The Introduction of Power Wood Working Tools

Power woodworking tools give woodworkers a faster, more uniform method to complete woodworking projects. Most woodworking projects will require a type of power saw, power sander and a power jointer or planer. Each type of power woodworking tool comes with a range of accessories and options so they may adapt to a variety of projects and uses. Planers and Jointers Planers and jointers make a side or plank of wood completely flat and straight which is important for strong joints and the uniformity of the woodworking project. Planers and jointers may also be used to thin the wood or remove impurities, such as warping, staining and natural flaws. Power planers come in hand-held or stand-alone varieties. A hand-held power planer functions the same way as a hand-held planer where the wood is anchored down and the plane pushed across the piece. A stand alone planer requires wood to be fed through the machine so the woodworker is holding the wood instead of the plane. A power jointer only comes as a stand-alone machine and functions similarly to the stand alone planer. Wood is guided along an anchored fence and fed through the machine. Sanders Like planers and jointers, most power sanders come in hand-held and stand-alone varieties. Power sanders come in four basic types: belt, disc, drum and pad. Belt sanders use a large sandpaper belt that rotates around two cylinders at each end of the machine to create the sanding motion. Disc sanders rotate a sandpaper disc in a circular motion. Drum sanders attach a large strip of sandpaper to a drum that then rotates around an axis. Pad sanders attach a pad of sandpaper to the machine and vibrate it quickly back and forth to create the sanding motion. Pad sanders are the only type of sander that doesn’t come in a stand-alone machine. Sanders are primarily used to smooth or thin wood. They smooth surfaces, refine edges and dull sharp pieces. Saws Woodworkers use four basic types of power saws: band, circular, reciprocal and sabre. Band saws rotate a long thin blade around two opposing drums. Band saw blades remove a very small amount of material and are ideal for precise or rounded cuts. Circular saws come in stand-alone and portable machines. A stand alone circular saw, known as a table saw, rotates a circular blade while the wood is pushed through the machine. A portable circular saw requires the material to be anchored down while the blade is pushed through. Circular saws are ideal for straight or angled cuts. Reciprocal saws moves a long, rectangular blade back and forth in a motion similar to that of a handsaw and is ideal for hard-to-reach cuts. A sabre saw also uses a long, thin, rectangular blade but moves the blade up and down as opposed to the reciprocal saw. Sabre saws are ideal for precise, detailed cuts and comes as a stand-alone machine known as a scroll saw. Source: eHow.com