Capital-Equipment

Buying a used deep hole drilling machine is a common way to save money. I have bought and sold several used machines over the years, including a 1995 gundrill that ran for another eight years after purchase and a BTA machine that needed a full spindle rebuild within six months. The difference between those two outcomes was the inspection process. Here is the checklist I use. Spindle Inspection The first thing I check is the spindle. I listen for bearing noise during a test run at multiple RPMs. A quiet spindle with smooth operation is a good sign. A rumbling or grinding sound means bearing replacement, which costs $5,000 to $15,000 depending on the spindle size and whether the replacement includes a new bearing cartridge or requires a full rebuild. ...

I have been through enough machine purchases to know how easy it is to get the decision wrong. A deep hole drilling machine is a six-figure capital investment that will shape your shop’s capacity, quality, and cost structure for the next decade. Over the years I have been involved in several acquisitions – some that paid for themselves in eighteen months and others that became expensive lessons. The difference was almost always how rigorously we evaluated the options before signing. This article walks through the framework I now use every time. ...

I have inspected more used deep hole drilling machines than I care to count. Some were steals that ran for another decade. Others were money pits that cost more in repairs than the purchase price. The difference was the inspection — or the lack of one. This checklist is what I use every time, and it has saved me far more than it has cost. If you are not familiar with what makes a deep hole drilling machine different from standard machine tools, start with my overview on what to look for in a deep hole drilling machine. Then come back here for the pre-purchase deep dive. ...