Ton ton
Well-known member
That's my argument as well.
New or used. What do you guys usually buy?
- Thread starter Gurp
- Start date
Radio Flyer
Well-known member
Depends on how much I use it, and what it cost.
Used engine hoist. $40.00, Used it 3-4 times. (loaned it several more times)
Used framing nailer. $50.00 (came with 2-3 boxes of nails). built a shed, still have most of the nails. (loaned it several times).
Haven't used it since I built the shed.
Torque wrench - New
Used engine hoist. $40.00, Used it 3-4 times. (loaned it several more times)
Used framing nailer. $50.00 (came with 2-3 boxes of nails). built a shed, still have most of the nails. (loaned it several times).
Haven't used it since I built the shed.
Torque wrench - New
CHI_Tool&Die
Well-known member
A lot of guys on this board have a lot of luck with the used market, but here in Chicago, people are asking and expecting 80-85% of retail.
Radio Flyer
Well-known member
Like the guys on craigslist trying to sell the HF carts for more than they cost new?
Typically new, for two reasons:
1) It takes too much time to **** around scrounging other people's junk at garage sales and craigslist. I'm not going to waste half of a good weekend day to score a couple of used wrenches. And power tools I would never buy used because you don't know whether they've been pushed too hard unless you open them up. New tools do not require scrounging and searching, and come with a warranty. *
2) A brand-new tool is pleasing to have; all clean and shiny and unblemished, unworn. No sloppy ratchets, no slipping pipe wrenches, no dull plier teeth or blunt screwdrivers. They'll get dirt and scars and rust and wear soon enough.
*Yes, I know some used hand tools can be warrantied, but some can't, and used power tools are unlikely to be under warranty.
1) It takes too much time to **** around scrounging other people's junk at garage sales and craigslist. I'm not going to waste half of a good weekend day to score a couple of used wrenches. And power tools I would never buy used because you don't know whether they've been pushed too hard unless you open them up. New tools do not require scrounging and searching, and come with a warranty. *
2) A brand-new tool is pleasing to have; all clean and shiny and unblemished, unworn. No sloppy ratchets, no slipping pipe wrenches, no dull plier teeth or blunt screwdrivers. They'll get dirt and scars and rust and wear soon enough.
*Yes, I know some used hand tools can be warrantied, but some can't, and used power tools are unlikely to be under warranty.
reader2580
Well-known member
The only way I see going to yard/garage sales makes any sense is if it is a hobby for you. It takes so much time and with today's gas prices you may not save all that much money.
I would say over 75% of my tools were new, but I have used tools too. I have a really nice Craftsman drill from probably the 1960s or 1970s that a friend left with me. I will look on FB Marketplace or CL first when buying tools, but if I find something these days the cost of gas often makes it not worth pursuing.
I would say over 75% of my tools were new, but I have used tools too. I have a really nice Craftsman drill from probably the 1960s or 1970s that a friend left with me. I will look on FB Marketplace or CL first when buying tools, but if I find something these days the cost of gas often makes it not worth pursuing.
speed bump
Well-known member
Used if I find a deal and new if I need it.
There is no used market here, marketplace is MSRP + 10%, pawn shops have highly used stuff over MSRP, even if they have something decent it's usually a lower quality tool and well overpriced. HF torque wrenches are the worst..lol
Ton ton
Well-known member
I have paid more for used wrenches than retail new unfortunately.
IndyGarage
Well-known member
If I'm going to buy something, I almost always consider buying used vs. new. If it's something hard to find, I just buy it new. If it's something common, I very often buy used.
I've gotten some very good deals used. Last week I bought a bunch of pliers (couple of brand new Wihas) and a nice ball peen hammer at the pawn shop for $5. That stuff would have been $250 new. At the same time I bought a corded Recip saw for $14.99 - works perfect. Guy said they can hardly give the corded ones away.
I don't really care about shiny for tools - they are devices used to fix or repair other stuff.
I've gotten some very good deals used. Last week I bought a bunch of pliers (couple of brand new Wihas) and a nice ball peen hammer at the pawn shop for $5. That stuff would have been $250 new. At the same time I bought a corded Recip saw for $14.99 - works perfect. Guy said they can hardly give the corded ones away.
I don't really care about shiny for tools - they are devices used to fix or repair other stuff.
Boilerhouse
Well-known member
I have generally bought new especially power tools, although have had a lot of use from a pre-owned Makita chop saw, and an ancient cast iron Dewalt radial arm saw, among a few others.
I have bought a few higher quality hand tools as these will last forever with reasonable care.
A third category which hasn't been mentioned are those tools which are given to us. Being free, the expectation isn't high. I have a fair number of these, quality is decent to excellent, and an added bonus is knowing, and honouring, the original owner.
I have bought a few higher quality hand tools as these will last forever with reasonable care.
