If you are new to DIY stuff, you probably aren’t familiar with the best power tools for cutting yet.
For amateurs and beginners, the fact that these tools come in all shapes and sizes makes buying the right model kind of tricky.
You could easily pick up the wrong tool for the job and end up wasting precious time and money.
What’s more, there is also the fact that cutting tools have been upgraded and updated over time to improve their versatility and reliability.
Is Buying Power Tools for Cutting Worth It?
There are many advantages to using power tools for cutting as opposed to doing it manually using a handheld tool.
Not only will you save time and energy, but you can also achieve a cleaner and more precise cut.
That said, despite the convenience that power tools can provide, it is still necessary to take certain precautions when handling these tools.
Pros
- Helps the user finish difficult tasks
- Reduces operational time
- Ensures greater accuracy than manual tools
- Does not require so much mastery
- Allows the user to conserve their energy
Cons
- Some power tools are highly complex
- Requires maintenance
- Exposes the user to increased risk of injury when not handled well
In 2020, 2.7 million injuries and 4,654 deaths took place in workplaces in the U.S. Most of these accidents were so severe that the victims could no longer function physically.
Along with this, table saw injuries have risen to 40,000 annually, an increase of 10,000 a year in the last decade.
Best Power Tools for Cutting
Though these numbers look scary, one way to ensure safety is to make sure you are using the right types of power tools for the task at hand.
Here are the most common types of power tools you can use for cutting:
1. Jigsaw
Jigsaws came about in the mid-20th century and were designed based on how sewing machines work.
It features a reciprocating blade used to cut straight lines, stencil designs, and peculiar curves.
These days, jigsaws have been far more improved.
You can use it for a range of purposes, such as cutting masonry materials to metal pipes. You can also easily penetrate through wood, metal, plastic, and ceramic.
Efficient wood cutting is assured by this device. What’s more, recent models also offer ergonomic designs for ease of use.
Jigsaws are available in both corded and cordless types, so there is no need to fret about flexibility.
2. Chainsaw
Making a decision on what chainsaw to buy can be a pretty daunting task because different brands seem to play a different ball game every time.
For instance, you can find electric chainsaws, corded electric chainsaws, or gas-powered chainsaws.
Generally, chainsaws work by moving the chain’s buck spikes in a reverse motion through a variety of materials.
This tool has to be handled with utmost care because it can be one of the most dangerous on this list.
Look for a model with a safety feature, such as an auto-stop motion or trigger lock mechanism for added safety.
While a home-grade chain saw is limited to cutting wood, there are professional-grade units available in the market that can cut through iron, steel, and even concrete.
3. Circular Saw
Together with the miter saw, a circular saw would have to be one of the most sought-after power tools by amateurs and professionals alike.
Circular saws are one of the most flexible tools you can have in your workshop because it can perform a variety of cuts with impressive speed.
While mainly used for straight lines, you can also use circular saw blades to make curves and free-form shapes. It also performs great with crosscuts, bevel cuts, and compound cuts.
Almost always, circular saws rely heavily on the accuracy of the user.
Apart from plywood sheets, this power tool can cut through masonry materials, metals, and plastic just by simply switching your circular saw blades.
Cordless tool options are also available, so you can easily attain that extended ease of use.
4. Miter Saw
Miter saws would have to be one of the more user-friendly cutting tools on this list.
They can either be one of these three basic types: stationary compound, sliding compound, or sliding dial compound or dual-bevel.
This tool is stationary and bulkier than most circular saws. It can perform bevel cuts, compound cuts, miter cuts, and crosscuts.
Miter saws are often used to cut a variety of building materials with definite and short lengths.
They are especially helpful for projects with repetitive cuts in identical sizes, such as fences.
Like other cutting tools, miter saws can either be cordless or corded tools. You can adjust the speed settings for rotation based on the application.
5. Table Saw
For most woodworkers, this popular woodworking tool is a must-have. Valued for its versatility, the table saw comes in various types for your different needs.
- Bench Top Saws
These are compact, lightweight, and affordable table saws, so there are limits in its rip capacity.
The table size is smaller, so they are best used for cutting soft materials and wood varieties such as pine.
- Compact Saws
These saws are also lightweight, but useful features, such as stands or cast iron surfaces, have been added. This compact tool is an upgrade of the benchtop saws.
- Jobsite Saws
These are the top choice of professionals because these saws have more power than the previous two.
They are rugged in construction and can perform more complicated tasks that your benchtop and compact saws cannot.
- Sliding Table Saws
These table saws can rip off full sheets of plywood by moving them to the blade through a moveable table.
