Mismatched screws are always a red flag for me—never know if it’s just laziness or someone covering up a bigger issue. I hear you on hand tools; a little rust is nothing compared to the headaches you get with old motors. As for cordless nailers, I’ve found most sellers barely charge the batteries, so even “testing” them isn’t much help unless you’re willing to hang around for an hour. Honestly, unless you can see it fire a dozen nails without jamming, it’s a gamble. Sometimes it’s just not worth the risk, especially with the price of replacement batteries these days.
That’s a good point about batteries—sometimes I wonder if it’s even worth buying used cordless stuff at all, given how pricey replacements are. Has anyone had luck finding decent aftermarket batteries, or is that just asking for trouble? Also, when you spot mismatched screws, do you ever open things up to check inside, or do you just walk away? I always debate whether it’s worth the hassle, especially if the price is right...
