Everything You Need To Know About Car Power Tool
What Is Power Tool?
Curious to know about
the power tools? Power tools are gadgets or machines
which are designed in a way that they rely on additional sources of energy for
their power other than the human body. The different sources of this energy are
electric motors, internal combustion engines, compressed air (better known as
pneumatic) or gasoline, though gasoline is extremely rare and mostly only found
in lawn and garden mechanics).
Types Of Power Tool
Listed here are a few types of power
tools easily available:
- Air Compressor - The air compressor is
used to convert power into energy that is stored as pressurized air. The device
is employed to store the compressed air as energy in tank until it reaches its
capacity. According to the model, the capacity and the pressure vary, and are
available in both stationary or portable options.
- Angle Grinder - Angle grinders are
known as side grinders or disc grinders. You can use it with your hands to
grind, cut (even steel, tile and mortar) and polish a number of objects and
materials. They are powered by compressed air, an electric motor or petrol
engine. It has a geared head at the right-angle that is positioned on a disc
with s side handle and an adjustable guard, that helps in getting into the
tiniest places. They have both cordless and corded options.
- Bandsaw - A bandsaw operates with
a consistency of a steel band with a long, sharp and jagged edged (toothed)
blade. The blade runs over wheels are is mostly used in woodworking,
metalworking and lumbering. It is advantageous for an even distribution of
cutting and overall control of the user as they hold the piece of wood and can
move it against the stationary, long blade as well. You can buy it as
stationary tools, however, there are some portable band saws available too. The
band saws are used to dealing with wood, such as for resawing (splitting wood
in half like a sub sandwich), resetting the edges and faces of boards,
producing veneer, bent lamination, processing of small logs, or cutting
anything that’s wooden.
- Belt Sander - Belt sanders are larger
than most sanders available. They are powered by an electric motor that turns a
pair of cylinders with a loop of sandpaper continuously. They're pretty rash
when it comes to usage and are only helpful for beginning with the procedure.
They come in both stationary and portable options. The usage of these belts’
sanders varies starting from shaping and finishing the wood to trimming a
scribed line. They easily sand super rough surfaces, level surfaces, shaping
and rounding.
- Biscuit Joiner - Also, known as plate
joiners, they are used in woodworking in order to join two pieces of wood
together (plates). They make use of a circular saw blade that is smaller in
size, this helps in cutting small holes (crescent-shaped) in the opposite sides
of the two pieces of wood that are being joined. It can be used for joining two
pieces of wood together (can be used with plywood, medium density fiberboard
and particle board or solid wood). In addition to this, you can also use to change
mortise and tenon joints.
- Chainsaw - Chainsaws are
mechanical saws that have rotating teeth attached to a chain and it rotates on
a guide bar. You’ll notice that the saw blades are built into a chain, wrapped
around the long guide bar (mostly metal), and an engine that powers it all.
They require regular maintenance and are portable too. They are helpful in
cutting through large and thicker materials and the specially designed ones
easily cut through concrete, brick and natural stones as well.
- Chop Saw - A chop saw is also
known as a cut off saw. They have a blade that is always perpendicular to the
bench top table and sticks to strictly 90-degree cuts. While the miter saws
offer a swivel to cut in through different angles as opposed to just 90 degrees.
These chop saws are a stationary saw that cuts in a downward motion. You can
use it for building or at production sites and shops. They are highly
recommended for home creations.
- Circular Saw - These are the most
common types of power tools and consists of an abrasive\toothed blade or disc
to cut usually in a round (rotary) motion. Generally, they have a frame that
surrounds the top and sides of the saw itself for protection, leaving the
bottom that helps in cutting. They are ideal for straight cuts along the
board’s length and they can also be set to make bevel cuts with models that
have both depth adjustments and bevel adjustments. You can avail both the
corded or cordless options. They can be used to cut wood, plastic, metal or
masonry. You’ll find them in either stationary mounted machines or hand-held
and portable forms. It can be used for straight rips and cuts with a good speed
and precision.
