Power tools are tools that are activated by an extra source of power and process instead of the standard handling of the tools with manual power. There are different forms of power tools and these are powered through various processes.
However, the most widespread power tools are commonly powered by an electric motor. Other power tools make use of the power from Internal combustion engines, steam engines, compressed air, express combustion of fuels and propellants. There are also a few power tools powered by wind or hydro-power.
Uses of Power tools
Power tools are very useful for professions working in industries, by construction companies, in gardening and for performing household tasks like cooking, cleaning, fastening bolts and nuts, drilling holes, cutting pieces of woods, glass or metal. They can as well be found in shaping tools, sanding tools, and grinding tools. There are also power tools used for heating, applying polish finishing to pieces of work materials and for painting purposes.
Types of power tools
There are two common types of power tools. These include stationary and portable power tools.
The portable power tools are commonly hand-held and easy to move from one place to the other.
Stationary power tools, on the other hand, are fixed and cannot be held by hands. They are not as portable as the hand-held type. However, they are faster and more accurate. A table saw, for example, aside from helping you to hasten your work speed, provides a more even and straighter cut compared to hand-powered saw.
Besides, a few objects can only be produced with the use of stationary power tools.
Below are a few power tools that you might want to consider for your different projects:
1. Electric jackhammer
An electric jackhammer is a Jackhammer that is electrically powered and which comes with a combination of hammering and chiseling function. Hand-held portable jackhammers commonly make use of power from compressed air. However, some of them make use of power from electric motors. The operational process of a jackhammer starts from moving the interior hammer in erratic directions.
To start, drive the hammer down to smack the back and after that, boost up the power and move the hammer back to the start position. Follow the same procedure to complete another cycle.
How efficient the jackhammer performs depends on the amount of force you apply to the tool. You’d normally use it to break hard surfaces or rocks in construction works similar to the standard hammer.
2. Air impact wrench
Impact wrenches or air wrenches are just high powered socket wrenches. They come with an extra amount of torque power and the user only expends a little amount of energy. The energy that powers these wrenches are housed in a rotary mass. It is generated and applied to the work output depending on the requirement of the user.
The power of these wrenches commonly come from compressed air. Some of them are as well powered by either electrical or hydraulic process. Currently, the cordless, portable and hand-held impact wrench powered by electric is very popular.
They are great for working on bolts that are difficult to turn.
3. Air compressor
An air compressor is a machine that is great for converting power with the use of either electric motor, diesel or gasoline engine to potential energy. The potential energy is commonly stored under pressure. The compressor discharges pressurized air into a storage container until the maximum pressure limit is attained. As soon as that point is reached the air compressor automatically turns off. It turns on again during usage when the lower limit is attained.
Air compressors can be used in the cleaning industry, in spraying paints, in auto repairs, pumping tires and filling up gas cylinders and many more.
4. Chainsaw sharpener
Chainsaw sharpener is a powerful tool used for sharpening chainsaws. You might want to get one of this tool if you engage in wood works or in lumbering activities. A good chainsaw sharpener will help you to improve your work speed and eliminate issues of dull blades.
They also make your chain last longer and help you to save money on replacements. You don’t need to waste money discarding your chainsaw blade to get a replacement. The chainsaw sharpener helps you to prevent such wastage and ensure you constantly have your tool ready to work more efficiently, consistently and speedily.
5. Electric Chainsaw
The electric powered chainsaw is used by woodwork professionals and lumbers for cutting down trees and pieces of wood.
These are commonly saws that come with rotational teeth connected to a chain which commonly revolve on a guide slab. An electric chainsaw is commonly electrically powered as opposed to the regular mechanically manual powered type. They’re moveable and can commonly be taken to work sites. However, to work well, they need to be sharp.
There are special types of chainsaws that can conveniently cut through concrete walls, brick walls or natural stones.
6. Random orbital sander
A random orbital sander is a specialized tool which has a vibrating sanding surface housed in a very restricted “pathway” structure. It is commonly powered by a high-speed electric motor. The sanding disk commonly rotates and equally revolves through small ellipses. Some of the benefits of making use of this tool are to get to hard-to-reach corners and tight edges. They as well produce less visible marks compared to a manual sander or a belt sander.
They are highly beneficial for working on surfaces that need minimal sanding, for getting a surface ready for painting or sealing, situations where you need to re-apply finishing to woods. You can also use it to reach tight spaces or on baseboards. Besides, they work well for reducing paint layering.
