Woodworking does not only make use of just wood and a few tools; for the advanced process of woodworking, machines are brought into the picture to deliver excellent and top-notch woodwork designs and products. Machines used in woodwork are a significant investment, but they would break down and slow down work without the proper maintenance.

This write-up gives a guide on maintaining the machines in woodworking for their long-lastingness and improving the quality of the end products.

1. Schedule a maintenance session

Woodworking machines are like systems; if not properly taken care of, they can break down or wear out. As a woodworker, ensure you create a session for cleaning, servicing, and checks of the machines used in your workshop based on the frequency of usage. It is not good practice to wait until your machine show signs of a breakdown before you carry out maintenance checks.

If you have a machine like an edge bander that you use a few hours daily, its maintenance session should be once in six months. But, if this machine runs consistently for three sets, you might have to upgrade the maintenance session to once every three months.

2. Carry out preventive checks

After every use, greasing and checking machines for wear and tear and likely breakdown is beneficial to the machines. However, be sure that the preventive measures you carry out are suitable for that particular machine. It is not ideal to grease the pinion and rack of a beam saw because it solidifies dust and slows this machine’s movement.

If you are not skilled in carrying out preventive checks on your machine, visit the equipment store or representative to get clarity.

3. Always have spare parts

Sometimes, these woodworking machines do not give signs before they break down. But, an excellent way to avoid the breakdown stalling productivity and meeting orders, as a woodworker is to purchase spare parts beforehand just in case a machine breaks down or becomes faulty.

Spare parts of woodwork machines would come in handy in unplanned emergencies. Before purchasing spare parts, ask your equipment provider to suggest a spare part list; you can then buy based on the most needed components in your plant or workshop.

4. Train employees

If you are a woodwork workshop owner and manager, always make sure your employees that are technicians that monitor the machines are trained on the basics and rudiments of maintenance of woodwork machines. With proper training, they would be able to troubleshoot, fix minute machine faults, and request expert help when it is an advanced fault.

5. Record service visits

If you schedule a machine maintenance session with the machine manufacturer, make sure there is an adequate record of results and observation of inspection. Record of service visits should contain dates of service and vital information like what parts in the machine were checked and which part bears the likelihood of breaking down.

As a woodworker, you should also have a copy of the record of the inspection visits, and this checklist is helpful for your employees that might be faced with inspecting these machines on their own after service and maintenance checks.