As you shop for industrial woodworking machines, you may reach a point where buying all of your machines new would exceed your budget. In such instances, woodworkers often consider buying used machines for woodworking, a move that could save you serious money, as long as you identify what machines are ideal to buy used versus new. Below, we take a look at four types of woodworking machines that are ideal to buy used.
Used Machines for Woodworking: Which Machines Should You Buy Used?
Due to their long lifespan, used industrial woodworking machines offer great value for their price, especially if you follow four steps for ensuring the quality of a used woodworking machine:
(1) only buy from a professional used woodworking machinery seller,
(2) investigate a seller’s reputation at the Better Business Bureau (BBB),
(3) request a copy of a machine’s maintenance record, and
(4) conduct a firsthand inspection of the machine, or have an expert third party perform it for you.
However, some machinery brings especial value when purchased used, particularly CNC routers, wood presses, pallet equipment, and production line equipment.
1. CNC Routers
Because industrial grade CNC routers can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, buying one used could bring savings that impact your bottom line. Instead of buying the model they need used, some woodworkers buy a lower capacity CNC router to have new router. But they eventually pay the price in frequent repairs due to the router’s inability to match production demand. CNC routers are perhaps the most sensitive woodwork machinery on the market. But, as long as you observe the aforementioned process, you should be able to find a used router that works like new for years to come.
2. Wood Presses
Wood presses are one of the most durable forms of woodwork equipment, as well as one the longest-lived. Combining simple, heavy duty pressing systems with steel, iron, hard rubber, and other rugged material that facilitates pressing, a used industrial wood press could easily last the rest of your life. As long as it has a great maintenance record, an industrial wood press should be a steal to buy used.
3. Pallet Equipment
Pallet equipment refers to two types of products: equipment used to make pallets, and equipment used to stack them, with the latter being the type mentioned here. As long as it isn’t overloaded, pallet stacking gear is virtually indestructible, needing only a coat of new paint after several years of use.
4. Production Line Equipment
Production line equipment refers to the line itself, which often operates using a simply pulley chain, although more complex technologies are also used. As with pallet stacking gear, most production line gear wears well, and is often available in sections that can accommodate woodshops and warehouse settings alike.
