Some tools not typically seen in a maintenance department can save time, improve safety, and improve work quality. The more you use them, the more uses you find for them.
Leaf blower. One reason we know this could be useful to maintenance is there’s already regular use of compressed air. But the problem is you need to be near an air outlet. What if you spill fuel in a location where compressed air lines are not even present? You can use a leaf blower to quickly reduce the fume concentration, especially if you are able to blow it outside. Other uses include drying off equipment after you wash it, blowing dust and debris out of motor vents, drying touch-up paint on newly installed panels, blowing cottonwood fibers or other debris out HVAC condenser coils (a game changer for roof-mounted units), and providing quick cooling or ventilation of a confined entry area by blowing out from within instead of blowing into it with floor fans. Pro Tip: Make sure it’s a battery-powered blower (for mobility) and one that’s low-noise.
Endoscope. This light and camera combo on a flexible tube isn’t just for finding something that fell into a floor drain. You can snake it into a wall to inspect wiring, look inside a heat exchanger to verify integrity (or lack thereof), look through a spark plug hole to check a combustion chamber, peer into the guts of a scrap grinder to see what’s caught “way back there”, look into a confined space (e.g., annealing oven) without entering it, look under a 100 ton punch press without needing to block it out, or check for damage inside a robotic welder without needing a complete shutdown.
Come along. How many times have you seen a motor installation where somebody manually assists with setting the motor in place as someone else operates a “cherry picker” to lower it? The risk to hands and feet can be considerable. Using a come along puts those hands and feet well out of the danger zone. It also changes the force from pushing to pulling. Motors aren’t designed for these to also be attached, so you’ll need to use it in concert with a sling. Any time somebody wants to move something that’s big and heavy, a come along can probably make the job safer and easier.
Label maker. While writing with a permanent marker on a strip of masking tape might seem adequate, it’s not appropriate for an industrial or commercial environment. You need something with clear, highly legible print that won’t smear with moisture or fade with time. The main reason masking tape is so useful is it is easy to remove. Labels need to be permanently affixed. You can label a lot more than drawers and parts bins. You can put asset numbers on equipment, put safety warnings on enclosures, and legibly mark every wire and terminal in a control panel.
Painter’s tape. This is the modern-day equivalent of masking tape, distinguished by its blue color. Of course, you can use it to protect from overspray (or over brush) while painting. But you can also use it to mark things, seal bags closed, hold down portable cords, cover saw teeth when the blades are stored, mark off areas on the floor, or temporarily mount signs. You can also use it to make a quick straight edge. If you’re drilling wood, you can prevent splinters by covering the “exit” before you start drilling. If you are cutting or drilling metal, you can double this tape back on itself and stick it on the work surface to catch most of the metal particles. It’s not considered to be insulating tape, so don’t use it for any purpose related to that.
Laser level. This type of device has come down in price and up in usability over the past few years. Commonly thought of as a construction tool, it can prove useful in maintenance. If you’re replacing switchgear, you can quickly ensure the base is level and reduce the effort needed to shim those big heavy cabinets. It can show you whether a motor pedestal is askew. In fact, for installing motors some professionals consider it a “must have” item. For work involving elevation, a laser level can show you if your scaffolding or scissor lift is on a level base.
