New or used. What do you guys usually buy?

[Gurp]

As a hobbyist/budget guy. I try to always buy used when possible. I know it sounds odd but it's worked very well for me.
SAE tools are always cheaper for better tools. Metric stuff is very hit and miss still.
My SAE wrenches are mostly Proto Williams SK with Mac line wrenches.
I could replace them with mid grade tools foreign made for what I have in them.
My metric is almost all from Taiwan lol.

All but one of my Milwaukee tools are used.

Honestly I just would t be able to afford the stuff if I bought new.


Kinda a theme in my mini shop is to always get used and repurpose. Honestly I take pride in it at this point.

New stuff I've bought include a 26 gal air compressor and a torch cart from HF. They were going to cost the same of not more to get used or make.



What about you guys? What's your preference and how do you make it work for you?

 

[Shiftless]

I too buy very few tools new.

For example…one of the best combination bench vises for most of us home gamers is a Wilton C1. New ones retail for $1400
I bought a barely used one for $400. It’s my daily user vise.

Snap On dual 80 ratchets are near the top of anybody's list. I found a used half inch one that somebody left somewhere that it got rusty inside and started skipping. I paid the guys asking price of $10. I cleaned it inside and out, got a free rebuild kit from SO and with less than an hour’s work, I had a like new tool ready to go back to work.

 

[PelicanPines]

I'm a new kind of person... invested well, retired early, skillfully married.

 

[Bockscar]

I guess it all depends on what I am getting

 

[gtae07]

Usually new, because I'm usually looking for specialty stuff and I don't have the time or patience to bargain hunt.

 

[Bean438]

New. While I like to save money, my time is more valuable. I’ve tried to buy used. Never happens. I wait, wait, wait, and wait some more. I search high and low. Nothing.

then I buy new. Low and behold someone then sells what I just bought. Lol.

can’t win, and can’t be bothered. I don’t buy lots anyway so the savings for used isn’t worth my time. buy once cry once.

 

[marak]

It entirely depends. I prefer quality tools (doesn't have to be made in USA, but I do like them and ones made in Germany, Japan, etc., not a fan of Chinese, but not opposed either) and some good tools are no longer available/affordable new. Most important is that you are happy with the cost/quality of what you purchase. I prefer to purchase the size of tool that I think I will ever need and I never plan to sell a tool in order to upsize in the future; seems a better investment in the long run. I would rather wait a few years and save up for what I want than to cut myself short.

here are some examples of what I've done (note, I live in Alaska and options are sometimes limited):

• Knee Mill - Looked for used for years, couldn't find what I was after, then worked enough overtime one winter and was able to buy exactly what I wanted, a Taiwanese made new 50" knee mill.
• Stomp shear, sheet metal brake - bought old iron (stomp shear weighs about 1000 lb. Good stuff! Don't make 'em like this anymore, at least that I can afford.
• Table saw, jointer - used good quality made in USA Powermatic - wouldn't trade either for new Chinese stuff.
• Band Saw - new made in Italy 18" - amazing piece of equipment that can truly resaw oak into veneer-thick material. Saves me a lot of money buying wood here in the last frontier.
• Wood Lathe Found a good made in USA Vega Duplicator lathe used and the price was just right.
• Pliers, Vise Grips, Screw Drivers - new and used, mostly want good quality. Have dozens and dozens of both USA and Chinese - these don't all have to be quality, sometimes quantity is more important.
• C-Clamps - have about 150 of these, probably half used half new. If I buy used they are always made in USA and not splayed.
• MIG, TIG, ARC Welders and Plasma Cutter - only new for me

I also don't have a wife or kids, so the more I spend on tools just means a delay in retiring. While I want to retire as early as possible, I want to enjoy using my tools now and when I retire.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Refurb/reman from the OEM can be a good deal.

 

[vwpieces]

Sloppy Seconds for me.
Translation is, a lot of tools and supplies I buy are Amazon returns. Usually 33-50% of retail.

 

[oldwino]

If I need a tool I need it now. No d**king around looking to save a buck

 

[Badgerstate]

Usually new. Almost all of my tools are either cheapies from HF or high end Japanese tools (Ko-Ken, Nepros, Tone and Engineer) and my power tools are Makita. All that were bought new.
Theres nothing wrong with old tools though. Ive got an old Craftsman egg beater drill and a bit 'n brace that I bought used off of Ebay though.
I always look for tool deals at antique stores, thrift stores and flea markets but it seems like most of the time they are rusted, worn out junk that probably belongs in the trash and they always seem to want a fortune for it.

