Just about any material can be drilled, but what you’re drilling has to coincide with the bit you’re going to use. Softer materials can be drilled safely with most bits, but hard or brittle materials like glass, concrete or acrylic might required specially designed drill bits. Accuracy and finish can affect your choice of bits, as they all differ. Some are designed to produce accurate, clean holes while others are rough, fast but cheap. The last big choice is the type of drill you will use.

Virtually all drill bits are made to spin clockwise. Also make sure the shank of the bit (opposite of the cutting end) will fit in your drill chuck. Chucks come in 1/4″, 3/8″ and 1/2″, which is the maximum diameter of shank that will fit inside. 3/8″ is a good general purpose size, and most large drill bits have reduced shafts to fit in a 3/8″ chuck.Shank commonly come in round or hexagon shapes. Round shanks centre more reliably than hex, but hex shanks are less likely to slip, which makes them a better choice for drilling hard, thick materials.

Before you start drilling, be sure to fully tighten the bit in the chuck and make sure it’s straight, otherwise you’ll end up breaking the bit. The quickest way to check if it’s straight is to run the drill without actually drilling a hole. The bit should stay straight as it spins and not wobble or make a blurry cone. If you’re sure it’s chucked right, but it gives you one of these issues, the bit might be bent and should be discarded.

Twist

This is the most common type of drill bit and the most versatile. It has a pointy end and a spiral groove to help carry chaff out of the hole. They’re so popular because they work on a wide range of materials and come in sizes of a fraction of a millimetre up to multiple inches. The main difference between them is the quality and coating of the steel. From the softest to hardest are Steel, High Speed Steel, Carbide Tipped, and Cobalt Steel. Harder bits are not only better at drilling through harder materials, but will stay sharper for longer when drilling softer materials. Plain steel bits are really only useful for drilling soft woods. Cobalt steel bits are heat resistant and particularly well suited for drilling hard metals, though they are brittle and should be handled carefully.

Bits often have different coating to improve their performance. Black oxide serves as a lubrication and rust prevention coating. Titanium coatings improve the hardness and heat resistance of bits. However coatings are thin and once they’ve worn off, you’ll just have an ordinary bit. Sharpening them just destroys the coating, and they’ll return to their original performance.

The points of the bit is available in two styles. Spade points are the most common and requires it to be pressed into the material before it starts to drill. On hard materials like metal this can mean your drill will skate around before making a hole, which often puts the hole in the wrong place. This can be avoided by using a centre punch or drilling a pilot hole to mark the hole, but split tip bits reduce wandering and eliminate the need to punch or drill a pilot hole.

When you’re drilling deep holes in soft materials, pull he bit out and clear the flutes regularly. Otherwise the flutes get packed with chaff, get heavy and stop cutting.

Pros:

• Good in just about any material.
• Common and usually cheap.
• Can be sharpened when dulled.
• Available is just about any size.

Cons:

• Small bits and fragile and break easily.
• Large bits are very expensive.
• They dull quickly in certain materials.
• Small flutes mean they can fill with chaff when drilling soft material.

Used for:

• Most general purpose drilling.

Spade

Spade bits have a simple design intended to rip quick holes through wood and other soft material. The spade up in the centre helps to keep the bit on target, but it;’s the nature of these bits to splinter out the back side of the hole when they go through. They do, however, require more torque than your ordinary twist bit.

Their simple construction means they’re easy to sharpen and costs a little less than other bits. They’re readily available in lengths of at least a foot. Long bits are handy for drilling deep holes or in hard to reach places. Many spade bits have a hole near the tip to pull wire back through the hole after drilling through floors and walls.

Pros:

• Quickly cuts through soft wood.
• Cheap.

Cons:

• Only really useful on soft woods.
• Leaves a ragged hole.
• Hard to start an angled hole.
• Lack of fluted mean deep holes can easily fill with chaff.

Used for:

• Rough construction.
• Making holes in studs, joists and walls to run cables.
• For making quick holes in wood with no clean appearance.

Auger

Augers are similar to twist bits, but they have a large single flute to remove chips and a screw tip to help it get started and stay centred.

