Murphy's Law of the Broken Driver

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Rob Markoff

Rob Markoff

PFG, Picture Framing God
Joined
Mar 8, 1999
Posts
5,183
Loc
San Diego, CA USA
The driver broke on our V-nailer today and when I went to the place where I usually keep back up drivers, I found another broken driver. One of my employees changed a driver and never ordered a back up - so without the replacement, we are down.

Fortunately I found a supplier who will have it to us tomorrow, but if it had been on a Friday and we needed to work over the weekend we would have been SOL.

So, the moral of the story - a driver will always break when you don't have a replacement.

Do you have a back up on hand?
 
Rob Markoff said:
So, the moral of the story - a driver will always break when you don't have a replacement.

Do you have a back up on hand?
Click to expand...

Yes! Jeff has a couple of back up drivers.

But we also have a very good pin gun, the new AMS one that leaves only a pin sized hole. We use it on selected mouldings and when the Casesse went down for another reason we used it on everything else until an employee came up with a fix. (The band that holds the cartridges broke so we used rubber bands for the weekend--really!)

We have also had the CMC go down on a weekend and everyone had to go back to cutting mats by hand.

It pays to have back up parts.

I now wonder about exactly how we would make sales if the computers went down, but having the POS on three sales computers, it is unlikely unless the power goes out and then we can't see to design anyway.
 
Rob, I kinda figured that not only would you have several backup parts for those that wear or break, but you would probably have a back up V-nailer.

I really couldn't tell you if I have a spare driver, but now that you mention it I'll check when I get to work. We do have backup technology, and other options for joining including a Hoffman, and the old Stanley vices. Theoretically we could frame by candle light. It would probably be a short lived effort with the temperatures and humidity both pushing 90.
 
Hey Rob, I've heard that in a pinch, you can bang those v-nails in using a roll of coins. :)
 
This is a good heads-up. How much does a replacement driver cost? I'm not sure I'd know how to put one in, but I suppose there's always tech support.

How often should I expect the driver to break. I've had my VN42 for 3 years now. It's not used all day or every day, but I've never had the driver break - yet.
 
we have a backup v-nailer in the back bldg ..also a backup air compressor...and parts for everything else, including the heat press...and my wife says she has a backup for me..wonder what that means?
 
I do have a back up V nailer, and pinning guns and stanley vices, and a few candles :) and my back up v nailer has back up drivers, but they won't fit the other machine which is our workhorse- and it too was down as we had not installed a back up spring. Another good task for slow times- maintain your equipment - clean, lube, adjust.

Oh yes, that is the other part that fails on a Cassesse- the spring that puts tension on the v-nail cartridge. Fortunately we did have a back up of that part, and it is interchangeable between models.

My next coin order won't arrive for a few days, but I should probably keep a few rolls on hand for an emergency. Paul, is that something you teach in your school?

The driver that broke had been in the machine for at least two years. We do hundreds of frames per month so it got a lot of use. Drivers are about $15. There was a period about three years ago that seemed like drivers broke on a regular basis - either we had a bad run or we are using softer wood (or a better match of v nail to moulding).

You know it will always break when you don't have a back up (or know how to change it when tech support is not available - but there is always the Grumble!)
 
I have two back up drivers. Had to replace one a few weeks ago. It's not that difficult (I have a cassese). But I like taking everything apart and then putting it back together.

These kind of things usually happen Friday evening. No tech support in the weekend.
 
It should be part of everyone's basic business plan as to how to handle the maintenance and replacement of tools and equipment.

Small tools(considered disposable by AICPA standards) and parts that normally wear out should either be on hand(reserve for immediate replacement) or programed to be replaceable in 24-48 hours to avoid closing any business.

Keeping up with sources for OEM or generic parts and someone to install complicated parts is imperative before something brakes.

This principal applies to any business, not just picture framing.
 
Kirstie, if you have a laptop computer, you should probably have your POS on that, just in case. Then all you have to worry about is your nightly backup onto a thumb drive. It will help you through power outages, and also allow you to take orders when you are calling on customers at their home or office.

Is the driver the long v-shaped metal thingie?
 
Yes my drivers are long v shaped thingies :)
 
OK, I do have a spare. Not sure I can figure out how to get the old one out and put that one in. Fortunately, the Cassesse instruction manual is en francais.
 
I can't believe this Murphey guy is showing his face in this thread....it's his law and his fault after all......:p

I have a second Pistorius underpinner relaxing in the shade just in case something happens. And something will happen as Rob mentioned, when you least expect it!
 
Where can I get backup drivers and other parts for a VN42? Didn't see anything in the United Catalog. Direct from ITW or elsewhere?
 
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