Many people would probably consider just replacing a power tool if it got to the point where it just didn’t work very well any more. I am in that boat. I have taken the time to fix things, but mostly just find re-purchasing to be easier. However, it’s not always the most economical option. Or satisfying. It can be worth the time to try to debug equipment of your own if you have the time and interest. You learn a lot quickly.
Take this guy for example, Don Tavidash, he shows us how he fixed a dead cordless drill in a pretty concise article.
One result of our independence was that Britain — and most of the rest of the world — put sanctions on us, which resulted in a culture of invention, re-use, and repair. It only lasted for 15 years (you’ve beaten us by a bit there!), but I digress. Suffice to say that it instilled in me a great reluctance to throw away anything that could be fixed or used for something.
The detail is just enough to show you what it takes to make this kind of fix, and it will make sense to you. It’s always worth it to see if you can maybe get a dead tool working again before you ditch it for a new one. You never know, the fix might not be that far out of reach, even though it is a mystery at first.
