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Crossed 500 hours on my orbital sander and it made me think about tool life
Honestly, I was cleaning my gear last night and checked the hour meter on my 6-inch random orbital. It read 512 hours. Ngl, that number hit me. On one side, it's a point of pride. This is a basic DeWalt model I got for $150 back in 2019, and it's still running smooth after prepping countless tabletops and chair frames. It feels like a real workhorse. But on the other side, it makes me nervous. The manual says the brushes are rated for about 600 hours. So now I'm debating: do I just run it until it dies and buy a new one, or do I spend the time and maybe $40 in parts to rebuild it now? I know some guys say rebuilding is a waste of time for a tool at this price, but tossing a sander that still works feels wrong. Has anyone else faced this call with a well-used tool right before its expected end?
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noah88022d ago
Run it until it dies" is my usual motto, but I also get that feeling of tossing a tool that still works. My garage is basically a retirement home for power tools I'm too sentimental to replace. Maybe just order the brushes now and see how long it really goes.
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ericnguyen22d ago
Wait, you actually read the manual? I don't think I've ever looked at a tool manual in my life. I just plug stuff in and hope it works. The fact that you know the exact brush rating is blowing my mind. Mine would have died years ago.
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That "retirement home for power tools" feeling is why I'd just order the brushes now...
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