Tried the swap meet trick for old tools and got burned on a drill press

I went to a local swap meet last Saturday looking for a used drill press to save some cash. Found one that looked fine for $60 but when I got it home the bearings were shot and the chuck wobbled like crazy. Took me two hours to realize I could have bought a decent new one for $120 and saved the hassle. I learned the hard way that old tools need a full inspection before buying, not just a quick glance. Has anyone else had a bad experience with swap meet tool deals?

2 comments

2 Comments

foster.oscar1mo ago

Are you really that upset over $60 and a couple hours of your time? I mean, you went to a swap meet, not a certified pre-owned tool lot. That's the whole gamble. A quick glance isn't a real inspection, you gotta spin the chuck by hand and listen for grinding, check the belts for cracks, bring a level to check the table. I've bought a dozen old tools that way and only had one real dud, a belt sander that smoked out my garage. You paid the swap meet tax, it's not the end of the world.

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walker.alex1mo ago

Nailed it with that swap meet tax. Picked up a table saw once that looked fine until I got it home and the arbor was bent, thing wobbled like crazy. Lesson learned, now I always bring a pair of pliers and a flashlight at least.