5 Reasons Why Your Business Needs plier and cutter manufacturer?
4 Reasons Why Investing Tool Control is Essential
How to Control Tools in a Workshop
Investing in tool control? Here’s how it can give you the greatest return.
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Your company invests thousands of pounds in tools and equipment every year. You will want to extract as much value from those assets as is possible.
There is one wise investment you can make today that will optimise your investment in tools, help to keep them in use for longer with minimum downtime, and reduce the amount you spend on replacements. That investment is in tool control.
If you invest in robust storage solutions that are built around the assets they are protecting, you will see the value of that investment returned to you multiple times over.
In this guide, we’ll show you how.
At Polstore Storage Systems, we provide tool storage systems for businesses across the UK. If you want advice or a FREE quote, call us at +44 800 008 or complete our online enquiry form.
Benefits of Tool Control and a Tool Management System
1. Increased Lifespan of Tools
With the right storage solution in place, built around the unique dimensions of the tools and equipment being stored, tool control can extend the expected lifespan by several months, even years.
Tools stored in ill-fitting tool boxes or drawers are at risk of damage and accelerated wear and tear simply because they are not adequately protected when not in use. The visual cues of a foam shadow board also help to reduce the cost of purchasing replacement tools because operatives can easily identify tools that are missing as soon as they are misplaced.
How much did your business spend on replacing damaged or misplaced tools in the last year?
2. Reduced Tool Consumption
When you know that the quality of tools and equipment can be preserved for longer, you can be more strategic in your tool investments, opting to use that budget to buy higher-quality tools. No longer needing to replace poorer quality items due to breakage reduces your overall tool consumption.
What was the value of tools consumed and written off in your business last year?
3. Optimised Inventory
Clear tool identification and regular inventory management can help to identify tools in your workshop that are infrequently used.
By identifying tools that are in regular use for various tasks, a list of essential tools can be maintained. Not only does this reduce the cost of investing in tools and equipment that are non-essential, it also saves the budget being spent on storing and servicing them.
How many tools do you have in your inventory that you don’t need?
4. Utilising Capitalisation
Being able to demonstrate that you have the correct storage solution to help extend the lifespan of tools and equipment can open the opportunity for you to use capitalisation in your accounts.
Ordinarily, capitalisation of small tools isn’t applied in general accounting practice assuming the short lifespan of such assets. With capitalisation, you could benefit from utilising alternative sources of finance such as leasing. Capitalisation can also add value to your net worth.
How could the use of capitalisation impact your bottom line?
Invest in Tool Control With Polstore Storage Systems
It’s time to rethink the value of tool control.
We work with hundreds of engineering and manufacturing companies throughout the UK to help them extend the lifespan of their most valued assets. Using our heavy-duty workshop storage drawer cabinets, mobile toolboxes, routed foam shadow boards, and foam inserts, we can design a tool control system customised to your tools and how you work.
Polstore Storage Systems will bring organisation and protection to the heart of your workshop from the day of installation and for many years to come.
If you would like some advice on inventory control and tool tracking for your workshop, get in touch with our team of experts today. From tool shadowing to custom tool cabinets for your work area, we can help.
Call us on +44 800 008 or complete our online enquiry form.
FAQs
How does tool control improve efficiency in the workplace?
Effective tool control enhances workplace safety, efficiency, productivity, quality, and cost control by ensuring tools are readily available, in good condition, and not lost, misused or left behind. It is especially critical in industries like manufacturing, construction, aviation and automotive repair.
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What is the meaning of tool control?
Tool control refers to the practice of properly managing, tracking, and accounting for tools within a workplace or organisation. It involves implementing systems and protocols to ensure tools are securely stored, easily located when needed, and not misplaced or lost.
The main aspects of effective tool control include:
1. Tool inventory management
- Maintaining a detailed inventory of all tools, including descriptions, quantities, locations, etc.
- Tracking tool check-outs/check-ins to know who has possession of tools.
2. Tool storage and organisation
- Having designated storage locations like tool cribs, cabinets, shadow boards etc.
- Using visual management techniques like outlining, labelling, and colour-coding.
3. Tool accountability
- Assigning personal responsibility for highly valuable/critical tools.
- Conducting routine tool audits and inspections to identify missing tools.
4. Tool maintenance
- Proper care, cleaning, and preventative maintenance of tools.
- Removing damaged/worn tools from use.
5. Tool security
- Restricting access to tool storage areas.
- Locking up controlled tools like cutting tools, calibrated tools, etc.
Why is tool control important?
Tool control is important for several reasons. Firstly, it helps to ensure the safety of workers by preventing accidents caused by misplaced or misused tools. Secondly, it helps to prevent damage to equipment and materials by ensuring that the right tools are used for the right job.
Additionally, strict tool control can help to improve efficiency and productivity by reducing the time spent searching for tools as they are always put back in the right place. Finally, it can also help to prevent theft and loss of expensive tools, saving the company money.
What is the purpose of tool management?
The purpose of tool management is to ensure tools are properly organised, maintained, and accounted for within a workspace. It improves efficiency by allowing easy tool retrieval, reduces downtime from missing tools, extends tool lifespan through proper storage, and enhances workplace safety by preventing tool-related hazards. Effective tool management optimises productivity and cost savings.
What is tool shadowing?
Tool shadowing, also known as shadow boarding or silhouette tool storage, is an organisational method used to store and arrange tools in a workshop or workspace. It involves creating an outline or silhouette of each tool on a pegboard, panel, or other surface, indicating exactly where that specific tool should be kept.
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- 10 Must-Have Storage Solutions For Your Workshop
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- What is Shadow Board Foam?