The best part is that sliding table saws require less physical effort from the user, too.
6. Band Saw
Band saws are used in projects that require one to rip thick lumber and cut irregular shapes. You can also use this power saw to resaw or make thinner slabs of lumber.
For resawing purposes, most band saws include a fence. For crosscut sawing, most models include a miter gauge.
Band saws are available in different sizes; you can choose from a bench top to a huge floor model.
This popular power tool makes the smoothest cuts, and with the right blade, you can also cut cement boards and metals with it.
However, keep in mind that band saws have a tendency to vibrate and should be built with sturdy support.
7. Hole Saw
If you’re not sure what a hole saw is, perhaps you’ll figure it out when you learn that many others call it a “hole cutter.”
It is a ring-shaped blade that lets you cut perfectly round and accurate holes through the material you’re working on without ripping it up.
Basically, you use it with a power drill to bore circular holes for something as simple as locksets to more demanding projects like installing plumbing.
Milwaukee offers a line of hole saws along with other cutting power tools with carbide teeth technology.
This technology allows accessories to cut longer materials at a faster speed.
The carbide teeth technology by Milwaukee delivers boosted performance, as they claim their carbide per tooth is 25% more than other carbide blades.
This blade technology also offers 50X life more than standard ones.
Tools with carbide teeth are designed to last a lifetime with unmatched flexibility in thick and extreme metal cutting demands.
Carbide teeth can cut different hole sizes through black pipe, angle iron, cast metal, stainless steel, and high-strength alloys.
Investing in any cutting tool with carbide technology promises extreme life for your tool.
8. Rotary Tools / Die Grinders
Dremel has made a name for itself as a manufacturer of rotary tools and die grinders.
This precision tool is used to make fine cuts with ease. It can also do grinding, etching, sanding, polishing, and carving with ultimate speed.
As a very versatile tool, it is very compact.
Rotary cutout tools allow you to move freely when cutting curves, straight lines, and intricate details that are not possible with other tools.
Different attachments will render different results, and you get all of that with just one tool. Check out these amazing finds on the market:
- Dremel Rotary Tool – This crafting rotary tool allows you to kickstart your projects right out of the box.
- Dremel 160-Piece Rotary Tool Accessory Kit – This set is everything you will need to start your projects. It helps with cutting, sanding, polishing, grinding, and carving.
- Dremel 4300-5/40 High-Performance Rotary Tool Kit – This multipurpose rotary tool has a variable speed of 5,000 to 35,000 RPM, with electronic feedback for great performance and precise tool control.
9. Oscillating Tools
It is common for people to compare rotary tools and oscillating tools because of the functions that they play. However, the two have quite a number of differences.
Large-scale industrial projects would require the use of an oscillating tool.
They are designed to move back and forth at a pace on thicker materials, while a rotary tool spins very quickly and works best on thinner materials.
They do pretty much the same things, like grinding, sanding, and cutting, but the oscillating tool can handle bigger spreads of heavy materials.
One of the benefits of using oscillating tools is the significant reduction in dust output.
Because it is bigger than a rotary tool, it is able to work through materials easier while producing less dust in the process.
While an advantage of a rotary tool is to get through small spaces, an oscillating tool guarantees more accurate cuts.
Oscillating tool kits usually come with oscillating tool accessories and finer speed adjustments to improve your experience with power tools.
What Blade Is Best for Cutting Metal?
For cutting metals with iron like stainless steel or cast iron, we recommend using a ferrous blade.
Also, the carbide teeth blades that Milwaukee offers allow users to cut through the toughest of metals with ease.
What Is the Best Brand of Power Tools?
Deciding which brand offers the best power tools will depend on what you plan on getting.
However, with their extensive list of offerings, these brands are at the top of our list for offering a good line on just about everything you might need:
DeWalt
DeWalt is a giant contender to beat in the power tool market today.
It manufactures multiple accessories and tool boxes along with some of the best power tools in the market.
Bosch
For years, Bosch has been the leading pioneer in battery technology.
Its power tools’ durability remains unparalleled in the industry, as it is backed up with robust performance.
Makita
Makita is famous across construction sites and workshops around the globe.
The brand is proud to deliver power, performance, and durability with products that are compact and ergonomically designed.
Which Power Tools Should You Get?
So, with all things laid out, which power tools will make the cut?
Knowing the correct tool that can help your next DIY project go smoothly is a huge advantage.
Not only will you be spending your money more wisely, but you will also save up on storage.
There are several options to choose from, and power tool tech has gotten better at providing you with corded and cordless versions of these tools.
Do you need a more compact tool or a much bigger one for bigger projects? The choice is yours to make.
