Taking Care of Hand Tools

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• Cleaning and Conditioning:
  A tool should always be kept clean and free of dust so that it remains in a good condition and a tool in good condition gives the maximum efficiency.
  • Clean your tools after use.
  • You can wash your hand tools using brush.
  • There should not be any risk of spreading pathogens while washing your tools.
  • As rust is caused by dampness or moisture, the formation of rust can be prevented by applying light oil on those rust prone areas.
  • When rust forms on tools, remove it by using a fine abrasive cloth or scrubber.
  • The moving parts of the tools must be kept working freely and hence it is necessary to lubricate them regularly.

• Storage:
  • Tools should be kept in a tool box or a tool cabinet or work bench.
  • Each tool should be kept in its own individual place so that it is easily accessible and can be replaced readily after they have been used.
  • The compartments in a tool box or a cabinet should be designed and placed in such a way that there is no danger of one tool coming in contact with the other.
  • The bench top or the working area should always be kept clear and unobstructed.
  • Tools should not lie idle on the floor or in the working area as they are a hazard to anyone working there or passing by.
  • Sharp tools like chisels and knives should be placed in their respective holders so that there is no danger of cutting oneself when picking it out or replacing it.
  • Store hand tools in a dry, sheltered environment.
  • Place similar tools together so that people can see easily what is available.

• Maintenance:
  • It is important to note that a user hurts or cuts himself only when the tool is dull. A hand tool in a good working condition will do its work efficiently without any effort on the part of the worker. It is seen that when blades are dull, the worker has to exert great pressure to cut , which in turn may off balance the worker leading to his slip or fall. That is why the blades of the cutting tools should always be be kept sharp.
  • Metal blades should be well-oiled.
  • Any kind of screws, blades, nuts, bolts, rivets, and springs must always be checked regularly for wear or damage, and should be replaced if necessary.
  • Wooden parts of hand tools must be sanded oiled regularly.
  • If certain tools are beyond your capacity to clean and maintain, then take advice from the concerned maintenance person.

• Use:
  Last but not the least, tools should be used to do only that specific job for which they are designed. For example, you cannot use a chisel as a screwdriver or a screw driver as a chisel. Such misuse is dangerous both to the tools and to the person using them. You should learn how the tool should be used and for what purpose.