Several tools broke this last week or so.

[rustic]

I guess tools only break when you use them, but some tools that I didn't expect
to break finally do.

This week it was my air compressor and an electric drill.

So last night I set about them.

The compressor flashed, banged and took out a 13amp fuse, and tripped the seperate circuit that I have in the garage with a 30 amp trip.
I just started it to check and top up my Mav tyres, and it hadn't got to full pressure.

I stripped it down, and found that the plastic cased capacitor had sheared at the bolt holding it at the end, and the live terminal had earthed to the motor chassis, leaving a weld mark on the frame.

So I re- attached the bolt assembly with epoxy, replaced the crimp, and added a second support to the capacitor, replaced the fuse and re-assembled it.

I used a long extension lead, and plugged it in from a distance...
It worked phew... i didn't fancy buying a new one at £200


The drill was an old ( 35 years+) Black and Decker D720 H, orange cased version, metal gearbox. Last week I repaired the cable where it goes into the switch, And this week it failed again. This time I found that the field coil had gone open circuit.
On taking the coil out, I could see that a wire from the coil had broken at the connector, so a quick scrape and some solder... Fixed.


So why do I use tools that are 35 years old?

Last year I used a plastic bodied drill and I managed to easily shear the gears in the gear box... So I scrapped it.
Last year I also managed to burn out an SDS drill, it was on rotostop and I was using it to break up concrete on an old fence post. I finished off using the air chisel.

So are tools not as well made as they used to be.

How old is your best tool

Best regards,
Rustic

Edit: I expect solarman to win this one lol..

[solarman216]

Easy I still got a gas welding set that I remember in my dads garage when I was a kid, so must be more than 50 years old to my knowledge, and I do not know how long my dad had it, also have an air compressor, a bench grinder and a lathe all from about the same time, and lots of hand tools that must be older than me, Rick

[spiderpig37]

My tool is 47 years old and working perfect third son due in december to add to my three daughters
Think its time to retire it

[MudLifeCrisis]

Originally Posted by spiderpig37

My tool is 47 years old and working perfect third son due in december to add to my three daughters
Think its time to retire it

Or at least give it a clean ;O)

[Terranical]

Someone told me once that tools for the home domestic market such as electric drills are designed for a life expectancy of 2 to 4 hours. When I appeared dubious, he explained that you use a drill for maybe a total of 10 mins on a particular job, then put it away for three months, so 2 to 4 hours would equal several years use - makes sense!

[richtheracer]

I have a clarke air compressor at about 22 years old ..still fires up but the thread has stripped where hose goes on. Have tried to fix soo many times but refuse to throw it away as I know eventually I will find a solution to get it useable again..lol

[rustic]

Originally Posted by spiderpig37

My tool is 47 years old and working perfect third son due in december to add to my three daughters
Think its time to retire it

It's taken me a while to think of something to respond to that comment...

I was thinking more about electrical tools, not HAND tools