You will really need to make sure the motor or motors are in very good condition. They can be expensive to repair or replace. Are parts going to be difficult to acquire? Rust is always a big concern. There are many brands of bandsaws. Above all, it is a good idea to try to target only items that you are familiar with. If unsure, do some research BEFORE going to an auction. Be aware that many of these auction houses put their own people in the crowd to bid up the items. Is that unethical? Yes, but very true. I have been to a few in the past and have experienced this type of game. If you see tools going for higher than expected prices you would be wise to just leave and scratch the auction and future dealings with that particular auction company.
are knives or blades going to be difficult to get? Has the machine been abused or maintained? Never pay more than 50% of original value. The older the machine the less one should pay. I am talking about auctions here. Only if you actually know the history of a particular machine should one be willing to pay a premium. DO NOT get caught up in the fever of the bidding.

Have fun and enjoy the day but be careful.

-- Oldworld, Fair Oaks, Ca

Thanks all for the advice.
Chair/umbrella…snacks decide spending limits prior to attending check
strong friend and pickup ...a great idea I’ll have to work on these ;-)
flashlight, sandpaper, finger calibration, avoid broken cast iron… check If the bugs are still active here it will take more than bug spray to keep em off its been sub 0 here once or twice already :-)
Awl, adjustable wrenches, extra batteries check
motor knowledge, shifty auctioneers, product knowledge check

having fun check

Thanks all, I appreciate the advice and I plan to keep my bidding in check and have priced out what dome new tools would cost so I hope to stay at most 50% of new less for older or more worn machines.

Having watched one fellow bid an ridiculous amount for a fly infested rain soaked tub of axle grease I very much intend to keep bidding fever in check.

Its late here and I’ve just got home from two days on the road (I think I am getting too old for that) I’m going to hit the hay and dream of a nice ‘nearly’ new bandsaw.

-- ....next big purchase is wood for the next project, Mark

Good luck, let us know what happens.

-- Maplewood, MN

Hello again,

Well rikkor in a word nothing happened. Jenn found the more complete auction listing in the morning’s paper and showed it to me… it was all small Craftsman stuff and not really worth driving an hour out and another back. So I stayed home and cleaned the shop and did yard work. I am kind of dissappointed that it wasn’t worth going to, but I am sure there will be others now that I am actively looking. Thanks again All for the advice.

-- ....next big purchase is wood for the next project, Mark

better than going there to find out. best of luck next time!

The auctions I go to you can preview the items for sale prior to the day of the auction. Find what you like, check it out. Write every thing you need in order to do some research for prices.
And don’t go above where your stop points is. Auction fever is bad news.
Good Luck

-- Ed Collinge- Edmonds, WA.

Mark,

Here is another website I spend a lot of time at. You can search your zip code and go from there.

-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.

Did you ever check craigslist?

You can shop for just about anything there.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

You need to be pretty un-streetwise or dumb to make too many mistakes just remember that there may be buyers fees as well as sellers, so watch out here with tax and buyers fees you need to ad on 25% to 30% to auction price check this as it may differ in America good luck and relax and have fun try to get wood if you can I got some good deals on wood but didn’t have enough money to make it very big with one sale I could have filled my house and yard with timber if I had a big enough vehicle, and taken more money. I did ok and filled the back of my estae car /station wagon for about $220 or thereabouts good luck and enjoy AlistaIR

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

Thanks Brian I will have to check out the Canadian site more thoroughly…thanks for the link.

Dick, I’ve tried craigslist here but have not yet had too much luck. I’ll keep trying though. Thanks.

Scotsman, I’m not sure what additional charges would be on an auction item. I am pretty sure that if they are used items there is no sales or federal taxes…I’ve no idea how auctions are run by my neigbours to the south though ;-)

-- ....next big purchase is wood for the next project, Mark