Rebuild or Replace?

[Spudland_Dave]

At what point do you guys draw the line between rebuilding/restoring a tool or just buying new? I’ve had luck both ways, but lately it seems buying new is the only way….
I had gotten a free (kinda free, traded some of my junk for it) a Milwaukee Portaband…older made in USA one. Had a friend of a friend who does tool rebuilding for a living go thru it…got it back and the tool works just like new…but she’s got battle scars….LUCKILY I only paid for parts and even then, I about broke even on parts to what a new one would have cost me….Good thing I got the tool & case for free! Had I paid $25 bucks for it, I’d be underwater on it…
Today, I need to rehandle a 3lb Engineer’s hammer… Granted it was a cheap Travelling Tool Show/HF Quality one I picked up cheap…I certainly got my money from it, the head looks like new (rare batch of Chinese steel) but the fiberglass handle is pulling away from the head. SO I thought about re-handling it with a nice hickory handle for $12.00…..or I can go get a completely new one for $15.00. If I buy a can of black spray paint, the cost is a wash.

Same would apply for toolboxes I suppose, I was going to eventually post this topic on a toolbox….I often see some beat up SnapOn/Mac/Matco boxes for what I think are OK Prices…but by the time I’m done beating out the dents, buying new slides, paint & primer, etc… is it even worth it?

 

[Strouty]

It depends on the original quality. like the bandsaw, you have a good as new or better than current new tool. The hammer, unless you have a handle buy another hammer. I would fix some things if there is long term value in it, like rebuilding a bridgeport milling machine. Whereas I would toss a broken blender and buy a new one.

 

[bungy42]

I love old tools. Even if it costs me a little more to fix it up, I usually wind up with a better tool, and I've avoided adding something to the landfill. It's a win-win.

 

[signcrafter]

It all depends but usually what ends up happening with me is I'll go buy a new one because I need it now and then end up fixing the old one also.

I just bought a made in the USA hickory ball point hammer handle and it was under 5 bucks if I remember right. Got it at menards. I have a bunch of hammer heads I picked up that need handles. I will be fixing them up and adding them to the collection.

The portaband I would have had to consider if it was worth it or not. What all parts HAD to be replaced and what parts I could get by using still.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

It all depends but usually what ends up happening with me is I'll go buy a new one because I need it now and then end up fixing the old one also.

I just bought a made in the USA hickory ball point hammer handle and it was under 5 bucks if I remember right. Got it at menards. I have a bunch of hammer heads I picked up that need handles. I will be fixing them up and adding them to the collection.

The portaband I would have had to consider if it was worth it or not. What all parts HAD to be replaced and what parts I could get by using still.

Had I known now when I knew then, I probably would have just bought a brand new portaband...Dont get me wrong, this one functions just like new, good ol girl...it was professionally rebuilt at a Milwaukee Certified repair shop thru a friend...I sent it in originally for a new drive wheel, chain & tire kit. Upon more investigation, it needed bearings all over, new brushes, etc.. so I'm not joking when I say I got essentially a new bandsaw in an old chassis...not mad because he threw in a box of "Demo" blades for it, so I made out OK, bur for 25 bucks more I would have had a brand new one....
Since then, I havent really bought anything used...go straight for the new. Deep down I have a hard time just chucking a perfectly good sledge head in the garbage, but at the same time....

 

[cide1]

Buy an estwing 3 lb engineers hammer. I have had heads fly off of cheap 3 lb ones and almost hurt me. the estwing is one piece, high quality, made in the us, and fairly cheap.

 

[signcrafter]

Had I known now when I knew then, I probably would have just bought a brand new portaband...Dont get me wrong, this one functions just like new, good ol girl...it was professionally rebuilt at a Milwaukee Certified repair shop thru a friend...I sent it in originally for a new drive wheel, chain & tire kit. Upon more investigation, it needed bearings all over, new brushes, etc.. so I'm not joking when I say I got essentially a new bandsaw in an old chassis...not mad because he threw in a box of "Demo" blades for it, so I made out OK, bur for 25 bucks more I would have had a brand new one....
Since then, I havent really bought anything used...go straight for the new. Deep down I have a hard time just chucking a perfectly good sledge head in the garbage, but at the same time....

