As the owner of a growing carpentry company it seems like I am continually buying tools. Nearly every project provides the opportunity to add to my tool collection. Well, for the most part that suits me just fine since one of my favorite past-times is buying new tools.
However, new tools aren't always in the budget so over the past few years I have purchased several used items with good results. Of course, I would like to always buy new but when I can't, I have found that research and patience pays off.
My most recent used tool purchase (cordless framing nailer) was only about 1 year old and I was able to pick it up for about half the cost of new. I had been checking them out online, watching prices, etc for a couple months before I came across the one I bought.
I have a few key criteria when looking at pre-owned tools.
The first, as expected, would be price. I don't usually even give a used tool a second look if the price tag is more than half the cost of new.
The second criteria I look at is condition. Regardless of price, if a tool seems to be on its last legs, I don't think it's going to be a good buy. I also insist on being able to test the tool before I buy. At the very least I want to make sure it works and get a feel for the condition. I think you can feel the condition of a tool better than you can see it. Anybody can clean something up and make it look nice but, until you 'test drive' it you don't really know what your dealing with.
Next, I like to consider who owned/used the tool before and how they took care of it. There is no exact formula for this, whether it be a professional contractor or a weekend warrior, you never can predict how a tool was cared for, so I try to ask questions to get a feel for what kind of life the tool might have had.
One last requirement which, for me, is maybe the most important. I would never buy a used tool 'sight unseen'. I think you would be asking for trouble to buy a used tool online without being able to see it, feel it, and test it before making a purchase. If a used tool can meet these requirements; price, condition & test drive, care, and an 'in person' purchase, then I usually feel comfortable about my purchase.
All in all, I think buying used tools can sometimes be the best way to go when you're on a budget like most of us are these days. However, you do kind of miss out on the rush of taking it home from the store and tearing into the box when you get home.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to the workshop.
Thanks for reading.
Rex
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Christmas Tradition
Well, I haven't had too much to blog about these past couple weeks but this was emailed to me and I thought it was interesting so I thought I'd post it. I'm not sure of the original source but it is thought provoking. I certainly plan to keep these ideas in mind this Christmas Season.
-Rex
I think this is a wonderful idea. As Americans, we need to support
our own economy, and not be held hostage by cheap, foreign-made
products that are crippling the jobs of workers in the United States.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition
As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into
high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply
produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of
American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will
give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no
longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that
is produced by American hands. Oh.... Yes there is!
It is time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to
fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?
Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift
certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?
Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about
some health improvement.
Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American
owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift
certificate or a book of gift certificates.
Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking
down the Benjamins on a Chinese-made flat-screen TV? Perhaps that
grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed
for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local
golf course.
There are a gazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift
certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what
about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember,
folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting
your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to
keep their doors open.
How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or
motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?
Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services
of a local cleaning lady for a day.
My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy
who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.
OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people
spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry,
and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.
Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and
leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play
or ballet at your hometown theatre.
Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.
Honestly people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand
Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of
light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those
kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a
nice BIG tip.
You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so
that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about
caring about US (We the People), encouraging American small businesses
to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about
other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come
back to us in ways we could not imagine.
THIS is the new American Christmas tradition!!
Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups.
-- throw up a post on Craig's List in the Rants and Raves section in your city.
-- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and
TV news departments.
This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what
Christmas is about?
-Rex
I think this is a wonderful idea. As Americans, we need to support
our own economy, and not be held hostage by cheap, foreign-made
products that are crippling the jobs of workers in the United States.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition
As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into
high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply
produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of
American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will
give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no
longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that
is produced by American hands. Oh.... Yes there is!
It is time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to
fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?
Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift
certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?
Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about
some health improvement.
Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American
owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift
certificate or a book of gift certificates.
Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking
down the Benjamins on a Chinese-made flat-screen TV? Perhaps that
grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed
for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local
golf course.
There are a gazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift
certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what
about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember,
folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting
your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to
keep their doors open.
How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or
motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?
Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services
of a local cleaning lady for a day.
My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy
who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.
OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people
spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry,
and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.
Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and
leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play
or ballet at your hometown theatre.
Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.
Honestly people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand
Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of
light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those
kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a
nice BIG tip.
You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so
that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about
caring about US (We the People), encouraging American small businesses
to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about
other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come
back to us in ways we could not imagine.
THIS is the new American Christmas tradition!!
Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups.
-- throw up a post on Craig's List in the Rants and Raves section in your city.
-- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and
TV news departments.
This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what
Christmas is about?
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