Modern Woodworker Completes Almost Routinely Would Have Taken Days or Weeks

The five major tasks for which carpentry tools are used are measuring, cutting, fastening, shaping and boring, and power tools have been developed for each task. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that the modern carpenter depends on his power tools as much as he does on his own hands. Power tools offer precision, ease of use and speed to an ages-old trade. Many tasks that the modern woodworker completes almost routinely would have taken days or weeks before the advent of power tools, if they could be done at all. Measuring The laser was invented in the 1960s and the straight beam of light it produces is one of the most reliable measuring devices we have. Lasers have been incorporated into levels and are especially useful over large distances. They are also used as guides on circular saws.The power of magnetism has been harnessed for use in magnetic stud finders and nail retrievers. Cutting There are power saw blades that rotate and those that oscillate. Rotating-blade circular saws can be portable or they can be built into a table as a table saw, which is used for rough and precision ripping and cross-cutting. They can be set on a lever as a chop saw, used for crosscutting trim or on a slider as a radial-arm saw, used for longer crosscuts. A miter saw is a combination of the chop and radial arm saws used for crosscut bevels and angles. Oscillating blades are found on reciprocating saws and jigsaws, which are hand power tools for curved cuts. Band saws and scroll saws are the fixed versions of these and are capable of precision curved cutting. Fastening Pneumatic nailers and staplers compete with the common hammer for the task of inserting nails into wood and are used extensively in the construction trades. The power drill can be fitted with a screw bit to drive in screws, or one can simply use a screw gun. Biscuit fastening is a recent invention, and the system includes a machine that bores a hole into which a glued wooden biscuit is inserted. Biscuits are used in cabinetry and lamination. Shaping Carving is an ancient pastime, and the power lathe has replaced the traditional treadmill lathe for turning wood to carve round shapes. Modern sanders include the orbital sander, an everyday tool; the belt sander, for digging in more deeply; and the drum and disk sanders, the heavyweights. Power planers are used to dimension wood and jointers are used to produce a smooth edge suitable for laminating. Routers can be hand-held or set on a table. They are used primarily to make bevels and curved shapes on the edges of planks or on trim. Boring No toolbox is complete without a power drill for making holes, and no shop is complete without a drill press, a precision tool used for the same purpose. Larger holes can be made by inserting a hole saw into the chuck of either one of these. Source: eHow.com