Do I need to purchase power tools?
Its a given that power tools do essentially make your job 10x easier compared to using some of the hand tool alternatives. Certain jobs just require so much labor to complete, for example: Sawing off a tree branch, you have to reach the branch, most of the time requires a ladder. Then slowly in a back to forward motion, you have to slowly saw away at tiny bits of the branch until it finally breaks off. Compare that effort and time to an electric reciprocating saw, that branch removal was done in 5 minutes. From being a homeowner, to owning a mechanic shop, to installing drywall, or general construction. Most jobs we tackle, can be made easier for someone if they use the power tools.
Power tools are essentially hand tools to large machines, that perform tasks faster and at more precision because of the power behind the function of them. Most are equipped with electric motors or gasoline powered motors, expelling mass amounts of energy, turning a key or head, which will turn the desired too in either direction for loosening or tightening, or rapid movement in either direction for sawing, turning, etc.
Before You Purchase Power Tools Consider This:
1. What Options Does The Power Tool Have?
We all love features, and just like electronics, cars, boats, etc some power tools will have more options than what we realistically would need. This could also be a driving factor as to the reason of how expensive the power tool is. When I go to purchase a power tool of my own, I have to sit and think about what I would use it for. Will there always be light? Will I need this closer to home or out on the road somewhere? If I was to go and purchase a reciprocating saw, I would think about how many times I had to use a small hand saw, and the tight areas where we needed them most. I would need to know what type of blades I would need as well. Then realize would I be needing blades that are longer in length or shorter? Make sure to ask yourself questions to get a better understanding of the power tool you are trying to purchase. Also remember all power tools come equipped with an owners manual. As I stated in my renting vs. owning power tools article, if you are going to use this tool on multiple occasions, and you take the number of times you would use it, and multiply that by how much each time would end up costing to rent that tool, and in one year, if it exceeds the cost of the power tool new (or used) just purchase the tool. It will save you money in the long run.
2. Does The Power Tool Get Power From A Cord or Battery?
You can find thousands of different types of power tools on the market. There are even some power tools that use gasoline still! However, the major market share wis going to be battery operated and cord powered. Usually the corded power tools will be s, faster and just over all better when it comes to performance. The only thing I dislike about having to use corded power tools, is the limited space or area, because unless you have miles of extension cords, you wont be going to far. Technology has given us more powerful cordless power tools due to the innovative brushless motor, and lithium ion battery technology. This gives us the freedom to take our power tools and use them where ever we want to. The only drawback about battery operated power tools is eventually you will have to recharge. But after thinking about it, I have decided to always purchase battery powered tools.
You should always try and figure out which option would be best for you. If you are always working in tight spaces, that are dark, and hard to reach, a battery powered tool would be your best options. IF you are working close to your plug in power source, requiring extra power, for longer periods of time, then you should consider using a corded power tool.
Battery types will very for any power tools, but most of them are powered by lithium ion batteries or Ni-Cad batteries, which can handle a very high discharge of current. Most batteries when they discharge at a fast rate, they will get severely hot, and could potentially explode. Make you you understand all battery applications before you take on owning a power tool. I would recommend you just make sure it had either types of these batteries.
3. What Will Be The Overall Costs Long Term?
Power tools are just like vehicles, and other machines we use in our world today. They eventually break down because of wear and tear. They also require routine maintenance to insure they function the way we need them to. Parts associated with a power tool wear down as well, for example: saw blades will not stay sharp forever, Those will eventually need to be replaced. Sanding pads, or belts for sanders, blades of a power planer, and other items will wear down, before the power tool itself will. You need to take all of that into consideration. Also research on the warranty of the power tool, how many years will you be covered? What will the company issuing the warranty cover? You need to remember that most power tools have accessories, that allow the power tool to function in different ways and perform different jobs that you may ask of the power tool. Between the care, the accessories, the power (or batteries), the wear will eventually take its toll. One prime example, is a chainsaw. When you are cutting branches, trees, logs, etc you will have fine wood particles that will fly into the air, sometimes landing on the chainsaw bar, the motor, or casing. A proper way to maintain or clean that chainsaw, would be removing any debris, dirt, dust, or particulates immediately.
4. How Safe Is The Power Tool I’m Purchasing?
Check reviews. It should be your first task before spending a shiny dime on a power tool. The wonderful power of the internet allows us to purchase products online, and then write a legitimate review about them, so we can see first hand someones, experiences and or issues they ever had with that specific power tool. There is also a safety rating that should be available to you as a consumer and customer. We usually just review all the 5 and 1 star reviews, those demographic areas are specific to either really liking or really hating the power tool in question. When it comes to safety most power tools do have some kind of safety mechanism thats in place to protect you during use. Most high quality brand names such as DeWalt, Milwaukee, Ryobi, etc will have these safety functions incorporated into all of their power tools.
5. Never Over Work Your Power Tool
Know your power tools limits, and use that information in conjunction with common sense. You wouldn’t take a Dremel tool at a marble stone counter top to shape it would you? No, the small motor would over heat severely because of the prolonged constant friction, either burning the motor, or eventually itself up. Always read your owners manual before taking on any tasks with any power tools. Check out other articles on uses, and precautions when it comes to power tools and how you should or should not use them. Some power tools by the bigger brands have a safety switch inside of them, which can detect when your power tool is reaching over a certain temperature and shuts it off. However, it shouldn’t come down to a fail safe on the tool itself, the owner should know and understand all of his tools limits.
Conclusion
Comparing to hand tools, almost 95% of the time, the precision and time efficiency is worth the purchase alone. We did a test to see the comparison of time it took to construct a 20ft x 20 ft deck for a duplex that we personally own. We had a team of two men, and one team only used hammer and nails. The other team had a nail gun. We started the clock once we had all the wood unloaded, and cut to the specifications of the plans we got from home depot. Obviously the team with the nail guns won, and by a whopping 1 hour almost. Thats time and energy saved by using a power tool! However, when it come to using a sander and a hand planer, the hand planer took longer, but looked more elegant, smooth, and to shape when we were making a wooden paddle for the canoes we take on trips. It eventually comes down to the situation, and your over all goals of each project that would require using power tools. I personally prefer using an electric impact to remove lug nuts compared to a cross tire iron. To me, personally, it was worth the money I spent, because I was not having to strain my back trying to get lug nuts broken loose. Make sure you remember to always use safety gear as well when you are operating power tools. As it says in all power tools owners manual’s use proper eye protection and in come cases, hand protection as well.