Whatever your background or requirement power tools are used in almost every environment to improve productivity and usually improve the quality of the work undertaken. When we refer to power tools we usually refer to corded power tools or cordless power tools. There are however a comprehensive range of pneumatic power tools which are great if you have compressed air available. Pneumatic tools lack the obvious portability of electrically powered tools and are frequently confined to the workshop environment where the work comes to the tools rather than the tools going to the work
The electric drill was regarded by most as the first powered hand tool. The first electric drill was patented in Australia on 20th August 1889 an attributed to Arthur James Arnot. This first drill was primarily intended for heavy industrial use and was invented before most communities were even supplied with electricity. In 1917, Black and Decker introduced and patented the pistol grip and also the trigger switch familiar on most products available today. This was the basis of the modern electric drill and later models were soon shipped in thousands. 1961 saw the first battery powered drill and as technology improves and prices fall we are now in a position where the battery powered drills have taken over from the corded big brother.
The brief history just serves to illustrate the development of the drill and close on the heels of the drill were many other corded and cordless power tools. Mains powered devices operate on a variety of voltages 120v in the US and in Europe we operate on two voltages. We have 220-240v powered tools normally used in the home and for the less demanding applications whereas in the construction arena health and safety demands 110v units powered by 220-240v to 110v transformers. Battery powered tools use different battery types and operate at different voltages. The power screwdriver is the least demanding of the electrically operated tools in the power toolbox and may be supplied with as little as 3.6v batteries. The capability of the batteries has increased year by year as we have seen battery technology move gently from 9.6v to 36v such that we now have tools supplied with batteries rated at 12v, 14.4v, 18v, 24v and 36v. Needless to say the 36v tools are much more expensive than the 12v tools. The development in battery technology has been considerably more than just building larger battery packs. The latest batteries are Lithium-ion or Li-Ion batteries which enable more battery power to be delivered and batteries can be quickly recharged.
With the advent of these higher voltage batteries we now have a wider range of battery powered cordless tools. The cordless circular saw was not viable before the 18v or possibly the 24v batteries became available. The SDS drill and demolition drill had always been corded until the latest range of batteries mean there are now SDS and demolition cordless drills on the market operated on 36v power packs.
Woodworking powertools have always been popular both in the construction industry and for DIY enthusiast. Increasingly the cordless power tools are being used in all areas of industry where just a few years ago the batteries would just not be man enough, or need recharging too frequently or just too expensive. We now have cordless jigsaws, Kango Drills and Breakers, Metal Cutting Saws, Percussion Drills, Reciprocating Saws, Sanders, SDS Drills, Wall Chasers, Band saws, routers, planers and other specialist powered tools.
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