Beginners Guide To Power Tools

Crafts, construction work and everyday repairs are all made simpler with help from power tools - just as long as you know which one you need and how it works. To assist with every project you have planned, here’s your beginners guide to power tools.

Safety First

As with any piece of equipment, your safety is paramount when using power tools. Make sure you always follow the guidelines that accompany any power tool you use, as they all have different guidelines to follow according to their make and model. Here are just a few safety tips to remember:

• Always keep tools (especially their cords) away from heat, sharp edges and oil
• Keep anyone who is not involved in what you’re working on away and at a safe distance from the area
• Never carry the tool by the hose or cord
• Ensure you remove any tools from their sockets safely, and never pull them out by the cord
• Always disconnect the tools when you aren’t using them, before cleaning them, and before changing their blade/accessory
• Make sure you carefully maintain the condition on your tools, as this not only improves their performance but reduces the risk of injury
• Wherever possible, secure your work with a vice or clamps, so that you have both hands free to operate the tool

The Benefits of Using Power Tools

The reason power tools have remained popular for so long is due to the multiple benefits of using them, one of these being their impressive efficiency. Many projects and tasks that would otherwise take long periods of time to complete can be completed in an instant thanks to power tools. This can greatly increase the quality of your work.

Another benefit of using power tools is how effective they are at getting the job done – screws and nails for instance can be incorporated into tougher materials due to the tool’s strength and accuracy. There are certain tasks that simply can’t be completed with hand tools alone, meaning you can expand your projects and maintenance work with just a small collection of power tools.

Corded or Cordless?

It’s worth knowing the different benefits of corded power tools and cordless power tools so that you know which one is needed for your project.

The main benefit of using corded tools is their continued power supply. Due to the tool being attached to a constant supply of power, they have a great force of reliable movement behind them.

Cordless power tools, however, have the advantage of providing both portability and storage. You can manoeuvre them around your working area with ease, without the worry of tripping over or getting tangled up in wires. Many construction workers feel as though cordless power tools also provide them with more accuracy, as they have greater control over the tool.

Popular Power Tools

Jigsaw

A jigsaw is a power tool that can be used to cut a number of different materials. Jigsaws are commonly used for wood, but can also be used for metal and plastic, too.

Jigsaws are ideal for cutting curves and shapes into materials. The blade of the jigsaw is narrow and flexible with sharp teeth. It has different blades available depending on what you want to cut and how thick the material is. 

Angle Grinder

Not just for grinding materials, the angle grinder can also be used to cut materials such as plastic, metal, concrete and stone. For cutting solid and sturdy items into lengths such as tiles or roof sheeting, the angle grinder is an ideal power tool to have.

Corded Power Drill

Corded power drills are available in a variety of different lengths of drill and can be used to drill holes into multiple different materials including wood, brick, metal, plastic, concrete, stone and tiles. Corded power drills can vary in the amount of power they hold, from approximately 500-watts to 800-watts drills.

Cordless Power Drill

Ideal for using on roofs and up ladders where a cord would otherwise get in the way, cordless power drills can be used for both drilling holes and functioning as an electric screwdriver. The tool can drill holes into various materials including wood, plastic and metal, and can come with multiple battery voltages. As a general guide, the wider the diameter of the hole you need, the higher voltage you should use.

Circular Saw

Popular due to their impressive strength, circular saws are high-powered saws ideal for cutting through thicker pieces of timber. With large teeth, the rigid blade is capable of cutting quickly and accurately, resulting in a squarer cut compared to the jigsaw, due to the structure of the circular saw’s blade.

Mitre Saw

Mitre saws are used to cut lengths of wood (timber) up to 9 x 12 inches. Similar to circular saws but with a larger blade, mitre saws are ideal for accurate cutting as they can cut a perfect 90° square, though can be adjusted to create different sized angels if required.

Nail Gun

As the name suggests, nail guns sink nails into various surfaces and materials with ease, commonly used on wood. The nail gun is a handy power tool to have, as it’s particularly useful for many DIY projects such as trimming furniture, fixing fencing and general home repairs.

Sander

After all your hard work, you may want to finish your project by smoothing it off. Sanders are used to smooth down surfaces and edges but can also be handy in removing paint too. Orbital sanders and belt sanders are the two most popular variations of this tool; the belt sander has a looped belt of sandpaper powered by a motor, and the orbital sander consisting of sheets of the sandpaper propelled in a circular motion when applied to a surface.