No more "fix it" shops

[Perry Hilbert Jr]

I have two very old work horse power tools. A Millers Falls 1/2 hp electric drill and an old Skil worm drive saw. The cords have cracked due to age. I have already had the cord on the drill replaced twice, but the fix it shops are gone by the wayside, a distant memory of Mayberry past. I tried the vacuum cleaner shop. He won't touch them. The hardware store that did lamp and other simple repairs folded up shop 10 years ago. They are really heavy cords compared to what is available in the box stores and hardware stores. Guess I am gonna have to order the parts and try to fix them my self.

[Tom Bender]

Go for it, not difficult if you can get the parts.

[Osvaldo Cristo]

My suggestion is to look for *authorized* repair shop for a big name on tools. I mean a third part service provider, not a brand owned shop.

I found a few near home. I went to a DeWalt authorized service provider and after some conversations with the owner he gladly also repaired the cord from my Porter Cable old router besides the equally old DeWalt power saw power cable.

Good luck.

[Jim Koepke]

There are less and less people wanting to do small appliance repair. The other problem is there are more and more manufacturers making small appliances that are not made to be repaired.

When my old Makita portable drill died, the switch that failed would have cost as much as a new unit.

One of my old swing arm desk lamps has had the switch flake out twice. Both times it was repaired with pieces of brass rod in my shop. Took less time than driving into town to buy a new socket w/switch. It was made before 'disposable' became standard. The socket is ceramic and can take a higher wattage bulb. Though incandescent lamps in those wattages are no longer available.

jtk

[Bruce Wrenn]

With labor rates around $75 per hour, the labor far exceeds the value of the tool. When I took my 40 year old B&D angle grinder in, first I was told "no parts available. Checked Dewalt's web site and verified by phone that all parts are available. Repair center had all but one part in stock, and could have the other the next day. They offered to sell me a new one for half MSRP. The half off MSRP is greater than half pf the actual selling price, so I would be better off just going to BORGS and buy a new one. Was severely chastised on two different web sites (here and elsewhere) for wanting to get my angle grinder repaired under B&D's written repair policy.

[Lee Schierer]

Most folks don't want to pay the labor charge to take something apart to determine what is wrong and the shops don't want to waste their time taking something apart only to find out it can't be fixed or the part is no longer available or will cost more than the customer wants to spend on an old appliance or tool. We have a vacuum shop here in town that repairs household vacuum cleaners. They charge $40 just to investigate your problem whether they fix it or not. Most folks, just walk away when they hear that.

I still do most of my own repairs and fix things when I can buy the needed parts for a reasonable price.

[Doug Garson]

If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. When a tool is mass produced in a highly automated shop in a country with low labor rates and low overhead cost and few regulations to protect the environment or the labor force how can you afford to repair it in a low volume, non automated shop with high labor rates high overhead and regulations that protect the environment and the worker? Oh, and did I mention the tool was probably not designed with maintainability in mind. Much of that probably doesn't apply to the OP's tools but explains why there isn't a repair shop on every corner.

Replacing a power cord is pretty straightforward and if the OP can't find a suitable cord at the Borg (which I doubt, a 12 or 14 gauge extension cord should work for a 1/2 HP say 10 amp draw) then try an electrical supply store. If you're not comfortable doing it yourself, consider posting your location and perhaps a fellow forum member can help out.

[Mel Fulks]

A lot of the stuff that used to get fixed in repair shops was stuff people today just don't want. I've seen sewing machines for 5 and ten dollars that worked,people just don't want them. I remember an aunt who got her waffle iron repaired. My wife won't make waffles. We have a fine waffle iron ,but I have to eat eggos. Sad

[Jim Koepke]

There is at least one sewing machine repair shop in my area.

Others have gone the way of what used to be many typewriter repair shops. Some folks still like using a typewriter for addressing envelopes.

TV and radio repair shops used to be all over the place, not much anymore.