- Disc Sander - A disc sander has a
replaceable sandpaper that is circular shaped and is attached to a wheel
powered by an electric motor (or in rare cases, compressed air). Place the wood
(various soft materials, metals and plastics can be used too.) on the bench and
adjust it in any angle as per your needs. As they are stationary machines, your
sander spins in place while you control the intended piece of material and
control the sanding using your hands. This is good for usage on rounding edges,
straightening surfaces and more. Various hand-held, portable disc sanders work
in the opposite way, as they will allow you to control the entire machine over
the material. Although rare, they are extremely efficient when it comes to
smoothing surfaces by abrasion or eliminating waste materials.
- Drills - Drills come with a
cutting or driving tool attachment (a drill or driver bit), that functions with
an electric motor and spins the attachment at a rapid pace for efficient drills
and drives. The attachment is fastened using a chuck and pressed against the
target, using a trigger. You can either use them with or without the cord. They
can be used for shelving, wood and metal working, construction and a number of
household tasks.
- Hammer Drill -. Also known as
roto-drills, rotary hammers, or hammering drills, this tool is used for
workflow a rapid hammering thrust to destroy materials that are fragile. They
are the best for fast and efficient drilling. They are widely used through hands for tasks that need more power,
efficiency and speed.
- Heat Gun - Heat guns are used with
hands and are powered by electrical devices that release hot air (around 100
degrees Celsius to 550 degrees Celsius) for specific targets. Heat is created
using an electronic element that is built into the gun itself (a few have gas
flames, that is rare though) combined with a mechanism to move the air (fan),
and a nozzle to direct this stream of hot air according to the requirement.
They can be used for stripping paint, shrink materials such as tubing and film,
dry wood, bend plastic, thaw pipes that are frozen, bending plastic and a
number of household tasks too.
- Impact Driver - The impact drivers give
a strong and sudden force that is both downward and rotational and are made of
an outer sleeve that is heavy and is surrounded with splined inner core that is
curved. This helps in creating downward force. You can use it for loosening
screws and nuts. They give in and out motions and are used only in specific
applications along with a simultaneous spin.
- Impact Wrench - Also known as the air
wrenches, air guns, torque guns, impactors, they act like a powered socket
wrench. The impact wrenches give a very high amount of torque with low exertion
as the energy is stored in a rotating mass and then delivered as per needs.
They are generally powered by compressed air, but there are a number of
electric and hydraulic models too. You have cordless and hand-held electric
models available. You can use it for small tasks like tightening the lug nut,
turning the bolts etc.
- Jointer - The jointer helps in
making smooth, flat finishes on surfaces along the edges of wood. It cuts wood
into required thickness with even and parallel surfaces. You can use it if you
have edges of wood that are uneven, wood that needs to be flattened, and other
wood imperfections like twisting. On the contrary, planers are better for
parallel surfaces on either side of the wood (think doors, frames and tables).
- Jigsaw - It is also known as a
bayonet saw or even sabre saw at times. It helps in cutting shapes in a wide range of materials and for cutting
curves to add some shaping and cutting. Note that they are handheld power tools
that work with an electric motor paired up to a reciprocating saw blade and can
be controlled upto 45 degrees. The uses include cutting imperfections on
materials like wood or metal, making bevel cuts. Ones, with even blades can be
used for a number of softer materials too.
- Lathe - The lathe is used for
shaping materials such as wood, metal or other common material found in shops
or at home. It shapes using a rotational drive. The working depends on the
symmetry of the objects on a rotational axis. You can use it for cutting,
drilling, sanding, facing, turning, knurling, and a number of tricky designs
too.
- Miter Saw - This helps in making
cuts at quite a few different angles and are known as compound miter saws.
Miter saws have a blade mounted to a swing arm that is pivoted either right or
left in order to create cuts that are angled. There are a few different types
include, compound miter saws, dual compound miter saws, and sliding compound
miter saws. They have different tilting capabilities. You can use it for crown
molding, door frames, window casings, cutting trim, and picture frames.
