Before spring and summer get into full swing, it is best to double-check the quality of your equipment and tools. Completing a preseason equipment checklist will help any construction or machining business to best serve its clients. It is normal for large equipment, construction materials, and tools to have wear and tear, but getting them serviced or adding needed attachments will make your company stand out from the others. 

Our Equipment Checklist

Sanson Machinery offers comprehensive metal fabrication equipment diagnostics, service, and machinery repair for companies of all sizes. We want you to be able to have quality equipment that is built to last.

1- Check For Wear And New Parts

The first step on our equipment checklist is to take a look around your site and see what equipment you have in your query. Taking inventory of what machines and tools you have will help you determine how much work will need to be done to service them all. 

Looking at your large equipment, you may not be able to tell if it needs maintenance with the naked eye, but looking for visible signs of wear or noticing missing parts is a great place to start. 

Some specific areas to check include,

• Tires
• Hoses
• Belts
• Bucket teeth
• Oil
• Hydraulic fluid
• Batteries 
• Machine arms

These areas are relatively easy to check and will give you an idea of what parts you need to order or what maintenance services you need to schedule. 

2- Schedule Maintenance

Once you have determined which machines need extra service or new parts, it is time to schedule maintenance. It is also good practice to schedule all machines that you use regularly during the busy season for routine maintenance. Even if a machine or set of tools does not look like it needs maintenance, routine maintenance will help keep things running as they should.

Just like you service your car, machines used in your construction or manufacturing business will need to be tuned up, oiled, fixed, or serviced in order to run their best. Fixing a machine during the busy seasons can set your projects back by weeks or even months. Scheduling maintenance should be on your equipment checklist to avoid unnecessary delays. 

3- Analyze The Data

Many modern machines collect data on tasks they complete, how long the machine was running and other diagnostic information. Owners can learn a lot from looking at the data collected from equipment during the past season. Analyzing the data can help you see how much fuel was used, idle times, and engine efficiency.

Looking at the data can help you to improve the quality of the machine, improve safety and save money. If you notice that the machine was idling for more than 20 minutes, work to train your employees to use the fuel more efficiently. Running the engine for long periods of time without using the machine also deteriorates the machine faster. 

Looking at data can help you see if the machine may be having problems. Looking at these reports can help you get it fixed before it malfunctions and leads to injury. 

If you are not using equipment as much as you thought, try renting it out to other users during your least busy times. This can help the machine run more efficiently and save on maintenance costs. Looking at data gives you better visibility into what your business is doing and how you can improve.

4- Consider Attachment Options

New advances in technology will continue to form and are designed to make your machines better. Before you start up another set of projects consider adding research about attachments to your preseason equipment checklist. 

Attachments for your current equipment can help it run more efficiently and help you complete more work in a shorter amount of time. It is best to install these during your downtime so that the machine and attachment can be calibrated correctly. 

Considering and researching attachments now will also give your crew members time to master using them. Getting them purchased, shipped, installed, calibrated, and in use can take some time, but the sooner you work to implement them, the better your summer construction season will run. 

Machines With Sanson Machinery 

Our team offers machine repair, used equipment, and new equipment for metal workers, construction workers, or other businesses who are looking for quality tools. Our team has over 60 years of combined experience in manufacturing solutions. We are here to serve you and give you the best equipment experience possible. Learn more about our business here. 

Metalworking is an activity that many people associate with high school shop class and/or manufacturing processes. These connotations can sadly turn people away from metalworking as a hobby because they feel that getting started with it would be too novel or too complicated. However, working with tools and metal is a hobby that can be enjoyed at any age. If you are interested in starting to metalwork for fun, continue reading to learn more about how to get started.

Metalworking As A Hobby

Metalworking involves welding, cutting, and carving metal pieces. This may seem like a daunting thing to do, but really anyone can do metalworking if they put their mind to it. If you want to do metalworking as a hobby, make sure you have properly prepared ahead of time. Although it does not have to be overly complex, it is important to have some basic knowledge and capital before jumping in.

Prepare Mentally And Physically

Metalworking is an activity that requires mental and physical strength. For one, the equipment that is needed to complete your metal projects is heavy, powerful, and dangerous. Physically you will need to be able to move the equipment around and have the strength/muscle memory to complete your projects. Mentally, you need to have an understanding of how the different pieces of equipment work. Metalworking can be hazardous if a person does not approach processes with great caution. Having a clear mind while performing tasks and a comprehensible understanding of the equipment is crucial to maintaining your safety while metalworking.