They actually have a lot in common with spade bits. These bits are made for wood and other soft materials. They can readily be sharpened, and are usually long. Unlike spade bits, however, they leave neater holes and require less torque to turn. Due to their large flute, they’re better at drilling deep holes and removing the waste material. These improvements make them more expensive than spade bits of the same size.

Pros:

• Better at removing waste from a hole than a twist bit.
• Smoother holes.
• Less blowout than a spade tip.

Cons:

• Limited to soft materials and holes 1/4″ to 1-1/2″ in diameter.

Used for:

• Drilling medium sized and/or deep holes in wood.

Forstner

Forstner bits are flat bottomed with a point in the centre to keep it on target. They tend to be expensive, but provide high precision and the finish finish of any drill bit. Unlike most bits which simply have a cutting edge on the bottom, Forstner bits cut two ways at once. First a blade around the outside keeps the hole from splintering, then a set of blades parallel to the surface shave off the material a they’re pressed into it.

Due the their ability to cut holes with extremely smooth sides and flat bottoms, it makes them attractive for many woodworking projects.

Pros:

• Flat bottom holes.
• Smooth-walled cuts.
• Sizes from 1/4″ to 3″.

Cons

• Limited to wood and similar soft materials.
• Larger bits require a drill press.
• Expensive.

Used for:

• Wood working projects that needs visible holes.
• Where precise, large, or flat bottom holes are necessary.

Step drill

These drill bits get their name from their stair-stepped profile. They tend to be expensive, but a single bit can cut many different sized holes. The deeper you drill the bigger hole you get. They’re typically labelled by the minimum and maximum size of holes they can cut, and the increment between the steps. (i.e.: “1/4in to 1-3/8in with 1/8in increments”). The size of the hole is typically inside the flute at each step.

They’re peerless for drilling precise holes in sheet metal. The straight flute prevents the bit from deforming the metal as it cuts through. They’re accurate and quick, allowing you to drill many different size holes without changing a bit, and by lowering the bit to touch the beginning of the next step you can easily produce a perfectly smooth hole.

The most obvious limitation of step bits is that they only work on material thinner than the individual steps on the bit, usually 3/16″ or so. That limits it to sheet metal, plastics, and laminates. The bits are also difficult to sharpen and the smaller sizes (lower steps) of the bit will go dull before the larger sizes further up.

Some step bits have a blunt end and require you to drill a pilot hole the size of the first step before you can use it. When cutting metal be sure to use cutting fluid to extend the life of the bit.

Pros:

• One bit cuts many sizes of holes.
• Clean, precise cuts.

Cons:

• Only for thin material.
• Difficult to sharpen without ruining the accuracy of the bit.

Use for:

• Cutting neat holes in thin sheet material, aluminium, plywood, and linoleum.

Hole saws

These are literally a saw blade bent into a circle, with a twist bit in the middle to help keep it centred. Unlike other bits they don’t chip away the material, they only cut around the outside, leaving a plug of solid material in the centre. Since they’re not removing as much material they don’t need as much pressure as a Forstner bit the same size. They cut neat holes with minimal splintering on the back. For very clean back sides, stop cutting when the pilot bit comes through the back, then move the drill to the back side and finish the cut from there.

Hole saws have a removable mandril that includes a twist bit, the shank that fits into the drill, and an attachment point for the outer saw. This lets different sized hole saws to be easily and cheaply swapped out and dull ones replaced. They’re commonly available in sides from 1/2″ to 6″ diameter.

Drilling a pilot hole the same size as the mandrel bit can help keep it under control, and it’s important to keep the bit parallel to the surface. Bimetal blades can even be used to cut soft metals up to about 1/4″ thick, and diamond grit saws can cut masonry.

Pros:

• Can cut large precise circles with minimal effort.

Cons:

• Have to cut all the way through the material to get a hole.
• Limited to thinner materials.
• Plugs often get stuck inside the bit.

Use for:

• Making holes in doors for locks.
• Cutting holes in drywall for lights or other installations.
• Making holes in joists for plumbing.

