Oct
🎃 Switching from Pumpkins to Pumps
It’s that spooky time of year, and while most people are thinking about pumpkins and fancy dress, our workshop team has been facing a few real-life horrors… not ghosts and ghouls, but terrifying machines! 😱
From bald tyres to DIY wiring, we’ve seen it all, and trust us, some of these frightful finds could make even the bravest tradesperson shudder! Here’s a look at some of the Halloween horrors that creep into our workshop (and how to make sure they don’t happen to you).
🧟♂️ The Safety Scare – When Machines Won’t Stop!
One of the biggest safety horrors we come across is when a machine keeps running even with the safety grill lifted. That’s a serious risk to anyone nearby! The grill is there to protect you, if it’s not cutting the power when lifted, it’s time to get that machine checked immediately.
We also see broken or worn cardan shafts, which make the machine unsafe to operate. These components work hard, so inspect them regularly and replace them before they become a hazard.
🚧 Tow-Terrifying Tales
You’d be amazed (and horrified) at how many machines arrive with bald tyres, sometimes with the metal threads actually poking through. Not only is this incredibly unsafe to tow, but those sharp threads can also cause nasty hand injuries for you or our workshop team.
Other towing nightmares? Loose tow bars, wobbly chassis, and broken or missing lights. These might sound minor, but out on the road, they can be seriously dangerous to you and other drivers. Always give your machine a once-over before towing, think of it as a safety MOT before you hit the road.
⚡ The Electrifying Horror of DIY Wiring
We know it’s tempting to do a quick fix yourself, but DIY electrical jobs can turn into real shockers! 😬
We’ve seen it all, loose wiring hanging out, bare wires exposed, and home-made repairs that are just waiting to go wrong. Please, leave electrical repairs to qualified professionals. It’s not worth the risk!
🧩 Horrors Under Pressure – Hoses and Couplings
Hose issues are some of the scariest we see. Worn couplings can lead to hoses blowing off mid-spray, sending high-pressure material flying, a dangerous and messy situation!
Equally, hoses themselves can become damaged or weakened, which again risks bursting under pressure. Make it a habit to check your hoses before every job.
And let’s not forget the dreaded blocked hose. When pressure builds up behind a blockage, it can cause a serious hazard. The fix? Get the machine into reverse to relieve the pressure, then safely switch off and clean the hoses thoroughly.
💀 The Cleaning Catastrophe
One of the most gruesome sights in the workshop? Machines caked in dried material! 😬
We’ve had paint spray machines come in with thick layers of paint build-up that look more like horror movie props than professional tools.
Failing to clean your machine properly doesn’t just look bad, it stops it working efficiently. Material left inside causes mechanisms to seize up, disrupts smooth pumping, and ruins the finish of your paint, render, or plaster. So, before you call it a day, always clean your machine and hoses thoroughly, future you (and your finish) will thank you!
🕷️ Don’t Let the Workshop See Your Machine in a Fright!
At CES Hire, we love giving machines the TLC they deserve but we’d rather not face another fright this Halloween! 👻
So before your machine turns into a Monster of Maintenance, give it a proper check-over, stay on top of cleaning, and book in any repairs or servicing early. A little care goes a long way in keeping your spray machine safe, efficient, and horror-free!
Happy Halloween from the CES Hire Team! 🎃
