Used saws

[pat c]

I've got a CW40 that I'm learning on and have no real complaints about but.... of course I'm already lusting over a higher end saw. Several DW 788's always showing up on Ebay, none on CR in my area unfortunately. What is you folks opinion on buying used scroll saw, the Dewalt in particular but other models in general?
Thanks, Pat

[marshall]

Pat : Welcome : Money is always an issue , but I don't like buying used equipment , No. 1 you don't know anything about a used piece . You may do just fine buying used , my luck I'd get suckered buying used , unless you know who owned it . I'll just stick with buying something that has a Warranty, a guarantee is a good piece of mind !! Wish you Luck Marshall

[Jr_Ranger]

I am with Marshall in this area too unless I know the person I am buying from. If you can actually use the saw, listen to the sound and look at the condition then I would consider but I would not buy online used. I would save until I could get new. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Arcy]

Also be careful to comparison shop. Most of the used high end saws (DeWalt, Hawk) I've seen locally have either had very high prices. There's a DeWalt on my local craigslist asking higher than Amazon's price for a new one.

There have been many older Hawks listed which try to compare the asking price with the new price for current models (and often giving the feature lists from the current Ultra Precision and G4 saws for older models). For some, once hoses and quick-releases are added in the cost is almost the same as the new one.

I don't know how the quality of a new DeWalt compares with an older Hawk, but I'd be leary of spending half again as much on a 10-20 year old Hawk without a warrantee as on a new DeWalt.

If you can find an actual deal then it might be worth it, although I'm contrary enough that I'd worry that anything asking little enough for me to buy it probably is in broken in ways that I'm not experienced enough to recognize. Your mileage may vary

--Rob

[JohnB]

G'day Pat,
I've gotta chuck my hat in with Sylvia and Marshall.

Unless you get a used machine at a steal, and can say, "If it works I've gotta a great bargain, if it don't I've only lost X amount" I'd stick to new.

A different kettle of fish if you pick one up from a garage sale etc where you can see and try the machine.

[JohnB]

Rob,
Nick off, I said that LOL

[pat c]

Thanks folks, holding out for a new saw is the way I'll probably go. Unless of course I find a used one I can put my mitts on and either try out or at least listen too. But I at least wanted to hear from more experienced users. Pat

[greatdane2]

I have an older Dewalt saw. It looks really good and could be sold as new to a newbe. But when using it the blade moves all over the place. It could be that I have several thousand hours on it and it just wore out. But it would take an experianced user to see what is wrong with by using it. It is now used for cutting metal and I have another Dewalt.
Point being I would not buy a used saw without using it or getting an experianced scroller to try it.
Most places now have a tool return policy so that you can try a new saw and get your money back if its not what you like.
I would look for a factory reconditioned saw. Stores can not resell a tool if it is returned, and so they are checked over at a factory aproved center and then sold as reconditioned. Or it actually was broken and repaired but who cares you end up with a new saw and a full factory warranty.
I wish they sold those tools around here. More to the point my wife wishes they sold those around here.lol.

[tomsteve]

i have no problem buying used as long as i can see and power up and use the tool a bit. or i know the seller. dewalt makes a pretty good tool. worked construction for a few years and used quite a few different dewalt tools and no real complaints about 'em. i trust their replacement parts, too.

[Arcy]

Originally Posted by JohnB

Nick off, I said that LOL

But I said it first!

And with more words!

Pththththththtbt!

--Rob