Taking Care of Tools and Equipment?

Answer 1

When it comes to personal tools and equipment, often times many people do not take appropriate care of their belongings. This is certainly true when these objects are loaned out to another individual. To ensure that tools will last a lifetime, there are some simple steps to follow.

With hand tools such as rakes, shovels, and pick it is easy to keep these in good condition for many years, but it is also very simple to damage or break a tool with inappropriate use. The right tool should be used for the right job. For example, if trying to remove a large rock out of the ground a pry bar should be used instead of a shovel. These tools should also be stored properly and not left outside in the elements. When done using them for the day, they should be appropriately cleaned up and dried. For hand tools that have wooden handles an extra step would be to painting or standing the handle.

For any mechanical tools such as circular saws, drill presses and lawn mowers, there are certain routine maintenance schedules that should be followed. Depending on the specific device, this may include routine lubrication of moving parts and replacement of filters, belts or spark plugs. Not following the correct maintenance schedule can potentially damage the machine and cause it to perform poorly.

If tools get loaned out to someone, that person should appreciate and understand the care that needs to be taken with these items. If they are unable to care for the tools correctly, there is no harm in not loaning out equipment. For someone who has a vast number of tools that get loaned or used on a job site, labeling the items is a wise idea. This can be done in a number of different ways. On wooden handled tools, a name or initials can be burned into the handle itself. On machinery, a name can be written on a flat surface with a permanent pen. There are also personalized, permanent labels that can be purchased for this specific purpose.

With proper care, one can keep their tools and machinery in good working condition for many years to come.