A third category which hasn't been mentioned are those tools which are given to us. Being free, the expectation isn't high. I have a fair number of these, quality is decent to excellent, and an added bonus is knowing, and honouring, the original owner.
My experience looking at used tools is more or less opposite of yours. Whenever I go to a garage sale or estate sale where there are tools to be had, the common stuff has already gone and what's left is weird stuff I have no need for, and often can't even identify.
Cordless stuff, always new. I assume anyone selling a cordless tool has run it hard and is selling it just before it dies completely.
Corded stuff I tend to buy new, occasionally buy used. In general when I've bought used, it's worked out way more hassle than I want to get the tool up to scratch and working properly (like my dw733 thicknesser that needed some $40 knife positioning springs that are no longer available and out of stock entirely in Europe).
Hand tools, I buy new if it's Taiwanese stuff because it's so cheap anyway, sometimes used mostly new for snap on. Before the pandemic there used to be regular snap on bargains on marketplace, but everyone has cranked the prices so much you might as well but new.
Corded stuff I tend to buy new, occasionally buy used. In general when I've bought used, it's worked out way more hassle than I want to get the tool up to scratch and working properly (like my dw733 thicknesser that needed some $40 knife positioning springs that are no longer available and out of stock entirely in Europe).
Hand tools, I buy new if it's Taiwanese stuff because it's so cheap anyway, sometimes used mostly new for snap on. Before the pandemic there used to be regular snap on bargains on marketplace, but everyone has cranked the prices so much you might as well but new.
Usually new, online - especially when there's free delivery.
I will snag used local deals when possible, but its slim pickings in a small island community. Asking prices are often stupid-high for the 'privilege' of being available locally.
I will snag used local deals when possible, but its slim pickings in a small island community. Asking prices are often stupid-high for the 'privilege' of being available locally.
Wyoming09
Well-known member
If I'm buying used it's because it's something I might potentially need one day, or it's a particularly good price. Any item I buy used must be in great-exceptionally good condition. If it's something I need soon or now I will buy new just to be sure I have it when ready for it.
An example: recently on Craigslist I found a 24" Proto adjustable wrench in great condition for $15, While I'm reasonably sure I will never need it I could not pass that up.
An example: recently on Craigslist I found a 24" Proto adjustable wrench in great condition for $15, While I'm reasonably sure I will never need it I could not pass that up.
Model A Fan
Well-known member
How can you handle the gravel instead of cement? That would drive me nuts, I feel like the gravel would get kicked around a lot.
vavet
Well-known member
Usually new. I have everything I typically use, so no need to buy extra **** just because it’s a good deal and if I need it, I need it now and don’t feel like going to garage sales and pawn shops,
I tried to buy a craftsman roller box a few years ago. It was in bad shape and would’ve taken the seller an hour to free it from his horde And I didn’t feel like waiting.
a couple exceptions recently; a drywall screw gun for a project I was planning that would see limited use. A drywall lift when I couldn’t find one with the extension kit to go above 11’6”.
I tried to buy a craftsman roller box a few years ago. It was in bad shape and would’ve taken the seller an hour to free it from his horde And I didn’t feel like waiting.
a couple exceptions recently; a drywall screw gun for a project I was planning that would see limited use. A drywall lift when I couldn’t find one with the extension kit to go above 11’6”.
IndyGarage
Well-known member
I know your problem. I never go to garage or estate sales - I agree it's mostly junk. I buy almost exclusively on Craigslist. I've gotten so many great deals, that I've forgotten most of them. I've gotten a couple of lemons, but not many. I got my original set of 6 Makita cordless tools on Craigslist - one of the pieces was worn. It still works, but I've replaced it. All the others were in great shape. I've bought all my air compressors on there, as well as most of my pressure washers. I've bought machine tools there.
Only bad thing I can remember recently was three sections of scaffolding. It worked fine, but it had been cut and welded a couple inches on width, so it wasn't compatible with standard scaffold and walk boards. I didn't realize it until I tried to add some pieces. The guy told me it didn't work for him with other pieces, but I didn't know what he meant by that.
I've also gotten many good deals at the local pawnshop. It's not as targeted, because you have to dig through piles of overpriced stuff and worn out harbor freight tools to find something good - and you have to buy it when you might not need it. I have gotten several angle grinders there, including Makita and Metabo. I always find excellent hammers and pliers there as well as air tools. The other day I found a nice older non-electronic 12 volt battery charger. They overprice all the common high end brands, but if they ever get something really good that they don't know the brand they usually underprice it. That's what they do with Metabo grinders. There will be a junk DeWalt for $79 or an infinitely better Metabo next to it for $49.
Dakotadadv8
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 30, 2021
- Messages
- 1,483
My preference always bought new tools. Buy new inexpensive ones and throw them away if they break or save to buy new truck tools. Rather spend my free time reading and posting on GJ than waste time looking for used tools. 
