Buying and Using Power Tools Safely

TOOLS · GLOBAL

Buying and Using Power Tools Safely

Corded and cordless, battery platforms, protective equipment and the common injuries

Power tools are cheap enough now that most households own several, and the injuries they cause follow a small number of predictable patterns. Knowing them is more useful than any specification.

Choose a battery platform, not a tool

Batteries and chargers are the expensive part, and they are not interchangeable between manufacturers. Picking one platform and buying bare tools within it costs far less over time.

Check the voltage and the amp hours — voltage relates to power, amp hours to how long it runs.

Corded still has a place

For sustained heavy work, corded tools deliver constant power and never run out. For occasional use around a house, cordless is more convenient in almost every way.

Protective equipment

Eye protection for anything that cuts, drills or grinds, without exception — eye injuries from flying debris are the most common tool injury and are frequently permanent.

Hearing protection for anything loud, since noise damage is cumulative and irreversible. A dust mask rated for the material, particularly for wood, masonry and anything containing silica.

The injuries that actually happen

Kickback from circular saws and angle grinders, caused by the blade binding. Drill bits catching and twisting the tool out of the hand. Cuts from reaching over a running blade.

Never remove a guard. Let the tool stop before setting it down, and unplug or remove the battery before changing a blade or clearing a jam.

Loose clothing and jewellery

Long hair, cords, sleeves, rings and gloves near rotating parts are how serious injuries happen. Gloves are correct for handling material and wrong for operating a drill press or a lathe.

Before drilling a wall

Use a detector to check for cables and pipes, and remember that cables run vertically and horizontally from sockets and switches.

Buying a first set

A combi drill, an impact driver, a multi-tool and a decent sander cover almost everything a household needs. Add a circular saw or a jigsaw only when a specific job requires it.

Buy good drill bits and blades rather than a bigger tool — a sharp bit in a modest drill beats a blunt one in an expensive drill.

Working alone

Tell someone what you are doing and keep a phone within reach. Most serious tool injuries at home happen to people working alone with nobody to call for help.

Electric shock risk

Use a residual current device on any tool used outdoors or in a damp area, and check leads for damage before every use. A cut or frayed lead is the most common electrical fault on a building site.

Storage

Store batteries at around half charge, away from heat, and never charge unattended overnight on a flammable surface.

WHERE TO BUY

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