Taking care of your tools and supplies will mean that you don’t waste anything, and you are able to get your money’s worth. The same goes for your equipment—you can add years to your tools if you look after them.
Store Paint Upside Down
After checking (and double checking) that the lid is on properly, store paint upside down in your wokshop. This creates an airtight seal which will help your paint last longer. Putting a plastic bag or something similar inside the tin on the surface of paint keeps air away from the paint and can reduce skim over.
Band Saw Care
Always loosen your band saw blades between uses. A taught blade will suffer from metal fatigue which can cause it to break sooner. Newer blades have a quick-release function, or you can turn the tension knob two or three times.
Boot Care
Use polish to renew your leather boots. While you may not be bothered about having clean boots, applying a protective covering will help to extend their longevity. There are also several products on the market that can be used to add a protective, rubber covering to the toes of your boots.
If you get your boots wet, stuff them with newspaper. This helps to dry them out and keep their shape, so replace the newspaper every couple of hours. Let them dry naturally in a well-ventilated area. Using a hair dryer, radiator or other heat source can dry out the leather. Apply a conditioner or polish to waterproof the leather.
Bits and Blades
Dip your drill bits and saw blades into a metal lubricant prior to cutting or drilling metal. This helps to reduce friction which helps to keep bits and blades sharp for longer. Reducing friction and heat helps to preserve the metal of bits and blades—that’s why you should stop often when cutting to cool your tools.
Caulking Tubes
Don’t toss your half-used tubes of caulk. If the nozzle has become clogged, cut it off with a knife, remove the dried caulk and tape it back together so you can still effectively use the rest of the caulk.
You can prevent the tube from drying out (this applies to adhesives and silicone too). Just pop a long nail in the nozzle and tape in place with duct tape.