Types of Tools

There are many types of power tools on the market. Many can be used around the house. These are the tools we’ll be concentrating on.

Corded or Rechargeable? There are pros and cons

Corded – Pro: You will always have a steady stream of  power as long as your power source works. In some cases, tools are more powerful than Rechargeable tools though some of the cordless tools I used recently have good strong torque.

Corded -Con: Power cords get in the way. Most of the times  you’ll need an extension cord because the tool cord won’t be long enough. When you move from one location in the house to another you may have to plug into another plug. Plus if you have to many tools plugged in you may trip the circuit breaker.

Rechargeable – Pro: Tools will work anywhere without a cord getting in the way or having to switch to a different electrical receptacle when you move to a different location.

Rechargeable – Con: The battery charge may wear down in the middle of the project though these days the charge will last a long time. However, if you don’t use your tools often, you may find you’ll need to recharge it before you can use it again.

 

Power Drill  

This is a tricky question because everyone’s needs are different. I would say the most popular first Power Tool would be the Power Drill.

Depending on the drill you buy, you can drill holes in wood, metal, and concrete. The drill can be used as a Screw Gun if you are doing heavy work. If you are doing lighter work, be  careful, if the Drill does not have variable speed on it, you could cause damage.

Electric Sander      

If you have a lot of sanding to do, I would recommend an Electric Sander. An Orbital Sander to be exact.

It can make short work of the project  than if you used a sanding block. Just keep that sander moving or you could end up with     grooves or disk marks and that would not be good.

Reciprocating Saw  

Another tool which may come in handy is an Reciprocating Saw. These are good for cutting out dry wall, and cutting metal and wood and PVC piping, also they can fit into spaces that a hand saw can’t.

Electric Screwdriver

Another tool is the Electric Screwdriver It’s not a necessary tool but can come in handy if you have a lot of screws to remove and install. As an example, I replaced all my toggle switches in my house.  That’s a lot of cover plates and switches. That’s  also a lot of screws to take out and reinstall   So it came in handy.

Circular Saw  

Finally, a tool that I hesitantly recommend is the  Circular Saw.

This tool can be dangerous if used wrong and carelessly. But it can be a real time saver if you need to cut plywood or a number of boards. It sure beats a hand saw. But Be careful!  I don’t mean to sound like an alarmist, but I’ve known a number of people that have been injured unnecessarily because of a lack of knowledge and carelessness.  Let the saw do the cutting, don’t force it. If you push faster than it can cut, it could kick back on you and could cause severe damage to you!

How much do they cost?

If you use your tools every day then I would suggest you buy the best you  tool you can afford. A good quality tool,  taken care of, will last a long time. If on the other hand you will only use them once in a great while, then you might want to scale the price of the tool down. You don’t really need a high end tool to spend the majority of the time in a box on a shelf. Getting a good quality tool that is dependable will do nicely.