Author Topic: How much does a broken ear cost on a farm wrench?  (Read 3578 times)

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Offline skipskip

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How much does a broken ear cost on a farm wrench?
« on: June 19, 2015, 10:43:19 AM »
I'm not so much looking for an appraisal as I am trying to start a discussion about values.

Ag wrenches are often brittle and poorly designed so they are often found with a broken ear or two.

Now on a $5 wrench that's fatal, and the wrench becomes fodder for the antique mall or low wend swap meet.

But suppose it's a better wrench?

How much does a broken ear de-value the tool?

here are two wrenches

one is a Wiard star wrench the other a Moline WP241

Each with a broken ear.

AJUN 506 by Skip Albright, on Flickr

the star might be worth $100 if not broken, how much now ?

$50  $10?  $90?

the moline is a $40 tool , now it's?

$5  $10   $0?

Opinions?
A place for everything and everything on the floor

Offline stillfishin

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Re: How much does a broken ear cost on a farm wrench?
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2015, 10:53:17 AM »
I would think 0 or close to it in both cases. I'm sure someone might want one for a collection and may be willing to rebuild those ears, but its more likely they will just wait till a good one comes along.

Offline Lewill2

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Re: How much does a broken ear cost on a farm wrench?
« Reply #2 on: June 19, 2015, 12:14:55 PM »
My focus is rare adjustable wrenches and my view is if it is something rarely seen or one I have never seen before I would rather have a poor example in my collection that costs pennies on the dollar of a complete or good example, and I'm still in the hunt.

Offline oldtools

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Re: How much does a broken ear cost on a farm wrench?
« Reply #3 on: June 19, 2015, 12:31:53 PM »
depends on if it is repairable to almost original condition, is the broken piece included? just weld it? but to make a original looking piece?
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Offline rustcollector

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Re: How much does a broken ear cost on a farm wrench?
« Reply #4 on: June 19, 2015, 05:36:07 PM »
Wiard star wrench = $100+ in good condition, $20 or less with any break. Just sold one myself that was broke.

Moline wrench, might as well toss it. Hardly a $15 wrench now anyway and broken it would be hard to do anything but give it away.

Offline jimwrench

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Re: How much does a broken ear cost on a farm wrench?
« Reply #5 on: June 20, 2015, 11:27:02 AM »
Takes all the value away for me. Only way I'd buy one would be in a lot with something I wanted. Send the broken one to the scrapyard (It should make the remaining good ones worth more.)
Jim
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Offline leg17

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Re: How much does a broken ear cost on a farm wrench?
« Reply #6 on: June 20, 2015, 07:07:41 PM »
Some collectors like "space fillers" until a better example comes along.

Ebay could determine the market value.

Collectors are all different.

Offline rustcollector

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Re: How much does a broken ear cost on a farm wrench?
« Reply #7 on: June 20, 2015, 07:37:12 PM »
Over soaking in things such as vinegar are just about as bad on the farm wrenches. The metal used on the majority of them just doesn't like that process a whole lot.
Overall, Skip, broken ears are a killer on the farm stuff. You can figure on average that it will cut value to 1/5 of a good one. As with everything, there are exceptions to that.
I'd rather have pitted than broken myself.

Offline strik9

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Re: How much does a broken ear cost on a farm wrench?
« Reply #8 on: August 18, 2015, 08:26:27 PM »
I have fixed and resized forged steel wrenches.  Welding a part back on or welding a chunk of steel and making it the part.   .     They cost a lot of work and never look right as even a refiled or stretched example.  Add in they are unsellable afterward for being modified.     .      I stopped doing that a while back and just leave them with a patina of age and whatever form they had.
The only bad tool is the one that couldn't finish the job.  Ironicly it may be the best tool for the next job.