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Wire Cutter 101: Everything You Need To Know About Them
Wire cutter are such an important tool for a huge range of people and needs. Including electricians, homeowners, DIY hobbyists and even other professionals. These tools versatility plays a big role in cutting different types of materials that require precise cutting. It is quite different from regular cutting tools. They usually feature different designs for specialised uses.
Wire cutter or pliers stand as important hand tools for low-voltage uses such as electrical tasks and network installations. People mainly use them to cut various wires, but they can also cut materials like plastic and soft metal. They consist of two parts: the short part, called the jaw, and the longer part, known as the handle.
While manufacturers usually make cutters from hard steel that has a sharp cutting edge. Different types of them can have different jaw shapes depending on their use case. You will need more than one type of cutter in your toolbox. We shall go into further details about this cutter in this article.
Wire cutter types
Manufacturers categorise wire cutter into many different types based on the specific applications they are designed to perform. For example, users often call the oval jaw the standard jaw. Therefore, linemen choose oval‑jaw cutters because their shape combines strength and durability, making them ideal for cutting solid, thick wires; hence the name lineman’s tool.
Moving past the jaw type, they also vary widely by specialisation. For example, the diagonal cutters with their sharp, angled blade can deliver a clean cut on soft wires. Flush cut variants, commonly used in electronics, produce smooth edges that help prevent injuries and wire fraying. Finally, we shall explore the most common types of cutters to ensure that you understand what you need and what to get.
Diagonal Cutters
Diagonal cutters or mostly known as side cutters or even dykes. They are the most common types of wire cutters that you will see in the store. Their main feature is a sharp cutting edge that can cut in a small area. This type of cutter is perfect for cutting small wires like those you would find in electronics. You can also use it to trim extra material from parts or use it as scissors.
Flush Cutters
Flush cutters or also known as micro cutters or nippers, are made by manufacturers with the aim of creating a clean, flush cut on small electrical wires or components. It has a flat cutting edge, making it possible for the user to trim wires and other materials without leaving a sharp or jagged edge. This type of wire cutter is popularly used in electronics and jewellery making. This also includes other precision tasks.
End Cutters
End cutters, or most commonly known as nippers or pincers, are designed for cutting through materials at an angle. It features a broad and flat cutting surface, making it possible to cut material flush against a surface. The end cutter is usually used for cutting nails, screws and other fasteners. This tool can also trim extra material from components.
Shear Cutters
Shear cutters, which are also called shears or even just scissors. This is due to its scissor-like design with two cutting edges that slide past each other, creating that shearing effect on the material. This allows for clean, precise cuts with minimal distortion of the material being cut. This type of wire cutter is ideal for cutting through cables, wires and other materials that require a clean, smooth edge.
Cable Cutters
Manufacturers make cable cutters for cutting through thick cables and wires. With its robust, large and curved cutting blades that can easily cut through thick cables. It is mostly used in electrical installations and telecommunications. It's used there due to being able to cut thick cable without crushing or distorting the internal conductors. Cable cutters come in a lot of different sizes, with larger models capable of cutting through cables up to 3/8 inches in diameter.
Bolt Cutters
The heaviest-duty type of wire cutter. The bolt cutters are made for cutting through large bolts, chains and other hard materials. Featuring long handles, strong and made from hardened steel jaws that give a large amount of power and cutting forces. Thus, it can cut through thick metal objects. They come in a wide range of sizes, with larger types capable of cutting through bolts and chains up to 5 inches in diameter.
Choosing the correct wire cutter
A wire cutter plays a huge role in professional work, especially in electrical work. Whether you are a professional or just an amateur DIYer, it's important for you to be able to choose the correct one for your needs. All of this is to avoid having the wrong tool for the job, like having a bolt cutter to strip wire jackets. Therefore, here are some factors you should consider when choosing a good cutter.
- Material: Choose a cutter that you will design to handle the specific material, such as copper, aluminium, or steel.
- Size: Select a cutter that can accommodate the size of the wires or cables you will be working with.
- Application: Consider the specific tasks you will be performing, such as cutting through thick cables, trimming small components, or working on electrical wiring.
- Ergonomics: Look for cutters with comfortable, non-slip handles that provide a secure grip during use. Insulated handles are essential when working with live wires.
When to use wire cutter?
You use a wire cutter to cleanly and easily cut through wires, cables, or similar materials when a task needs precision or strong force. It is a key tool in electrical work, crafting, construction and even auto work. All work that requires you to trim, strip or sever wires requires this cutter.
Although a cutter doesn't only cut wires, it can also strip insulation, bend small components, or remove nails and staples. For example, in electronics, precision cutters trim circuit board leads, while jewellery makers shape wire art. Whether for professional trades or DIY projects, this type of cutter is a key tool for tasks demanding controlled, durable cutting solutions.
Common mistake to avoid
Using a wire cutter the wrong way not only causes the quality of the work to be bad, but also poses safety risks. Cutting the wrong type of wire, applying extreme force, or using dull tools can result in a number of issues. For example, cutting through harder materials than planned can damage the blades, while attempting to cut wires without good support can lead to mishaps. Recognising these mistakes and not doing them can be measures can significantly improve both the process and outcome of electrical work. Here are the common mistakes you can avoid.
- Using the wrong cutter for the wrong job could lead to bad results or injury.
- Different wires have their own gauge requirement for the best result. Ignoring this can lead to a multitude of bad outcomes.
- Finally, not properly maintaining your tool can lead to it breaking when it's being used or not working properly.
Conclusion
Wire cutter is a key tool for precise, efficient cuts across electrical DIY and professional tasks from electricians, plumbing, to even general construction. Choosing between diagonal, flush, cable, or bolt cutters, make sure that it is the right type for the job to ensure optimal performance and safety. Prioritise material compatibility, ergonomics, and application needs while avoiding misuse or neglect. Proper selection and maintenance enhance tool longevity, work quality, and user safety.
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