Types Of Power Tools And Their Purpose

Summary:

Power tools use electricity, compressed air, or combustion to perform tasks effectively, making them essential equipment for construction, manufacturing, and DIY projects. Following are the types of power tools and their applications-

1. Joiners – Perfect for woodworking, cutting, and slotting wood.
2. Drills – Versatile tools for creating holes, driving screws, and sanding.
3. Saws – Powerful cutting tools, including table, band, and radial arm saws.
4. Electric Screwdrivers – Compact and rechargeable for quick assembly and repairs.
5. Hammers – Used for driving, demolition, and heavy-duty construction tasks.
6. Grinders & Vibrators – Employed for cutting, smoothing surfaces, and removing coatings.
7. Sanders & Polishers – Ideal for smoothing surfaces and finishing materials.
8. Nibblers – Designed for cutting sheet metal with minimal distortion.
9. Cutters – Utilized for precise cutting in industrial and household tasks.
10. Impact Wrenches – Crucial for construction and automotive repairs.
11. Lawn Mowers – Suitable for maintaining gardens and lawns.
12. Blowers – Used for aeration, cooling, and dust removal.
13. Heat Guns – Great for removing paint and softening adhesives.
14. Power Mixers – Suitable for mixing paints, resins, and adhesives.
15. Nail Guns – Effective for driving nails in woodworking and construction.
16. Multi-tools – Compact, versatile tools for cutting, sanding, and more.

Power tools are equally valuable to professionals and DIYers,  as they save time and effort.

What are Power Tools?

Power tools are equipment that employ compressed air, combustion, or electricity. They enable users to do a wide range of tasks that would be difficult to complete with standard tools. They are effective when manual labor with hand tools may not yield the optimum results. Power tools run on electricity, combustion, or compressed air, allowing them to run smoothly.

Due to their numerous features and efficacy, power tools are essential in home-based applications and businesses such as building and manufacturing. 

Types Of Power Tools

Power tools are widely used in workshops, factories, and even homes for DIY projects. Power tools can be categorized depending on their usage due to their widespread use in industrial and home-based applications. Here are some power tools and how they are used.

Classification of Power Tools (Based On Usage)

1. Joiners

They are ideal for woodworking. They come with a saw blade that is useful for cutting wood. There is also a slot for cutting wooden objects. Both slots are held together by a piece of wood covered in glue inserted within the slot.

2. Drills

Motors power these tools. One significant advantage of handheld drills is that they are compatible with adapters. This makes them useful for driving screws, torquing bolts, and sanding. The largest diameter a drill can achieve in a given material is called drilling capacity. It can be utilized to replace the continuous torque that a tool can produce. Typically, the capacity of a drill is specified for various materials.

3. Saws

Saws are among the most often used cutting equipment. They have fast-moving blades that give a significant level of cutting force. Table band and radial arm saws are commonly used for industrial and DIY projects. Cordless saws are ideally suited for cutting large lumber and sheet materials, which can be challenging to cut with other saws. 

4. Electric Screwdrivers

If you're looking for a multi-purpose power tool. The electric screwdriver is a good choice. It is adept at screwing shelf brackets to the wall and quickly assembling flat-pack furniture. Electric screwdrivers are lightweight and easy to use. They are small but powerful, with batteries that can be charged for an extended period. They can, therefore, be applied to a wide range of situations.

Screwdrivers, like other power tools, come in various shapes and sizes. Slotted, Phillips, Torx, hex, and square screwdrivers are among the most commonly used. It is critical to match the screwdriver type you want to use with your specific operation.

5. Hammers

Hammers are best suited for drilling holes in heavy-duty materials. These hammers are also helpful for demolition. Demolition hammers, on the other hand, are more solid and robust, making them ideal for use in construction projects. They are commonly used for do-it-yourself projects and demolition during construction. Combination hammers work best in garages, gardens, and showers.

6. Grinders and Vibrators

A grinding machine, or a grinder, is generally used as a cutting tool in conjunction with a machining wheel. Straight grinders are ideally suited for use where access is a significant issue. Concrete grinders from Bosch are good at removing irregularities from horizontal and vertical concrete surfaces. They can also assist you in eliminating graffiti and outdated coatings. Bench grinders are excellent power equipment for driving abrasive wheels. 

7. Sanders and Polishers

Sanders is ideal for smooth surfaces. Sheet sanders are suitable for sanding. If you intend to sand for an extended period, choose ones with a soft grip body. If you use sanders for sheet metal manufacture, use horizontal sanders instead. Polishers with a lightweight and ergonomic form are ideal for use on many different surfaces, from metal to dry stone. Belt sanders are suitable for smoothing big, flat, and rough surfaces due to their superior strength and speed. 

8. Nibblers

Nibblers are cutting tools used for cutting sheet metal with minimal distortion. Some nibblers work similarly to punches and die, having a blade that cuts a fixed die. It removes microscopic metal bits and leaves a kerf around 6 mm broad.

9. Cutters

Cordless multi-cutters are the most excellent alternative for users looking for power tools with long battery life. Multi-cutters that provide excellent cuts without sparks are ideal for residential and industrial applications. Angle grinders are suitable for eliminating excess material from an item. They include a variety of discs, including diamond blades, sanding discs, grinding stones, abrasive grinding discs, and polishing pads. They have massive bearings to accommodate the side forces induced during drilling.

10. Impact Wrenches

Impact wrenches are multi-purpose tools commonly used in construction and vehicle repair. Makita impact wrenches are well known for their lightweight and slender shape, making them easy to use. These wrenches include three LED lights that give users clear visibility without casting shadows.

11. Lawn Mowers

Electric lawnmowers are the best choice for any gardening enthusiast.  Their handlebar folds flat for easy storage. Also, manual lawnmowers are lightweight and have a rotary cylinder. They have a grass gatherer and a cutting cylinder with six blades, ensuring a pleasurable gardening experience. Electric lawns have a lightweight carry handle and a light design, making them portable.

12. Blowers

Air blowers are used for combustion, aeration, particle transport, exhaust, cooling, and drying in various industries, including pollution control, cement production, petrochemical, and mining. 

13. Heat guns

Heat guns are often used in workshops and factories for paint drying and stripping. They are also helpful for softening adhesives.

14. Power Mixers

Power mixers are essential for quickly churning resins, paints, and adhesives at high speeds.

15. Nail guns

Nail guns are power tools mainly used to speed up construction and woodworking projects by driving nails into materials with force and precision. Nail guns are of different types. Each is made for a particular use and with a specified power use. The following are the types of nail guns:

• Pneumatic Guns

• Cordless nail guns

• Gas-powered nail guns

16. Multi-tools

Multi-tools are highly versatile and compact tools comprising oscillating blades combined into one single, portable unit. They can perform various functions like scraping, cutting, sanding, etc. It includes pliers, wire cutters, knives, screwdrivers, etc.