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Repairing Tools

steve | Posted in Tools for Home Building on July 15, 2005 04:50am

who carries spare parts and can repair tools on site?

i for example have a tool box in my van with spare parts that i know will fail usually at the least opportune moment

a casual inspection shows the following:

motor brushes for every tool from drills to routers

spare belts for every tool that has one fom the little one in my ryobi belt sander to the big one on the table saw

a forward reverse speed switch for all

spare router collets and blade nuts for the saws(they DO get lost sometimes)

rebuild kit for every nailer

extra power cord material and plugs(we’ve all cut them off by mistake)

and the biggie!!spare parts for any tool that you have already replaced, an example for me is the transmission in my makita drills, the frame in my ryobi belt sander

okay so that spare parts box is worth maybe a few hundred bucks but it can easily save a day of down time waiting for or driving for a spare part

and another biggie, learn how to fix them, and carry the right tools to do it. tool repair is not difficult usually its electrical ie switches, cords or brushes all you need is basic screwdrivers, wire strippers, allen keys maybe a set of torx drivers

and another box, parts diagrams and manuals for every tool

sure its another tool box, but the time and money saved can more than pay for itself

comments?

caulking is not a piece of trim

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Replies

  1. User avater
    IMERC | Jul 15, 2005 06:10pm | #1

    my list isn't as advanced as yours but I do carry spare tools to meet the need..

    try not to repair on the job unless I have to..

     

    1. steve | Jul 15, 2005 07:00pm | #2

      well after over 20 years in thius business, i've learned what to expect and if by carrying a few hundred bucks of spares, i can save a days work so be it

      lets face it, a set of brushes on a table saw can ruin a days work

      on real critical tools, i carry spares(the whole tool), but tearing down a chopsaw or router? no problem, replaceing a cord and plug on a circ saw, no problem

      i'd have to buy the parts anyway, so why not keep them on board?

      plus there's a certain amount of satisfaction in repairing my own tools not to mention the image in my clients eyecaulking is not a piece of trim

      1. User avater
        IMERC | Jul 15, 2005 07:27pm | #3

        I repair tools after hours.

        table saw went down... get out another..  same for the router, saws, drills nailers cordless.. compressor.. you get the idea..

        I do carry the basic repair parts... just in case.. 

      2. JohnSprung | Jul 16, 2005 03:36am | #4

        > not to mention the image in my clients eye

        It depends who's paying you and on what basis.  If I'm paying you by the hour, it's better for me if you put down a dead tool, pick up a spare, and get back to work on my job.  If the deal is a flat and you're not holding up other trades, the time you spend taking tools apart is your own.  That way I'm not paying you to fix your own tools.

        In general, consumables like brushes and belts should be inspected and replaced before they totally crap out.  Especially brushes, replacing them when they're 90% used up will make the commutator last longer. 

         

        -- J.S.

         

        1. 4Lorn1 | Jul 16, 2005 12:13pm | #8

          Re: "In general, consumables like brushes and belts should be inspected and replaced before they totally crap out. Especially brushes, replacing them when they're 90% used up will make the commutator last longer."I agree.Pays to inspect such things on a regular basis. The other thing is that most problems tend to give fair warning. Before the trigger fails to work completely it usually will get cranky and fail to works without a delay or tweaking or a good whack. I have seen people become surprised when the trigger that has been a PITA for months stops working altogether. As if it hadn't given many weeks of fair warning. Sounds entirely too simple, trite even, to say that when the trigger starts binding and working inconsistently or the chuck binds and stops holding well you might want to get a spare. Possibly on a slow or rainy day go ahead and replace the old one. Before it fails entirely. Entirely too simple. Too obvious. And almost always counter human nature. Even my own.

  2. dustinf | Jul 16, 2005 03:44am | #5

    I don't carry any spare parts.  When it breaks, I work around it, until it is repaired.  If it is a must have I buy a replacement. 

    I don't make any money repairing tools, so I leave that to someone else.

    1. junkhound | Jul 16, 2005 04:11am | #6

      Don't think Ive ever carried around spare parts, but lots in the shop,  Usually at least 2 of everytolls  and hand backups, any that break at home shop.

      1. Snort | Jul 16, 2005 06:11am | #7

        I don't carry around a lot of spare parts for portable tools, either. Usually, by the time one craps out, there are 10 more and better ones out there...and I'm happy to get a new one<G>But that doesn't mean I still won't spend a couple of days trying to fix one...LOL Don't worry, we can fix that later!

  3. blue_eyed_devil | Jul 16, 2005 06:17pm | #9

    After I spent half a lifetime fixing tools, I started offering hand saws. Now the guys bring their own.

    If something breaks, I go buy a new one. I give the old ones away. I call that win-win.

    blue

     

  4. buildingbill | Jul 17, 2005 03:11am | #10

    The only thing I keep as a spare is a new 3-prong plug end. I don't know how far you are from civilization but the box stores are on every corner around here. We also have about three very good repair centers within 30 mins and their turn around time is awesome.

    1. steve | Jul 17, 2005 05:57pm | #12

      well our local repair center sucks, rarely has parts and turnaround for us "little"guys is very slow, our "big box" home depot carries no parts at all

      i guess it's all about self suffiencycaulking is not a piece of trim

  5. Pierre1 | Jul 17, 2005 04:17am | #11

    I've sent my DW cordless drill, Bostitch nailer, and PC mag saw for maintenance when they started acting up; the Bosch belt and RO sanders and no-name finish nailer were f'd so they went for repairs.

    Belt sander repairs were half the price of a new unit, which is my cost/benefit cut off point for a tool that only gets occasional use.

    Well worth it, esp. when the repair shop does its job in a couple hours which they are usually able to do, even on a Saturday.

    The only parts I keep on hand (at home) are brushes for the circ saw.

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