How to Sell a Broken Power Drill

Can you sell a power drill that does not work?

Yes. Repairers, people replacing one component and buyers who want a project all shop deliberately at this end. None of them will accept a fault they discover after paying.

What actually goes wrong with power drills

These are the faults that move a power drill down the grades, and the first things a buyer will ask about:

• Worn chucks that slip under load
• Taped or repaired cables, a safety concern
• Burnt-smelling motors
• Missing chuck keys on keyed models

Grading it honestly

Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £11 to £68. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £6 to £38. Grades are seller-declared and nobody inspects them for you, so grading up does not raise what you get — it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else. All five grades explained.

Working out what you actually have

Establish the fault properly rather than guessing at it:

1. Tighten a bit and test it under load
2. Inspect the full length of the cable
3. Run it and listen for bearing noise

Photographing the fault

Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:

1. The drill from the side, whole
2. The chuck close up, with a bit fitted
3. The cable, particularly where it enters the body
4. The case and every accessory included

What to state in the listing

Alongside the fault itself, buyers of broken power drills want these confirmed:

• Brand, model and power in watts
• Chuck size and whether keyed or keyless
• Whether it has hammer action, reverse and variable speed
• Whether the case, chuck key, side handle and any bits are included

Brand, type and power: “Makita 750W Corded Hammer Drill with Case”. Wattage is a real search term for corded tools. Say whether it has hammer action and whether the case and side handle are included, since those affect the price more than people expect.

What buyers will ask

Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:

Is it worth repairing first?

Usually not, unless it is cheap and you can evidence it. What lifts the price is condition and completeness, which a repair rarely restores:

• Chucks that grip without slipping
• Recognised trade brands
• Undamaged cables with no repairs
• Original case and side handle

If the work would cost more than the gap between £38 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is broken and let the buyer decide.

When to list it

Steady all year with a lift in spring as people start projects. Recognised trade brands sell within days; unbranded drills sell slowly.

Getting it to the buyer

Compact and reasonably cheap to post, though heavier than they look — weigh the case before quoting.

WishThrift does not process payments, arrange delivery or hold funds. Confirm the money has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.

Frequently asked questions

Is a broken power drill worth anything?

Yes — typically £6 to £38 at For Parts against £25 to £150 working. Repairers and people harvesting one component buy deliberately at this end. Worn chucks that slip under load

Should I repair it before selling?

Usually not, unless the repair is cheap and you can evidence it. The things that genuinely lift the price are chucks that grip without slipping and a repair rarely restores those.

What do buyers ask about a faulty power drill?

The fault itself, in detail. Fit a bit, tighten it and try to twist it out. A slipping chuck is the main wear point on an old drill and buyers test it. The listing that answers it before being asked is the one that sells.

See also: what power drill is worth by condition · how to sell power drill · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.