The post Guide to Drills and Bits appeared first on Toolhires.

The internet, as always, offers you a wide selection through a multitude of online retailers that offer a large assortment of brands at competitive prices. It is not an extremely easy task to assess the tools needed. Most tools can get the job done, but not all of them are equally precise, efficient, durable or priced. The right tool tool is generally determined by expected frequency of use and the task it is meant to perform. With some general knowledge of the features of tools and careful estimation of these factors, you might be able to browse through online stores or visit your nearest tool shit and make a good, economically sound purchase.

Assessing the Use of Power Tools

Professionals usually have a clear idea about what they need from different tools. For all professional work, tools with durability are required, and the precision varies according to the tasks they perform. Greater precision and efficiency typically mean greater price, but this is something that professionals are used to.

On the other hand, home users can make a few sacrifices when it comes to selecting power tools. Even when restricted by a limited budget, there are still some pretty good tools to be found. Household task usually do not require millimetre precision, and even though the tools need to last long, they do not need to be durable enough to withstand a fall from a construction scale. Also, cheaper models might have shorter battery life, but they should be adequate enough to handle the demands of DIY projects.

Store brand power tools offer good value for money. However, these only offer regional coverage, so if one moves away from the area of purchase, it can prove to be difficult to find replacement parts, accessories, or qualified service providers. An advantage of purchasing power tools from a well-known brand means that you have access to a high availability of replacement parts and accessories. With proper care, a tool can serve its purpose for decades. Some brand even offer maintenance kits for their tools.

Features of Power Tools

When looking at different power tools, it is virtually impossible to use any kind of generalisation. There are many types of tools and all have different features that are considered to be important. A good approach is to divide the tools into categories and discuss the features within each type separately. Following is an overview of some of the more popular types of power tools.

Power Drills and Impact Drivers

The drill is a power tool that finds a lot of use at home and industry. With a good drill, you can hang a picture on a wall, mount kitchen cabinets or install a bookshelf in a matter of minutes. A particularly useful drill is one that act as an impact driver as well. An impact driver is a tool much like a drill, but it serves the purpose of an electric screwdriver. It does the job faster, tightens the screws stronger, and protects the wrist from repetitive strain injury. Impact drivers are even sold separately at tool shops but purchasing it as a feature on a drill is more cost-effective.

The main feature of the drill is its torque. Keep in mind that greater torque means more power consumption and generally a more expensive tool. Some drills have the option of adjusting torque. Homeowners just need one that is powerful enough to drill through concrete. When buying a drill, you don’t need to pay for torque that is not needed.

Power Saws

A saw is a very general term. As a power tool, there are various types of saws with its own characteristics. Listed below are common saw types that fall within the power saw category:

A saw is only as much worth as its blade. Different types of saws have different blades, with their efficiency being largely dependant on the quality of the blade. It is important to do research on the blade materials and them decide which one satisfies the needs of a project. Make sure you find a nice balance between a quality blade and enough torque to acquire a fitting tool. Safety guards are a very important feature on both on the stationary and the compact saws. Be mindful that power saws should be handled only when wearing safety equipment.

Power Sanders

Sanders are among the popular tools.Their application is generally confined to woodwork and automotive projects. They are used to remove varnish or layers of paint and provide a smooth finish to a surface. The quality of sanding divides sanders into three types, shown in the chart below.

Sanders used for automotive purposes are air tools, while wood sanders are mostly electric. Choosing the correct sander will depend on the task you need it for.

Power Supply for Power Tools

The power supply should never be overlooked as a decisive factor when purchasing power tools from tool shop or website. Going cordless is a nice choice, as it allows greater freedom of movement. Cordless power tools run on different types of batteries. The operational time of the tool is largely dependent on the capacity and quality of the battery itself. To ensure uninterrupted use, it is a good idea to have a fully charged spare available, as recharging can take a while.

