So most of us will no doubt have had a good look around Ebay for second hand mitre saws as well as doing plenty of research into buying new. Why not! It’s well worth looking at all angles before you take the plunge and invest in a new mitre saw which can be very expensive.
I have purchased some brilliant tools from ebay over the years that have cost me very little. Most of them I only use once in a while and buying them new would cost a small fortune. You can build up some fantastic carpentry tools for very little money if you are smart and research your purchases.
As with all things there are plenty of pros and cons to buying second hand from Ebay listings. Some are specific to mitre saws and some are general things to look out for when buying second hand power tools.
Find out why the seller is selling the saw. It could be that they had big DIY dreams that never actually materialized. If this is the case you may pick up a bargain that has never been used. But, on the flip side it may be old and very well used and you could be buying a lot of problems. In this case you would be better off buying something like Evolution Rage 3 Plus and get peace of mind.
Check the seller ratings and reviews. There are some brilliant Ebay sellers that have great feedback and sell quality second hand goods. There are also some bad ones. Try and go for the sellers that have a proven track record. Even better a seller who specializes in power tools and has a good rating.
Remember the reason you buy a mitre saw is usually to get very accurate cuts. A worn out saw may be great value but not give you the finish you are really after.
If you are looking at second hand mitre saws on Ebay there are a few things to look out for:
Worn out body
Some second hand mitre saws listed on Ebay may have worn out bodies. This is important to check as it can lead to inaccurate cuts. A good way to check this out is to try some fine cuts and make sure the angles that come out are perfect. Check all of the mechanisms including the sliding rails. Any wear on moving parts can cause bad cuts and joins.
Over used motor
This is an important one to check. When you view a potential Ebay purchase test it out. Cut a few larger items and make sure the motor is still man enough for the job. A saw may look in perfect condition but the motor could be over worked. In the cheaper models this is probably the end of the saw. Some of the more expensive models from the likes of Dewalt, Bosch and Metabo will have serviceable motors. But if you are in doubt have a chat to a power tool service centre.
Worn blade
A worn blade is not a massive issue on a second had saw. The last blade I bought cost me £15 pounds from my local screwfix. This will last me years as I am more of a hobby carpenter than serious tradesman. I tend to find that I end up buying a couple of blades anyway for different materials. Just check that the blade you need will fit the saw you are looking at. This sort of info should be on the ebay listing. If not send the seller a question.
How much will it cost new?
Some of the very expensive models can be brilliant second hand buys especially if you think you may only use it a couple of times. The larger the size of the cut generally the more expensive the saw. If you need a saw to cut large roof timbers or decking supports for occasional use then Ebay could be they way forward for you.
If you are spending a lot of money on a second hand saw and you are not one hundred percent sure of what you are looking at make sure you get someone to look over it. Most of us know a carpenter that would be more than happy to come along and cast an eye over the saw for you.
It probably won’t have a guarantee
It can be a risky business looking to buy a cheap mitre saw second hand and can be a false economy. In the majority of cases a second hand purchase will not have a guarantee. If it breaks quickly you may spend more on repairs or buying twice. If it is a case that you may save thirty or forty pounds then it may be worth while buying something like an Evolution. Fantastic value for money with spare blades easily available.
Make sure they are not stolen
Not all deals on auction sites are as good as they may first appear. Many saws that have been acquired by illegal means may well be advertised on the internet as genuine second hand items. Nobody wants a knock on the door or somebody walking up to them on a building site and claiming ownership of your tools. Talk to the owner of the saw and go and see it before buying it. If they have a receipt then even better! Trade tools are often the target of thieves as some of the high end mitre saws are very expensive. Make sure you end up with a genuine purchase.
How far away is the seller?
Ideally you want to buy from a local Ebay seller. You can go and test the mitre saw and have a chat with the current owner. If the seller is a long distance from you make sure you don’t end up over paying because the postage or petrol costs are high. In some cases you would be better to go to your local builders or buy off Amazon. The advertised price may be attractive but make sure you factor in any extras.
I know we have been talking about buying from ebay but there are plenty of other sources of second hand chop saws. More and more local specialist buy and sell pages are appearing on Facebook. Also, other sites like Gumtree offer some great deals that can be very local to you. Items like power tools often get sold off when people clear out the garage or shed so make sure you are checking local sites and pages.
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