6 Maintenance Rules to Follow and See Your Hand Tools Last Longer

Don't you hate it when you buy a brand-new tool and see it malfunctioning after a few months? Most of the time, this happens due to poor tool quality, but more often than not, because people fail to maintain the particular tool properly.

Tools should last for a long time, much more than just a few months. Buying expensive machines means seeing them go without a problem for years and even decades. However, to be sure that this will happen, you need to take proper care of them.

In this blog post, we're sharing some of the most valuable maintenance rules that every tool owner must follow. If you follow these rules, you'll see your investment in tools pay off and have them serve you for as long as possible. Keep reading and find out more about this.

Clean them after every use

No matter what you're working on, you must clean your tools after working with them. It doesn't matter if it is an ordinary screwdriver or a complex machine; you need to wipe it off with a clean, dry towel after working with it.

There's no need for anything special. In most cases, a dry towel will be enough. It will take dirt, water, and anything that may hurt your tool in the long run. If you've been working on something more complex, and there's a lot of mess, you should do everything in your power to remove the small particles from your tools before putting them back in their place.

Always keep them in a dedicated toolbox

Whether working in the garage or on a construction site, you must always place the machines and hand tools back from where you picked them up. Everyone who cares about their tools will have a dedicated toolbox or cabinet where these items reside when they are not used.

If you're working remotely and need to carry some tools, don't forget to take them back to your canopy or trundle tray storage box immediately after use. The longer they stay outside, the higher the chance of leaving them behind or accidentally damaging them.

Use the tools exactly for what they were made

Never improvise when it comes to what you're using the tools for. If the tool was made for cutting wood, don't use it for cutting through other materials. You may get the job done, and everything will look normal, but the machine's materials were not made for such pressure, and you're surely cutting its lifespan for many years.

You may also hurt yourself if you're using a particular tool for something other than the need it was designed for. Just a slight miscalculation or lack of attention, and the machine may backfire and hurt you. Never use the tools for anything else but the thing they were made for.

Never leave electric tools plugged in

Electric tools that are corded need to be plugged into the power socket to operate. Aside from being plugged in, the user needs to press a button and have the work, so when the button is not pressed, most people think the machine is not operating.

Although this is true for the work, you should know that the machine behind you is constantly generating and wasting electricity. Moreover, it wastes the internal parts by constantly running electricity through them. If you don't unplug them, they will be wasted much sooner than usual.

Read the instruction manual of every machine

Most people throw away the instruction manuals of everything they buy, thinking they already know everything about a particular machine. Don't be like everyone and go through the details before actually throwing the manual away.

It is essential to see what the machine was made of, how you're supposed to use it, what to mind, and what to avoid when dealing with it. You can't have the same approach toward everything. Some things are best read before usage because reading after you damage the machine means it is too late.

Do regular annual or bi-annual thorough checks and inspections

If you want to be 100% sure that your tools and machines are in perfect condition, it's best to do regular annual or bi-annual checks. There's nothing to do when it comes to your hammers, manual screwdrivers, and simple items, but all the other machines with a particular mechanism require a more detailed approach.

Even the pliers will need some grease to ensure they work flawlessly. You can set a date and dedicate yourself to the garage. Check every tool with the simplest mechanism and see if they need to be updated. Be prepared for the occasion and do a perfect job. That's how your tools will last as long as possible.