Multiple Tools and Batteries

When purchasing multiple power tools, it can be a great help if all of them use the same kind of battery. Seek information about the battery used by speaking to a salesman or reading the product description on the website. If all tools run on the same kind of battery, there is no need for a spare. Also, if the spare runs out of power, there is no need to stop working, as switching batteries between tools provides as many spares as there are tools. Another benefit of using the same type of batteries is that they need the same type of charger. This can be used to one’s advantage as the chargers can all be kept in different locations, eliminating the need to carry them around.

Corded Power Tools

Many of the difficulties that arise from being constantly plugged in on a power source can be eliminated with a long enough extension cord. This makes corded power tools an option worth considering. Some of the corded versions are even deliberately made that way, because a battery is not capable of storing the amount of power it needs. Different power grids can also pose a compatibility problem, but tools are typically designed to be universal. A diesel power generator solves all issues regarding blackout, power grid incompatibility, and it allows corded power tools to be used in areas that have no other power supply. Of course, a power generator should only be considered for industrial use.

Air Tools

Air tools are rarely considered when purchasing power tools for a home. When compared to others, they are usually superior in power, but they do require an air compressor to operate.  An air compressor is usually quite an investment. Basically, air tools are the choice of professionals who have compressors at their disposal on job sites.

Ergonomics of Power Tools

Ergonomics is another factor that should play a role in the decision-making process. A tool with good ergonomics is a safe tool. Those who spend a lot of time using tools know how important it is for a tool to rest easy in their hands. When purchasing power tools from a store or website, you should talk to the salesperson or read reviews placed by other customers.

Conlcusion

There is a lot to know before choosing any type of power tool. With so many to choose from, it cannot be an easy decision even for those familiar with the tools.A strategy that uses both knowledge of tools and assessment of needs must be employed in order to make a proper decision.

Assessing the needs generally depends on defining the expected use of the tool. Once the use is defined, it is easier to seek a tool within the budget. If more than one tool is needed, there are ways to make the purchase even more economical. A smart way of saving money is by purchasing products that use the same type of batteries.

The search for power tools on the Internet can be conducted easily, and the right tool for any job can be found. Just make sure you don’t buy a second hand or refurbished tool in order to get a full warranty.

The post How to Buy Power Tools appeared first on Toolhires.

Perhaps the most important rule in nail gun safety is to use the nail gun for only the purpose for which it is designed. Choosing the correct nail gun for the job is essential. In order to choose and buy the right nail gun, a shopper should know about the different types of nail guns, the benefits and disadvantages of various power sources, features found in quality nail guns, specifications that one should check before buying, and where to purchase a decent nail gun.

Nail Gun Types

Nail guns are generally categorised by the application for which they are designed. There are six basic applications which correspond to different nail sizes and diameters.

Framing nailers

Framing nailers are heavy-duty nail guns capable of shooting nails with a 2.8 mm diameter into practically any kind of wood. These low-gauge nails are used in construction when they have tp bear a load, such as framing a building.

Roofing nailers

Roofing nailers are mean to use special roofing nails. They often have coil magazines instead of the straight ones, because the coils can hold more nails. Roofing nailers are often made to be lightweight and easy to handle on a roof.

Finish Nailers

Finish Nailers use higher gauge nails that are used in woodworking and furniture making. These may or may not countersink the nails, and different models accept different nail head shapes. As with other tools, there is some overlap among brands regarding the type and size of nails that can be used with a certain finish nailer. A common finish nailer is the 16-gauge nail gun.

Flooring Nailers

Flooring nailers are shaped so that they stand on the floor and shoot nails at exactly the correct angle for installing hardwood floors. There are flooring cleat nailers as well as flooring staple guns. Cleat nailers work better for denser woods like bamboo.

Staple Guns and Brad Nailers

The finest kind of wood requires small brads that disappear into the wood while holding it in place. Brad nailers are used for mouldings and trim, and often use 18-gaauge nails. Another fine woodworking nail gun is the 23-gauge nail gun. This type of nailer is used for miniature doll houses, beadings, and mouldings on furniture. Staple guns are useful when a nail alone cannot do the job, for example, with upholstery and light fencing.

