Maintenance For Power Tools: What Should Be Addressed
December 17, 2012
No matter if you’re a professional or an amateur handyman, you need to keep your power tools in shape. While safety is a prime concern when such tools are in use, another way to protect yourself and get the best job as possible done is by always keeping your tools in good condition. This may be as easy as replacing older bits and blades to watching the alignment of the tool over time.
Sharpness is one quality that makes or breaks nearly all power tools. Blades and bits that aren’t sharp enough won’t give a clean cut and will result in a poorly-done job. Maintaining the sharpness of nearly all tools is important, particularly for all saws and various specialized woodworking tools. Some saws, for example, should have their blades professionally sharpened regularly, while other blades and bits are essentially disposable and should be replaced when dull or damaged.
Cleanliness is important for both a workstation and tools. But, even with a clean workstation, the power tools may not be as clean as you think. Generally concerning blades and bits, the first part to cleaning any power tools is removing debris, be it bits or a sticky residue from cutting wood. These build up over time and cause a blade to not perform as well. A pitch and resin remover kit, in this case, is ideal for removing any residue from blades and bits.
Other tools are stationary but still need to be clean. If a blade, for example, is part of a stationary tool, such as a table saw, the blade may be more susceptible to corrosion. In this case, a light lubricant should be added to such surfaces.
In other instances, certain parts may need to be replaced on your power tools for them to continue operating. Tools with belts or tires need one of these parts replaced at some point, preferably before the rubber part starts to crack or loses flexibility.
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