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Posted By: Administrator | November 16, 2011 | 0 Comments
Hi All,
Hope you had a great week. I am currently in Germany in our head office enjoying the summer rain...but don’t worry, I will still be writing blog posts whilst I'm away.
Today I want to give you some information on how to replace the carbon brushes on your power tool.
In case your power tools fail it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is broken and unusable. First thing you should check is whether they have replaceable carbon brushes or not. Many units fail because the carbon brushes on the motor wear out and all they require is to have the brushes replaced. That is an end user maintenance issue and you can avoid the expense of a new power tool.
What do you need to do?
1. Check the fuse in the power plug. If you don't have a tester, replace with a fuse from another similar tool and see if your tool works. If not, then look for the brushes on the motor from the outside of the tool. If you can locate them, determine if either one of the two brushes has lost contact with the motor. If you find one of the brushes, look on the opposite side of the motor for the other one. They are always located opposite one another on the motor.
2. Open the case of the motor and remove the brush caps. They are usually very brittle so be careful. Examine the brushes. Determine if they are still long enough to touch the armature; if they are then you probably need more than brushes. If one brush is worn more than the other one and doesn't reach the armature, you probably only need to replace the brushes. The below pictures show carbon brushes that are still usable and carbon brushes that need to be replaced.
Remove the brushes from their mounts and order replacements. Be careful to order the correct replacement brushes for your tool as they conform to the geometry of the individual motor they fit. Install the replacements when they arrive in the reverse order of removal.
Have great week!!!
Your Toolmeister
You can also twitter me for advice on @Tools_101 or our YouTube Channel Einhell YouTube
Posted By: Toolmeister | November 16, 2011 | 0 Comments
Hi All,
Hope you are all well and ready for a new blog…
After giving you some general advice on mitre saws and different features that you might consider when making your buying decision…I thought it would be a good idea to also talk a bit about the safety aspects when using a mitre saw…to make sure you are not getting injured...
I guess when it comes to safety rules….the risk of power tools in general is likely to be underestimated…but improper and careless use of any power tool can end in serious injuries. Nowadays power tools are designed in a way to prevent any sort of accidents and to operate safely when used according to all relevant instructions….Statistics also show that the vast majority of accidents are caused by the user not following the correct safety rules. Hence….the majority of power tool accidents are avoidable by familiarizing yourself with the safety aspects of the product beforehand!!!
The Mitre saw is a power tool that is relatively easy to use….however….don’t confuse ease of use with safety of use….With the blade tip spinning of approximately 225 km/h there is a high risk of major accidents which can change your life dramatically within a split second.
Even if you think you know just about everything about power tools…or in this case…mitre saws… and how to use them properly and safely…have a look into some of the accident statistics and I am pretty sure you might get the sense that there are a lot of people who might have thought the same thing before….so you might want to consider going through the most important safety rules…and in that way might prevent unnecessary accidents such lacerations, amputations, fractures, and avulsions which are the most common injuries with mitre saws. Most of these injuries are to lower arms, wrists, hands, or fingers but there is also the risk that injuries happen to heads, faces, eyeballs, lower trunk, upper legs, and lower legs.
So in order to prevent such accidents it is very important that you…KNOW YOUR TOOL…and this applies to every tool, not just the mitre saw….but in order to get to the stage where you can actually claim that you do know (in our case) your mitre saw you have to go through the following steps:
1. To be able to pick the right tool for a specific job you have to know the product…as we are talking about the safety of mitre saws I assume you have already made sure that this tool is the correct one for your purposes…if you are not 100% sure…have a look at the information given in the previous blogs…
2. Once you are sure that the mitre saw is the right product for the job, it is now vital that you know how to use it properly. If you have never used any mitre saw before you might want to talk to someone who has and/ or maybe watch a video to visualize how to generally use a mitre saw. Regardless of if you are an experienced mitre saw user or not it is always very important to read the manufacturer's instructions to make yourself familiar of the specific model and how to operate it properly and safely.
3. After you have familiarized yourself with your specific mitre saw model the next step is to inspect the tool and make sure
• it's not missing any parts, especially safety guards
• that there are no loose or dull blades
• the plug and cord insulation are intact
• there are no defects or cracks in the tool housing
• guards and safety shut-off switches are in good working order
• Make a dry run of the cut with and without the work piece to project the path of the blade. Make sure you then keep your fingers away from the
projected blade path.
• Test the ON and OFF switch and make sure it switches off by releasing the switch
4. With a mitre tool being a tool that will generate dust, shavings, or flying particles, it is important that you wear safety glasses or goggles to prevent disabling eye injuries which can easily happen. Regarding what you should wear or rather what you should not wear….a general rule when working with power tools….don't wear loose clothing or jewelry as they easily get caught in the equipment.