There may be a few shoe repair shops still around, but people are more in to the latest celebrity endorsed shoe that is not made to be repaired.

Every gas station used to have a mechanic or two. Now they have people who don't pump gas (Oregon and New Jersey excepted) and can barely make the correct change.

Even the number of auto repair shops has diminished.

Remember the speed shops and carburetor shops? Just when I was getting good at rebuilding carburetors and voltage regulators the industry changed to fuel injection and alternators that used solid state regulators.

What about tailor shops that would make a suit to fit and repair or resize an older suit?

Has anyone darned a sock since the 1950s?

Remember when your mom patched your jeans?

One that still exists, but not as much as many years ago, is bicycle repair shops. (again except in Oregon)

We used to live in a world of go out and get. Now it is a world of order and wait for delivery.

The times they are a changing. (Bob Dylan said that)

jtk

[greg Forster]

I repair alot of equipment “in-house”;
everything from a couple of early 1980s Troybilt Horse tillers to1960sBriggs&Stratton engines to 1990s Milwaukee sanders

eReplacementParts is my go-to parts
source; they have even called me on the phone to clarify Model/serial #s

Highly recommended...

[roger wiegand]

The speed controller on my older Bosch 6" ROS went bad, so the sander wouldn't run. I never needed, wanted, or used said speed controller in the first place. Sent it back to Bosch factory service. Was told that the part was not available. To add insult to injury, they returned it in pieces with parts missing and vandalized it by cutting the power cord off where it enters the tool.

I never did figure out whether wiring around the speed control was an option, bought a Mirka sander instead I was so peeved with Bosch.

Sometimes you can't get service even when you're willing to pay the $75/hr.

[Charlie Hinton]

If all the tools need is a new cord that's something you can easily accomplish.
Just go to the big box store of your preference and buy a 25' heavy duty extension cord and an additional plug.
Chop the extension cord to the length you desire on the plug end and install that on your tool.
Chop off the receptacle on the other end of the cord and install the plug.
Install that cord on your other tool.
it will cost under $40 all in.

The 14 gauge cord is more than enough and cheaper, but if you said you wanted heavy duty.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-25...5H31/302877744

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Legrand-...CC15/202664499

[Jim Becker]

Aside from the dynamic of "disposable" products these days, the lack of training or lack of emphasis on trade training isn't going to help these kinds of businesses to continue into the future as the older, experienced folks retire, at least from an independent small business perspective. I'm sure that there will still be manufacturer authorized repair centers, but I doubt they will be doing much for the less expensive products that seem to prevail in the marketplace given parts and labor (in particular) will quickly exceed replacement cost for many products.

Fortunately, the older, quality tools that many of us own are relatively easy to work on, so replacing things like cords is a doable job at home.

[michael langman]

Perry, If you have a good hardware store in the area,they may fix the drill for you. Some hardware stores have technicians that work on various other things and would probably do it.

[Dave Lehnert]

Aside from the dynamic of "disposable" products these days, the lack of training or lack of emphasis on trade training isn't going to help these kinds of businesses to continue into the future as the older, experienced folks retire, at least from an independent small business perspective. I'm sure that there will still be manufacturer authorized repair centers, but I doubt they will be doing much for the less expensive products that seem to prevail in the marketplace given parts and labor (in particular) will quickly exceed replacement cost for many products.

Fortunately, the older, quality tools that many of us own are relatively easy to work on, so replacing things like cords is a doable job at home.

This past spring I purchased a new garden tiller. When I received it, the handle had been damaged in shipping. Nothing major but I was concerned with the pounding a tiller takes and the handle would break in two. I contacted the manufacture and sent photos with the damage. Requested they send me a new handle. I would replace it myself and done.
After a week I was kinda upset because they did not respond back. A few days later to my surprise a brand new tiller (Not just a handle) was sitting at my house delivered by UPS. Never a word from the company.
My guess it is cheaper for them to send a new unit vs fooling with a return or service center charging for repair