So, I've been accumulating broken tools and fixing them lately. I've fixed up an air compressor, a Millermatic 130XP welder, a gravity feed sandblaster, and I've been trying to get more stuff as I can. How many of you guys fix up old tools to get enough life out of them to save up for a good one? I seem to have better luck fixing broken stuff than buying new at Harbor Freight most of the time.
kinda like fixing cast-off vehicles
... but hey this is GRM
Basically. Free or cheap tools help me make a little extra cash, so it's all gravy here.
how hard is it to fix an aircompressor? I have a husky upright compressor (I know, not the best brand) that can't seem to get over 80psi.. the motor just runs and runs and runs, but it never gets above that magical number.
Either the reed valves or the rings aren't sealing right. If you can get parts, they're fairly easy to rebuild, far easier than a 2 stroke motor.
Mmmmm Gravy.
Good on ya for fixing up the old stuff, often it is better made than the newer stuff.
My compressor came from my uncle. He bought a new one when this one started tripping the breaker. I hauled it home and plugged it in and have been using it ever since. His new compressor finished burning up the wire feeding his shop.
Most of my expensive tools were bought used in various states of disrepair. My lathe was $400. It was nasty from sitting for ten years but other than a cobbled together motor, complete. I put a new drive system on it and could probably sell it for $1500+, not that I would.
The 13" lathe I just bought was $300.
My Hobart welder came from a pawn shop for cheap. It's covered with white over spray, but it works fine. The shop owner said no one would buy it because it was ugly. Me, I don't care.
The trick is to have the cash on hand so that when you come across a good deal you can jump on it. I'm keeping my eye out for a bigger compressor now. It might take me a year or so to find it, but you can bet it will be cheap.
Mad-machine, your compressor probably has a broken reed valve. They will be in the head, and aren't too hard to change if you can find the parts. It might also be the rings, also not hard to change if you can get the parts.
Kind of a double whammy of keeping stuff out of the end of life cycle. I get my value's worth out of everything :p
thanks.. I bought it working for $50 from a contractor.. I do not want to spend another $500 for a new one..
Funny thing is.. it worked perfect for a month
Oiled compressor or a diaphragm compressor?
I admit to buying old cast off tools when I can and trying to slavage them, sadly it's few and far between, but I did buy my compressor from a pawn shop because it was ugly and old, to me that meant built to last. Solid old Kellog American with an old ball motor to run it, it just won't quit.
My dads work throws out the old metal bodied drills with a cut wire. I take them apart, clean the bearings, repack with grease and throw a new cord on it. I don't even touch the brushes, but sometime pull the motor and clean the contacts and motor rotor. These old drills run great. I have like 4-5 metal bodied drills from 1/4 to 3/8 chuck and 1000rpm to 3500rpm. All I need is to find some good chuck keys that fit.
Almost all of my power tools are used, I got 2 sawzalls with broken cords for 30$, I kept the easy blade install one and gave the other to my mom. Just find tools with broken cords, that is an easy fix.
I go on multitool.org sometimes, a site that's mostly about Leathermans and Swiss Army knives and similar things, but also involves a lot of finding flea market tools and cleaning them up. I've seen some total pieces of crap get turned into some really nice stuff on there.
You are talking about my lifestyle here!
Since I was 8 years old and fixed my Grandmothers waffle iron I have enjoyed fixing things.
Old drills are the best as it is usually just a cord and a cleanup.
The back of automotive shops are a gold mine sometimes.
Picked up 3 small drive across lifts that had failed in the last year or so and the owners upgraded to post lifts and these were just sitting out back.
Got all 3 for $400 and found that one was a bad seal in the hydraulic ram, one was a leaking fluid tank and one was a bad up down valve handle.
Swapped parts and sold one for $500 and fixed the leaky tank and my buddy cut me a new handle out of steel. Sent the cylinder to a shop and it was $105 to pick up a working ram!!
I often get amazed at the stuff that is discarded for the simplest things. Bought a nice zero-turn mower for $300 because it "needs a new motor". I thought no problem! I love rebuilding these things! Had an oil, dirt, grass, junk buildup that held the choke linkage shut. Guy I bought it from ORDERED me not to tell his wife how easy it was to fix as he got a brand new shiny bigger toy.
Got a huge compressor from the school as part of their upgrade. Had 2 motors and 2 compressors on a 25 foot tank. One of the motors had a disconnected wire! Swapped it for a paint job on my truck to an up and coming custom painter...
This is actually how I GET my something better tools! My $20 Skil-saw worm drive saw (with case, paperwork and accessories) will kill my brothers new cordless!
Bruce
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