Rebuild or replace?
Is it cheaper to rebuild or buy new?
If an iron is worn but repairable, a rebuild is almost always the cheaper move. Across the line a rebuild runs about 65% to 79% of what a new iron costs, and you keep the iron you already own. Here is the math, iron by iron, figured from the current price list.
The numbers
Rebuild vs new, iron by iron
Rebuild prices are per iron, plus shipping and handling. The new price is the current storefront price for the same iron. Percentages and savings are computed from those two figures.
| Iron | Rebuild | New | Rebuild as % of new | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Stamp — Black Handle | $250 | $385 | 65% | $135 |
| Single Stamp — Wood Handle | $250 | $385 | 65% | $135 |
| 2 Stamp — Black Handle | $340 | $470 | 72% | $130 |
| 2 Stamp — Wood Handle | $340 | $470 | 72% | $130 |
| Standard 10 Stamp | $525 | $665 | 79% | $140 |
| Standard Bar Iron | $525 | $665 | 79% | $140 |
| Standard Mini Bar Iron | $445 | $570 | 78% | $125 |
| Deluxe Mini Bar Iron | $545 | $700 | 78% | $155 |
| Deluxe 2x5 & Deluxe Bar | $545 | $700 | 78% | $155 |
| Deluxe Camel Wides | $545 | $700 | 78% | $155 |
| All Deluxe Plus Irons | $725 | $999 | 73% | $274 |
| Hot Glue Carton Opener | $255 | $365 | 70% | $110 |
“You keep” is what stays in your pocket versus buying the same iron new. It does not count shipping either way.
What you get
A rebuild is not a patch
Factory-new standards
We strip the iron, replace what is worn, and hold it to the same standard as a new one. It is a rebuild, not a touch-up.
A new stand
Every rebuild ships with a new wooden stand, high-temperature resting bars, and safety tips.
90-day warranty
A rebuilt iron carries the same 90-day warranty as a new one. That is what makes the lower price a real saving, not a gamble.
Turnaround
The slow path is the cheap path
A rebuild trades time for money. You ship the iron to Cibolo, we rebuild it after service is complete, and ship it back. Plan on about a month round trip. Nothing about it is fast, and that is the point: the wait is what makes it the cheapest way to keep a good iron working.
For a bench that cannot give up an iron for a month, an express replacement option is coming — an iron on its way now instead of a round trip. Until then, a new iron from the lineup ships on our normal terms and your worn one can go in for rebuild whenever you can spare it.
Two ways to fill a gap
- Rebuild
- Cheapest. About a month round trip. Best when you have a spare or can plan around the wait.
- Buy new (express coming)
- Fastest. Full price. Best when a stopped bench costs more than the iron.
When replacement wins
Times to buy new instead
A rebuild only makes sense on an iron that can be brought back. Some cannot. If the body is cracked or the damage runs past what a rebuild covers, replacement is the honest call — we will tell you when an iron is not worth the freight both ways.
The other case is an upgrade. If you are moving a whole bench up to Deluxe Plus — the illuminated power switch and the 450-degree over-temp cutoff — buying new Deluxe Plus irons may fit better than rebuilding what you have. If you would rather keep the irons you own, a Deluxe can be updated to Deluxe Plus during a rebuild for $150 on top of the rebuild price.
Not sure which way to go?
Reach us through the order form or from any product page. Tell us the iron and what is wrong with it, and we will say whether a rebuild is worth it.