Questions tagged [power-tools]
Tools that use some form of power other than muscle, usually electricity.
130
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How can I make an inset cutting board handle?
How is this cutting board handle possible? The only way I can think of is that it was done by hand with a gouge, but it looks too clean for that. Can an inset handle, such as the one pictured below, ...
3
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4
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Can I make large 3-phase machinery run on a single-phase 240V, 20A circuit, and if so, how do I do it?
I'm toying with the idea of buying a big old US-manufactured jointer in the range of 12"-16". It seems all these machines are 3-phase. What do I need to know about the machines in order to determine ...
13
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5
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Why does direction matter when using an electric router?
I was watching an episode of the Wood Whisperer on YouTube, and he was making a frame for a mirror. At one point in the video he was going to put a round-over on the frame and was using an electric ...
19
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How should I store the batteries of my cordless drill?
I have a nice cordless drill that came with two rechargeable batteries. However, there are times when life gets in the way and I'm not using the drill at all over the course of several months. When I ...
7
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2
answers
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How does a variable speed control mechanism work?
To change speeds on many drill presses and lathes, the user needs to turn off the machine, and manually move the belts between a variety of pulleys.
On a machine with variable speed control, the user ...
12
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5
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How do you make mortise and tenon joints using power tools?
There is already a question about making mortise and tenon joints using hand tools. It would be nice to also catalog the various ways of making mortise and tenon joints using power tools. Wherever a ...
19
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7
answers
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What can I do to eliminate drift when cutting with my bandsaw?
I recently purchased my first Band saw and am loving its versatility for making curved cuts even in thick wood. However, when it comes to situations where I need a precisely straight line, for example ...
23
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5
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When should I use a Jointer vs. a Planer?
I am fairly new to woodworking and just starting to outfit my shop with power tools. One area that I find confusing is the use case for a jointer vs. a planer.
Both tools seem to have very similar ...
15
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5
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In what situations would I use a belt sander versus a random orbit sander?
I own both a belt sander and random orbit sander. I've found that as I've worked on improving my finishing technique, I will oftentimes go for the random orbit sander over any other sanding ...
27
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3
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When, if ever, is it safe to use gloves with power tools?
I don't use gloves when operating my power tools, but I know a few people who do--for instance, when operating a router with two hands (not in a router table). Is this safe, and if so, what other ...