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Bens' Tips on Selecting Basic Power Tools
Introduction: A circular saw, a power drill, and a sabersaw are musts for your basic tool kit. With the two saws you can make straight and curved cuts quickly in almost any material. The drill lets you make holes of almost any size and drive screws quickly and easily. With these three tools, you can handle most any household carpentry job.
A circular saw crosscuts, angle-cuts, rips (cuts lengthwise), and even bevels lumber easily and cleanly. Don’t worry if the saw has a plastic housing; many plastics are very strong. Do take a look at the metal baseplate. A baseplate made of thin, stamped metal can warp; look for a thicker base made of extruded or cast metal. A saw that takes 7-1/4-inch blades is the usual choice. It lets you cut to a depth of about 2-1/2 inches at 90 degrees and to cut through a piece of 2x lumber even when the blade is set at 45 degrees.
Horsepower is not important when choosing a circular saw. Instead, look at the amperage and the type of bearings. A low-cost saw pulls only 9 or 10 amps and runs on rollers or sleeve bearings. This means less power, a shorter life because it heats up easily, and less precise cuts because the blade wobbles somewhat. Better saws are rated at 12 or 13 amps and run on ball bearings. This combination of extra power and smoother operation makes for long life and more precise cutting. Worm-drive saws, which are the most powerful saws and have the longest-lasting bearings, are heavy and hard to use. As is often the case, a mid-priced saw is your best choice.
Be sure to get a variable-speed, reversible power drill. Unless you will be doing heavy-duty work, you don’t need one with a 1/2-inch chuck; a 3/8-inch one is fine. Buy a drill that pulls at least 3.5 amps. A keyless chuck makes changing bits quick and easy, but some people prefer a keyed chuck for a tighter grip on the bit.
A cordless drill frees you to work without the mess of electrical cords. Buy one that uses at least 9.6 volts, preferably more. If possible, get an extra battery pack so you won’t have to wait for a battery to charge.
When buying a sabersaw, examine the baseplate and the mechanism for adjusting it. On cheaper saws, these are flimsy and eventually wobble, making it difficult to keep the blade aligned vertically. Variable speed is a useful option. A saw pulling 3 amps or more handles most difficult jobs.
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