Seeing smoke or sparks flying out of your power tool is certainly not a normal nor desired behavior. Despite the scare, though, of a fireworks display breaking out of your power drill, there is a bright side amidst the chaos. Firstly, there are really only two places on a power tool where one might find said smoking or sparking action: either from the dust vents or from the switch assembly. Knowing this, and knowing where the smoke or sparks are coming from, helps us determine exactly where our problem is which puts us only a few steps away from a completely revived power tool.
To begin, if you experience any sparks or smoking form the ventilation points on your tool, there are just three scenarios to consider: One, your armature is bad. Two, your field is bad. And three, both your armature and field are bad. In either case, a bad field or armature is most likely the result of your having overheated, over-loaded, or in any other general sense, misused or abused the tool. You see, although many of us like to believe that our power tools are invincible, they are only designed for certain applications and with certain capacities. If we force them beyond these limitations, there is a very good chance that we will destroy one or several of the tool's major components. Ultimately though, in the event of a bad field or armature, one or both of them must be replaced.
Drill Doctor
Next, if said sparks or smoke are coming from your switch assembly, there is really only one way to interpret this problem; plainly, your switch is bad. In this scenario, your switch's present state of "badness" was likely caused by a shortage in the assembly which, in turn, was most likely caused by moisture damage to the switch, or slightly less likely, by overheating in the tool. In either case the switch must be replaced.
If you're not sure how to tell which component, between the field and armature, is causing your vents to spark and smoke, it's truly as simple as dismantling the tool and checking both components for heat-damage. Heat damage will appear as any kind of colorful or dark discoloration, or like melting, charring, or burning of the armature's and field's wiring, wiring insulation, or assembly. Any heat damaged component will require fast replacement. While checking the field and armature, you may also want to look at the armature's commutator. If the bars do not form a perfectly smooth, perfect circle, this can cause the brushes to jump and spark. This form of damage, however, although equally bad and equally needing of replacement, is likely not today's culprit. Also be aware the heat damage to the field and armature generally occurs simultaneously i.e. if one is damaged it's likely the other is too. If you catch armature damage early, you may sometimes prevent it from spreading to the field, but if your field is damaged, your armature is pretty much out of luck.
So, in short, be good to your power tools and if you should experience smoke or sparks emitting from them, a simple parts replacement for any heat damaged component is all the doctor will order.
Black Friday Drill Doctor DD500X 3/32-Inch to 1/2-Inch Drill Bit Sharpener 2011 Deals
Nov 25, 2011 03:33:50
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Black Friday Drill Doctor DD500X 3/32-Inch to 1/2-Inch Drill Bit Sharpener Feature
- Easily sharpens to 118- or 135-degree points
- Sharpens masonry points
- Maintenance-free
- Precalibrated drill bit length setting
- Carrying Case, How-to Video
Black Friday Drill Doctor DD500X 3/32-Inch to 1/2-Inch Drill Bit Sharpener Overview
Features: Sharpens from 3/32 inch to 1/2 inch (2.5mm to 13mm) 42-1. A-Z letter size drill capacity. Conventional (twist), cobalt, TiN and masonry bits. 118° or 135° selectable sharpening angle. Sharpens split point bits. Sharpening time: 30-90 seconds depending on bit size and amount of wear. Includes durable molded storage case and instructional video. .Black Friday Drill Doctor DD500X 3/32-Inch to 1/2-Inch Drill Bit Sharpener Specifications
Instead of throwing away old, dull bits, give them a checkup with the Drill Doctor and extend their life. Although drill-bit sharpening systems often fail to live up to our expectations, we're here to bear witness for the truth of the Drill Doctor's claims: it really does sharpen old bits in just a couple of minutes. The 500SP (also known as the Tradesman) works on conventional, split-point, and masonry bits. It can sharpen bits from 3/32 to 1/2 inches in size, and though the machine will also work for 3/4-inch bits, we'd recommend buying the Professional model for doctoring these big boys, as it comes with a special chuck the 500SP lacks. Both models--the 500SP and the Professional 750SP--allow you to choose between a 118- and 135-degree sharpening angle. Operation is fairly simple, but to make sure no one has trouble figuring it out, the Drill Doctor comes with a how-to video. Anyone who frequently wears down drill bits is going to appreciate the savings this handy machine can offer. Using sharp bits instead of dull ones also increases the life of your drill, because sharper bits require less work to make the same hole. We only wish we'd found the Drill Doctor sooner. --Brian TrinenSAVE NOW on Black Friday offers below!
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