Whether you’re a seasoned DIYer or you’re considering taking up DIY home projects in your spare-time hobby, there’s one thing you’ll definitely agree with.
Regardless of how frequently you get your hands dirty, your store, garage or workshop should be armed with the right set of tools.
Having the right tools could mean several things. For starters, the various tasks in your project become much easier.
Also, it is very easy to get nowadays. If you are not sure what particular model to buy, head over to bestoftools.com, they review the best power tools for the money.
Secondly, you get to save time, accomplishing the project faster.
And thirdly, you won’t have to spend too much effort or break a finger while conducting home repairs or improvements in the name of increasing your home’s value, comfort, and aesthetic appeal.
But when it comes to efficiency and convenience in your home projects, nothing beats power tools, especially if you choose the right ones.
Electric and gas-powered tools not only make the job easier, but they also get it done faster and with minimal strain.
However, there’s a wide range of power tools, and your best pick will largely depend on the kind of home project you’re undertaking, the time you have at hand, what you’re willing to spend on it, and fuel source, just to mention a few factors.
In a nutshell, picking the best power tools can be an overwhelming task if you don’t know what to look for.
But worry not, because, in this article, we highlight a few important hacks on how to choose the right power tools for your home project.
The Nature of Your Project
This is one of the most important things to think about when heading for the shelves to purchase power tools for your home project.
While some projects may not necessarily require you to bore several holes, cut curves, or achieve a smooth finish, some may require the use of screws, joinery, and patterns. In other words, you just have to know the right tool for your specific project.
All the same, the most common power tools to consider may include:
- Drills – For drilling holes in your material. Power drills come in handy when working on a project where nails and a hammer won’t do. They make your project more presentable while reducing the effort expended.
- Saws – For cutting material such as wood, metal, and plastic. Compared to using a handsaw, using a power saw makes the job much easier while adding accuracy and efficiency. However, there are various types of power saws you can find on the market, each with its own specific functions. According to several online guides on saws by SawsHub, table saws, jig saws, circular saws, scroll saws, miter saws, band saws, all have their unique purposes and scenarios where they’re ideal as far as cutting is concerned. This makes it important to consider what you want to achieve to determine the type of saw that will suit your needs. It’s also important to pick the right blade for your specific saw depending on the requirements of your project.
- Sanders – For sanding to achieve a smooth finish. Sanders is ideal for preparing surfaces to make it easy to apply.
Size and Weight
When picking a power tool, size is also a highly important factor, and so is its weight.
While a tool that is too big may not be ideal for tight spaces, one that is too heavy will be difficult to maneuver with when working on some home projects.
You also don’t want a tool that will leave your arms aching like you’ve been run over by a train at the end of your project.
Thankfully, nowadays, there’s a wide range of smaller, lightweight handheld power tools that are easy to work with, store, and transport from point A to point B.
However, size and weight may also be dependent on other factors such as tool strength, which brings us to the next important point to consider.
Strength
Different power tools have different strengths.
And depending on the tool in question, strength may be expressed in units such as horsepower, revolutions per minute (speed output), or wattage.
When it comes to power tool strength, the higher the power rating, the better.
However, this may also affect the tool’s price, which makes it wiser to choose a power tool based on your efficiency needs, rather than its strength specifications.
Power Source
In this age and day, a majority of power tools are powered by electric motors.
This is because electricity is the main source of energy in current times.
However, there’s a range of tools that also use compressed air and combustion engine.
Battery-operated variants are also available, which will be mentioned on the next pointer.
All the same, before choosing power tools for your home project, you ought to consider picking the convenient tool for you based on what it runs on.
Corded Versus Cordless
Electric-powered power tools can either be corded or cordless.
A corded tool requires plugging into an electric outlet, whereas a cordless tool is often battery-operated.
Most cordless power tools are rechargeable.
The main benefit of cordless tools is that they’re easier to maneuver with, especially in areas far from an electric outlet while reducing the risk of tripping over the wire.
However, a cordless tool can also leave you stranded in the middle of your project in case it runs out of charge.
For some tools, corded/cordless combos are also available.
The Accessories You Need
More often than not, power tools require certain accessories to help you with certain tasks.
A power drill, for instance, will need drill bits, which are available in a wide range of sizes and shapes.
The same case applies to band saws and circular saws which allow you to install the ideal blade for your project depending on your cutting requirements.
When it comes to electric sanders, you also need to choose the right sanding paper to achieve your desired surface texture.
It’s all about the results and the accessories you need/have for your power tools can make or break success in your project.
Last but not least, and needless to reiterate, it’s important to conduct some research on the tools you need to successfully work on a particular project beforehand.
In summary, one tool may not be enough to get the job done.
With the above tips, you’ll hopefully find it less challenging top choose power tools that will help you accomplish your home project with minimal strain.