Concrete Nail Guns

These are the most powerful nail guns, as they shoot nails into concrete. These are generally only used for industrial purposed, and are less common and less useful than framing nail guns. Please bear in mind that a more powerful nailer is not necessarily the more useful one. A nail gun that is too powerful for a given application can shoot nails completely through a softer material, and is a serious safety hazard.

Nail Gun Power Sources

There are three basic ways yoou can power a nail gun. The pneumatic gun gets power from air pressure. The cordless electric gun uses a battery and gas, and the electric nail gun uses mains power. Each of them has their own benefits and disadvantages, which shoppers should know about prior to purchase.

Pneumatic Nailers

Pneumatic guns require an air compressor which has to be bought separately. The air hose is somewhat inconvenient and one has to make sure the right connectors are used to give the nailer greater freedom of movement. They normally take a little while to get started, but apart from these drawbacks, they are normally reliable and powerful.

Cordless Electric Nail Guns

The cordless nail gun is the answer for anyone who finds the cord to be a liability when working. This type of nail gun uses gas to shoot the nail out of the gun. The gas is ignited by a spark from the battery. One drawback is the need to recharge the battery, but you can easily get around without a problem by having a back-up battery, and a 60-minute charger. The other drawback is that they are more expensive to operate due to the fuel canisters that have to be replaced.

Electric Nail Guns

Purely electric nail guns are only made for very small nails like brads or staples. They are not powerful enough for bigger nails, and are most;y used by hobbyists in building scale models. These guns are corded and run off mains power.

The following table summarises the benefits and drawbacks of each nail gun type:

As the table shows, pneumatic nailers are the most useful for large-scale construction projects like roofing and framing. Cordless nail guns can be useful for finishing and smaller scale projects, while electric nail guns are most useful for small indoor projects like scale models and furniture.

Nail Gun Features

Although nail guns vary widely in terms of their applications, there are some features common to almost all nailers. One should know the options regarding each of these features before buying a nail gun. For example, a shopper has to choose between two magazine styles and three trigger types. There are also some other features that make nail gun maintenance and use much easier.

Magazine Styles

The magazine of a nail gun holds the nails that are fed into the gun. There are straight magazines and coil magazines. Coil magazines hold a much greater capacity of nails, making them great for big projects. On the downside, they weigh more than straight nailers. Both coils and straight nail ‘sticks’ can be angled at various angles. Make sure the refill nail cartridges match the angle of the nailer, and check that finding the appropriate refill is not a problem before buying any nail gun.

Trigger Types

The vast majority of nailers have two trigger areas. One is the tip of the gun which has to be depressed against the material that needs to be nailed. The other is the trigger which is depressed by the index finger. The issue is whether the triggers have to be depressed in a certain order or not. Contact triggers allow the user to hold down the trigger and tap the wood in order to release a nail. These are very dangerous since accidentally tapping the gun anywhere with the trigger depressed results in a nail being shot.

The safest trigger type is the sequential trigger. This type requires the tip to be depressed first, and then the trigger pulled. Pulling the trigger can result in nails being shot as long as the trigger is held (which can be difficult to learn to use, as the nails come out very fast) or a single nail being shot with each trigger pull. The latter is safer but more tiring for the user.

Adjustable Depth

Some nail guns can adjust the force at which the nail is shot. Some guns require a tool to change the nail depth, while others can simply be adjusted by hand.

Jam Clearing

All nail guns eventually jam up on you, causing delays and more stress. Look for a jam clearing mechanism which is easy to use. The nail gun feeding mechanism should be easy to disassemble in order to clear jams.

Dry Firing Lockout

Dry firing lockout stops the gun from firing when the gun is out of nails. This feature is most useful for inexperienced nailers who might not notice when the gun runs out of nails.

Specifications to Check When Buying a Nail Gun

Nail guns have specifications that must be matched exactly to the job they are used for. The following specifications should always be checked when buying a nail gun: compatible nail head types, driving power, nail angle, nail length and diameter ranges, magazine capacity, battery capacity if applicable, weight, and included accessories.

It is worth getting a good case at the same time as the nail gun in order to protect the gun from dirt and debris that can jam it. Some guns come with changeable triggers or other accessories.

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