- Nail Gun - Nail guns are used to
drive nails into wood or any material. It is driven by compressed air (also
known as pneumatic) or electricity, or flammable gases (rare). You can find a
guide attached to the end for protection and help with lining up the nails. You
can use it for carpentry, roofing, flooring, finishing and they are cheaper
options too.
- Orbital Sander -The orbital sander has a
sanding surface that vibrates in a closed orbital design and are driven by an
electric motor at a high-speed. The sanding disk spins at the same time moving
in small ellipses and are advantageous for getting into corners and against
edges. The uses include light sanding, preparing a surface for sealing,
painting or refinishing wood.
- Oscillating Tool - The oscillating tools
are known as multi-tools. It is a handheld tool with a number of
interchangeable attachments. They rapidly rotate back and forth that helps in
creating friction that can be directed onto objects or materials. It can be
used for sawing, sanding, scraping, cutting, polishing, grinding, and more.
Various brands offer accessory packages with 100+ attachments too.
- Planer - Planers help in
creating parallel pieces of wood for a number of projects and can be used on
board of woods that are already jointed flat into equal end-to-end thickness.
It is apt for users who require accuracy can be used for carpentry, such as
tables, chairs, doors, window frames, or jobs that require parallel pieces of
wood on opposite sides or next to each other.
- Power Screwdriver - A power screwdriver
gives the capability of driving a screw in a quick and efficient manner. They
work slowly and have more torque that gives extra power. The uses vary
according to requirements. They are less versatile because of fewer attachments
but they help in accessing hard places and corners.
- Radial Arm Saw - A radial arm saw is a
device used for cutting and is made up of circular saw mounted on to a
horizontal arm that can slide easily. They help in making some rip cuts, dado,
half lap joints or rabbet and are preferred by workers who need to cut long
pieces of stock to length. You can use them for shaping, sanding accessories or
chucks.
- Reciprocating Saw - They use a
push-and-pull method to cut with a blade and are known as sawzalls, recip saws,
or hognoses. A number of them have variable speeds that gives versatility and
control over what you’re cutting. Mostly they are used for demolitions and
construction works along with repairing and remodelling. You can also add a
number of variants and accessories (clamps, longer blades, etc.) for
customizations.
- Rotary Tool - Rotary tools have a lot
of attachments (just like multi-tools), as a number of brands even offer
packages of up to 100+ accessories at a time. They are handheld power tools
with rotary tips that spin at a high rate. They are small with an easy storage
and can be used for sanding, carving bevels, buffing, polishing, etching,
shining metal surfaces and more.
- Router - A router helps in
hollowing a groove or hole of a hard material (plastic or wood) or can be used
for plunging. It has a spindle and are driven by an electric motor and a hand
plane with a broad base. They are available in different sizes can be used for
trimming, cutting, shaping (even with metal or laminates). Apart from the
standard grooves or holes, finished edges, curved contours, re-created
patterns, recess of door hinges, cutaways, carve out clean rabbets can also be
performed.
- Scroll Saw - The scroll saw offers a
large range for cutting capabilities, and is preferred for fine and intricate
cuts, such as hobbies or crafts. They are pedal-operated tools have a fineness
blade that cuts delicately. You can notice a plate that rests on wood, and a
finely-toothed blade present inside of an arm that is vertical. This allows
positioning as per needs. You can use it for cutting decorative patterns or
spiral lines. Apart from this, it is used to cut dovetail joints or intarsia
projects.
- Shop vacuum - Shop vacuums have the
advantage of power motors with comparatively larger noses, and more space for
storing dirt, chunks and any kind of junk because of the bigger canister.
Different models offer different sizes in canisters and power motors, but the
overall experience of using these vacuums is better than the home cleaners
which we are accustomed to using. The shop vacuums are also more convenient as
they do not have any belts or rotating brushes attached, unlike the home
vacuums, which tangle with random other stuff during cleaning.
