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A-2 Maintains tools and equipment
Keeping tools and equipment properly maintained is essential for consistent performance and for the safety of the person using them.
Sub-tasks
- A-2.01 Maintains hand, portable power and pneumatic tools and equipment
- A-2.02 Maintains stationary power tools
- A-2.03 Maintains automated and computer numerical control (CNC) equipment
- A-2.04 Maintains finishing equipment
Maintains tools and equipment
Maintaining hand, portable power, pneumatic, stationary, automated/CNC and finishing equipment. Proper maintenance keeps performance consistent and the user safe.
Key points
- Proper maintenance keeps performance consistent and the user safe.
- Every A-2 sub-task begins with applying lockout and tagout procedures.
- Compressors and air dryers are drained to prevent moisture in the air supply system.
- Malfunctioning tools are recognized through sensory inspections: hearing, feeling, seeing.
- Drive belts/drive systems are replaced and adjusted to prevent premature belt wear, ensure proper RPM and increase longevity.
- Guards listed for stationary power tools: anti-kickback devices, riving knives, belt covers. Guards listed for automated/CNC equipment: anti-kickback devices, belt covers, barrier guards, limit switches.
- Filters in air and fluid lines are changed so the finish is free of contamination. Ventilation and air makeup filters are changed so ventilation stays balanced and efficient.
- Spray systems listed: HVLP, airless, LVLP, air assist airless, conventional.
Overview
Maintaining tools and equipment properly matters because it keeps their performance consistent and keeps the user safe. Task A-2 has four sub-tasks: hand, portable power and pneumatic tools (A-2.01), stationary power tools (A-2.02), automated and CNC equipment (A-2.03), and finishing equipment (A-2.04). Every sub-task starts with the same step: apply lockout and tagout procedures according to jurisdictional (safety) regulations and site policies.
A-2.01 Maintains hand, portable power and pneumatic tools and equipment
What you do
- Apply lockout and tagout procedures.
- Sharpen hand tools according to industry standards.
- Clean and lubricate hand, portable power and pneumatic tools and equipment according to manufacturers' specifications. This keeps the tool safe to operate and makes it last longer.
- Recognize tools and equipment that conditions have damaged, and replace or repair them according to manufacturers' specifications.
- Recognize worn or damaged power tool accessories and replace them.
- Organize and store tools and equipment so they stay accurate and last longer.
- Drain compressors and air dryers according to manufacturers' specifications, so that moisture does not get into the air supply system.
- Change components when conditions are identified.
- Use a dust collector while operating portable power and pneumatic tools, and maintain the dust collection system according to manufacturers' specifications.
What you need to know
- Types of hand tools, portable power tools, and pneumatic tools and equipment, and their characteristics and applications.
- Maintenance procedures for each group, lockout and tagout procedures, and safety procedures for maintaining portable power tools.
- Procedures to use and maintain the dust collection system.
Range of variables
| Category | Includes |
|---|---|
| Hand tools | chisels, planes, cabinet scrapers |
| Industry standards | Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada (AWMAC), Architectural Woodworking Institute (AWI), Woodwork Institute (WI), Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association (CKCA), shop-specific standard |
| Portable power tools (cordless and corded) | drills, hand planes, jigsaws, routers, biscuit joiners, mitre saws, domino cutters |
| Pneumatic tools and equipment | nailers, compressors, regulator, filters, staplers, drills, sanders, fuel cell powered |
| Conditions | cracked and loose handles, damaged power cords, leaking air fittings, dull blades |
| Power tool accessories | blades, router bits, drill bits, sanding belts |
| Components | air hoses and fittings, blades |
A-2.02 Maintains stationary power tools
What you do
- Apply lockout and tagout procedures.
- Calibrate stationary power tools and equipment so they stay accurate.
- Recognize malfunctioning tools through sensory inspections.
- Clean and lubricate stationary power tools and equipment according to manufacturers' specifications.
