What is an End Matcher? An end matching machine is used to produce wood pieces whose ends compliment each other in terms of wood grain patterns, producing a product that exhibits a cohesive aesthetic instead of a disjointed aesthetic.
End matchers can be used for a variety of wood products.
But their most common application if for the making of wooden floorboards, wooden wall paneling and wooden countertops.
There are three primary types of end matching: architectural end matching, in which wood pieces are book or slip matched, first end-to-end and then side-to-side to create regular grain line continuity; continuous end matching, in which wood pieces are book or slip matched in a continuous vertical or horizontal pattern; and panel end matching, in which wood pieces are book or slip matched into larger assemblies and then divided into smaller assemblies and stacked in an end match.
End matching machines are of little use to hobbyist woodworkers, but can significantly increase the output of woodworking operations whose primary focus is shifting toward any number of projects that require a cohesive aesthetic among wood paneling.
Is it Sensible to Buy Used End Matchers? Like most industrial wood working machines, end matching machines can be extremely expensive, posing a barrier to small woodshops that wish to increase their output of end matched products.
As a result, most growing woodworking operations-and even many well-established woodworking operations-consider purchasing used end matching machines.
Unlike domestic grade woodworking machinery, industrial wood working machines are designed to stand up to industrial level use for years on end without suffering a decrease in dependability or efficiency.
While most used woodworking machines are relatively new, even machines that are 30 or more years old are known to work remarkably well.
Even so, a used industrial woodworking machine must still be considered a used machine and carefully scrutinized.
How Do You Assess the Quality of Used End Matchers? Assessing the quality of a used end matcher follows the same process as assessing the quality of other used woodworking machines.
First, the buyer should only consider purchasing a used end matcher from a professional seller of used woodworking machinery (e.
g.
avoid eBay merchants and company auctions).
Second, the buyer should make sure that a seller does not have unresolved customer complaints at the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Third, the buyer should request an official copy of a machine's maintenance record and avoid machines that have not been regularly maintained.
Fourth, the buyer should conduct a firsthand appraisal of the machine to assess its wear, or have an expert third party conduct the appraisal.
Following these steps can lead you to an end matcher that offers new machine quality at a used machine price.