 

[RTM]

Most of my power tools nowadays are bought used. I'm a home gamer, and I buy opportunistically. I don't wait 'til I need it to buy it, mostly. If I need it now, I bite the bullet and buy it new. Then, as Bean said above, I find another one used at 1/10 the cost. My power planer and dust collector were bought new, as the used ones were all **** at the time. Most I buy are corded, except for one or two battery ones that I still don't use enough to keep fully charged.

Certain tools, where there is great advantage to buy new, I will.

Most of my woodworking hand tools are bought used also, since the stuff made before I was born is generally of better quality than is available at the box stores. I have a few specialty planes where the vintage ones are stupid expensive, prone to breaking, or essentially unavailable, then they come from LeeValley or Lie Nielsen, at full retail. Many I buy need only 10-15 minutes of work to bring them back into full working capacity, though occasionally I will take on a project plane, just for fun, where an hour or three may be consumed. I bring them back to user grade, or arrested decay, rarely back to factory fresh, unless completely trashed prior.

 

[MongoTA]

Only woodworking tools I've bought new in recent years are cordless tools.

Only metal working tools I've bought new are welders and a plasma cutter.

Everything else, wood or metal? Used at auction. A few on FB marketplace. Table saw, drill presses, band saw, all used at auction. Corded drills, angle grinders, metal press/brake/shear, bench and pedestal grinders, vises, all old iron from auctions. Tool boxes, pretty much all stacked Kennedy rollers? Work/storage benches? All used at auction or FB marketplace. Wrenches and socket sets, auction. Auctions are usually machine shop auctions. Tools are typically well maintained, and high quality tools. FB can be hit or miss, thus 90% or my buys are at auction.

 

[mepstein]

New unless a used item drops in my lap.

 

[GeoBruin]

I buy a lot of used tools but I live smack in the middle of the largest Craigslist market in the U.S. Sometimes I'll try to find something new only to find out it's out of stock or has long lead shipping, then I jump on Craigslist and find 3 of them for sale in various conditions within a 20 - 30 minute drive.

That said, it usually only pays for bigger ticket items or items that command unusually absorbatant prices new. I've also been very lucky with used items in that I've never really got a lemon. I suppose I would feel differently if I had been burned a time or two.

Some used items in my shop:

60 gallon compressor
Beverly shear
Mitering horizontal bandsaw
Mig and tig welders
Complete oxy acetylene setup
Bench grinder
Rigid pipe dies/vise

For mechanic/hand tools, I'm a little funny about matching so that's harder to do used but I decided I would only let myself buy used 3/4" drive stuff since I really don't need it.

 

[Mr_B]

Lots of things used, everything from vise grips, tool box to a 2 post lift .
Some things vintage best, vise, grinders, lathes. pillar drills ...
Things like screwdrivers sockets and wrenches mainly been new but a a few snapon and mac nice condition used wrench set over the years.
Few pliers sets too when prices been too reasonable not get interested .
Some things best new but always wise keep an eye on used tools .
Make the most of every source you got new and used .

 

[finn]

I have bought used in the past, including compressors, chain saws, trimmers, gas concrete saw, jackhammer, and my first skid steer, as well as some of my SnapOn tools.

I am past that stage in life now, though. New is it.

I just don’t have the time to chance dead end deals that turn out bad, and with the cost of gas, and low success and long distances, new makes more sense.

 

[MidnightZ21]

Mostly new. I'm ok with nice condition used and I enjoy the hunt. I check ebay pretty regularly for a few Snap On items that I used to have when I worked on cars 20 years ago that had gotten lost and I would like older to match what I had

 

[Professional Tool User]

It depends on whether or not I need the tool right away, what's available on the used market, and quality/value. Sometimes buying used saves you a lot of money on expensive items and gets you a quality tool. Other times it's a waste of time and the savings are marginal at best.

 

[Coach James]

Power tools new or "reconditioned", as they have always arrived in like new condition. Hand tools, some used but mostly now, new. I bought a lot of used hand tools on ebay from a gentleman named "hepacat". He sold a lot of good condition USA made wrenches and sockets. I think he passed away a few years ago.

Coach

 

[Xcursion88]

If buying things I NEED it's almost always new because when I need... I need now.

If I was just buying to add to a collection I'd consider used but....

New or used I refuse to buy Asian made.....if possible. Electronics is nearly impossible to buy all American but hard goods yes. USA for me. Germany for Knipex

 

[MushCreek]

My hand tools were all bought new. I'm thrifty, but don't have the time and fuel to hunt down a bargain on used screwdrivers. All of my hand power tools were bought new as well. The decent used ones are asking nearly new prices anyway. When it comes to the big stuff, I can't afford new in most cases. Ever price a new Bridgeport mill? I did buy my Ridgid table saw new, as HD was dumping them for $350, down from $650. Same thing happened with my Ridgid 12" sliding miter. If you're lucky enough to need one when the big box stores do that, you can get bargains.

