Why You Should Reconsider Buying These Types Of Tools Used

If you've done any home improvement projects lately, you probably realize there are tools every homeowner should have. When it comes to buying used tools, however, this comes with extra considerations. In general, you ought to do some research on how much you should actually be paying for a used tool versus a new one. Power tools like a Ryobi drill kit are tools that are great for tackling home renovations, and can be purchased on sites such as Facebook Marketplace at a discounted price. However, as with any secondhand equipment, pay close attention to the working condition of the tool, as well as signs of wear and tear. 

Taking all those factors into consideration, power tools relying on torque or compression, and ones with blades or sharp edges are tools you're better off not purchasing used. Affordability, function, and safety make it necessary to second guess the reliability of these sorts of tools after too much use. If you're insistent on buying these sorts of tools used, the best way to ensure their quality is to purchase them from a trusted seller like Home Depot or at Amazon Renewed. Home Depot sells regularly serviced tools they've rented to customers, while Amazon includes a 90-day warranty and requires third-parties tools to pass quality testing, which isn't something that you can necessarily expect through eBay or Facebook Marketplace.

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), between 2010 and 2019 there were 30,336 home injuries recorded from workshop equipment. Of that, 4% to 24% resulted in amputations. Where sharp, bladed, power tools are concerned, whether new or used, they come with implied risk that is only heightened by age and poor working condition. These are not the tools to look out for at a garage sale, since missing parts like safety guards, frayed wires, and loose blades or drill bits pose serious dangers to your physical person and your household. 

If you're thinking of going cordless, then that means you'll be relying on battery power. While they can make your workspace a little safer by removing the tripping hazard of cords, old batteries or aged battery packs lose power over time, and typically have a lifespan of two to five years depending on the battery type. If you have to buy a new expensive battery to make your affordably purchased used tool work, then that defeats the purpose of purchasing a used tool in the first place. Further, lithium-ion batteries can experience what's known as a thermal runaway, which occurs in damaged or overcharged batteries and can potentially leads to the release of dangerous gases or explosions, causing fires.  

While purchasing a used drill comes with its own precautions, purchasing used drill bits can also cause more problems. If you're curious about how to choose which drill bit to use for your next project, start with a drill bit that has the ability to break through surfaces and do the job. In order to do this, your drill bits should be sharp on the end, free of old debris on edges and in grooves, and still hold its structural integrity — free of dents or chips on either end. A buildup of debris on your drill bit will negatively impact its accuracy. A bent drill bit not only impacts accuracy, but, if not set properly in your drill, it can also slip out and end up somewhere you don't want it to. 

Drill bits have a lifespan of 30 to 100 hours of use before needing to be replaced or sharpened. The cost of having a professional sharpen your bits for you, as per the price list on Eastside Saw, ranges anywhere from a little over a $1 to just over $33 for each bit. Otherwise, you can buy your own drill sharpener at an additional cost, again defeating the purpose of buying used. Instead, try a top-rated drill bit sets and avoid the potential liabilities of used bits.