The above rules pretty much apply to whichever power tool you use and help you to get to the stage where you know your product. The next few rules point out the most important rules you need to know in terms of how to use a mitre saw and what are the most common risks you should be aware of…
5. Make sure that the mitre saw is hold securely in place and no other tool, wood scraps…except the work piece is on the table before you start it.
6. Use clamps to support the work piece whenever possible. If you use your hand to support the work piece, make sure you keep your hand outside the blade path (which you have tested with a dry run) and NEVER feed the work piece into the blade. Short work pieces must always be clamped, never try holding short pieces with your hand. Make sure that the used clamps do not interfere with the guard or cutter head of the mitre saw. Never use a mitre saw for work pieces that are too short to clamp. Bear in mind…using clamps not only increases your safety but the accuracy of your cut.
7. Make sure that work pieces that are longer than the actual work table are supported by table extensions or saw horses….NOT by a second person holding it.
8. Never have your hand and arm holding the work extending across the line of the cut as you might end up cutting in your hand or forearm.
9. In the event that a work piece gets jammed, turn the mitre saw off and wait till it comes to a complete stop. Then unplug it and remove the jammed piece.
10. Once you have completed your cut, let the saw blade come to a complete stop before you remove the work piece to avoid the risk of cutting yourself.
11. When you turn on your saw, let the blade reach its full speed before contacting the work piece.
This should cover the most important safety rules for mitre saws. Regarding the sliding type, it might be worth mentioning two more rules:
12. If you use the sliding action of it, pull the saw head away from the fence until the blade clears the work piece or until the saw head is at its full extension before you switch on the saw. Then switch on the saw, lower the saw blade and push the saw through the work piece. Never ‘pullcut’ since that might cause kickback.
13. If you want to perform chop cuts, slide the saw head all the way back towards the fence and tighten the slide lock knob before you start the saw. Then switch on the saw and wait till the blade reaches full speed before lowering the saw head to make the cut. Here again, if you fail to tighten the slide lock knob it may cause kickback.
No matter what power tool you are using….always make sure you know the tool, how it works and how to use it properly and the risks it carries….
If you can think of anything important that I forgot to mention…please let me know.
You might also want to have a look on the Power Tool Institute website which (in my opinion) provides some good safety information on different power tools and also offers some safety videos.
Have a great week…
Your Toolmeister
Posted By: Toolmeister | June 22, 2011 | 0 Comments
Hi All,
I hope you all had a good week and enjoyed the long weekend. I would think a lot of you used the time to tackle some sort of project…if you did…please tell us!!! I am always interested in what sort of projects you are up to, maybe with some advice on what type of tools are suitable to do that type of job….but it is up to you what to tell….as I said, I am happy about everything you contribute.
But back to my advice…After last weeks’ general overview of the different mitre saw types available I will now point out the most important features you should be looking for when purchasing any type of Mitre Saw.
There are many things to look for in shopping for the best mitre saw and which mitre saw you pick will depend largely on what you plan to do with it and your budget. In terms of the type of saw you go for, the more complex the jobs are that you want to do the more advanced the saw needs to be. If you are just going to be making repetitive crosscuts into standard sized lumber, just about any of the discussed types will be sufficient. But if you are looking to not only perform mitre cuts but also bevel cuts the standard type would not be enough. Maybe you even consider cutting large pieces of timber and therefore might need to consider the sliding version.
Anyways, I hope based on the last blog you have already made the decision of which type is most suitable for you. Now you want to look at the variety of features which enable you to compare different models and help you to make your buying decision.
No matter which type of saw you are looking for or what sort of work you are planning to do, there are some general features that you might want to consider anyways.
One feature you definitely want your mitre saw to have is a Soft Start. Mitre saws without a soft start might be difficult to start. But the soft start feature eliminates all starting problems as the blade sort of ‘sneaks up’. It reduces the load and torque of the motor temporarily during the startup and therefore the stress on the motor. Furthermore, it also reduces the stress on the attached power cords and the electrical circuit. It also avoids the tool from being jerked out when you switch it on and therefore means that the material is not going to be damaged by the cut, hence it helps to perform a more accurate cut.
Another feature you might want to consider regardless of the type of saw and job is the Electronic Speed Control. It means that despite of the load, the blade will attempt to stay at the same speed. This helps to avoid scorching as you make the cut so you get smooth, precise, controlled cuts each and every time.
You might want to look for a mitre saw that has an Electric Brake. This feature will stop the blade almost immediately after you release the trigger, which is a great safety option and also prevents unintended cuts. The blade on a mitre saw that doesn’t have an electric brake can spin for up to 10 seconds or longer after you have released the trigger. This can represent a real hazard to you or to the stock you are removing from the fence.
