Tips For Finding Cheap Used Gear For Homesteading And Survival

Looking for cheap survival gear, homesteading tools or crafting supplies? But your broke as hell and can’t afford to keep up with all the gear whores. You need to score some Cheap Used Gear gear my friend.

My definition of used gear is not buying from a retailer of new merchandise. Used, scratch and dent and resellers will all provide a huge discount over new. Sometimes items will be new in packaging from the places I talk about.

There are several places to find Cheap Used tools. I recently found some great deals. This is part of the reason for this post. When you score a great deal you want to share it with your buddies.

Learn To Haggle

For finding cheap used gear you are going to have to haggle. These second-hand markets require you to haggle. Or pay more.

Many of the vendors, especially the old timers, want you to haggle. They will often say a really high price just to see if you will begin the haggling process.

This will result in one of three actions. You will leave. You will pay the asked price. Sucker. Or the haggling will commence.

To haggle you can ask if they are willing to come down on the price. Or you can give them a counter offer. They will either say that the prices are firm or work with you.

No harm in asking. Never be afraid to ask.

Flea Markets

The only thing I don’t like about the flea market where I live is that it is only once a month. Maybe a good thing for my wallet, though.

Earlier this month I scored a club hammer and my first chisel. My girlfriend got me the chisel for $6 bucks and I got the hammer for $10.

I saw several Stanley planes for a decent price. Some were in more or less good shape. Many would require a lot of work to restore. And is a point to leverage in the haggling process.

At this flea market, there is always a ton of old cast iron. Look around a lot before buying. Some will be cleaned and seasoned. Some will be rusted badly. If the rust is only on the surface then cleaning isn’t bad.

The prices will vary greatly on cast iron cookware. Some of the sellers will price on collectability. You want cheap used gear to use not to collect.

Flea markets are a treasure trove for homesteading tools. They should have plows, draw knives, shovels, picks, chainsaws. Not blowing all your money will be the hardest part.

Thrift Stores

You can find some really great cheap used gear at thrift stores. It will vary on the store and location. The things being donated come from the community they are in. So if the area is full of hipsters don’t expect the best stuff.

Some of my best thrift store finds have come from the Goodwill stores closest to FT Campbell army base. You will find army surplus pop up in there on occasion. I got my combat boots

I got my combat boots for $10 in a thrift store.

In one thrift store in Nashville, I found a grab bag of kerlix gauze for my first aid kit for three bucks.

The majority of my cold weather gear like wool shirts and under armor clothes have come from thrift stores.

Yard Sales

On the Survivalpunk Punks Facebook group, we do weekly challenges. On a recent one, we did survival gear for $20 challenge.

For my entry, I built a bugout Bag with change left over. A big part of the build, the bag and cook system, came from a yard sale for only $1.50

In the past, I have found ammo for sale at yard sales.

A lot of time you can score camping supplies at yard sales. People buy it and never use it. It sits around for years till they sell it. Usually for a steal.

As with thrift stores, location is everything with finding cheap used gear at a yard sale. Some of my best finds have been in going to the richest areas. The prices are usually the lowest and the gear is the best.

Scrap Yards

I’m new to using scrap yards but I’m becoming a fan. I’ve been to a few metal scrap yards and got some great materials.

The ballistics plate I made came from an I-beam bought at one. I paid $30 for a 100-pound chunk of metal. I still have a bunch left for my anvil project.

They don’t just have junk metal but odds and ends. Like sinks, pots, weights, and rain gutters. All for crazy low prices.

One I went to had a section for bikes and grills. Most of them looked to be in working condition.

Besides cheap used gear you can find some great building supplies at them. You can get metal for knife making.

Scratch And Dent Stores

These stores can be hit or miss for finding cheap used gear. They are more retail store than a flea market and you can’t haggle.

Some of the deals are great. Some are not even a good deal.

The items change regularly and in many the prices will drop the longer the merchandise sits. Keep your eyes out and you may find a great deal.

I got an all glass water bottle for $2 recently. It is very thick glass. At a normal retail store, it would go for around $8.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I have given you several ways for you to find cheap used gear. A lot of it is in what you’re looking for.

The flea market is the best for finding tools. If you need some homesteading tools and are short on cash try your local flea market. Don’t forget to haggle with the vendors.

If you are looking for clothing then my pick is in thrift stores. The prices on great quality clothes can’t be beaten. Like a car being driven off the lot the value of clothing plummets once they are worn.