Special Power Tools
Types of Power Tools
A power tool is any tool that is activated by some other power source other than your hands and labor used manually. The most common type of power tool employs electric motors as the source of action. Internal combustion engines or compressed air are also used. There are several types of power tools available and depending on your needs and skills, you will be able to identify which type is right for you.
In this article, we will focus on the most popular types of power tools that can be used in woodworking shops. An electrical motor is a device that allows for continuous motion without a battery. Typically, these types of power tools run on electricity produced from batteries or other stationary sources. Most electric motors are used in drills and reciprocating saws, but they can also power hand tools such as nails and screwdrivers.
If you have ever used one of these power tools without an electric motor, then you know that there is no continuous, mechanically-powered motion that can be produced. Instead, there is only a torque or a force that propels the tool forward. Most woodworkers know that power tools like Sanders and band saws are powered by compressed air. Similarly, all good woodworking shop dusters operate off of compressed air and it is recommended that you keep your supply of compressed air at all times.
Wood dusters and power tools with compressed air that have an extension can be used in a stationary position and should always be stored out of the way of people who are working. This type of tool can be dangerous if kept near a flame because the compressed air contained within can ignite wood and flammable liquids such as petrol, paint, or varnish.