Bought a 'precision' tool off a guy at a swap meet in Dayton

It was supposed to be a dial indicator for setting up a new job on our old Mazak. Cost me 80 bucks. The needle stuck on the first pass and I had to scrap a $300 piece of aluminum before I figured it out. Anyone know a good spot for real tools that won't wreck a part?

4 comments

4 Comments

eva_moore9d ago

Check if the guy had a booth or just a table, because @wilson.olivia's right that swap meet deals are a gamble on quality. Did you get a good look at the tool before handing over the cash, or was it still in a box? I'd start by asking around local machine shops where they send their tools for calibration, that's usually where the good used stuff ends up.

derek_lee2mo ago

80 bucks for a swap meet indicator is wild, that's like asking for trouble.

-1

colescott2mo ago

Reminds me of the time I bought a "new" alternator that died in a week.

wilson.olivia2mo ago

Yeah, asking for trouble is right. I got burned on a cheap fuel pump once that left me stranded. Some deals just aren't worth the risk.