The workhorse of the Australian plastic welding industry is the Leister ST, and specifically, the Triac. These tools are designed to be durable, whether they are used on roofing projects in the wet tropics in Queensland, or on the flooring projects in Melbourne. The heating element is however a precision component; when not taken care of, it can turn into an expensive consumable as opposed to a long term asset.
Five tips to keep your equipment in good condition To maintain your heating elements so that they last longer, here are five tips to remember when maintaining your equipment.
1. Essential Cool-Down Cycle
Premature element failure in a Leister ST is most likely the result of a heat shock. Never just turn off the power when you have completed a job. Instead, adjust the potentiometer to zero and leave the blower to operate at least 3 to 5 minutes. This enables the ceramic and the filament to cool slowly so that the inner parts are not brittle or cracking as a result of the trapped heat.
2. Cleaning of Air Filters on a regular basis
The bane of any heat gun is an obstructed airflow. The twin air filters on your Leister ST may get clogged up in a short time in the dusty conditions at the construction sites in Australia.
3. Have the Right Power Supply
Any voltage change can cause havoc to the delicate filaments. When operating in-site, make sure that you are working on a stable power supply. When working with extension leads, make sure they are heavy and not overly long since the voltage drop across the extension leads may lead the Leister ST to consume more current thereby putting undue strain on the heating element.
4. Use with care (Do not walk on)
The ceramic core is the most vulnerable when the heating element is hot. The tool may break the ceramic or break the filament by dropping the tool or knocking it on a hard surface when the tool is operating at a hot temperature. Use your tool as a fine-tuning tool, but not a hammer.
5. Storage and Environment
Once the cool-down process is finished, put back your tool in its original case. This keeps the element dry and clean. To keep up with the industry trends and technical support, consult the Plastral latest news to stay in touch with equipment trends.
Summary
These five steps can help your business save a lot on downtime and replacement costs. The Leister ST is a high quality investment; it will give years of maximum performance in the harsh Australian climate with regular filter change and adequate cooling practices.