We usually buy something used to save money, hoping that its previous wear hasn’t compromised its quality. But when a used purchase is a big purchase, whether monetarily or in terms of need, it pays to do more than “hope” it won’t disappoint us. For professional woodworkers, buying a used moulder—a machine that uses profiled cutters to shape wood for various products—is this type of purchase.
What Are the Best Practices When Shopping for Used Moulders?
When shopping for a new moulding machine, the first question to ask is: Do you need an industrial grade moulder, or one that’s designed to perform light commercial and domestic grade woodworking? In the latter case, purchasing a new moulder may be the best choice, as light commercial grade and domestic models usually don’t offer a long lifespan, not to mention that their new price is usually affordable. But in the case of industrial grade moulders that have a long life span and a high price tag, buying used could result in receiving new machine quality at a used machine price, but only if you’re vigilant about searching out the best machines in a way that determines their true quality.
How do You Find the Best Used Moulder for the Money?
Finding a dependable used moulder follows the same four-part process as finding other dependable used industrial woodworking machinery: (1) always buy from a professional seller of used woodworking machines, as amateur sellers may not have the expertise to evaluate a machine’s dependability; (2) check a seller’s record at the Better Business Bureau (BBB), avoiding sellers that have unresolved customer complaints; (3) request a copy of a machine’s official logged service record, avoiding machine’s whose maintenance records are spotty; (4) inspect the machine in person to assess its general state of wear, or have an expert third party perform the inspection for you. Following these steps should lead you to a dependable used moulder that performs like new.
Is it Wise to Buy a Used Industrial Moulder in Anticipation of Higher Production?
Once woodworkers learn how to assess the quality of used woodworking machines, they sometimes buy machines that don’t match their present needs, in anticipation that those needs will soon change. When considering whether to buy industrial machinery that you don’t presently need, it’s important to distinguish between “anticipating” higher production and knowing that higher production will occur due to an increasing production demand. In the first case, buying used industrial equipment could result in a waste of money, at least for the foreseeable future; while in the latter case the purchase would be justifiable.
Even though used industrial machines cost less than new machines, their price tag can still be significant. Therefore, before you purchase a used industrial moulder in anticipation of bigger business, ask whether you anticipate higher production as a result of your business plans, or if such production is legitimated by product demand, as well as whether your current work setting could accommodate the machine you wish to purchase.
