If you are a DIY enthusiast, chances are you already own at least one power tool in your garage if not a whole collection of power tools. However, does this mean you have the most essential power tool accessories? Most power tools are convenient to use and you can do a lot of things with them but not having an array of power tool accessories to choose from for different purposes, you are pretty much limited in what you can do with these tools. Power tool accessories are as important as power tools themselves. Different power tools accessories determine the finish of your work and, of course, the end result.
In addition, different power tools accessories require different models and speeds to operate with efficiency and this is something important you need to keep in mind when shopping for both power tools and power tool accessories. You don’t want to spend your money on power tool accessories your tool cannot work with, right? Below you will find more in-depth information about five main categories of power tool accessories, so keep reading if you want to learn more.
Power tool accessories: Drill bits
Drill bits are the most common accessory for drills and one of the most popular power tool accessories in general. Drills bits are these power tool accessories that come in a great variety of sizes and types and are designed for different materials, specific applications and to be operated in different ways. When it comes to operating power tool accessories the right way, keep in account that you should not use drill bits that exceed the maximum drilling capacities of a given drill. Failing to do so means you are risking damaging your drill tool permanently. Here are some of the most commonly used drill bit power tool accessories.
High speed steel bits
Ideal for drilling through different materials, including wood, metal, plastic, etc.
Brad point/wood bits
As the name suggests, these power tool accessories are mainly used for drilling wood. You can produce very clean holes thanks to the brad point tips that first cuts the diameter of the hole before the centre breaks through.
Masonry bits
These power tool accessories are used for hammer drills for drilling into bricks, concrete and stone.
Multi-purpose bits
With their special diamond ground tungsten carbide tip, these power tool accessories are suitable for drilling nearly every type of material and can be used in both rotary and hammer models of drills.
Power tool accessories: Hole saws
Another great and popular group of power tool accessories are hole saws. Hole saws are power tool accessories designed for drills and used for making very large holes in a variety of materials. Most of these power tool accessories operate through a central pilot drill that bites into the material first and then follows the cylindrical saw blade to make a perfect cylindrical hole.
Before you purchase any of these power tool accessories, making sure you know the hole saw’s length is ample to go completely penetrate the surface you are drilling. The hole saw’s length varies between different manufacturers and types of drills. For larger sizes of these power tool accessories, it is recommended to use a corded drill and also use them on dense materials.
There are different types of these power tool accessories, including carbon steel hole saws, bi-metal hole saws, single tooth hole cutters, HSS hole saws, TCT hole saws, TCT hole cutters, adjustable hole cutters, triangular hole cutters, diamond grit hole saws, and core cutters. Make sure to carefully read the information on how every of these power tool accessories are used before making a purchase and make sure you have the right type of drills to operate these different power tool accessories.
Power tool accessories: Screwdriver bits
Screwdriver bits are power tool accessories designed for driving screws and these power tool accessories can be fitted to the majority of drilling tools. All of these power tool accessories have heads with different contours such that appropriate screwdriver tips can be engaged in such ways. Each of these power tool accessories’ tips comes with different types of shanks and tips so they can suit different screws and applications. Here are the most common power tool accessories in this category: insert bits, power bits, double-ended bits.
Power tool accessories: Sanding and polishing
These power tool accessories for sanding and polishing are used on electric drills. These power tool accessories are also used for general-purpose preparation and sanding work on different materials and surfaces. The most popular power tool accessories in this category include:
Wire brushes
These power tool accessories are used for removing rust, paint and varnish from steel, cast iron and most other materials.
Abrasive nylon brushes
these power tool accessories are extremely effective on wood, metallic surfaces, masonry, plastics, stainless steel and aluminium.
Flap wheels
These power tool accessories are used for a wide range of sanding purposes on flat and contoured surfaces. They are effective on all sorts of materials for finishing, light deburring and cleaning.
Rotary drum sanders
These power tool accessories are used for sanding wood, metal and plastic.
Sanding discs
These power tool accessories are designed for general purposes on both wood and metal surfaces.
Power tool accessories: More power tools
The following power tool accessories are used for different purposes and are designed for different power tools. Each of these accessories has its own specific application. Here are some of the most commonly used:
Mixing paddles – used for mixing and stirring different substances.
Chiseling bits – used for breaking through brick walls, knocking off a plaster, ripping up tiles, etc.
Drill pump – used for converting every drill into an electric pump.
Right-angle attachments – used for changing the drive-shaft direction of the drill.
Flexible shaft – used for accessing hard-to-reach places.
Shear attachments – used for cutting sheet metal.
Nibbler attachments – used for cutting curves and shapes in sheet metal and plastics without bending and warping.
Power tool accessories: Drill bits Power tool accessories: Hole saws Power tool accessories: Screwdriver bits Power tool accessories: Sanding and polishing Power tool accessories: More tools