Get The Proper Equipment

Another barrier to joining the metalworking club is that it does require you to obtain the proper equipment. Equipment is needed in order to cut, bend, twist, and weld your metal pieces together. Some metals can be molded using woodworking tools, but that can cause extreme wear on your tools. So, if you get a few metalworking tools, you’ll be much better off. Some pieces of equipment that you might want to consider getting to start your hobby include a clamp or vice, an angle grinder, a drill press, a file, a welding machine, and a metal saw. Also make sure that you invest in some quality safety gear including glasses, ear protection, boots, gloves, and a workshop apron

Learn The Basic Skills Needed

Another important thing that you need to do before you can begin molding and bending metal pieces to your will is learn the basic skills that are needed and how to do them in a safe way. Some of these skills will require hands-on learning, but watching other people and studying up on how these processes are completed will likely be helpful. The skills that are required for most metalworking projects are as follows:

• Cutting
• Welding
• Forging
• Casting

Find Projects To Do

The last thing that you need to do is find projects that seem interesting and exciting to you. By starting will smaller and less complex projects, you will be able to learn the skills that are needed to complete much more complicated projects. With patience, determination, and curiosity, anyone can enjoy metalworking as a hobby.

Are You Looking For Metalworking Equipment?

Do you enjoy doing hands-on work? Are you interested in doing metalworking as a hobby? Are you unsure where to find the equipment to get started? If you answered yes to all of these questions then you will want to reach out to us at Sanson Machinery. We have many different equipment options available for commercial and individual projects. If you are unsure about what kind of equipment you will need for your project or would like to learn more about our selection, feel free to reach out to us at Sanson Machinery.

Buying used equipment and machines for your business is a big investment and requires patience and research. Effective machines don’t have to be brand new in order to serve your needs as a business or worker. Acquiring new or used equipment requires doing research on similar machines and knowing what wear and tear are normal. Sanson Machinery offers new and used machinery for your metal fabrication business. We offer used fabrication machinery for every budget and do our best to find the best machine for your needs. Sanson works hard to collect the very best and dedicates time to providing customers with advice for buying used equipment. 

1- Check The Specs

If a used machine has upgraded features or extras that you don’t necessarily need, but you can afford, it is worth it to splurge. These specs might be worthwhile for your business in the future. Premium cabs, advanced electronics, tracking, remote hydraulics, and more features can put you ahead of your competitors. 

2- Know What Similar Machines Are Selling For

Business owners and machine buyers can learn more about the equipment that is on the market by researching what other sellers are listing the machine for. You can compare asking prices online to what the machines are being sold for at auctions or with other companies. Metal fabrication companies have to rely on their equipment to work properly in order to protect employees. 

Doing even a small amount of research can help you understand if you are being overcharged when buying used equipment. Used equipment may be discounted because of wear and tear, so if a new machine is cheaper than the used machine you are interested in, it may be best to steer clear. 

3- Check For Visible Signs Of Wear

Smoke, large cracks, broken parts, missing protective parts, or flat tires are all aspects to look for when buying used equipment. If the repairs are going to cost you more than buying the machine itself, it may be more of a drain on your business than an improvement. Sanson Machinery works to only sell equipment that is in proper working order and does not have severe wear. When you buy a machine, you usually want to begin using it right away, so repairs can put you behind on projects. 

Used machinery does not have to mean falling apart. Normal wear and tear should not affect the safety or integrity of the machine. 

4- Get More Than One Opinion

Having clear communication with your equipment supplier should give you all the information you need about the machine, but taking another co-worker or other machinist with you to look at a used machine can help you ask the right questions. Having a second opinion can help you make the right decision and provide the knowledge you may not possess. The more eyes you can have on the machine to inspect for damage or features, the better you will feel about your purchase decision. 

5- Research Other Brands

Browsing the internet and its abundant content will help you understand what other machines of any caliber sell for. Equipment needs to sell for what it is valued at and buyers can avoid scams if they do proper research. 

Comparing prices and looking up common problems with the machine will help you ask informed questions when buying used equipment. When a price doesn’t match up, you may be able to speak to the equipment seller about a better price, or why they have priced their equipment much higher. Sanson Machinery Group works to communicate our pricing and the current state of the equipment. We adhere to strict resale ethics and offer a return warranty on used machinery purchases. 

Try Buying Used Equipment With Sanson Machinery Group

From purchasing equipment to services and repairs, Sanson Machinery Group is the one-stop shop for metal fabrication and cutting equipment. As members of the AMT, MDNA, and AMEA and each member of our team is here to serve you and your needs. We carry a variety of metal cutting systems, welding equipment, shears, and other tools that will help you get the job done. 

Our sales team has over 60 years of experience and our business is completely focused on you. Striving to provide industry-leading service is our mission. We want to exceed your expectations when it comes to buying used equipment. Contact us today to learn more about the machines we currently offer and the manufacturers we work with.