6.2 Common Power Tools and Shop Equipment
David Ridge
No fabrication shop would function without power tools and shop equipment. The tools a shop has essentially determine the type and amount of work it can do. We are loosely defining power tools here as tools that require electricity to function and that can be held or moved by hand. Shop equipment is also powered by electricity, but is generally too large to hold or move by hand, and so these items tend to be stationary.
Cutting Tools
Cutting tools are used to prepare metal stock by reducing it to the necessary size, shape, and length. Handheld power tools for cutting metal include angle grinders, portable bandsaws, circular saws, and jigsaws. Shop equipment for cutting material includes bandsaws, cut-off saws, and metal shears.
While an angle grinder is mostly thought of as a handy tool for quickly cutting material, it has far more uses. A grinder is quite possibly the most important and versatile power tool any welder can use, and every welder should have a grinder in their tool bag. Grinders can be equipped with numerous abrasive discs and wheels to perform grinding, sanding, cutting, buffing, and other tasks. Grinders are configured for several sizes of discs, such as 4.5 inches, seven inches, and nine inches (11.4 cm, 17.8 cm, and 22.9 cm) diameters. Be sure you have the correct grinder for the size and speed of the disc. Corded and battery-powered models are available.
A portable bandsaw, often called a porta band, can be used to easily cut small stock such as bars, tubes, angles, and channels. This tool uses a blade in the shape of a metal band to cut metals and other materials. In fact, with the proper blade, there is almost no material a porta band can’t cut. Most portable bandsaws have a cutting capacity of about five inches (12.7 cm). They are lightweight and easy to take to any job site, and there are corded and cordless models.
Many welders also use circular saws and jigsaws. These tools effectively cut soft metals such as aluminum and copper. Circular saws are good for cutting material to length and making long, straight cuts while jigsaws can make curved cuts in plate or other stock material. Be aware that you need special blades on either of these tools for these soft metals, as blades meant for cutting wood will dull quickly and may cause damage to the tool, the material, or you. As with other modern power tools, there are both corded and battery-powered models.
Horizontal bandsaws are staples of any metalworking shop. This high-capacity equipment accurately cuts material to length. When making many of the same parts, these are often the tool of choice to aid in the process, as they are equipped with a stop that the material is butted up to in order to speed up cutting operations. Horizontal bandsaws can cut material with a cross section of over a foot.
An upright bandsaw is used to make straight, mitered, or curved cuts. Usually the fabricator feeds the material through the sa