All tools require maintenance at certain intervals as there are various parts whose efficiency reduces either due to aging or friction. The main objective of carrying out any form of maintenance is not only to ensure that the tool becomes efficient but also to make it last a little longer. This can always save one from purchasing new tools or borrowing from friends.
A wood planer is not different from other industrial tools and therefore it also requires regular maintenance. But since there are different types of wood planers to begin with, this procedure may vary from one wood planer to the other.
Storage
Taking good care of a wood planner begins with how and where the machine is stored. An inappropriate storage procedure not only puts the user at risk of being injured by the tool but also exposes it to unnecessary damage, which could otherwise have been avoided. Therefore, before one thinks of how best he or she can maintain a wood planer, the tool should be stored at the right place.
Rust
It’s a common phenomenon in many tools. Rust tends to eat up various parts of the machine making it weak and hence eating out of the efficiency. In most cases, regions affected by rust will either break or bend while the tool is being used. Moreover, it tends to oppose motion in most moving parts of the machine ultimately wasting a lot of energy in overcoming the additional friction caused by rust.
Proper storage is how you can combat and delay the effects of rusting. There are other methods too. For example, scrapping rust using a special abrasive material, using penetrating oil or using electrolytic cleaning works in renewing an otherwise rusted planer. Just ensure that this remains a continuous process throughout the entire lifespan of the wood planner.
Lubrication
Electrically powered wood planners have moving parts whose motion is due to rotation of motors. Moving parts should be lubricated to reduce friction, which otherwise may also result to production of heat that may cause the shaft to break and consumption of a lot of energy to overcome frictional force. Furthermore, all cables and electrical systems should be checked to ensure that there is no leakage of electricity.
Sharpening Cutting Edges
A wood planer must have a sharp blade for a smooth surface to be obtained. The cutting blades therefore ought to be sharpened regularly and any substance which might cause the blade to bend such as metals must not be placed nearby. For maximum efficiency and precision, cutting blades are oriented in a particular manner. Ensure that you maintain this at all times.
Replacement
There are some components which must be replaced after a given period of time. These include cutting edges and moving parts. This should be done with the right spare parts, which have been recommended by the manufacturer and only by a specialist to ensure that the wood planer functions as required even after the replacements.
Tightening Bolts
Bolts hold moving parts together and loose bolts can play havoc in precision. Tighten them regularly.
Remember that all these maintenance chores might sound overwhelming but to ensure longevity of the wood planer, they must be performed as a continuous process.
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