Knowing the original owner’s identity is valuable for at least one reason: it gives you an idea of how much the machine was used, and in what types of environmental conditions it was used. For example, in terms of wear, there’s a big difference between a CNC router that was used by a commercial woodworking company for a decade, and one that was used by a university for the same period of time. Before you buy a machine, you should inspect it firsthand to assess its wear. But knowing the machine’s previous owner will help you know what to look for as you prepare for the inspection.

Making a Decision

– Are there any overhead hazards such as people on ladders, hanging tools etc?

Evaluating the Seller

However, the availability of reliable, attractively priced, pre-owned industrial equipment makes this scenario unnecessary, especially when sellers offer attractive financing options.

Woodworking equipment is manufactured in three grades, with each possessing less quality and production capacity than the next: hobby grade, mid grade, and industrial grade. If you plan on running a high capacity woodworking operation, you will likely need the capabilities of industrial woodworking machinery – the grade of equipment that offers the highest production rate, longest lifespan, and best resale value.

If you just started shopping for woodworking equipment, it may seem like cost is the biggest difference between one piece of hardware and another of the same make. However, the cost difference between the machines typically reflects where the true difference really lies: in the equipment’s grade of construction.

Stand

One of the worst decisions that woodworkers make when faced with the cost of industrial machinery is buying less expensive machinery that isn’t geared for the rigors of high production woodworking. For a while, low-grade industrial machines will stand up to high level industrial wear. But they eventually start breaking down and break down more frequently as time goes on, leaving a woodworking company with a production line that can’t support its workflow. A better decision that woodworkers often make when faced with the cost of industrial machinery is buying used woodworking machinery. When you buy used industrial woodworking machinery, you often pay less than half of a machine’s original price, which can make everything from used wood planers to used CNC routers suddenly seem rather affordable.

Buying a new woodworking machine is similar to buying a new car. Because you’re buying a new product, you don’t have to question its past. If you end up purchasing a lemon, it’s not because the sales team pulled the wool over your eyes; it’s because the company didn’t design a quality machine. Therefore, purchasing a new woodworking machine consists mainly of evaluating customer reviews and finding the best deal. Purchasing used woodworking machinery, on the other hand, is like purchasing a used car. Even if the machinery has a good reputation, you have to question its past, which involves requiring certain “proofs” of the seller.