- Table Saw - Table saws are great
for extreme cuts, cross cuts, and overall power when it comes to sewing
materials. It has a circular saw located underneath a bench or table with
blades and is driven by electric motors (some with a belt, gears or even
directly). You can adjust it according to your needs and use it vertically or
horizontally, especially for making deeper cuts. The benchtop table saws are
portable, while contractor table saws are larger ones with wheels. You can use
it for a number of tasks like rabbetting, cutting and sawing etc.
- Wall Chaser - Wall chasers help in cutting narrow grooves in walls and are powered by an electric-motor that further powers up a pair of discs that are abrasive and positioned together closely (like those in an angle grinder). You can use it with your hands and it helps in accessing difficult places. You can use them for laying electrical table, installing pipes into property, cutting grooves, cutting channels into masonry walls, and a lot more.
Hand Tools Vs Power Tools
Hand tools require
manual labour while the power tools have a source of power that enables them to
operate automatically. They are powered by batteries, air compressors or
electricity. The motors in power tools allow them to function efficiently as
compared to the hand tools. The designs vary as the hand tools are simply
designed.
Important Features Of Power Tools
Here we have listed a
few important features of power tools:
- Power tools are
incredibly time-saving and with their use even the most time-consuming tasks
can be handled efficiently and in relatively less time, as they help the work
to be done at a high speed.
- Power tools are much
more efficient as compared to hand tools and the other tools and offer many
advantages which are not available with ordinary tools. Power tools can also be
used in tasks which otherwise cannot be done with the help of hand tools.
- The time-saving feature
of power tools helps the workers to give more time to the quality of their work
rather than only wasting that time in labor tasks. This feature has earned
power tools a great deal of popularity with all kinds of workers and their
availability has been made on online stores dealing with tools and other
mechanical equipment.
- Power tools are also the
preferred tools to be used for repair or construction tasks as they do not
disturb any previous work done or cause any disruptions because of their high
efficiency.
Purpose Of Power Tools
Here we have listed about the
functions of the power tools:
Tools have been the greatest
discovery for mankind to date. The early man made his work easier with tools
made up of stones and sticks progressing to metals and the gradual evolution of
tools into the kind which are used by us today, make all the industrial works
many more efficient than it would have been otherwise. Power tools rely on
electrical power for their source of energy and the only human effort required
is the effort of guiding and operating the tools for the required tasks. All
the laborious tasks are then handled by these tools. These implements make
every job many times more efficient. To find out which power tools are most
convenient for the required tasks, read through the following benefits of these
tools as well as the difference between corded and cordless tools. Power tools
cut down all the manual labour that is required when using a hand tool and it
is also faster as all the labour is mechanized.
A lot of time is saved with power
tools which gives them a huge step up to be used as industrial equipment. The
manufacturing period is cut drastically short and the products reach the market
in good time. Power tools achieve tasks which are beyond what hand tools can
do. Along with efficiency, power tools allow great power. One of the examples
of this is that it is nearly impossible to drive a hole in concrete using hand
tools but with power tools the task becomes easier and the task becomes
relatively much easier and the concrete can be drilled through like wood with
the appropriate power tools. The power tools, however, are somewhat complex in
their operation and one requires considerable amount of training and practice
before they learn to operate the tools well.
The two major different types of
power tools are corded and cordless power tools. The corded power tools have
the advantage of continuous work without having to fret about batteries but at
the same time they are not convenient while working at remote locations or
where there are lesser number of power outlets. Cordless power tools have the
benefit of being used anytime and in any location as long as batteries are
provided. The choice depends solely on the type of locations where the work has
to be done. Cordless ones would be a better choice in areas where there is no
electricity and corded ones can be preferred where heavy work has to be done
and power outlets are available.
Frequent Problems With Power Tools
The issues with power tools can be
determined with thorough inspection and keeping in mind the proper procedure
for inspection. Here are five signs to look out for and the proper way to
examine your tools for repair:
It should always be kept in mind that
none of these tools should be inspected while connected to their power source,
as it could be dangerous.
