Monday, August 25, 2008

Care and Feeding of Power Tools


Power tools are great timesavers and are more fun to use than hand tools. These tools won’t be fun for long, however, if they’re misused and abused. Be sure to avoid the following:
  • Lifting the tool by pulling on the power cord instead of the handle or body of the tool
  • Dropping the tool, especially from the second floor to the first
  • Applying too much pressure while using the tool and ignoring warning signs such as the blade or drill bit slowing down and straining or the motor giving off a burning smell
  • Ignoring damaged cords
  • Leaving the tool out in the rain
Tools don’t ask for much. They’re like huskies and dogsleds. If you treat huskies well and keep them fed, they’ll pull your sled until they drop. A power tool will keep going and going if you take care of it. I’ve run across homeowners with 40-year-old electric drills that still run like the day they came out of the box.
Taking care of your tools also will protect you. A frayed cord can lead to an electrical short, which is not good for your health. A dull blade or drill bit can cause the tool to slip and cut you instead of the wood you’re aiming at.


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