Well if you don’t, you may be missing out. The simple fact of the matter is, just because you can use power tools doesn’t necessarily mean that you know how to fix them when they fail. Granted, if you can, cool. You can just mosey on with your awesome tool-using and repairing self. But if you can’t, you might want to hear us out.

Before you ask, no, you don’t really have to have a tool repair person to fix your stuff, but it’s something to at least consider. Think of it this way, sure you can replace that broken power saw that you own or you can take it to a guy who can possibly repair it for less than you’d spend on a brand new one (and yes, we will go over determining whether repairing or buying new tools is the better, cheaper option).

If you’re interested in getting a tool repair guy or are just curious, keep reading and we’ll tell everything you need to know about tool repair folks and tool repair.

What Exactly Does a Tool Repair Person Do?

Easy answer; they repair tools, but we’re assuming you’d like the more in-depth not-so-obvious answer. A power tool repair technician’s job is to diagnose any issues (they’re trained to use specialized equipment like ammeters and voltmeters to do this) with your tools and then fix them.

They’re able to make repairs on electric, pneumatic, and gas-powered tools, disassembling them to replace components, as needed. Power tool repair technicians can rebuild parts that are defective or no longer working as well as completely rewire electrical systems which include coating wires for installation and soldering. Tool repair technicians have to keep tools and repair parts in stock and do paperwork, too.

There are some tool repair technicians that work with multiple kinds of tools. If both your power drill and your jig saw have crapped out on you, there are repair guys that generalize in all kinds of different tools that can help you out. Conversely, there are technicians that specialize in certain types of tools; these particular tool repair guys may decide that they only want to repair gas-powered tools or band saws. If you’re going to get a tool repair guy, make sure their services suit your specific needs.

Repair vs Replace

Here’s the section that many of you probably really wanted to see. Is paying to have your tools to be repaired actually worth it or should you just scrap ‘em and get new (or slightly used) tools, instead? Just as a side note, damaged tools are a hazard. Damaged or dying batteries can be dangerous and dull or rusted blades can ruin your woodworking projects. Regardless of which option you choose, do not work with damaged tools.

A good rule of thumb to follow if you’re deciding whether repairing or replacing the tool is the best course of action, think of the “50% rule”. Basically, this means if the cost of repairing the tool is greater than 50% of what just replacing it will cost, it’s a waste of money and you’d have been better off just getting a new one. So, if you bought a drill for around $150 and repairing it costs $75, you’re fine, if it costs around, say, $90 then don’t bother and just get another drill.

There’s also the consideration of depreciation (costs for depreciated items tend to change depending on a number of factors like availability of parts and ease of repair) and current value. The 50% rule really only takes into account tools that are exactly the same. The cost of repairs might be different if you’ve had the tool and used it for quite some time and even if the tool breaks, it does still hold some value. Fixing it puts that value back because it’s usable again.

We hope that you’ve gotten some insight into the usefulness of having a tool repair technician available. As we said before, it’s not really a must-have, but it can be a very useful nice-to-have. If you guys want to share your experiences with your tool repair techs and the perks (and cons, if you’ve experienced any) of having a tool repair guy, please, share them with us

We hope that at the very least, we gave you all a good read for the last few minutes you’ve spent here. However, you maintain your tools, use them safely!