Guide

Buying a Used Machine: A Checklist

A used machine can be the smartest purchase you make, or the most expensive mistake. The difference is what you check before you pay.

Used industrial machinery is a legitimate way to get real capacity at a lower cost — TME Africa sells both new and factory-inspected used machines for exactly this reason. But "used" only works in your favour if you actually inspect before you commit. Here's what to check, whoever you're buying from.

Before you even see the machine

• Ask for the machine's history if the seller has it — years in service, what it was used for, why it's being sold.
• Ask whether the machine can be trial-run under power before you pay. A seller who won't allow this is telling you something.
• Get real photos or video of the machine running, not just a static photo — you want to see and hear it operating.

On the spindle

• Check for spindle play by hand — grip the chuck and try to move it side to side and in/out. Excessive play means worn bearings, a costly repair.
• Listen for grinding, knocking, or whining at different speeds when running under power.
• Check for run-out (wobble) by mounting a test bar and watching it spin — visible wobble means the spindle or bearings are worn.

On the bed and ways

• Look down the length of the bed ways for scoring, deep scratches, or uneven wear patterns — heavy wear near the headstock is common and expected, but deep gouges anywhere are a red flag.
• Run your hand along the ways checking for smoothness — if the carriage feels rough or notchy as it travels, the ways are likely worn unevenly.
• Check for oil residue that's old and gummy versus fresh — a machine that's been maintained will show recent lubrication.

Electrical and safety

• Inspect wiring for cracked insulation, exposed conductors, or obviously improvised repairs.
• Confirm the machine's rated voltage and phase matches what your workshop actually supplies.
• Check that emergency stops, guards, and interlocks are present and functional — not removed or bypassed.

Completeness

Confirm what's actually included — chucks, tooling, manuals, spare belts — versus what's shown in a photo but not part of the sale. Missing accessories add real cost after you've already paid for the machine.

Our own standard

Every used machine TME Africa supplies is factory-inspected before it ships, and because we're physically in Nigeria, you can inspect it yourself before you pay — that's not a courtesy, it's the whole point of buying locally instead of sight-unseen from overseas.