Power Tools
Power tools speed up the job of cutting the materials you need to build your cabinet. Depending on skill level, some people find it almost impossible to do things correctly without them, but they certainly can be done with hand tools. The list of power tools that are commonly used can be quite long, but a cabinet can certainly be built with a few important ones.
- Remember, when using ANY power tool, read the instruction manual and use safety protection (safety glasses, hearing protection, face masks) before plugging in any tool.
Circular Saw
A circular saw cuts straight lines faster and easier than almost any other saw. It allows you to take the tool over to the wood, rather than maneuvering the wood around the tool.
Jigsaw
Also called a Saber Saw, a jigsaw is quite useful for making curved cuts. A jigsaw can be used to make straight cuts as well, but will take more time and due to the narrower base and propensity for the blades to bend, allows more chances for mistakes to creep in.
Router
- Because of the high speed that ANY type of router spins at, routers can be VERY dangerous. ALWAYS make sure the bit is seated properly into the unit (see the manual for your particular unit), and DO NOT try to "cheat" to get more depth out of the cut than the bit allows. Go back to the store and buy the proper length bit.
For our purposes, a router can be considered the jack-of-all-trades. With the proper guides and setup, a router can do straight cuts like a circular saw, can handle curved cuts like a jigsaw, and can do several other things with a high degree of competency. The router's capabilities are determined by the bit that is used. If you wish to install t-molding on your cabinet, it is practically impossible to do so without using a t-molding bit in your router. If you wish to ensure both sides of your cabinet are identical, cutting one side and using a pattern bit or flush-trim bit to trace around the first side will cut a second piece of wood to the exact same shape. Cutting plexiglass with your router is also easier with your router and tends to encounter less problems.
Smaller routers, called trim or laminate routers, can also be used, and are perfectly acceptable for our purposes. Larger-shanked bits usually cannot be used, so be sure to check that the bits you wish to use come in the smaller-shanked versions.
Drill
Drills, drill bits, and screwdriver bits work to speed up fastening panels together. Some materials, such as MDF, should be pre-drilled, meaning a drill bit should be used to drill a hole before a screw is placed in that spot. Failure to do so can result in splitting the material. Many other materials require this step as well. Test yours to make sure.
When done with the predrilling step, using a screwdriver bit in your drill will speed up the insertion of screws as well. If your drill comes with several speeds, the lowest setting (usually #1) is designed to be used when driving screws. Higher speeds can set your screw too deep, potentially ruining the work you just did.
Random-orbit Sander
- Many types of wood dust are fine powders and are easily inhaled, causing short-term effects. Some, such as MDF, are TOXIC and can cause long-term health effects. Face masks to filter these dusts and irritants SHOULD ALWAYS BE WORN.
Hand sanding quickly becomes tedious and more often than not, will be ignored or given minimal attention because of this. A smooth paint/stain job is easier to obtain with a smooth surface, so a random-orbit sander speeds up this chore and makes it easier to complete.
Random-orbit sanders use random movements so as not to leave directional marks in what you are sanding. While this is not important in materials such as MDF where there is no direction, or "grain", materials such as plywood will show such marks, and may be difficult if not impossible to remove. If you are staining your project, this may show up through your finish, and can be an eyesore.
Another reason for a random-orbit sander is when mistakes happen. It is easier to sand off the layer of finish you just applied if something goes wrong, such as dust in the paint. A power sander will make this an easy repair.
