Housewright's Blog

The jobsite can be a tough place for tools – they see heavy use, extreme temperatures, rain, snow, dirt, drops, and some occasional misuse. Power tools are a big investment and when a tool goes down it can be costly – you have the cost to replace or repair the tool and the cost of lost productivity. This is why pros buy professional grade tools, they are designed for the use and conditions we subject them to. Even though professional grade tools are designed for the jobsite they do still break down…one way to combat this is to maintain and use our tools in a manner that promotes maximum performance.

            Probably one of the quickest ways to wear out a tool is to use it for a purpose it was not intended or designed for. We have all seen (and most of us are probably guilty of) a tool being used for a job that it should not be; cordless drills mixing a bucket full of thinset, a circular being used to cut concrete… Yes, these tools can perform these tasks but doing so, especially if we do it often, can drastically reduce the tools lifespan and its performance.  Even when a tool is used for its intended purpose there is some general maintenance that can increase performance and prolong a tools lifespan.

1. Use sharp saw blades. Keeping a sharp blade on saws will increase performance – dull blades make the saw work harder and produce poor results.

2. Use the proper saw blade. The proper saw blade for the tool and material is important; some blades are designed for a specific tool – using a blade designed for a sliding compound miter saw in table saw will reduce performance. Saw blades also need to be chosen based on the task they will be used for – using a crosscut blade to rip lumber results in poor performance and wears the tool.

3. Keep it clean. There are very few tools on a jobsite that aren’t exposed to dust. Sawdust, concrete dust, drywall dust…dust and dirt is ever present on a jobsite. Periodic blasts with some compressed air will help dust off and out of your tools, prolonging motor life and maintaining performance.

4. Keep it dry. Nobody likes it but working in snow and rain is sometimes a necessary evil. Some scrap plywood makes a decent roof air compressors and generators and a set of sawhorse piled with lumber makes a fairly dry home for the circular saw at the cut station. Desiccant packs in your tool storage boxes will help with moisture and for tools that get a good soaking a night in front of a fan can help too.

            Every pro has a routine of preventative maintenance they follow to keep their tools at top performance. A lot of the steps in these routines are fairly common practice but a lot of tradespeople have devised some unique ways to get the most out their tools. One of the easiest ways to make sure our tools stay in top working order is maybe one of the most overlooked – remember to register your tools for the manufacturer’s warranty. Remember, a well maintained tool is a safe tool!