Another thing I've found is repair parts for tools are really marked up. If an armiture or field is junk they are almost as much as the whole tool so not worth it. I've fixed a fair share of tools myself. Things like bearings I order generics online, way cheaper and I started doing this after I order some bearings for a tool and they were chinese. Figured if I was paying top dollar for chinese bearings I might as well just order them online for a lot cheaper.

 

[gsmornot]

The other point to this question is when it comes to batteries. I don't like tossing a tool because the batteries are bad but its a tough choice when a new pair can cost the same as a new tool that comes with two and a charger and likely has more power. Still, I buy the batteries because I just can't toss everything out to the landfill. I wish DeWalt and some of the other companies would offer a better option for trade. Thing is, they don't want them or the cost to deal with them, they just want new. Thinking about it, insurance companies are the same way and well so many things are.

I would put the handle in the hammer. I know you could buy a hammer for the same price and it feels like you get more for the money but at the end of the day you still only have one hammer. Its either all new or part new, still one hammer and you saved a bit on trash. The other option would be to buy the new and find a different use for the old like tying a string to it and using for home defense; swing it around like a ball and chain. Ha.

 

[signcrafter]

The other point to this question is when it comes to batteries. I don't like tossing a tool because the batteries are bad but its a tough choice when a new pair can cost the same as a new tool that comes with two and a charger and likely has more power. Still, I buy the batteries because I just can't toss everything out to the landfill. I wish DeWalt and some of the other companies would offer a better option for trade. Thing is, they don't want them or the cost to deal with them, they just want new. Thinking about it, insurance companies are the same way and well so many things are.

I would put the handle in the hammer. I know you could buy a hammer for the same price and it feels like you get more for the money but at the end of the day you still only have one hammer. Its either all new or part new, still one hammer and you saved a bit on trash. The other option would be to buy the new and find a different use for the old like tying a string to it and using for home defense; swing it around like a ball and chain. Ha.

Buy a good soldering station and you can buy sub-c batteries off ebay to rebuild packs for around 25 bucks and they work better then new. Or take them to a battery store like interstate and I think an 18 volt was 45 bucks last time I called them. http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-NiCd-Sub...US_Rechargeable_Batteries&hash=item5ad7d04011. 20 bucks for 12 batteries to do an 18 volt. Very easy to do if you have a good solderer. The more cells you buy the cheaper they get also.

 

[andywander]

Buy the new cordless tool, get the 2 batteries and the charger, and now you have 2 tools that use teh same batteries and charger....

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

There's a guy on ebay that rebuilds tool batteries. I have a bunch of old batteries waiting to send out to him.

And I agree, with bearings and things... order online, anything through a dealer with the so called "factory parts" is going to be insanely marked up. either that or take it apart and hope to get a number off the bearings. I have a local bearing shop that can match up just about anything. Part number or not, but the p/n helps.

 

[andywander]

If you have a wooded spot, and some hickory tress, you can make your own handles. I made a new pitman arm for my sickle-bar mower that way.

Just gotta' let it dry out for a while....

 

[signcrafter]

There's a guy on ebay that rebuilds tool batteries. I have a bunch of old batteries waiting to send out to him.

I was going to do the same thing until I watched some youtube videos on soldering batteries together and found how cheap you can get cells for on ebay. If you have a bunch to do and can solder buy a hakko or weller soldering station and some sub-c cells and go to work. It really is easy to do and will save you a TON of money, even after you figure in the 100 bucks for the soldering station.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Buy an estwing 3 lb engineers hammer. I have had heads fly off of cheap 3 lb ones and almost hurt me. the estwing is one piece, high quality, made in the us, and fairly cheap.

I had the Estwing ball peen's on my wish list forever...but never bought them because I didnt know what a steel handled tool beating on steel would feel like in the hand. IMO if it was a gread idea like the normal hammers, everybody would have copied it by now....just like the normal hammers, LOL. Do you have the Estwing sledge? How is it when whacking solid steel?

