What are the Criteria for Choosing a Power Tool?
JerseywoodworkerI spent 8 years in the Air Force as an Instrumentation Specialist, and one of the first things that they taught us was " Always use the proper tool to get the job done right". That mantra was repeated over and over until it was ingrained in my mind. You know that actually makes sense. Selecting the wrong tool not only risks damage to your project, but possible personal injury.
Today's woodworkers, DIY'r and pro's face a daunting selection of tools bidding for our money, so many options and at times so little cash. So how do we make an intelligent choice? First of all, don't buy on price alone. Take any selection of tools, examine the price range. You will find that the price of about 90% of the them will be very close. Be very cautious of those that are priced well below the others in the field. Remember the old axiom, " You get what you pay for".
Also don't buy more power tool then you really need. Why spend the money to purchase a very large 3 HP router, if all of your work will involve using the router to trim laminate. A smaller more compact unit will work well for your need. If at some time in the future your work evolves to the point that you need the 3 HP router, then purchase the bigger router.
If you're purchasing an electrical tool look at the power consumption of the unit. Look not only at the voltage the device needs, but also at the current draw. Does your shop have enough power to drive the device? I purchased an air compressor that according to the manufacturer's label draws 12 FLA, or 12 full load amps. This is the current draw when the tool is running at full speed. When I connected it to a circuit that has a 15 Amp circuit breaker, the breaker would pop every time the air compressor started. The reason is that the amount of current that electrical motors draw when starting is at least 150 % of the FLA, or 18 Amps. I had to move the compressor to a circuit that had a 20 Amp breaker.
If you're purchasing a powered hand tool, consider the weight. An additional couple of ounces may not sound like much unless you're using the tool over head for a long period of time, then those added ounces soon feel like a lot of added pounds.
If you're looking at cordless tools, look into what other tools can use the same battery and charger. You don't want to have a multitude of batteries and chargers clogging up your work bench. Look for one system that has as many tool heads that you possibly can use. If you don't need the added accessories now, you can always add them later.
So how do I select a new tool? I research the tool on the Internet, looking at reviews and comparisons. When there is a negative review, I want to know what the guy or gal didn't like about the product. Was there really something wrong with the product, or did just not fit this guy's needs. Of course I look at the positive reviews, there tends to be fewer of these, because woodworkers are hard to please. But those are there are often very informative. Another place I look is at the DIY shows on TV, If Tom Silva or Norm Abram has a new tool, see if he uses it more than once.
Then once I have limited my choices down to a couple of options, I return to the Internet and then go looking for the product at the best price. So yes, price is important, but not the first criteria. Safety, reliability and design are also a very big portion of the equation.
