Where Can I Find Used Equipment?

Many of the comments, emails and searches this site receives asks the question “where can I find a used…”  Almost every day somebody does a Google search for “used lapidary saw” and ends up here.  This post will address that question.

As I have participated in the rock hound / lapidary hobby I have purchased two pieces of new equipment, an Inland trim saw and a Chicago Electric tumbler.  These two pieces were the least satisfying pieces I have purchased.  Since then I have purchased many pieces including three saws, a half dozen tumblers, a flat lap, a cabbing machine and a grinding wheel setup.

The first place I found used equipment was Craigslist.com.  People often upgrade equipment, lose interest in the hobby or inherit equipment they don’t want.  Where do they go to unload the equipment?  Classified ads are where they go.  Whether it is Craigslist or you local newspaper classified ads are a great place to watch for used equipment.

The second place I purchased equipment was local gem shops and dealers.  Three dealers in the southern Idaho region that I have purchased used equipment from are Idaho Rock Shop, Stringers Gem Shop and Stewarts Gem Shop.  The contact information for all these dealers and many more can be found in the new “Gem Shops” section of this site.  (This is also a good reference for finding gem shops if you are traveling in the Western United States.)

The third place I found used equipment is from other members of the Owyhee Gem and Mineral Society.  Often active members of a gem club will offer the equipment to club members before trying to sell it by other means.  They also will be more inclined to teach you how to use, take care of and repair the equipment they sell to you.

Other places I have seen used equipment for sale is gem shows, yard sales, auction and online forums.

All sources for used equipment are hit and miss.  However, with little patients you will eventually find what you are looking for.  Once you do find that piece you are looking for it may require a little repair work.  If you are willing to do the repair work you will often end up with a better built piece of equipment than what is available new.  You may also save a lot of money since used equipment is often a fraction of the cost of new equipment.