What does tool only mean? Bare tool vs kit
“Tool only” means the tool alone, with no battery or charger, while a kit includes batteries and a charger. That’s the single biggest difference between two listings for the same drill:
| Listing says | You get |
|---|---|
| Tool only, bare tool, body only | The tool alone: no battery, no charger, often no case |
| Kit | The tool with one or more batteries and a charger, usually in a case or bag |
| Combo kit | Two or more tools sharing batteries and a charger |
| Battery only, charger only | Just that, which is why these turn up in tool searches |
| Reconditioned, refurbished | Repaired or inspected and resold; check who did the work and what warranty comes with it |
If you already own batteries from a brand, a bare tool on the same platform is usually the best buy. If you don’t, compare a kit with a bare tool plus batteries bought separately; batteries are a large share of a kit’s price. For what refurbished means on eBay, see the eBay refurbished guide.
Which batteries fit which tools?
Cordless tools only take batteries from their own brand’s platform. Brands also name the same voltage differently: DeWalt’s 20V MAX, Milwaukee’s M18 and Makita’s 18V LXT are all the same class of battery, but they don’t fit each other’s tools. Within a brand, check the platform name, not just the volts: Milwaukee M12 and M18 are different systems, Makita’s 40V max XGT is separate from its 18V LXT, and while DeWalt’s FLEXVOLT batteries also fit its 20V MAX tools, its 60V FLEXVOLT tools need FLEXVOLT batteries.
Battery size, in amp-hours (Ah), decides run time, and the condition of a used battery is hard to judge from photos. Treat a used battery as a bonus, not the main value, unless the seller states how it’s been tested.
Why the model number matters
Search by model number because tool names repeat across generations, but model numbers don’t. A brushless impact driver and the brushed model it replaced can look alike in photos and differ a lot in power and price. The model number is on the tool’s label, in the brand’s catalogue, or on the box:
- Brushless or brushed. Brushless models usually run longer and cost more; the listing title often says which.
- Fuel, XR, Atomic and similar names mark a brand’s product lines. They’re part of what you’re paying for, so put them in your search.
- Kit suffixes. Many brands add letters or numbers to the model to show what’s in the box, so the bare tool and the kit can have slightly different codes.
Are used corded tools and bigger machines worth buying?
Often, yes: corded tools have no battery to wear out, which makes them some of the safest used buys. A corded drill, router or circular saw that runs smoothly in a seller’s video is likely to keep going. For bigger machines such as table saws, miter saws, compressors and planers, check the motor’s voltage (a 240V machine needs the right outlet), ask whether the blade or bits are included, and look for rust on cast-iron tables, which can be cleaned but is worth knowing about before you drive to collect it.
What to check in a used power tool listing on eBay
Look for photos of the actual tool and a seller who says how it was tested.
- Photos of the actual tool, including the label with the model number.
- Tested and working. A seller who says how they tested it (ran under load, chuck holds) is worth more than one who says “untested.”
- Wear points: a chuck that wobbles, a cracked housing, worn brushes on brushed tools, a blade guard that sticks on saws.
- Counterfeit batteries and chargers. Unusually cheap “genuine” batteries in quantity from one seller are a warning sign. Buy batteries from sellers with a history in tools. The eBay listing red flags guide lists more warning signs.
- Shipping. Heavy tools such as table saws and compressors cost a lot to post. Local pickup can save more than the price difference.
How to set alerts for used DeWalt, Milwaukee or Makita tools
Price the model with sold listings, then create an alert on the model number with your maximum price and the extras excluded.
- Price it. Search the model number on eBay with the Sold items filter, matching bare tool or kit and condition. The eBay sold listings guide shows how.
- Create the alert. Save the eBay search, or create a Spotter on SpotterOtter with the model number as keywords and your maximum price. There is a free plan.
- Block the extras. For a bare tool, put battery only, charger only, case only in Exclude. For a kit, require the battery in Must include if you need one.
- Consider local pickup within 10, 25, 50 or 100 miles of your ZIP code for heavy tools.
Example: keywords DCF887, condition used, Buy It Now, a maximum at the low end of recent bare-tool sales, and battery only, charger only, for parts in Exclude. Each new listing of that DeWalt impact driver under your price reaches you by email.
Make one Spotter per model rather than one for a whole brand: a search for “Milwaukee M18” matches thousands of listings, while a model number gives you alerts worth opening. SpotterOtter watches eBay in the United States (ebay.com) for new listings. Listings it can’t fully confirm are labelled Maybe match so you can judge them yourself.