re: Successful side hustles?

Not really a side hustle, but more of a hobby I sometimes make a little extra cash.

I restore older (borderline antique) hand tools bought from estate/garage sales. Mainly old rusty Stanley/Record Bailey handplanes. A good nothing-special #4 plane cleaned up, sharp, tuned, and ready to use goes $40-60 on EBay after shipping costs. I’ll also occasionally pickup an old rusty disston- but those are hit or miss.

It’s not great money for the time ($10-20/hour if I had to guess). But hand tool woodworking is a hobby of mine, so I have experience with working/tuning these. And I really enjoy giving these old tools new life. Something about these being in some former craftsman’s arsenal a century ago (up until the big coming of power tools). I restore and keep for my collection or give away to family/friends who have an interest.

I also pick up old mowers, trimmers, washing machines/dryers from the curb. Clean them up and get them working. easy resell. Especially spring/early summer.
9/10 just need a carb clean and new gas lines (or a new $15 cheap knockoff carb).
Depends on what you find. I don’t go purposefully looking/hunting through neighborhoods. Just stop if something catches my eye, give it a look over.