Questions tagged [power-tools]
Tools that use some form of power other than muscle, usually electricity.
130
questions
7
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Are there any best practices when using dado blades or stack?
I recently got an 8" dado set for my table saw, and was a little nervous about using it without the normal safety equipment I usually have in place (primarily a riving knife), especially since they've ...
5
votes
2
answers
939
views
What would be the best way to bevel an oval table top?
I'm building an oval dining room table and I'm looking for ideas on the best way to add a 30deg. bevel to the top. The top is 42" x 76". The top will be solid 4/4 Ash.
I was thinking maybe a belt ...
10
votes
5
answers
23k
views
What is an electric planer (hand tool) good for?
This may be an opinion question...
Someone recently gave me an old electric planer similar to
And I'm wondering whether there is any task where it would really have an advantage over other tools ...
6
votes
2
answers
12k
views
Are there any tips when working a large surface with an handheld electric planer?
A friend got me an electric hand held planer that he thought I could use to help clean pallet boards faster then what I was doing. For the most part it has sat in the box. Until recently though when I ...
9
votes
7
answers
22k
views
Can I use a 6mm shank in a 1/4 inch collet?
There is a nice bit I would love to get/use but it uses a 6mm shank. My router uses 1/4 inch shank. It is a 0.014 inch difference...is it a bad idea to get this? Is there an adapter or something if ...
6
votes
5
answers
2k
views
What is the difference between a worm and sidewinder drive circular saws?
I didn't even know this was a thing. Then I read comments in this question
Worm drive saws are long and unwieldy for all but the burliest of men. I found them a real pain to work with. A Makita is ...
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Tungsten Carbide grades
A lot of different tools from saw blades to router bits use different carbide "C" grades. I read and there are types like C2, C3, K10. What is the difference between all these? A description on each ...
7
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How heavy a piece of wood can my lathe handle?
I have the Jet 1642 EVS. One of the nice features that I bought it for is offbed turning, the head stock moves and I can turn bowls and platters greater than the 16" diameter bed limit.
However, I ...
11
votes
3
answers
8k
views
Can I really use my table saw as a disc sander?
When looking through a tool catalog from the 1950s I noticed that Shopmaster sold a sanding disc for their table saw. I looked around online and found discs that fit my saw still available, e.g. here ...
6
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Are there techniques to sand small parts on a benchtop belt sander?
I often find myself attempting to sand small pieces of wood (1"x1"x1" or less) on a benchtop belt sander. In the past I've used pliers to hold the piece being sanded, but not always with success.
...
3
votes
1
answer
217
views
What type of lathe do I need for duplicating parts
I've worked with a lathe maybe a few dozen times, making things like wooden salad bowls, goblets, baseball bats, and some other relatively simple items.
I'm looking to buy a lathe, and one of the ...
15
votes
6
answers
13k
views
Why are keyed drill chucks still available for modern tools?
Barring support for older tools why are keyed chucks still manufactured? Hopefully not just in my own ignorance but I view keyless chucks as just a useful equivalent without being tethered to the need ...
20
votes
6
answers
8k
views
How do I make a drill hole the same depth every time?
My drill press doesn't have a "stop".
How do I make a drill hole the same depth every time?
4
votes
1
answer
153
views
How do you prevent screws or other metal from falling in the hole on your router table?
Our community workshop router table also ends up being a work bench much of the time. A router has been broken in the past by someone accidentally knocking a screw in the hole which landed in the ...
5
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How to start a cut when using router templates
I have a template and a router, and am told I need a plunge bit. If I put the template on top of the wood, how do I start the hole? Do I cut a hole in the wood to have a starting point then follow the ...