Power Tool Accessories

Accessories make it possible for the tool to perform other tasks in addition to its primary one.

STATIONARY TOOL ACCESSORIES

The most commonly sold stationary power tool is a table saw. Accessories include miter gauges, clamp attachments, table extensions, belt and pulley guards, table inserts, sanding disc attachments, dado head sets and molding cutter heads. Table saw stands and caster sets complete the list. A wide variety of specialty saw blades is available.

Drill-press accessories include mortising attachments, plug cutters, sanding drums, auxiliary shafts and drill-bit sets.

Band saw accessories include height-extending kits, rip fences, miter gauges, clamp attachments, sanding kits, belts and a variety of band-saw blades.

Radial saws have much the same assortment of blades and dado ad sets as do table saws. They, too, have molding cutter heads, router bits, sanding drums and sanding attachments.

Lathes come with sets of turning tools, a series of specialty centers to hold work, sanding discs, sanding drums, tool rests, face plates, wood-turning duplicator, geared chucks and a screw-on arbor for mounting buffing wheels.

PORTABLE TOOL ACCESSORIES

Drills are by far the most popular portable power tool and with the list of accessories available, the drill becomes one of the most versatile tools on the market.

DRILL ACCESSORIES

Among the accessories for power drills are:

Abrasive discs that zip through most materials, including ceramic tile and hardened steel. They also double as double-sided sanding discs.

Inexpensive drill and countersink sets that combine both functions into one tool.

Special rasps that mill, groove, dowel, plane and bevel cut. In experienced hands, these tools (in combination with one another) can create the cuts, chamfering and dowelling necessary to manufacture simple furniture and toys.

Flexible shafts that connect to chuck to accomplish more intricate work and reach seemingly inaccessible areas.

Disc and drum rasps that make short work of coarse sanding jobs.

Buffers that polish metal or furniture.

Knife, scissor or lawn mower blade sharpener.

Power reducer and reverser that drives screws.

Two-speed right-angle drive that changes work position of the drill and doubles or halves its speed.

Wire wheels that remove rust and paint. Attachments for paint and rust removal use flat, non-gouging blades that are interchangeable and replaceable. Additional blades can clean and open cracks in concrete, asphalt and plaster prior to patching.

Self-priming pump that attaches directly to drill chuck to use drill motor as power source; connects to garden hose and can deliver up to 250 gals. per hour.

Drill kits with polishing pad, wire-wheel brush, paint mixer, wheel arbor.

Drill stands that convert electric drill to bench motor so that work piece can be brought to the drill for more precise operation.

Drill-guide attachment that ensures accuracy, automatic depth adjustment and prevents slipping. Also catches dust.

Hole saws to cut wood, plastic, plaster and light metals.

Power screwdriver sets, socket sets for variable speed drills, rotary files for filing and grinding metal, and grinding wheels.

Wood bit extenders and a variety of wood boring bits.

Drill stop collar attaches to a drill bit to prevent the bit from going further than desired.

Drill bits - A twist drill bit is used to drill small holes in wood and metal. Some are only used on wood, while special types allow for masonry, tile, marble and stainless-steel drilling.

Special bits such as high-speed twist drills, sold individually and in sets, and step drills (some with titanium-nitrate coating that cuts cooler at high speeds and retains sharpness) used primarily by contractors and mechanics. Extension bits are extra long for drilling in hard to reach places. Expansive bits can be adjusted to different sizes.

Auger bits are used to avoid splintering, and forstner bits are used to prevent the drill from following the grain.

Spade bits have a flat end used for drilling up to 2" holes in wood.

Hole saws cut wood, plastic, plaster and light metals. A circle and wheel cutter has a cutting blade attached to a horizontal arm, which allows for holes up to 7" in diameter.

Chuck keys are often sold as a spare in case one is lost.

Chuck adapter allow quick changing of hex shank drill bits. The adapter is keyless and attaches to standard chucks on electric and cordless drills.

SAW ACCESSORIES

In addition to the variety of specialty saw blades discussed earlier, accessories for circular saws include abrasive wheels, cross-cut guides, protractor gauges, rip guides and carrying cases.

Jigsaws and sabre saws can be fitted with a host of special-purpose blades to cut metal, plastics, fiberglass, wood and make tight scroll cuts.

There are blades that cut on the downstroke to minimize splintering in already installed laminates or paneling and a scroll-cutting saw blade that cuts in any direction.

SANDER ACCESSORIES

Sander accessories are limited to a variety of abrasive belts, sheets and discs, along with paint remover, buffing and polishing attachments.

ROUTER ACCESSORIES

Routers will accommodate several accessories; among them:

Router bit sets that perform functions such as grooving, slotting, straight cuts and veining. Recent technology has produced titanium coatings that reduce friction, heat and residual build-up.

Plane attachment with arbor and spiral cutter.

Hinge butt template kit that positions router on both door and jamb for mortising.

Veneer trimming attachment that trims wood veneers and plastic laminates.

Other router accessories include molding makers, lettering/numbering sets, biscuit jointer cutters, crafters, and pantographs.

OTHER ACCESSORIES

Tables can convert portable circular saws, jig saws and routers into stationary power tools.

The tool attaches to the underside of the worktable with the blade or cutter protruding up through the table. It gives the portable tool owner an opportunity to enjoy many of the benefits of a stationary power tool at a low cost and is suited for the person who only requires a stationary tool on an infrequent basis and for relatively light-duty work.

Power tools require sharpening as do other tools. There are several kinds of sharpening abrasives available, including diamond abrasives. Because of its hardness, diamond reduces honing time, eliminates breakage and need to use oil, since these abrasives may be used wet or dry. Diamond is effective in honing tungsten carbide. Because there are so many kinds of abrasives available, it would be best to review literature about the ones you stock in order to make the proper recommendations to customers.

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Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the National Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.