Tools you shouldn't buy used.

[Bolster]

What tools should you not buy (or at least beware of buying) used?

In other words, which tools are most likely to wear out or break in a way that's hard to detect?

 

[jay50]

I don't buy used Torque Wrenches.
Never know what abuse it had as a breaker bar.
The cost of calibrating a used one isn't worth it.

 

[mrholeshot]

I don't buy used air tools unless they look new in box and I have an air sorce right there and something to try it out on.

 

[Bolster]

I have stopped buying used pliers for the most part...so many have teeth too worn to be of much use.

And I'm being more careful of 12-p sockets these days after getting some that were too worn to be of use.

 

[I can fix anything]

I avoid used electrical like meters and probes unless the price is really good.

 

[Stick]

Cutting tools like taps, dies, and reamers, though drills are ok as they are pretty easy to sharpen.
I'd be pretty iffy on used torque wrenches.
Precision measuring tools, micrometers, dial indicators, etc.

 

[Stick Figure]

Most everything comes down to the factors at play.

Is this item right in front of you at the time of purchase?
or
Large superb quality pictures?
or
tiny little fuzzy picture?

Price?
sometimes the price is soooooo cheap its worth the risk.

Why is the item being sold?
there are a multitude of reasons here, but i have come across a great deal of machinists that are selling off a LOT of the above mentioned items because they are retired by quite a few years, and will never use them again, or in some cases they are passed and the kids have no clue what the items are or how they are even used. Most of those guys took great care of the items and are still in perfect working condition, making some great deals to be had.

Unless of course you are in the LA area, then just pass on all of them

 

[ZRX61]

Speculums....

 

[arkangel06]

Calipers digital or dial.

Digital dial indicators

Carbide faced micrometers and any other precision measeuring device I can not inspect first.

 

[fourfeathers]

I have NO problem buying used air tools. It is pretty hard to kill them. Impacts do get weaker, but he rest fade slowwwwllly.
I buy used tools almost exclusively.
Having bought singles and sets of almost everything imaginable, I would say that matching the pieces in the set may be important to most people. Age, brand, usage, and color make a wrench set look bad, if mismatched.
To me, it depends on what it is, and what I paid.

 

[billymade]

Practically every used air ratchet that I have purchased has needed to be rebuilt; typically a head kit, does the trick!

 

[JohnFreeman]

Depends on if they're available to be seen locally.

Bigger risk though the mail.

 

[bigdummy30]

battery packs for cordless stuff.....ive seen a bunch of ways for someone to get them to seem perfect for a day or two/

 

[t100]

prybars .

 

[WHT]

Large superb quality pictures? Or, tiny little fuzzy pictures?

It is easy to take clear, sharp photos. Those fuzzy eBay pictures are there for a reason.

 

[Phuckin' Jim]

Speculums....

 

[wafrederick]

I have bought 2 used Snap On air ratchets used and did great on them although they needed a rebuild which was cheaper than I purchased them.Avoid the cheap brands for air tools,a used no good cheap brand impact wrench is this way for an example: basically throw aways when they break.

 

[gnx547]

used cordless drills

 

[ImportTuner]

Torque wrenches and anything that uses a battery ..

 

[DaytonFan]

Vise's never ever again!!
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72668

 

[Stick Figure]

I should also add depends on the tools warranty situation. While i know some people say they are above warranty "abuse", its kinda tough to go wrong with most Craftsman pieces as long as you pay less than retail for it.

 

[dkroth]

Files.

No one EVER throws out a worn-out file. It just goes in some drawer somewhere and ends up at a garage sale for $0.25. Then it ends up in your drawer - never used - because it doesn't do it's job. They're usually covered with rust and are missing the handles.

I learned my lesson when I finally bought a set of new Facom files. Wow, what a difference from the used hand-me-down **** that I was using.

 

[woody 73]

Files.

No one EVER throws out a worn-out file. It just goes in some drawer somewhere and ends up at a garage sale for $0.25. Then it ends up in your drawer - never used - because it doesn't do it's job. They're usually covered with rust and are missing the handles.

I learned my lesson when I finally bought a set of new Facom files. Wow, what a difference from the used hand-me-down **** that I was using.

I buy a lot of tools yes files do get worn out but I still like to buy them,they serve a good purpose althgough I would love to only pay 25 cents...