- Trouble with starting up - If there is any kind of trouble in
starting up the tool, it may be due to some other electrical problems, for
example, a short or even part malfunction. The first step is to inspect the
power switch and the assembly to ensure that no water or heat damage has been
caused or led to issues in the starting up of the tool. It is suggested to use
a multimeter to test whether power is moving through the cord, switch and other
parts of the tool, by assessing the voltage on your tool. The next place that
should be inspected are the brush channels. Dirt and accumulation of other such
contaminants However, with some careful examination, you can diagnose the cause
of the issue and determine the next course of action. Check out these five red
flags and how to properly inspect your tools for repair. Remember, always make
sure your power tool is disconnected from the power source before your try to
diagnose any potential problems.
- Weak Power - Your tool may start but with low
power levels that you’d feel better without a manual screwdriver, or handsaw,
or bicycle pump. This happens usually because they are old and damaged carbon
brushes that need a replacement. The
carbon brushes serve the task of transferring the electrical current from the
power source to the tool’s motor. So, if you notice your tool not being able to
work, then in that case, take this an indication of a quick replacement. Check your carbon brushes for any signs of
damage. Also, if there isn’t a problem with them, then check the tool’s
commutator or rest of the assembly. Buildup, fading and melted insulation are
often signing of an underlying issue.
- Burning Odour - Damaged motors have a very strong
burning smell. You might see things working but with a bad odour. So, take this
as a sign of an underlying issue in some or the other power tools. Check the
drive belt (like a sander or a planer) if your vehicle has it. If in case, the
drive belt is broken, then you’ll smell a tell-tale burning smell, although
your motor will work. Check the capacitors in case of power saws. Also, at
times, overheating also becomes an issue as motors tend to generate a lot of
heat when they run for too long or too hard. We advise you to immediately turn
off any power tool that emits a burning smell and let it rest for about 30 mins
even before diagnosing the issue.
- You are likely to hear high-pitched
screeching noise -
Power tools when used, tend to create a loud noise that sometimes becomes
unbearable. If your tool makes such noises, ensure that it is lubricated. Then
refer to the manufacturer’s manual for maintaining your tool. Also, another tip
for a screeching tool is to check the gears immediately as if your tool has a
forward and reverse control, there are chances of your gear switch being stuck
between the gears. More it back and forth and try running the drill again.
- Sparks and Smoke - If your power tools emit smoke or
sparks, you should turn them off quickly. Then set them aside to allow it to
cool down even before attempting to diagnose. Once cooled down, check for any
dirt and debris (mainly sawdust) present in the tool. In case, your tool is
free of burning debris, then you should take apart the tool’ casing and check
for any damage.
Top Brands For Power Tools
When it comes to vehicle owner’s choice, the brands really matter a lot. You might pay a premium for a specific car part brand, over time, as it has created a perception of quality, stability as well as trust. There are some leading car parts brands which are more than just products or services as they give rise to memories and emotions related with the quality. So have a look at some top brands for Power Tools:
Related Parts Of Power Tools
There might be a big-picture overview of Power Tools in your mind, and now it’s time to look at its related components.
Total Costs & Repair Times, Effort For Power Tools
More than any other kind of failure
in a car, there's almost nothing that's quite as heartbreaking as a completely
damaged Power Tools. Now when we talk about the replacement cost, it might vary
a lot even on the same car depending upon its performance, labor cost, brand
etc.
- $50 and under - Within this price estimation it can
be challenging to find power tools with enough power for automotive work, although
a number of experienced drivers that scrape the top of this range can get the
job done. Note that almost all the options, tend to be suitable more for
general DIY use around the home instead of the garage.
- $50-$100 - Within this price range, there are numerous drill options for automotive work. Almost all the power tools are just the tools itself and lack major accessories or even a battery.
- $100 and above - Within this high range, you can
avail the most powerful tools capable of handling most automotive tasks. Also,
they come in complete kits that include all of the accessories and batteries
that are extremely important.