I’m wondering how (if at all) you approach regular tool maintenance. Do you have a schedule where you systematically clean your tools, lube what needs to be lubed, put rust inhibitors where needed, etc? Or is it more of a chaotic, catch as catch can, disorganized free for all?
I’m thinking of establishing a tradition for myself of taking a day between Xmas and New Year to go corner-to-corner in my shop and giving everything the once-over. Wondering how others approach it.
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Wait—are you saying that having an organized approach, maybe even a schedule, for tool maintenance is, like, a real thing? ;-)
I often think to myself that I should do something of the sort you describe. Then I continue just kinda making it up as I go along. Now, that said, in my defense, I do have a routine for wiping down tools and sharpening edged tools. So that’s a start, I guess.
Maybe one could make tool maintenance a Boxing Day tradition? I’m heading out to do some now….
I agree here. After a bigger project or lots of smaller ones, I try to shut down for a while and clean up the TS, get dust out of the unit an refirb the top, check the dust collector to see if the bag needs emptying, and touch up the chisels and hand plane blades and do a clean up of the whole place. This is what I will I plan to do over then next few days.
If it ain't broke don't fix it...
I treat rattles and squeaks as they arise and tend to tidy, clean, and do maintenance tasks when I am insufficiently motivated to do anything else.
I tend to sharpen in batches though. I have several chisels of each size, all cheap ones, and I do them all at once when there is a need...
The 2nd one. :-)
"Ah knows whereof you speaks", as well as The Procrastinator's Motto: "Never put off until tomorrow what you can put off indefinitely".
Twice a year. Around Christmas and around my birthday (late June) I take time to sharpen, align, clean, purge, move the big stuff and clean under it, open and organize drawers, lube, Boshield, dust, sort scrap, calibrate and PM. Takes me 2 or 3 days working leisurely. It's nice to have confidence the rest of the year that I am good to go for whatever project is up next.
There seems to never be a true break in the project list. Cleaning happens on a monthly basis. Using compressed air to dust off the internals of all machines. Then lube if needed. The tablesaw seems to be the most needy machine. I also blow out all hand power tools. I put a drop cloth over all cast iron tool before i turn off the lights. Keeps the condensation off thus preventing rust.
Usually always post-project. Toss scraps, vacuum the TS, empty the DC’s, wipe up blood, sharpen blades, jot down finishing notes, check JT/BS/TS for square, sweep the shop, and bring TS blades in for sharpening if needed.
I usually wipe up blood before I empty the DC--that way, if I need an absorbent, I can collect some dust from the DC.
Glad to know that other folks have 'puncture' issues, I thought it was just me and Roy Underhill. The last project, 1). Utility knife -stupid on my part, 2) OSS, minor, did not even know there was a problem until I saw color on project, 3) Unknown cause, minor.
No plan. I measure time in the shop in hours, so like to use that time on projects. But there are often days when I want to go down to the shop, but don't feel like working on any project. Thats when maintenance and cleanup gets done.
Not sure where I might have seen it written some time ago, but the term "Maintenance Monday" stuck with me. Author (YouTuber?) suggested regular activity first thing Monday morning, whatever is most necessary. I try to stick with the idea... Sometimes (actually, more often than anything else) touching up chisels and plane blades), sometimes table saw top to bottom, sometimes the planer.
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