Cordless Power Tool Buying Guide: How to Choose Battery Type
Because the battery is what makes it possible for cordless tools to do their work, choosing the type of battery technology that the tool uses is almost as important as the choice of tool itself.
For example, if the battery's capacity, charge time, or storage characteristics are mismatched to the work or user, the expensive tool [...]
Diamond Abrasive Buying Guide
Variety is usually the first thing that shoppers notice when browsing through diamond abrasive products.
Not only are abrasive power tool accessories available in countless shapes (like wheels, cups, and core bits), but the list of qualities and specifications that change their performance is also long.
On top of that, manufacturers don't always advertise their diamond [...]
Reciprocating Saw Blades 101
Understanding reciprocating saw blade basics is very similar to the specifications used in other saw blade types, especially jigsaw blades and bandsaw blades. However, despite these similarities, there are some important differences about reciprocating saw blades that should be explained.
Some of the similarities that recip blades share with other blades are the materials they're [...]
Abrasives: Wire Brushes
Wire brushes are heavy duty abrasive products whose properties have become indispensable to the power tool industry.
Although they are aggressive enough for use in robust applications like edge breaking and deburring, wire brushes won’t remove base material from their work. Also, wire brushes require little to no maintenance, because they are non-loading.
Like most of the [...]
Abrasives: Polishing Pads
Being an informed shopper and user of most types of power tool accessories usually means learning a standardized identification and naming system for those accessories, like Abrasive Wheels, for example.
This is not the case when it comes to high speed polishing pads, because differences between polishing pads are not named and tracked by a standardized [...]
Abrasives: Cutting Wheels and Grinding Wheels
The power tool industry uses a specialized system of terms to organize and name abrasive grinding wheels and cutting wheels.
Like most other power tool accessories, abrasive wheels are available in a huge variety of types and styles suited for different applications, and most of these types and styles are separated by only small variations in [...]
Band Saw Blades 101
Like other power tool accessories, band saw blades rely on numerous design features and minute measurement changes so they can be adapted to specific kinds of work.
Knowing band saw blade terminology, measurements, tooth arrangements, materials, and tooth types all factor in when matching these blades to their saws and applications.
We explain the basics about band [...]
Circular Saw Blade Types
It is best for saw blade shoppers to have a working knowledge of each specific blade feature when selecting a circular saw blade.
Many blades are sold and advertised with extremely simple names instead of a detailed list of features and measurements. Some of these simply-named saw blades are very common and worth mentioning for [...]
Saw Blades 101
"Standard" saw blades are circular blades used in a variety of saw types: table, circular, miter, radial arm, and rip saws are just a few that use standard blades.
The "standard" designation refers to the broadness of their application; it does not suggest simplicity. It takes an expansive list of blade design features and combinations [...]
Drill Bits 101
There's a drill bit designed for just about every thinkable target material and drilling need. Bit materials and designs cover drilling for aluminum, ceramics, cast iron, countersinking, glass, granite, metal, marble, plastics, porcelain, slate, steel alloy, tiles, wood, and more.
Naturally, the large variety of application materials and hole types makes for huge variety of [...]