Before you look to buy a second hand trommel screen read this - You’ll thank me later.

Are you looking for a second hand trommel screen because you think it is the cheaper alternative? Is this a new process or venture that you are just “testing the waters”? Whatever your reason there are a few things to consider before you buy a secondhand trommel screen. In some situations a second hand trommel screen is totally the answer and works well but from our experience more often than not, it’s a mistake.

First of all, what size are you looking for? Trommel screens come in all sorts of lengths and diameters and by default you will end up with what is available (check out what size trommel do I need?). You will end up accepting what is available to suit your needs. You then may have to, depending on your circumstances, start moving other things to accommodate your new trommel screen into your system or setup.

You will have an aperture size in mind for your application. What are the chances of finding a trommel that is the right size length, diameter and has the right aperture size? Now this doesn’t have to be the end of the world because meshes or punch plates can quite possibly be changed but there is a cost associated with this. You might want to say a 30mm aperture size and the second hand trommel screen you’re looking at is 40mm. You convince yourself that 10mm will make no difference but the reality is you wanted 30mm for a reason and now you are starting to compromise and what impact does that 10mm have over the lifetime you own the trommel screen?

Why is the other party selling it? Is it surplus to requirements or is it just knackered? The “cheap” trommel screen might need some work doing to it and end up not being cheap. Trommel screens are robust and do last a long time but don’t last forever. At some point the wheels will wear out and need replacing as well as the bearings and the drum itself could be breaking up. Care needs to be taken that the “cheap” trommel screen does not end up costing a fortune to get back up and running.

How will you load it? If the trommel screen is a stand alone machine then you will need a way of loading it. You may already have a conveyor or feeder hopper but if you don’t then you will also need to look for that as well. How will all of that work together as well? Maybe the second hand trommel screen has a built in hopper feeder.

If you can find a second hand trommel screen that fits with what you want to do and has the correct aperture size. Is in good nick and the price is right then winner winner chicken dinner. That is the right decision for you and your business. you would be mad not to do it.

But what if what we’ve said above is true and the cheap second hand trommel screen you are looking at is at the end of the day a compromise for what you really need. Maybe the “available now” is tempting you. What if I said there was another way.

Spitfire Engineering Services LTD designs and builds trommel screens to suit your exact needs. They are a no frills well engineered machine designed to give you years of service. We can build it to suit your existing setup and usually you can have a machine in less than 8 weeks from order. The cost would be less than you think as well. Before you look further at a second hand trommel screen why don’t you just ask us to quote you for a new trommel screen built to suit your exact requirements. What have you got to lose?