Convenience might also be a feature you want to take into account. How is the saw designed? The design of the saw has quite an impact on the stress on your hands. Ergonomically designed handles help to reduce this stress and support users to work comfortably. Where are the controls and how do they work? Is everything within easy reach and easy to operate? This might be something that is very subjective as everyone might consider something different as convenient. Best is probably to try the tool before actually buying it.
You might also want to have a look at the way the Dust Collection is accomplished. Does it come with a dust box? Moreover, does the port match the hose on your vacuum cleaner or will you have to buy a new and specific brand of vacuum cleaner that fits your mitre saw? A good dust collection minimizes accumulation of dust and particles in both your workspace and the saw's interior components, keeping your jobsite clean and prolonging the life of the tool.
Another feature that might have an impact on your final decision is whether it has Support Bars or not. Such arrangement help supporting the ends of the material you are going to cut on both the sides of the saw. You also want to have a look at how it enables you to clamp work pieces in place. The saw table has a limited size and is not wide enough to accommodate longer pieces of material, which will need extra support.
A feature that many people find useful is to get a mitre saw with a laser. Although it is certainly not required and laser run-out can be a problem, it is a matter of personal preference whether you find that it is a lot easier to line up the cut with a laser or not. If you do decide that a laser is a feature that is important to you, you should check if the laser is adjustable to left or right side of the blade and if the laser is only on when the blade is turning which means you can’t check the line before switching on the saw.
A last general feature, which might not be the most important one but might help you to make the final decision, is the Mitre Scale. Ideally it is one that is easy to read and is cast and not just some cheap sticker that is going to come off sooner or later.
As I have mentioned before, the above features are important regardless of the type of saw and job. But there are more specific features which might be more or less important to you, depending on the type of job you are doing.
A feature that might be important to you, depending where you intend to use the saw is the Weight and the Portability of the saw. If you are planning to move your saw around quite a bit, maybe take it to different jobsites, you might want to look for saw that is lightweight and easy to carry. Whereas if you are planning to mainly use it at one place the weight and portability are not that important.
The Size of the mitre saw motor (hence the power) and the size of the saw blade are also factors which need to be considered. The more you intend to do with your saw, the bigger should be the size of both, the motor and the blade. It is important to understand that the size and power of the tool depends on the type and volume of work you want to do. The most common blade sizes you get are 10” and 12” diameter. For all the non-sliding mitre saw types the diameter of the blade determines the length of the cut. Moreover, for all mitre saw types, the advantages of the bigger saw blade are bigger not only bigger cutting length but also bigger cutting depth it generally also means more power. Thus, you need to think about the size of material you plan to cut. Larger blade sizes allow you to cut larger materials. But, that doesn’t mean the bigger one would also be the better one. Smaller blades are definitely good for more precise cutting. Furthermore, as mentioned above, you might want to consider the weight and portability which is definitely delivered better by the 10” version. In addition to that it is also a question of your budget as a bigger saw size also means it is more expensive. Hence, if a 10” saw will be sufficient to perform all the jobs you intend to do you should surely choose the smaller size.
Other important considerations relate to the way it allows you to make Adjustments, generally for all types mitre adjustments or specifically in regards to a compound mitre saw bevel adjustments. How far, left and right does it allow you to make the adjustments. You might also want to look at how easily and accurately these adjustments can be made. How many pre-set detents are there in the mitre and if applicable the bevel scales? If your job demands to make very accurate cuts into pricey hardwoods or crown molding, then one of your main priorities would be accuracy and you might want to look for a mitre saw with micro fine adjustment controls.
If you plan to saw a lot of different materials you might either consider one of the Universal Mitre Saw types that I have mentioned in the previous blog. Alternatively, if you go for the ‘not-universal’ version, you might want to go for a saw that has an easy system for removing and installing of blades as you need to change the blades often if you saw different materials.
I hope the above information will help you to find the product that is most suitable for your purposes. Even though it may take some time to determine the best saw to suit your specific requirements, I reckon it’s worth investing that much time.
If anyone of you has further suggestions regarding features that you think are worth considering….please let us know!!!!
Have a great week and let me know what you have been up to!!!
P.S. Speaking of Mitre Saws…. Einhell will be running a U‐Tube campaign called “Can We Cut It?” in which they will demonstrate The Universal Mitre Saw cutting various items cleanly and smoothly!! They are looking for innovative suggestions on what they could film being cut as part of the launch of the campaign. Your suggestions can be as left field as you like. The only restriction is that the items cannot contact glas (or a material that will shatter) or electronics. The most innovative suggestion wins a Universal Mitre Saw, so put your thinking cap on!!!
Checkout Power Tools 101 for more information.
Your Toolmeister
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