7. Angle grinders
Angle grinders are portable power tools for grinding and cutting through different types of surfaces including steel, tile, and mortar. They also work for polishing different types of objects and materials. Angle grinders are either powered by condensed air, a petrol engine or by an electric motor.
The geared heads of these grinders are commonly mounted at 90 degrees or right-angle on a reusable disc. They commonly have side grip which makes it easy to adjust and make working in the tight space possible. Some models come with cords while others are cordless.
You can use this tool for eliminating surplus materials from surfaces which can include metal or stone surfaces. They also work for making rough edges smoother in meson works.
8. Bandsaw
A bandsaw is made up of a steel band with an elongated, razor-sharp and spiky blade running over wheels commonly utilized for woodworks, metalworks and for lumbering works. The toothed blade comes with continuous cutting action and results in smoother cuts and more control for the user.
Bandsaws can be in a stationary model utilized in workshops or portable and handheld type.
They work for resawing or cutting wood into two and for bent lamination works. They are also good for reshaping the edges and surfaces of boards.
9. Belt Sander
The belt sander is one of the biggest types of sanders. They are essential when you need to sand a lot of materials fast which means less amount of time. They are commonly powered by electric motors which work by rotating twin cylinders containing a continuous ring of sandpaper.
These sanding tools are commonly used for starting off the sanding process. They aren’t great for finishing because they are somewhat forceful and cannot easily be regulated.
Some models are stationary while others are portable and handheld. Belt sanders are more practical for sanding very rough surfaces, in shaping and rounding surfaces and also for trimming surfaces.
10. Paint Sprayer
Painting with brushes is more tedious and time-consuming. Besides, it can be hard to get evenly smoothen surfaces. They are more suited for painting smaller surfaces. If you need to work on larger surfaces, you may want to get the paint sprayer. It is more convenient, yields better results and eliminates guesswork.
There are different types of paint sprayers. These come with different types of nozzles and sources of power. Some are pneumatic but you can as well get tiny airbrushes that work for precision. This helps you to get it right at tight spaces and corners. The best paint sprayer needs to either have an easy-to-fill tank or a sizable reservoir.
Apart from painting, they can as well be used for the application of lacquers or for staining surfaces. They produce an even coat.
11. Trimmer
The trimmer is a very useful power tool for gardening which helps you to easily trim flowers, shrubs, and trees. They also work well when you need to cut off minor tree branches. The high-powered model fueled by gas has the capacity to easily cut through tough and high-density trees. Basically, you need these tools for cutting through tree materials that cannot easily be managed by your lawnmower.
12. Miter saw
Miter saws are practical power tools for cutting and mounting baseboards indoor framing. They can also be used for mounting crown molding. These saws make your work easier and at the same time save you a lot of time. The standard models are made up of ten-inch saws. However, you can as well get models with 14-inch saws. These are commonly more powerful and more efficient.
The milter sawing process helps you to easily cut through an angle. There are three types of miter saws. These include:
• Compound miter saw
• Double compound miter saw
• Sliding compound miter saw
The blade of a compound miter saw turns in a single left and right direction. The double compound model commonly slopes in double directions to make it more flexible. The sliding miter models come in a circular arm that makes it easy for the user to move the saw to and fro for a lengthier cut.
13. Router
A router is a power tool used by woodworkers for hollowing out hardwood surfaces. They are great for boring through hardwood surfaces like walnut and snakewood.
The primary application is in cabinet works. But they equally work for plunging and routing long hollows, a cove or curved groove on a frame. They are as well used for creating a ninety-degree groove on a workpiece or for creating an angled-cut crosswise a wood corner. They can be used to route-mold and create gorgeous finishing. Also, Check out our router table reviews.
14. Biscuit Joiner
Biscuit joiners are tools utilized in wood works for “joining” two plates of woods together. They utilize small-sized rotatory saw blade which helps them to cut a tiny crescent-shaped hole in the other sides of the double pieces of wood you want to join. The tool is compressed, after glue application and placed on the required position. In the end, the two boards join together to create a perfect bond.
15. Table saw
Table saws are types of saws used in woodwork for efficient and precise cutting of wood. They equally work for cutting other types of materials. Tablesaw hastens up your work and is especially important if you constantly work on woods like in the furniture industry.
It is also useful in timber mills or sawmills. The primary use of the table saw is to produce a cross-cut, and a rip-cut. They are great for cutting large pieces of wood.
Conclusion
Power tools help you to the same conventional task, faster, and more efficiently. They save you time, money and energy. Although you can normally perform such tasks with standard tools, if you are looking to improve your efficiency, you may want to consider power tools.
