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Garage Sale / Flea Market Shopping List

You can get a lot of neat stuff at a garage sale. I'm going to try to explain the techniques I use to get stuff at them. Not everything here is stained glass related, since I mainly get tools at the sales, but knowledge is knowledge.

Here's a list of things you can buy that's stained glass related, along with approximate prices of what it should be new, and what to expect to pay at the sale.

1. Glass gems - go to where ever the jewelry is. Mostly you'll find chandelier gems, but sometimes you'll find odds and ends that may be glass and could be used in this field. You'll usually find them as an ugly ring or a button. Chandelier gems are around $2.00 to $10.00 (retail price). So at a garage sale anything under $2.00 is usually OK. Of course cheaper is better, I just got a whole bunch of 38mm tear drop, dicroic, faceted, chandelier gems at $.75 each. Of course I wish it were lower.

   The hardest part in buying them, is figuring out what is glass and what is plastic. Just remember these points:

   • If it's a cool day this little trick helps. Glass is usually cooler to the touch then plastic.
   • The next test is to click the gem against something that is glass. If it makes click sound then it's glass. To hear the correct noise, hit to marbles together; that's the noise you want to hear. Plastic makes a different noise.
   • Glass generally is more refractive, especially if it's a high quality crystal. You'll see that extra sparkle, internal mirror refractions, and prismatic displays (tiny built in rainbows).
   • Plastic usually looks a little scratched; glass is more or less free of those imperfections. However, if it's made of Lexan, these types of tests may not be effective. However, I haven't seen jewels made of the stuff.

2. Hand Tools - things like pliers (except breaking pliers), and other tools, are likely to be found at a garage sale. Other tools, such as hemostats and Dremel bits, can be found at flea markets. although you may have to do some work in re-conditioning them. They may come rusted or filthy, but that's usually how you can get a better price. Cost is around .25 to $1.00 to $2.00 unless you can get it in a package deal.

3. Rocks, shells, agates, etc.:
   • Rocks - these can be polished, or just an interesting shape. Every now and then, you may come across a rock tumbler. Usually it was never used, or used just once. I think I must have bought about 4 by now, some loud, some not as loud. So far the best has been a 12" diameter; it came with about 5 lbs. of rocks and it was only $1.00. Polished rocks can be made into jewelry, key chains, or glued to a box top. Make sure that when you buy a rock tumbler, that all the polishes are there (I think that there are 4 polishes), and hopefully some rocks.
   • Shells - get yourself all kinds of shells. Of course it's a lot cheaper if you live by the beach, but since I don't, this is where I usually get them from. Right now I'm looking for the spiral type, the type that if you looked at it's front view, it has a lopsided diamond look to it. If you cut these shells in half, they have a neat looking spiral inside. Usually when I find these shells, they're the colorful type (which is fine), but I need to get the solid (boring) white ones. (The colorful ones are the ones to use whole; the white ones are the ones that I cut in half). At one point or another I'll find some. One day I found some sand dollars. They looked cute, but they had sat in the sun for too long and smelled very fishy. I suppose I could have lacquered them, but thought I better leave them there. I'd hate for them to stink up someone's house because I used one of them.
   • Agates - you'll be more likely to find these at flea markets then garage sales. Occasionally though, you might be able to get some; they shouldn't cost too much. At a flea market they'll cost around $1.00 to $3.00 a piece for an agate about 2"- 4" long. I've gotten 12 tiny ones for $5.00; they were about 1"- 2" x 3/4" or so. Try to find the most colorful ones, or the ones with the most character, (for instance, if it looked like a sunset or something). Also, make sure they don't have any cracks in them. Make sure that when you bring them home, put them in separate baggies to prevent scratching. I also write down on the bag when and where I got them and for how much.
   • Crystals - look around for quartz crystals, the spear type. (You know the kind superman's house (from the movie) was made of. They can add an interesting accent to a box, or kaleidoscope, and it really goes well with decorative soldering. You should be able to find these for around $.50 - $4.00 each, and they can be found anywhere they sell stone products. So if you buy your agates from one guy, he'll probably have crystals as well.

4. Miscellaneous glass stuff, baubles, marbles, etc.:
   • Marbles - you'll probably be able to find them. A lot of times, it's sold as fish gravel, other times plant bedding, which means you'll be able to find them in green houses, or maybe even pet stores. Mostly you find one here and there. Sometimes you'll find iridescent, opalescent, etc., marbles at street fairs. Most of the time they're sold as Chinese checker marbles, so they come in a range of colors.
   • Other glass junk - this stuff is easier to find, though you'll need either a creative touch, or a psychotic approach to stained glass. I suppose you can make some sort of sculpture with it.

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Started on 9-22-98