The other point to this question is when it comes to batteries. I don't like tossing a tool because the batteries are bad but its a tough choice when a new pair can cost the same as a new tool that comes with two and a charger and likely has more power. Still, I buy the batteries because I just can't toss everything out to the landfill. I wish DeWalt and some of the other companies would offer a better option for trade. Thing is, they don't want them or the cost to deal with them, they just want new. Thinking about it, insurance companies are the same way and well so many things are.

I would put the handle in the hammer. I know you could buy a hammer for the same price and it feels like you get more for the money but at the end of the day you still only have one hammer. Its either all new or part new, still one hammer and you saved a bit on trash. The other option would be to buy the new and find a different use for the old like tying a string to it and using for home defense; swing it around like a ball and chain. Ha.

I have a Makita 12v that is just like new, EXCELLENT Drill, but by far the crappiest batteries ever. Got to the point I had to buy 2 a year. Switched to the M18 Milwaukee....MUCH Better batteries.

I'll shop around for handle replacments....only one I found thus far was the BluePoint handle.

 

[Danglerb]

I have no sense, so I allot myself a certain amount of storage, currently I think its 3 or 4 big storage bins, for junk I hope to one day make something out of. This is of course separate from the many boxes of junk I have some kind of plan for or the boxes of spare parts.

I would not buy at retail a new handle. I would put it in my list of stuff to look for and pick some good handled broken headed thing and reuse the handle.

 

[crewchief888]

by the time i've managed to wear out a non-lifetime warranty" tool out,
drills, sanders, grinders ect, it's served it purpose many times over, and i've gotten my moneys worth out of it.....

i'll buy a new one, if it's something i need/have to have.

all depends on current budget "restraints"

about 5 years ago, i sent 2 corded drills, a grinder and a mig welder flying out the door of the garage, all within a couple weeks of each other.

 

[Major Ramifications]

by the time i've managed to wear out a non-lifetime warranty" tool out,
drills, sanders, grinders ect, it's served it purpose many times over, and i've gotten my moneys worth out of it.....

i'll buy a new one, if it's something i need/have to have.

all depends on current budget "restraints"

about 5 years ago, i sent 2 corded drills, a grinder and a mig welder flying out the door of the garage, all within a couple weeks of each other.

A mig welder? Dude, you must be a big guy!

 

[crewchief888]

A mig welder? Dude, you must be a big guy!

6' 225lb (at the time)

it was an old daytonamig 135, that i bought used, at least 10 years earlier

and i was pissed

i spent more time that night (and several previous nights), trying to get the welder to work, and feed wire, than actually welding. i finally had enough, i disconnected the bottle, rolled up the leads really nice, and gave it the heave-ho.....

just as the wife was pulling up in the driveway....

she got out of the car, walked past me headed for the back door,
i told her dinner's ready whenever she was hungry,
she asked if i'd pull her car up in the drive when i was done....

i picked up the welder, tossed it back into the garage, and closed the door.

when i walked in the door, all she said was "bad day?"

"no, not anymore, but i'm gonna have to get a new welder"

 

[d.mcfarland]

I love old tools. Even if it costs me a little more to fix it up, I usually wind up with a better tool, and I've avoided adding something to the landfill. It's a win-win.

And avoided sending money overseas.

 

[gus1962]

I love restoration, I had my old doall band saw, it's actually metal cutting saw, I bought the parts on www.bandsawparts.com , someone referred me to this and it was a pretty good deal . I just really love restoring old tools.

 

[sberry]

I have fixed up my share of stuff, still do it occasionally but on some stuff tend to want to buy new fiber glass handles etc and shovel for example, replace old **** with new landscape quality tools. I broke one of my 50$ shovels when something rolled on it but they are a real tool vs some old worn out rotten wood deal.

I bought a new 4# for my service truck a while back, so tempting to want to rob it ha. Its new, nearly foolproof.

 

[jbighump]

I was going to do the same thing until I watched some youtube videos on soldering batteries together and found how cheap you can get cells for on ebay. If you have a bunch to do and can solder buy a hakko or weller soldering station and some sub-c cells and go to work. It really is easy to do and will save you a TON of money, even after you figure in the 100 bucks for the soldering station.

this is the reason i didnt want the lithium snap on impact...with a ni cad the batteries take a **** and they can be rebuilt for 1/4 the price of a new lithium and they have a way longer life if cared for....