Can you sell a circular saw 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 circular saws
These are the faults that move a circular saw down the grades, and the first things a buyer will ask about:
- Bent base plates, which prevent square cuts
- Sticking or damaged blade guards, a safety issue
- Worn arbor and bearing play
- Missing fences and spanners
Grading it honestly
Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £14 to £81. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £8 to £45. 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:
- Lay the base plate on a flat surface and check for rock
- Retract the guard and confirm it snaps back
- Check for play at the blade arbor
Photographing the fault
Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:
- The saw from the side, whole, on a bench
- The lower guard in the closed position
- The base plate and depth and bevel adjusters
- The cable and plug, plus the rating plate and any damage
What to state in the listing
Alongside the fault itself, buyers of broken circular saws want these confirmed:
- Brand, model, blade diameter and maximum cut depth
- Corded wattage, or battery platform and voltage for cordless
- Whether a blade, guide rail, case or dust adapter is included
- Guard function, cable condition and any fault
Brand, blade size and power: “Makita 190mm Circular Saw, 1200W, Corded” or “DeWalt 18V Cordless Circular Saw, Body Only”. Blade diameter is the search. On cordless tools say body only or how many batteries, because it changes the price completely.
What buyers will ask
Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:
Test it several times and confirm. A guard that sticks open is a serious hazard, and this is the single most important thing to check on a used circular saw.
For cordless, say clearly and name the platform. Body-only tools are worth far less and buyers filter for the distinction.
Run it through your hands and inspect it. Nicked insulation on a power tool cable is a real risk and must be disclosed.
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:
- Flat, undamaged base plates
- Retracting guards that spring back reliably
- Recognised trade brands with blade availability
- Rip fence and blade spanner included
If the work would cost more than the gap between £45 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is broken and let the buyer decide.
When to list it
Lifts in spring as projects start and before Christmas. Trade brands sell within days; unbranded tools compete on price alone.
Getting it to the buyer
Heavy and awkward. Remove the blade or ensure the guard is secured for transport, and box it properly — an exposed blade in a parcel is dangerous to whoever handles it.
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.
Ready to list it? Free to list, no commission, and neither side pays a buyer-protection fee — create a free account, or read the full circular saw selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.
Frequently asked questions
Is a broken circular saw worth anything?
Yes — typically £8 to £45 at For Parts against £30 to £180 working. Repairers and people harvesting one component buy deliberately at this end. Bent base plates, which prevent square cuts
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 flat, undamaged base plates and a repair rarely restores those.
What do buyers ask about a faulty circular saw?
The fault itself, in detail. Test it several times and confirm. A guard that sticks open is a serious hazard, and this is the single most important thing to check on a used circular saw. The listing that answers it before being asked is the one that sells.
See also: what circular saw is worth by condition · how to sell circular saw · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.