I have a 12 1/2 planer that just died. I have it in for repairs, but if the repair cost more than 1/2 the cost of a new one Ill buy a new one. So tell me what do you guys do with all your tools that die and arent cost effective to repair, Throw’em in the trash, put’em by thhe curb for trash pick up? Just curious.
Darkworks: Underground, In the Peoples Republic of California
Replies
I save 'em for "parts" for six to ten years until I get tired of working around that pile and then throw them away.
Then the next week, I finally need a part off one.
Excellence is its own reward!
Piffin,
AMEN to that! That has happened to me so many times I've lost count. Now I keep my broken toys...er tools, for only about 6 months before I have the heart to pitch em!
Davo
Sell em on E-Bay. Just Kidding but that's on of the reasons I don't buy used tools on E-Bay.
Who Dares Wins.
Do like you did with the Rotozip.
Buy a new one and stick the dead one in the box & take it back to HD.
:) Joe H
Hmmmmm Now ya got me thinkin..:>)
Darkworks: Underground, In the Peoples Republic of California
I give them to the tool repair service I use. Saves me a few $$ on the ones he can fix. Other guys must do it too, or they just don't pick them up if the repairs cost to much. It is so bad, that I don't think he knows all of the stuff he has in his grave yard.
Dave
When I used to do alot of repairs, I was happy to keep old stuff that people didn't want to spend money fixing.
One day I looked in my attic and couldn't move.
Hadn't scrounged for a part from the pile in years.
I spent the next 2 months taking boxes to the dump.
Now I don't save anything that people offer me unless I have a use for it right away.
Same thing for remodels and fix-ups.
I don't save unless I have an immediate need.
Jeff
I will take stuff like that apart....save about half of it, trash the rest. Save stuff like rollers, gears, motor, switch. Steel frame parts would go into the scrap bin (used for patches, braces, brackets, whatever). Just keep the most usable parts, that I might need in other contraptions.
"So tell me what do you guys do with all your tools that die and arent cost effective to repair."
Ron,
If I was happy with the tool and it just plain wore out and or was damaged, I buy an identical replacement and keep the broken one for parts.
Funny thing, this weekend I was about to chuck a couple of dead DeWaldt 12V batteries, but read here that sometimes only a few cells go dead. Well, I broke 'um open and tested each ni-cad. Sure enough, only half were bad in each. 15 minutes, a little solder and fiberglass tape and I had a working back-up battery.
Jon
Fix or part out. 'bout the only thing too hard or time consuming to fix are armature windings (way too time consuming by hand) and sometimes gears if too small (you fix gears by judicioously building up weld metal, file to shape, retemper gear) -- sometimes not cost effective if you don't do it just to see if you can.
The parting out is always good for new projects.
If it's old enough, try the old woodworking machines web site -- someone there may be looking to buy a fixer.
-- J.S.
Don't write off selling it on ebay. Just make sure you tell people exactly what's wrong with it and what the repair was gonna cost. Sell it for parts.
Worst case, nobody bids on it and you lose a few dimes in listing fees.
But, there may be someone out there whose planer needs a new motor, or whatever who's thinking about tossing it and would happily pay a couple bucks plus shipping to buy the parts. Or someone who just likes to fix things. Who knows.
Of course, some bozo may buy it and then complain it doesn't work. But, if you were upfront and stated "THIS PLANER IS BROKEN AND NEEDS REPAIRED" up front, then so be it.
if it'll cover the cost of the gas....
I'll drive up to my handy-dandy used tool supermarket....
they'll buy most anything worth saving....
even broke.
So I'll take the 45 min drive up on a nice day and let them pay me about $5 ....
and that gives me the excuse to spend a hundred or so bucks on some other stuff I'll get at such a great deal I can't pass up ....
OK .....even if it don't cover the cost of gas....
That's why I gotta buy good tools.....it costs me too damn much when they break!
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite