Used Machine Tools Buyer's Guide

Are you thinking about buying used machine tools? In many cases, used tools can be just what you need to create the objects you want to create without spending too much. If you're going to buy used, though, you need to do so safely and smartly.

Buying used is cheaper, but that savings comes with other risks, depending on where you buy. Some people save a great deal at an auction, but just as many (or more) end up not saving much, if any. Buying directly from the previous owner can also result in great prices or you paying more than you should depending on the seller and how much you know about the machine and the market when you go in. Price is just half of this equation, though. Machine tools that don't work, or that don't work as advertised, aren't a great deal at any price if what you want is a tool you can use.

These venues also make it hard to impossible to see how well the tool works before you buy it from the Vertical machining center. Sellers are highly motivated to get someone to pay what they want for the product and that can lead to some people misleading buyers, through actual misstatements or simple omissions. You can't usually return a product to an auction or get the seller to refund your money if you find it isn't as good as advertised. Indeed, this type of sale is usually final, meaning, there is no return policy, regardless of the condition of the item.

Buying from a used machine tool vendor for dust collectors for sale can help you avoid or at least reduce the likelihood of experiencing this problem. Yes, a vendor might charge more but that isn't just money down the drain. Vendors provide services for that extra cash. A vendor will be more picky when it comes to what they'll buy back. They want to buy products that are in good shape so they can sell them again. If you find the machinery doesn't work as expected, you can usually return it to the store: something that won't be an option with an auction or direct sale.

Buying through a vendor also gives you access to more variety and buying options. A direct seller usually has one or two pieces of equipment to sell and must sell you one of them or they won't get any money. Vendors carry more stock and will usually have more than one type of each engine lathe for sale, giving you more options. There is no disincentive to showing you other options so you can pick the one that's right for you.