Odd-job
Well-known member
GJ has encouraged me to buy many both new and used tools. Haven't had much luck though with hand tools in general outside of a couple of Ebay snipes and lucky garage sale finds. No pawn shops and a lack of a well supplied used market seem to be conspiring against me. Think part of what goes into the new vs used debate is location and whether or not said member is retired, has too many young kids, or is busy going after mistresses, etc.
New
New
- Milwaukee cordless tools
- Drill bits and other consumables
- All of the Japanese and European tools GJ is encouraging me to buy, although I hope one day a Hazet assistant will pop on Craigslist for $300
- This is typically bigger stuff made out of old American steel like the Clausing drill press I recently picked up, a WWII vintage Rock Island vise, clamps, and some railroad track.
- Opportunistic ebay acquisitions - US vintage zip tie guns and drill press vises seem to be priced reasonably right now
I tend to buy new, but Snap On? Never pay retail! Almost all of what little SO I have is used from ebay, sometimes new on ebay but discounted some. Alas, some of the sellers are pawn shops and that worries me, but in my mind, a used Dual 80 is still a fine ratchet indeed.
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I love the idea of a Hazet assistant, but never the price! Instead I've just pondered adding a middle shelf to my two-shelf shop cart. The important thing is to have some kind of shop cart! No idea how I lived without... okay, before I had this garage I was an apartment complex parking lot guy and I had... The $2 junk store chair that I got in the late 80's and maybe an office paper box top as a tray, sitting on it. I'm still using that chair to put things on! But now I have it, and the Craftsman tool cart.
I got lucky, I started working on cars as a teen in the 70's, and both my dad and one of my uncles were mechanics. I bought some of my own stuff, and they both left me their stuff, a mixture of SnapOn, Craftsman and other brands. Old, but most has held up pretty well.
I went in another direction for my career, but still kept the tools and was a weekend mechanic kind of guy.
Now that I'm nearing retirement, I've been doing more car work, and picking up more specialized stuff, mainly new. The stuff on Craigslist around here isn't competitive price-wise to new, most garage sells are peddling junk, and the pawnshops seem to be smoking something illegal when they set their prices.
I have had good luck at estate sales, I still regret not buying a new in the box engine hoist priced at $30 a couple of years ago, because I didn't have a place to store it.
I went in another direction for my career, but still kept the tools and was a weekend mechanic kind of guy.
Now that I'm nearing retirement, I've been doing more car work, and picking up more specialized stuff, mainly new. The stuff on Craigslist around here isn't competitive price-wise to new, most garage sells are peddling junk, and the pawnshops seem to be smoking something illegal when they set their prices.
I have had good luck at estate sales, I still regret not buying a new in the box engine hoist priced at $30 a couple of years ago, because I didn't have a place to store it.
Almost every person on GJ has a few regrets about not buying some things that they should have… that is just part of the game, too.I got lucky, I started working on cars as a teen in the 70's, and both my dad and one of my uncles were mechanics. I bought some of my own stuff, and they both left me their stuff, a mixture of SnapOn, Craftsman and other brands. Old, but most has held up pretty well.
I went in another direction for my career, but still kept the tools and was a weekend mechanic kind of guy.
Now that I'm nearing retirement, I've been doing more car work, and picking up more specialized stuff, mainly new. The stuff on Craigslist around here isn't competitive price-wise to new, most garage sells are peddling junk, and the pawnshops seem to be smoking something illegal when they set their prices.
I have had good luck at estate sales, I still regret not buying a new in the box engine hoist priced at $30 a couple of years ago, because I didn't have a place to store it.
Kaervak
Well-known member
My tools are about 50/50. The new tools were either purchased through clearance deals, rewards points or amazon gift cards. My used tools are a mix of garage sales, ebay, habitat restore, inheriting my dad's and grandfather's tools.
The only new tools I paid fully out of pocket for were my Handler 140/helmet/shielding gas tank and my Autel scan tool. Everything else was some sort of deal. I have no problem spending good money on good tools, but I'm going to search for a deal before I buy something. Leaves me with more money to buy more tools
The only new tools I paid fully out of pocket for were my Handler 140/helmet/shielding gas tank and my Autel scan tool. Everything else was some sort of deal. I have no problem spending good money on good tools, but I'm going to search for a deal before I buy something. Leaves me with more money to buy more tools
nadogail
Well-known member
I have been buying new for the tax deductible stuff. About 20 years ago I bought mostly used from a Pat’s Tools a resale store in Sam Diego.
I really don’t buy many new tools, occasional replacements. Getting ready to make a disposal plan for that inevitable day. Every purchase adds to what I need to add to my exit plan.
I really don’t buy many new tools, occasional replacements. Getting ready to make a disposal plan for that inevitable day. Every purchase adds to what I need to add to my exit plan.