Discussion
22 Dec 2018 - 31 Jan 2019

Maintenance Skills - these fading skills are desperately needed

Robert Wembridge
Robert Wembridge Holmesglen Staff • 22 December 2018

I see so many examples of the throw-away culture of today.

So many products that are regularly disposed and discarded: for example:

  • Home products such as most appliances.
  • Entertainment products, including toys, gym equipment, bikes and alike.
  • Indoor and out door furniture.
  • Most cars both in servicing and parts.

The list goes on!

If you like me:

  • want to do something to reduce expenditure (or save money)
  • have items that are important to you and you want them to last longer
  • want to help the environment by reducing landfill and consuming less.

We need to do something differently.

So what can we/ you do?

Do you have a home tool kit? Do you know basic use and care of those tools? Do you know (or want to know) how things work, and what to do when they do not work? Do you want to learn new skills and knowledge?

If your answer is yes to some or all of these questions. then you are on the road to maintaining many items.

If you are getting started, start small and always stay safe by not doing anything that can cause injury to your self or others.

How do we gain maintenance skills and or knowledge? A combination of the below:

  • Read books.
  • Watch a YouTube video (Be mindful and careful of amateur videos: they are not necessarily procedurally correct for safety and may not follow the manufacturers recommendations)
  • Formal training often has maintenance training embedded within many of the course units of competency: for example a Certificate III In Timber and composite machinist  here at Holmesglen.
  • Join a like minded club, that offers maintenance days. e.g. Some Motor bike clubs do this.
  • Find support and guidance from a skilled Mentor.
  • Join a forum I.E. Bikes, Motor bikes, etc.

Some examples of products I maintain at home include: Motor bike, lawn mower, household items like furniture, appliances, walls (painting) tiles (grouting) and door locks. Push bikes.

At Work, I maintain all types of hand tools, power tools and machinery both small and large including CNC machinery.

As I said earlier, start small and get a skilled person to check and monitor your progress.

Let me know if you are a maintenance person and what you maintain. If you are interested in getting started, what are you thinking of maintaining?

Rob.