Gicky tools

I notice that if I go to the store most tools I see for sale, are covered in some kind of plasticky coating that flakes off (the handle and/or the tool itself!)...lovely...or the handle is made of some kind of artificial, icky material--and usually has a cancer warning that makes no attempts to hedge or mollify the stated risk. Now, there are some tools that are just a stick from the forest and a piece of metal on the end. That is lovely. But I don't see these for sale around these days. Is there anywhere you look for gick free tools for gardening, woodworking and so on?

I'm going to warn you to be careful, because once you start going your wallet is going to get quite a bit lighter.

I LOVE local auctions and estate sales for finding quality tools. A lot of people will walk by or ignore a box full of rusty metal tool heads but a knowing eye will see gold. You can purchase or make handles for tools but the head part is key to get ahold of.

A friend of mine in the community got ahold of a bunch of fly presses for pennies, restored them, and now is shipping them crossed the country for big bucks. He hooked me up with some cast iron cookery that he got ahold of that just needed a little TLC. The auction barn is the place to be.