Save Money Through Regular Lawn Mower Maintenance
One of the most common electric power tools in the average household must be the lawn mower. Because it is such a common tool, it is almost accepted that it has to perform consistently without any servicing or maintenance. Lawn mowers are not exorbitantly expensive however, there is no need to replace your lawn mower every 5 years if, through proper maintenance, you can make it last for 20 years. A properly serviced lawn mower can last you for many years.
Selection
There are many types and makes of lawn mowers available today. Deciding on the type is not difficult – you either want a ride-on, a walk-behind or a push unit. The make is dependant on where you are in the world. Mowers are sold under different brand names in different parts of the world. When buying a new lawn mower, it is important to do a little bit of research (and read some reviews) in terms of what makes are popular in your area, what the availability of spare parts is like and the quality of the after sales support.
Maintenance
I have just recently retired a lawn mower after 18 years of weekly use. During this time, I replaced the blade twice. I sharpened the blade on the bench grinder at the beginning of summer every year.
Apart from giving you a nice smooth cut, this also largely reduces stress on the motor. Most modern mowers have plastic shaft bushing as opposed to wheel bearings. These I replaced once.
Purchase
If you are in the market for a new lawn mower, you may want to see what is available at Amazon.com
Feel free to leave a comment below about your experiences with your lawn mower.
Filed under PowerTools by on Feb 6th, 2012. 1 Comment. 
Learn About Sharpening Drill Bits Manually
Although electric drill bit sharpeners can provide you with a perfect end result, there is no reason why sharpening drill bits manually cannot be contemplated. Over the years I have been sharpening my steel and wood drill bits quite successfully on a bench grinder. It also makes a lot of sense to practise on old or broken bits. A bench grinder fitted with a diamond-grinding wheel is the best tool for sharpening drill bits
If you have a fairly good eye for angles, you should not have too much of a problem. The most important aspect is that the cutting edges be at the same angle with the corners at the same level horizontally. Also, it is important to note that the shoulders are rounded and slope gently down, backwards from the cutting edge.
The bigger the drill bit, the easier the task. With smaller bits it becomes trickier. A snapped bit is even more challenging as you have to start from scratch. A good starting point here is to flatten the break first before starting to shape the angles.
I find that “displaying” my largest bit, gives me a good guideline for sharpening other bits. You can even use this bit to practice the required motions on the edge of your workbench.
Most manual drill bit sharpening guidelines neglect to tell you on which side of the grinding wheel you are operating. For this exercise we are operating on the right hand side if the grinding wheel, which in my opinion is natural for a right-hander. If you are left handed, just reverse the order.
Stand slightly to the right of the grinding wheel, feet apart. Hold the drill about a quarter of the way along from the point, using the left thumb and forefinger. Rest these fingers on the grinder’s tool rest. Use the right hand to hold the drill at its shank.
Hold the bit with the shank angled off to the right at about 60 degrees. Use the right hand to swing the shank of the drill out to the right. These movements are only slight. Remember to keep the left hand supported by the tool rest. As you move your right hand, use your left hand fingers to roll the drill anti-clockwise about a quarter-turn and simultaneously feed the drill forward against the grinding wheel.
Repeat this action as required and then repeat the whole process for the opposite cutting edge.
The video below visually demonstrates the hand action as described above.
If still not convinced, you may want to take a look at what electric drill bit sharpeners are available.
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Filed under PowerTools by on Jan 27th, 2012. 7 Comments.
Some Power Tool Safety Precautions
As professionals and DIY enthusiast, power tools have become part of our lives. They are obviously favoured due to the time saving factor both in terms of speed and physical effort required. However, these tools need to be treated with respect and handled with care in order to avoid unnecessary injury. Accidents mostly occur as a result of negligence or distraction and often due to overconfidence. Power tool safety is very easy to neglect and In order to safeguard ourselves against any mishaps, we need to consider the following safety aspects:
1. Personal Safety Protection
- Safety Glasses – Basic ones are relatively cheap to buy. They are very effective in protecting the eyes against dust, grass cuttings, wood shavings and splinters, fibreglass shards, metal filings, etc.
- Earmuffs/Plugs – Some power tools generate excessive levels of noise, especially in enclosed environments.
- Mask – Dust can cause more harm than what we might like to believe.
- Gloves – Although they can become a bit of an annoyance when handling small objects, gloves can prevent a lot of damage to the hands depending on the nature of the material worked on.
2. Dress
- Avoid wearing loosely fitting clothing and jewellery as these can be caught in rotating tools.
- Long hair should be tied back
- Ideally clothing should cover the whole body
- Wear solid shoes
3. Tool Knowledge
- Make sure that you study the manufacturer’s instructions in detail before commencing.
- For more advanced tools, some training may be advisable.
- It is important to be sufficiently knowledgeable in order to select the appropriate tool for the job.
- Do not carry corded power tools by their cords.
- When powering off a tool, wait for the moving parts to come to rest before laying the tool down.
4. Tool Inspection
- Check for cuts in cords and replace where necessary.
- Check for faulty parts like safety guards.
- Check for loose or dull blades.
- Check for defects or cracks in the tool housing.
- C heck for problems with safety shut-off switches
5. Tool Maintenance
- Always keep tools clean.
- Only lubricate tools according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
6. Work Environment
- Avoid working in a wet environment.
- Keep cords out of traffic areas.
- Ensure sufficient lighting in dark areas.
- Disconnect unused tools at the power source.
- Always clean the work area thoroughly after use.
- Store power tools away and out of reach of minors when not in use.
Please fee free to leave your comments below.
Filed under PowerTools by on Jan 21st, 2012. Comment.
