In this article, we help you repair power tools using the power of DIY and a little bit of elbow grease.
We all probably have a shed full of power tools in a range of states of repair, some might be in fighting fit conditions, and others may need a little TLC.
If you have a few tools in your shed and you’re looking to repair them without the expensive assistance of a hardware store or tool shop, we’ve put together a few ideas for how might be able to repair your power tools for the cost of parts only, so you can spend your hard earned cash on something you’d rather spend it on.
Repairing your tools is pretty easy with a little bit of know how, and if you have the manual, replacement parts and a little bit of time on your side you can usually fix most power tools without the need for paying for a service or maintenance.
Tools and materials needed for this project:
– Dead power tool battery
– Battery charger
– Voltage source such as a welder
– Insulated gloves
– Safety goggles
As a side note, it’s important to always order and use quality replacement parts for your power tools that are from the manufacturer. It will make a massive difference to your tool’s life and will also ensure you are only using parts that are of the highest quality.
Step 1 – Repairing a drive belt
If you have a power tool that has a drive belt you will usually experience a blow out at some stage or another, and whether it is a planer, belt sander or even a vacuum cleaner, replacing the drive belt with a new one is simple.
Once you do a search online and find the right belt, now it is time to put it on and get your power tool back in working order. Following the instructions should be fairly straightforward and you can usually find a new drive belt for a few bucks.
Once you have installed the new belt, you can turn the double-edged blades around on the belt as well, which will give them a new lease on life.
Step 2 – Replacing brushes
If you regularly use body grinders, routers or any other tool that uses a brush from time to time you might need to repair it. In order to replace the brush on your power tool you will need to open the neck bolt plastic cover over your power tool and remove the broken brush and any springs and keep them in a safe place.
Install your new brush that you have purchased, replace the plastic cover, any springs and you should be able to use it just like new.
Step 3 – Install new power switch
It’s impossible to get your power tool working without a functioning switch so if your switch has failed you will need to get it replaced to get your tool back in working order again.
Your switch will have a rubber cover that you will need to peel back for closer inspection and you will need to remove the parts inside including any charred pieces that might have died in the process.
Once you have found the part you need online by searching by part number you can put in the new switch, close up the cover and power up your tool so it is really to go.
Step 4 – Installing a new power cord
If you have a power tool that has a power cord that has seen better days and needs replacing you can replace the cord so the tool is ready and raring to go and safe again.
Once you have a new cord, wire it in and clamp it in place to ensure the cord doesn’t pull out from the wires. Be careful with attaching a new cord as you will need to understand the inner workings of the wires to ensure you don’t get zapped.
Source: TheFishtail
Step 5 – Bringing batteries back to life
These days plenty of our power tools have batteries and once they are dead usually we throw them out, yet you can bring them back to life with a little bit of DIY.
To see if your battery will come back to life you can use some current and or voltage to via a welder to see if you can get some life back into the battery. A quick zap of the shorted crystal dendrites will determine if there is any more life in your battery, so you can try this and see if you get any joy out of your battery.
Always be very careful using charge to test batteries as you can run the risk of being electrocuted. It’s important to note, if you are going to repair your power tools to do so in a safe environment and to be careful throughout your DIY process. Working with electricity is dangerous and if you do plan to shock batteries to increase the charge you do need to be super careful.
Whether you have a small DIY project or a big one, we have the tools you need to get the job done. Listing tools is easy! Do you own a bunch of tools at home, gathering dust that you hardly ever use? Instead, you should be letting them make you money by renting them out to people in your area. With ToolMates Hire you can now hire your own tools out whenever they’re not in use.
Simply register, add a tool, details and photo, add the dates the tool is available and confirm, and your tool is listed on ToolMates Hire as available.
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