Emphasizing excellent maintenance of your power tools can help you extend the useful life of those tools for many additional years, while also enhancing safety and performance during that time.
So what are some steps you can take to keep your most frequently used power tools in good condition for as long as possible? Here are some tips from our equipment rental company in Monroe, LA.
Always follow manufacturer guidelines
If you want to make sure you’re able to get the most possible life and reliability out of your tools, you should take care to follow the maintenance recommendations for those tools. You should always hold on to any manuals that come with those tools so you know exactly how to operate them, as well as at what intervals you need to have maintenance performed on those tools. If you lose a manual, you should also be able to find the information on the manufacturer’s website.
Only use tools for their intended purpose
You’d be surprised at how often this is an issue, even in professional settings. You should only use a tool for its designed purpose so you can avoid mishandling it or deteriorating it faster than necessary. This also prevents any safety issues from arising while you’re using the tool. For example, you should only use drill bits and driver bits with an electric drill—the motor will not give the speed you need for carbine burrs or mounted points, and the slower speed and lateral load will result in the tool wearing out and the job being performed poorly. In addition, do not use metal saw blades used for powered miter saws that should be cutting wood—wood saws do not run at the proper speeds for cutting metal.
Don’t make any alterations to the tools
Some people attempt to modify their tools to “improve” their performance, but in most cases this ends up creating safety issues and decreasing the functionality and effectiveness of the tool. This sort of falls under the previous category—you should make sure you’re only using tools for their intended purpose, and in the state in which they were designed by the manufacturer.
Store your tools properly
If you’re not currently using a power tool, make sure you store it in a cool, dry environment. Keep them in their proper containers or cabinets rather than letting them sit on work stations. This will prevent dust particles and moisture from getting inside the tool. This can be especially problematic for air tools, but it’s a good practice to get into for any types of power tools.
Be discerning with spare parts
As much as possible, only use original spare parts and authorized repair facilities for your power tools. Aftermarket parts aren’t guaranteed to work as well as the parts that were designed specifically for that tool by the manufacturer.
For more information about keeping your power tools in great shape, contact Ram Rent-All, Inc. or visit our equipment rental company in Monroe, LA today.