Do anyone of you guys repair your own tools? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

plazaman · 03-19-2009, 06:31 PM

Anyone? I have so many tools around that needs to be repaired, i have a few handy guys... but sometimes it we cant get them to work.

I have about 12 airtools needing repairs, roofing, framing, flooring, finish.... i always end up having to buy new tools when needed. Local rental/service center wants $25 each just to look. Im trying to decide if its worth it.

Forry · 03-19-2009, 06:34 PM

I fix the ones I can, because I like to, the ones I'm unsure of, I drop off at the shop when I get around to it.

Crock · 03-19-2009, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plazaman

Anyone? I have so many tools around that needs to be repaired, i have a few handy guys... but sometimes it we cant get them to work.

I have about 12 airtools needing repairs, roofing, framing, flooring, finish.... i always end up having to buy new tools when needed. Local rental/service center wants $25 each just to look. Im trying to decide if its worth it.

I keep a couble around to throw at the next guy to get fired.

The rest sit on the sidewalk with a 'FREE" sign on them.

(I assign different life spans for each tool and they are figured in to OH. )

Tinstaafl · 03-19-2009, 06:38 PM

Given that repair charges can often be a fair percentage of the original tool cost, I usually do my own repairs when things are slow. If work is hopping, I don't have time for either that or having the tool in a shop for a few days--so I'll buy another.

I figure eventually I'll have enough spares to just save all repairs for winter whittlin' time.

**Leo G** · 03-19-2009, 06:51 PM

Fix my own tools. To cheap to have someone else do it. If I can fix it, it will sit around for quite some time.

Quiglag · 03-19-2009, 06:54 PM

I fix the tools I know I can fix, the rest I take in for repair

I take my nail guns to a local nail gun repair shop, because I can never seem to figure out what is wrong with them.

RizzoMaryland · 03-19-2009, 07:28 PM

Apparently I am going against the grain here. Fixing tools?

Unless it's over $400 or $500 dollars or I'm on a jobsite and it's use is required immediately do I ever fix a tool.

What kind of tools are you guys fixing?

Five Star · 03-19-2009, 07:32 PM

same here, it took me over 15 yrs and i think i have all the right stuff! and the new nailers seam to be less durable( i have all silver hitachi air nailers) and for the past 8 yrs only once had a problem with a finish nailer gasket and i replaced it myself. i dont know how the new green line of hitachi is but the silver ones are built to last

**loneframer** · 03-19-2009, 07:33 PM

I'll put new switches and cords on my wormdrives, install brushes in saws and ruoters, pull nail guns apart to clean and service, etc. If it fails much deeper than that it becomes a parts tool.

jcalvin · 03-19-2009, 08:22 PM

i actually buy old worn out circ saws at flea markets and yard sales. once you buy enough of them, you have a pile of parts setting around to fix others. most of the time, i can buy 2 and make 1 out of it. usually, i can pick these up for a max of 5 bucks a piece. these are the ones that i hand over to the careless employees and annoying neighbors.

**loneframer** · 03-19-2009, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcalvin

i actually buy old worn out circ saws at flea markets and yard sales. once you buy enough of them, you have a pile of parts setting around to fix others. most of the time, i can buy 2 and make 1 out of it. usually, i can pick these up for a max of 5 bucks a piece. these are the ones that i hand over to the careless employees and annoying neighbors.

I don't lend tools to neighbors, I sell them a tool and buy it back when they're done. Otherwise, no dice. This guarantees I'll get the tool back.

A W Smith · 03-19-2009, 08:47 PM

just about always,

A pair of exceptions.

Had one of the first generation paslode impulse framing guns. The black guns with the round battery. Was a tempermental b****. Sometimes it wouldn't fire regardless of fuel cell. battery charge, or contact element safety setting. Took it to the only guy in the state that was authorised to fix it, All he did was clean it up and hand it back to me saying the 2nd version i had was one of the new electronic ignitions and they hadn't really sorted it out yet.

Holy Cow. the first versions were worse? wud they have? a glow plug?

Eventually the ignition **** the bed completely and this ancient artifact sits under a bench in my garage in its gray plastic box under a pile moldy canvas tarps. kneeling boards for slab troweling, old style air hose and other garbage.

