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Spent $400 on a used power hammer, biggest mistake of my shop time
Everyone talks about getting a power hammer as the next step up, so I jumped on a deal for a 50lb model I found on Craigslist. It was cheaper than new at $400, but I didn't check the ram guides close enough and the motor bearings were shot. I've spent another $150 on parts and three weekends trying to get it to run smooth, and it still hammers off-center. For now I'm back to using my sledge and a striker for most work, and honestly that's been faster than fixing this thing. My anvil and hammer setup has never let me down like this machine has. Anybody else buy a used tool that ended up being more trouble than it was worth?
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irisowens1d ago
That's how it goes with used tools, you're basically gambling on how much the last guy beat it up before passing the problem to you. It's like buying a used car with "minor transmission noise" - that noise ends up being your whole weekend and half your paycheck.
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shane_park921d ago
Man that sucks! I did the same thing with a used lathe last year, thought I was getting a steal for $300 but the ways were totally worn down in one spot so everything I turned came out tapered. I spent more time shimming the tailstock and chasing backlash than actually making chips. Sold it for scrap eventually. Sometimes the cheap price tag just means you're buying someone else's headache and a parts list
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