- Use a dust collector while operating them, and maintain the dust collection system.
- Recognize worn or damaged stationary power tool accessories and replace them.
- Set up and maintain guards according to manufacturers' specifications, to prevent injury.
- Replace and adjust drive belts according to manufacturers' specifications. This prevents premature belt wear, keeps revolutions per minute (RPM) correct and makes the machine last longer.
What you need to know
- Stationary power tools and equipment, and guards: their characteristics and applications.
- Maintenance procedures and safety procedures for stationary power tools and equipment, use and maintenance of the dust collection system, and lockout and tagout procedures.
Range of variables
| Category | Includes |
|---|---|
| Stationary power tools and equipment | table saws, planers, panel saws, shapers, jointers, molders |
| Sensory inspections | hearing, feeling, seeing |
| Stationary power tool accessories | saw blades, planer knives, shaper knives |
| Guards | anti-kickback devices, riving knives, belt covers |
A-2.03 Maintains automated and computer numerical control (CNC) equipment
What you do
- Apply lockout and tagout procedures.
- Calibrate automated equipment and CNC equipment so they stay accurate.
- Recognize malfunctioning tools through sensory inspections (hearing, feeling, seeing).
- Clean and lubricate automated and CNC equipment according to manufacturers' specifications.
- Use a dust collector while CNC equipment is running, and maintain the dust collection system.
- Recognize worn or damaged automated and CNC equipment, and replace it.
- Use and maintain guards according to manufacturers' specifications, to prevent injury.
- Replace and adjust the drive system. This prevents premature belt wear, keeps RPM correct and makes the equipment last longer.
What you need to know
- Automated equipment and CNC equipment: their characteristics and applications.
- Maintenance procedures and safety procedures for automated equipment and for CNC equipment.
Range of variables
| Category | Includes |
|---|---|
| Automated equipment | spray lines, conveyor systems, material handling equipment, veneer presses, dovetailer |
| CNC equipment | CNC machining centres, edge banders, CNC beam saws, wide belt sanders, routers, veneer presses |
| Sensory inspections | hearing, feeling, seeing |
| Guards | anti-kickback devices, belt covers, barrier guards, limit switches |
Note that veneer presses appear in both lists (automated and CNC equipment). Guards in A-2.03 add barrier guards and limit switches, and riving knives appear only under A-2.02.
A-2.04 Maintains finishing equipment
What you do
- Apply lockout and tagout procedures.
- Clean finishing equipment according to manufacturers' specifications, so that the equipment is not damaged and the finish is not contaminated.
- Lubricate finishing equipment according to manufacturers' specifications to get the best performance from it.
- Store finishing equipment according to manufacturers' specifications, for the short or long term.
- Recognize worn or damaged finishing equipment components and replace them.
- Change filters in air and fluid lines so that the finish is free of contamination.
- Change filters in the ventilation and air makeup system so that ventilation stays balanced and efficient.
What you need to know
- Types of manual finishing equipment, spray systems and finishing equipment components, and their characteristics and applications.
- Lighting and ventilation requirements for finishing equipment.
- Disposal requirements for cleaning supplies.
- Health hazards of handling solvents, adhesives and lacquer thinners.
- Procedures to maintain and store finishing equipment components, and lockout and tagout procedures.
Range of variables
| Category | Includes |
|---|---|
| Spray systems | high volume low pressure (HVLP), airless, low volume low pressure (LVLP), air assist airless, conventional |
| Finishing equipment components | tips, needles, pressure pot, air cap, agitators, hoses |
| Cleaning supplies | solvents, lacquer thinners, rags |
Source: Red Seal Occupational Standard – Cabinetmaker, Task A-2 (pp. 34–40).
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Sources cited on this page
- Red Seal Occupational Standard – Cabinetmaker, Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) (2021 (Cat. No. Em15-3/37-2022E-PDF, ISBN 978-0-660-44580-9)). Where: Task A-2, pp. 34–40.