No matter how well-built a tool is, at some point it will decrease in productivity. Realizing this point is only one piece of the puzzle. Next, you need to decide whether power tool repair is your best option. Often this doesn’t involve a simple answer, but luckily that’s what we're here to talk about!

Consider power tool repairs as a piece-by-piece process.

 

Power tools are built to last, but some parts tend to deteriorate quicker than others. What goes bad often depends on how a tool is used, but usually certain parts are more likely to fail first. Two of the most common parts that need to be replaced are power cords and battery packs—and by definition all power tools will have one or the other.

Power cords go bad through improper use (pulling or carrying a tool by the cord), distracted labor (straying saw beats power cord every time), or even frequent use. Whatever the reason, getting the cord fixed is almost always better than buying a new tool. And if the power tool still works in its damaged state, it definitely needs to be fixed before further use. Power cords can be repaired at many repair shops, or this way by a capable employee.

If a cordless tool has lost some of its power, the culprit is often the power supply. Even lithium-ion batteries need to be changed every couple of years. In this situation buying a new battery is the best route to take, and it is an easy fix to get your tool back to top performance.

 

 

Don't get sloppy when repairing your tools.

 

You wouldn’t fix a leak in a dam with a Band-Aid, so you shouldn’t perform insufficient repair on power tools either. The comparison seems lop-sided, but sloppy repair work on a power tool can cause injury to employees, property and/or the tool itself. If you can’t find the right piece for a puzzle, forcing the wrong piece will only lead to bigger problems further along. Whether repairing a dam or a power tool, doing the work right the first time is crucial.

There are a couple of reasons why this route is taken.

1. Once a project deadline starts looking less and less achievable, corners can be cut in many ways, including with repair work. How many times have you seen power cords with electrical tape wrapped around them?
2. If the proper repair is costly, minor repairs that solve part of the problem might be pursued first. This is argued as justifiable because it gets more life out of an otherwise broken part. This argument is wrong because staying safe means reducing risk, not adding more of it.

No matter why patchy repairs are considered, they should be avoided. If a repair can be done with a little more time and cost, then it should be done before the power tool is operated again. If the proper repair cannot be done without too much resources being used, then the damaged tool should be replaced.

 

 

Putting It Together

 

Industrial equipment repair can be likened to a building restoration project, just on a smaller scale. Restoration projects require attention in only fixing what is needed—not compromising anything else. If fixing what’s not working correctly can negatively affect another part, then the repair should be reconsidered, or done in a different way. This is like an average do-it-yourselfer taking a car engine apart to replace one small piece. The risk of something being improperly replaced or damaged is often too great.

If you or another employee has the experience to fix a power tool without making things worse, then that should be the first option explored. But if you’re not sure if a repair can be done effectively, either take it to a tool repair company or buy a replacement.

 

 

The Big Picture

 

There are times when broken tools are too costly to repair and parts too costly to replace. If this occurs, the only option left is to get a new tool. There are benefits when you replace power tools, but you should first go through the steps to see if power tool maintenance is in your better interest. Repairing a tool is similar to buying a refurbished tool. The big difference is you know where a repaired tool comes from and how it was used.

Repair work should be cost-effective and beneficial to your business. Careful consideration should be taken when deciding whether or not to repair power tools—the decision process should not involve much guesswork. The jumbled puzzle you started with should end up as a clear image.