An air leak i had in a $300 hitachi roofing gun. Took it to the "authorized" shop where he stripped out the housing threads for one of the 4 screws that holds the head on, He put a longer screw in with a nylock nut on the end of it. still leaked. Thank you for telling me i "probably need a new housing" mister authorized repair guy (same guy as above). Still use the gun today as my back up roofing gun as it only leaks some of the time. mostly its tight. Its identical replacement I got at a swap meet for $35.

I also work on my own trucks since I never owned a new vehicle in my life. Changed my own engines, ETC. But I know my limits when it comes to OBD computers so i take it for service when its something shooting codes.

TempestV · 03-19-2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A W Smith

I also work on my own trucks since I never owned a new vehicle in my life. Changed my own engines, ETC. But I know my limits when it comes to OBD computers so i take it for service when its something shooting codes.

I'm the only person to ever touch my truck with a wrench.
as for the OBD computers, if it's a '96 or newer, you can get a computer to read the trouble codes for $100. You might also be able to find a local auto parts store that will let you borrow one.

I always fix everything I can. I'd also prefer to find a way to repair the broken part than replacing the part.

I've even been known to build my own tools rather than buy them off the shelf.

maninthesea · 03-19-2009, 10:09 PM

Fix what I can which has been most.
Weight the options on what I cant. I ask myself is it worth fixing or replacing with same model so I have spares or was it a bad design so another one would end up broken soon anyway?

Same on the trucks. Fix what I can and hire out what I either dont have tools knowlage or time for. When I was 17 I changed the engine in my truck in below 0 weather. Vowed never to do it myself again!(also moved where its allways warm!)

nailman · 03-20-2009, 12:30 AM

I try and fix my own tools, Took my tiger sawzall in to have the trigger fixed and I could have bought a new one for the price they charged me.

jcalvin · 03-20-2009, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loneframer

I don't lend tools to neighbors, I sell them a tool and buy it back when they're done. Otherwise, no dice. This guarantees I'll get the tool back.

If you ever want to break them of wanting to borrow tools from you, just start handing over "bastard" tools. i have one neighbor that wanted to borrow a drill one time. i gave him the one that had a 4" cord, after the rest got chewed up in an auger bit, and an auger that had sharpened its fair share of nails, not to mention the drill cord. he brought it back the same night pouring the sweat.

Loaned another one a pos sander with no paper and got it back with several boxes of paper and a $5. i knew that jitterbug sander was a little small for sanding a picnic table and that he didn't have to determination to stick it out. he went back to blowes and bought a belt sander or something.

RizzoMaryland · 03-20-2009, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nailman

Took my tiger sawzall in to have the trigger fixed and I could have bought a new one for the price they charged me.

This is what I'm getting at. From an efficiency standpoint, it doesn't seem to make sense.

What do you charge for your labor per hour?

How many hours are you spending fixing tools?

Assuming you have work (that you get paid for) to do, the tools must be pretty expensive in order to fix from an economic perspective. Unless of course there is sentimental value to the tool or experience.

woodchuck2 · 03-20-2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RizzoMaryland

This is what I'm getting at. From an efficiency standpoint, it doesn't seem to make sense.

What do you charge for your labor per hour?

How many hours are you spending fixing tools?

Assuming you have work (that you get paid for) to do, the tools must be pretty expensive in order to fix from an economic perspective. Unless of course there is sentimental value to the tool or experience.

X2, most tools are fairly cheap so i dont bother with most repairs. I usually save the broken tool depending on what it is. I have a broken Dewalt 18v drill that i saved the chuck off of, i have another old 1/2 drill that i saved the chuck off of too. Beyond that i toss them and think new.

TempestV · 03-20-2009, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RizzoMaryland

This is what I'm getting at. From an efficiency standpoint, it doesn't seem to make sense.

What do you charge for your labor per hour?

How many hours are you spending fixing tools?

Assuming you have work (that you get paid for) to do, the tools must be pretty expensive in order to fix from an economic perspective. Unless of course there is sentimental value to the tool or experience.

I can swap out the switch or cord or whatever on most corded tools in less time than it takes me to run to the repair shop and back. If I want to save time, I fix my own tools. Even if I have to run to the repair shop to get the part, I save time when I don't have to drive back to pick up the tool. And you must be making some bank if it's worth it to buy a new $200 saw (or even a $100 saw) rather than take even 20 minutes to fix it.

tomstruble · 03-20-2009, 05:59 PM

some i do some i dont ive been fixen up my sweet old hitachi slide compound for years i enjoy bringing it back from the dead