 

[milkovich]

Cordless New - The new stuff is so good and the batteries are fresh, plus the stuff gets beat up.

Corded Used - I can buy used industrial machines for the price of new hobby tools and the old stuff is better built, but you give up a lot of features.

Hand tools - New

 

[Snapped-off]

Mixture of both, just depends what it is.

 

[Ton ton]

Mostly new. But the pawn shop has nice used hand tools that I can't say no to.

 

[Old Donn]

I'm all done buying tools, new or used. Have way more than I'll ever use/need. That said, if at a garage/yard sale, I encountered a set of truck tool wrenches or sockets that were priced right, I'd have to make an exception to the rule.

 

[m6z]

New, but on sale typically.

Never really been a garage sale person, but Ebay has been a good source for hard to find or out of production stuff.

 

[Iridium rand]

Used when possible and/or practical, certain things like specialty tools or almost anything knipex or wera you plain and simply aren’t going to find used very often so it’s not an option, and with for instance many snap-on products you’re really not saving very much buying used in many cases so it’s not practical. Also when there’s a large time investment hunting for deals or finding and verifying condition like with outdoor power tools it may not be practical. Certain things are wear items to a degree as well like pliers teeth and screwdriver tips and it may mot be easy to tell how bad they are without actually using them

The best and most consistently worthwhile place for used is air tools in my experience, most are basically indestructible and you’re getting huge amounts off of list price for basically no disadvantage

 

[tool_scrounge]

Used if it is machinery. I like the quality of the older US made equipment.

If it is hand tools, usually used unless it is a specialty tool needed now.

I spent my youth in the back seat going to garage sales on Saturday morning. I picked up lots of inexpensive tools in the process. It is funny how you remember the deals that got away. I once passed on a Diacro 12" sheet metal finger brake for $35. I knew I should have bought it. But I was 9 at the time and hesitated.

 

[Rabid Badger]

When I know in advance that I'm going to need a tool I'll keep an eye out for a used example in good condition. If I haven't found one by the time I need it, I'll buy new.

At yard sales I buy:

- Unused files
- Sockets in sizes I don't have or use frequently
- Good ratchets
- Peterson vice grips in good shape
- Cool old tools
- Things I don't need but might come in handy someday and I'd never pay what they cost new

 

[VolvoRyan]

Depends.

Here's a fact: a (ab)used Snap-On hand tool can be junk compared to a new Tekton (or similar). Except for flat-head screwdrivers, it can be hard to see how worn a tool is.

Of course, I have lots of second-hand Snap-On tools in a second-hand 1974 Snap-On tool box.

-Ryan

 

[Bubba Fett]

New and used. I hit flea markets, pawn shops, antique stores, looking for opportunistic finds, but I'm looking for a specific tool, it's usually new.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Are we talking lightly used / not abused or are we saying 60 years old and rusted badly? Huge difference between the two.

 

[canuckian]

Cordless…new
Corded…..new or gently used
Hand tools…..used to be a mix of new/NOS and used until the prices on eBay got silly. Now mostly new.

 

[Shop-hound]

I’ve been finding a sweet spot with barely used, new truck tools for 25-50% of list (must inspect carefully and gauge seller) - like a new car that just rolled off the lot last year. Rare, but I’m always watching marketplace and buy in package deals to get better prices.

Larger machines (lathe, mill, drill press, table saw) can be great pending availability of parts

There is a risk to all this though as Volvo Ryan indicated. Worn out isn’t always obvious until you own it and have no recourse /return policy. Had a couple ouches/lemons, but the wins far outweigh the losses and I like the hunt and meeting other tradespeople.

 

[Al Borland]

If I bought it, it was usually new. Doing building demo work, I picked up a ton of older US-made tools and saved them from the dumpster.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

New mostly because used tools are damn near the same price. I've been accumulating some machinist (job) related tools second-hand but most everything in my boxes is new tools.

 

[ecotec]

80% used. Mostly estate sales and yard sales. I go to flea markets all the time… and I only buy things that I absolutely have not found anywhere else. Mostly I use flea markets to learn about what I would want to find at estate sales or yard sales.

Why buy from tool dealers… I want to pay what they paid for the tool or even less.

 

[RTM]

I once passed on a Diacro 12" sheet metal finger brake for $35. I knew I should have bought it. But I was 9 at the time and hesitated.

Dang, you were ********* as a pre-teen. Knowing you wanted a finger brake, at 9. And guessing your age at around mine, $35 was a lot back then. I woulda had to float a loan from the parents to spend that at 9.

 

[woody 73]

I buy 90% used and 10% new.

Estate sale today 4 screwdrivers, 1 sheet metal vise grip, 1 feeler gauge,2 hammers and 1 crescent wrench.