Weighing Your Options: New Versus Used Machine Tools

If you're looking for machine tools, you may be wondering whether to invest in new or used options. Both have their advantages and disadvantages that you'll need to carefully weigh. Here's what you need to know about the advantages, and disadvantages, of both options so you can make the right choice for you.

Buying new means getting a machine that hasn't been used, or abused, by anyone else before. Everything should function as intended with no surprises or quirks. If there is something wrong with it, you can return it to the retailer or to the manufacturer for a replacement or refund.

Buying new also means being able to choose from more advanced options. It doesn't take long for machines of any kind to become outdated, and machine tools are no exception. For example, a newer lathe or dust collector may perform more effectively, working faster or better than an older model. Even more importantly, newer machines use less power, which means reduced energy costs for you: a great place to cut costs without losing quality.

There are other cost savings to be had with a new machine, believe it or not. They will likely last longer than a used machine will for you, since the used machine and Engine Lathes will have been in use for years before you start using it. New machines are also often more efficient machines, reducing cost per machined unit.

You'll pay for those advantages, though. The difference in price can be extreme between new and used. For many business owners, though, the value they get from new machines outweighs the costs and makes them worth the price.

With used machines, you've got a different set of things to consider when going to the used vertical machining center. First, the biggest advantage to buying used is price, as you'll always pay less for a used machine than for a new one that isn't drastically on sale. Used machines may have seen a lot of wear, though, and their actual condition can be hard to determine without running it for a while to see how it performs. By the time you purchase a used machine, its warranty has likely expired, meaning you won't have any way to return it or get it repaired without great expense to you if it breaks down.

Buying through a dealer of used tools instead will come with a higher price tag, but other advantages. Companies that deal in both new and used machines have their used machinery checked out by professionals to ensure that it is of a quality that is safe to use. If the used machine tools you bought don't work, the dealer will likely offer some sort of return policy or warranty of their own. This peace of mind is often worth the extra cost to those who want to save money on woodworking equipment and tools but don't want to gamble on what they'll get for their money.