ROAD and WORKSHOP by Ha ndyman
Page 41
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Looking After Hand Tools Properly
THE ENDLESS chase for quicker hide turnround, having the correct ols for maintenance is most important, t..t the value of the right tool for the b can be quickly lost when that tool on the " loose " in a large workshop d has to be searclied for. When this plies to reamers, drills, extractors, ecial keys, and so on, precious time is at; and although the staff concerned e trying to get on with the job, any Furs paid for in tool hunting is money town the drain ".
Heavier industries, with their large gkine areas, have to control all equipsot rigidly rigidly and employ full-time staff run the tool section. But in the vehicle pair shop, from 20 to 60 personnel may ye to add this duty to that of existing iremen. and the system must therefore a simple one.
Trials with various approaches have own up a number of snags, the largest e being where a signature is called for. ith the best intentions in the world, s one seems to fall down or fade. Few m really like to sign for anything other in wages, and in any case, books, tickets or slips are soon dirty and unreadable, therefore time and effort is wasted whenever writing is involved.
By far the simplest method is as follows. A 6-ft. by 4-ft. board is needed, painted black and lined off horizontally 'to take small brass screw-hooks, the number of hooks being based on the range or number of tools in constant demand. Starting from the left-hand side, the article is first named on the board, then hooks are inserted at 2-in, intervals along the line. Beside each hook the size of the item is marked, covering the range of the named items, e.g., die nuts, from 0-25 in. B.S.F. to 2 in. B.S.F., and so on. Line by line this goes on until the single items ale also catered for. A supply of 1:5-in.-diameter metal discs can be obtained quite easily and cheaply from most factors, and four of these are issued to each person. stamped with that person's clock number.
Alongside the board can be a list of clock numbers and respective names, varnished over. This will last up to three years. The fitter needing a P25-in.-diameter reamer hands in a disc, the tool is handed over and the disc goes on the appropriate hook and stays there until the ' tool is returned. If the item is required by another fitter, he can he advised at once who has the tool, cutting out the need to go hunting. All tools should be handed in and the board,. cleared each shift. This is the only tight part of the drill but if laid on firmly is soon accepted and operates smoothly.
There are snags, of course, but not of any consequence, as the overall saving is very good. The main one is where two or more men need a particular tool. Here the only approach is to accept a disc from each, more or less booking the tool, and this is a good guide or indication of a fast-moving item, showing that steps should be taken to duplicate that particular item. The board should be beyond reach from the serving hatch, and con: trolled by a storeman, who should be drilled to examine all returned equipment carefully and so guard against the inevitable "Who did it ? " when a tool is returned damaged.