replacing brushes in motor

[mickthetree]

Hi all

I was using my circular saw last night when a white flash and a bang came out.

I've had it apart and all looks fine and it still works, but keeps flashing and banging. I think the brushes are overly worn and possibly breaking up.

Now its one of these £30 b&q jobbies. Few years old and has worked its socks off in the time I've had it. Could quite easily throw it in the bin, but I just cant justify it. If it costs £5 for a new set of brushes which take 5 minutes to replace.

I guess these cheaper tools all have their place (well I own one) but they are at such a "disposable" price, the landfills must be full of them.

Anyway, rant over. Has anyone changed the brushes in their circular saw or similar motor before? and if so where do you get them? Seems lots on ebay but does anyone use anywhere else?

Have to identify the right ones first.

 

[Racers]

Hi,

The motor has gone (shorted winding), time for a new one.

Pete

 

[Derek Willis.]

I think you will find that it is not the brushes, but, the armature that is worn, it will cost far far more than the original price to correct, so dump it.
Derek.

 

[mickthetree]

Hi Pete

Thanks for that. Landfill it is then. :-(

Is there anywhere that takes old tools like this for parts or to be reused in someway?

Is that the main difference in powertools between the cheap ones and the good (more expensive) ones?

The motors last longer?

It wasnt under any strain.

 

[Derek Willis.]

Your council recycle yard will take it, even if only for the metal value.
Derek.

 

[Derek Willis.]

I have a Wolf 225 portable saw that I bought in 1971 it is still as good as that first day, only had to replace a broken switch, that's quality.
Derek.

 

[mickthetree]

Thanks Derek

I'll take it to the local recycling yard.

Now I have to find a new circular saw! I now like to buy descent stuff that will last, but dont have the money at the moment, so it might be another cheapy.

Seems a false economy in the long term and bad for the environment.

Anyway, thanks all for you suggestions

 

[Racers]

Hi,

I have a Makita 5703 its excelent loads of power and well made and comes in a nice case.

Pete

 

[Derek Willis.]

On the subject of quality tools, another of my tools is an industrial jigsaw by Hitachi, it is now 25 years old has been in constant use until just recent times and no noticable change in the tool to this date, mind you I could probably bought 15 cheap tools for what I paid for this one, but it has cut miles of timber including 100 x 50.
Derek.

 

[Grinding One]

Buy cheap buy often,the local shopping reused sales around here are full of that cheap crap....guys buy one then after the one use dump them...
I just keep on movin past those tools .....you have to understand I worked hard at a trade to make that money to just throw it away.

 

[Digit]

I pick 'em up from the local re-cycling centre for the brushes and NVRs.
I picked up a Clarke lathe today for £2 in the hope that the motor and/or NVR work. If either does I'm quids in!

Roy.

 

[George_N]

I'd second the Makita as a resonably priced quality saw.