Tap & Dies I remember talking to Packard (Jack) and I remember him saying they are very good at restoring old threads (he is 100% on the money).

Air tools I like them used (as someone said they can all be re-built).

I like the chisels because I can restore them if they still have some life left in them.

You are right on the money about used sockets I have bought a few sets and they are cracked or the 12 point ones are in very bad shape,so I am more leery of them!

As far as torque yes that would scare me off of buying used unless it looked very clean and not abused (but even that is a **** shoot).


Pliers now you have me over a gun barrel on that one,as I can not turn down any used pliers. Oh sure the teeth can wear down,but I have very nice pliers from the 1930's that work very well today,because they were made by some very good companies that were ment to last.

I am leery of electrical meters,so I tend to pass on those,although if I could see them work I might reconsider.

Old tools you got to love them...

 

[bargainzplus+]

It's hard for me to purchase used cordless tool batteries because they can go bad at the drop of a dime and are extremely too pricy to replace.
Air tools are a no-go unless I can test the on the spot because most of the time I plan on re-selling them rather then using them because I already have a good compete set.
Anything used that's not made in the USA is pointless to me unless I can use it as a good backup or a one hit wonder and the price is way below 1/4 new.

 

[johnny1290]

I don't buy anything used that isn't american or very high quality.

I've bought side cutters and pliers that were used up but its my own damn fault for getting blinded by the SO or knipex name

bought a SO air ratchet that was pretty worn, but sold it instead of kitting it.

Anything with a blade gotta check it reallllll carefully for knicks and sharpness etc

 

[Garage_Mahal]

Screwdrivers.

 

[hofferwood]

LEKTRIKAL TAPE
Chuck

 

[IndyGarage]

Anything that you hammer on. Chisels, drift pins, nail sets, screwdrivers if you're the type that hammers on them.

You have no idea of the state of the hardening and tempering. They could shatter or splinter and the shards would have no problem entering your skin or your eyes.

 

[Rickster]

I have to say from experience in selling that torque wrenches and electrical meters are a slow seller. But in defense of my sales I always look for torque wrenches and meters that have been stored in the toolbox with care. Stuff that is rollng around with other tools I pass on.

Air tools are another group that's difficult to sell. I have several air ratchets right now that need head kits. It's a gamble to buy them for resale. I had a bunch of air tools stored up and sold them at my garage sale (not the ones that need head kits - if they dont work when I get them home I investigate why, flag the problem for fixing or toss them). Anyways, I noticed guys were looking at them but passing them up. So I fired up the compressor and put an air line right next to the box to check them out. Sold every one I had out!

 

[comedyman809]

Most everything comes down to the factors at play.

Is this item right in front of you at the time of purchase?
or
Large superb quality pictures?
or
tiny little fuzzy picture?

Price?
sometimes the price is soooooo cheap its worth the risk.

Why is the item being sold?
there are a multitude of reasons here, but i have come across a great deal of machinists that are selling off a LOT of the above mentioned items because they are retired by quite a few years, and will never use them again, or in some cases they are passed and the kids have no clue what the items are or how they are even used. Most of those guys took great care of the items and are still in perfect working condition, making some great deals to be had.

Unless of course you are in the LA area, then just pass on all of them

yeah, exactly,you dont want to get shot at during a drive-by while buy used tools. or is it because actors/want-to-be-actors make great liers.

 

[shotgunfatcat]

Electronics (anything that plugs in or has a battery) measurement tools (besides maybe a tape measure, or something neat). Broken tools. Anything from harbor freight.

 

[wafrederick]

You can make old worn out files into gasket scrapers,cut a section of the worn out area and grind down a cutting edge.Batteries are a huge no to buy used.One of my father's friends bought 4 batteries on Ebay and 2 were no good,one had a crack in the case.Got his money back after returning them to the seller.I have done good buying broken tools on Ebay,both Cornwell tool lots.One lot was $300.00 worth of tools and the other was $500.00 worth of tools after getting them replaced under warranty.

 

[z28toz06]

Files.

No one EVER throws out a worn-out file. It just goes in some drawer somewhere and ends up at a garage sale for $0.25. Then it ends up in your drawer - never used - because it doesn't do it's job. They're usually covered with rust and are missing the handles.

I learned my lesson when I finally bought a set of new Facom files. Wow, what a difference from the used hand-me-down **** that I was using.

Those old worn out files can be turned in to knife blades I read somewhere.