If you need to cut through galvanized steel sheets, one tool you’re going to want to have are shears. Essentially large scissors, these heavy, bladed tools will cut into sheet steel almost as easily as a regular pair of scissors will cut through cardboard.
One of the most basic, yet most effective cutting tools around is the ax. Unlike many other cutting tools, this manual implement does not make use of a slicing motion to make a cut. Instead, it relies on brute force and a sharp edge to get the job done.
If you’re doing electrical work, one tool you’re going to want to have around would be diagonal pliers. This tool’s jaws are designed specifically for cutting wires, and its handles are well insulated to protect the user from electric shocks.
If wood is your material of choice and you’d rather cut shapes out manually, one tool you can use would be a coping saw. This hand tool allows a skillful user to cut intricate shapes and curves and is best used on thinner sheets of wood.
Excessive noise, chattering, and vibration are all signs of cutting tool imbalance. In addition to the damage it can cause to the material being worked on, it can also cause excessive wear to the edges of the cutting tools.
Chip formation can affect tool life when cutting stainless steel. To combat this problem and to improve productivity, use tools that have low cutting forces, especially when working with or on weak fixtures.
If you want to cut through wood or metal but would rather not waste time with a hand saw, one tool you can use would be a reciprocating saw. This powered implement features a blade that moves rapidly in a push-pull motion, thus allowing the operator to cut through the material quickly.
If you need to cut complex shapes into, say, a sheet of fiberglass, one tool you can use would be a powered jigsaw. This tool features a reciprocating blade that is able to work its way around bends and curves, thus making it easy for an operator to follow a stenciled pattern.
If you need to cut down a number of trees, one tool that would be indispensable for the task would be a chainsaw. Essentially a motorized crosscut saw, these tools cut easily through wood, thus allowing the operator to do more work.
If you need to thread a screw inside a hole, one tool you’re going to need would be a threading tap. Similar to a drill bit in shape, this implement is designed to cut grooves inside a hole that correspond to specific screw threads.
According to Wikipedia: “A reciprocating saw is a type of machine-powered saw in which the cutting action is achieved through a push-and-pull ('reciprocating') motion of the blade. The term is commonly applied to a type of saw used in construction and demolition work.”
While an oxy-acetylene torch will weld steel quite easily, did you know that it can also cut things? As long as a cutting head with an appropriate tip is installed, you can definitely make short work of even the thickest of metals.
A plasma cutter is a very effective tool that’s designed to cut metals. This implement makes use of a stream of compressed air or gas (e.g. nitrogen) that flows through an electric current. This gas then becomes ionized and a stream of hot plasma is pushed out of the cutting tip.
Did you know that you can saw through metal bars manually? For as long as you have a hacksaw with an appropriate blade, you can make quick work of metal pipes, rods, and bars without any need for specialized or powered cutting equipment.
While CNC (computer numerical control) machines are usually industrial in size, did you know that some desktop models are now available? Though much smaller, these machines are very capable and will allow you to fabricate precisely cut items in an office or home environment.
While they’re often used for flattening welds and smoothing out imperfections on metal, did you know that angle grinders can also be used for cutting? For as long as an appropriate cutting disc is attached, these powerful tools can quickly and cleanly separate a wide variety of materials.
If you’re building something out of wood, one implement you’re going to need to have is a crosscut saw. This manual cutting tool makes quick work out of timber and plywood and will be needed to cut the wood you’re using into the proper sizes.
What’s the difference between a milling machine and a lathe? A milling machine makes use of rotating tools to cut into a workpiece. A lathe, on the other hand, spins the workpiece itself while static implements shape it.
One implement used to cut metal into precise shapes is something called a milling machine. This tool incorporates a work surface and a set of rotating cutters that accurately remove material from the piece that’s being worked on (workpiece).
If you need to cut glass, one tool you’re going to need would be a glass cutter. This pen-like tool features a sharp tungsten carbide or diamond tip that’s designed to score a line onto the surface of the glass. This line is then tapped gently to help it progress into a clean break.
