Peanut butter & jelly, bacon & eggs, burger & fries……..Like any great combination, power tools need the perfect accompaniment to make a job go smoothly and safely.  Choosing the right accessory to get a job done well will enable you to work faster and put less strain on your power tool.

As a power tool user, you really need to think about the job at hand and what you want the outcome to be.  For example, if you are using a grinder, what type of grinding wheel do I need – one that will easily grind a large surface area or one that can be used for more precise work?  Am I choosing the right diameter disc?  Do I need a cutting wheel or a grinding wheel – these types of wheels cannot be interchanged.  Do I have the accessory mounted correctly?

Metabo offers many different types of wheels including a ‘one-stop-shop’ accessory – the Combinator.  This unique wheel is designed for performance and safety and eliminates the need to change abrasive wheels during cutting and grinding applications. With the Combinator wheel, one grinder can be used for two applications.

The Combinator is ideal for cutting, deburring and light grinding. It cuts quickly and with three full layers of fiberglass.  It makes quick, clean and straight cuts in stainless steel, steel, alloy steels, hardened steels, pipe, tube and solids.  This specially formulated wheel is contaminant-free, making it perfect for stainless steel grinding and cutting applications.

If you are using a saw for a project, what saw blade should I choose?  Do I want a clean precise cut or one that is fast?  Is the blade made for cutting wood, metal, stone or other materials and does it match the task at hand?

Once you have gone through your mental checklist and how it pertains to the project you’re working on, it is then essential to read the information on the name plate of the tool.  This will offer you relevant information like the speed of the tool.  It is important to match the accessory with the speed of the tool for optimal performance and safety.

It should go without saying – READ THE OWNER’S MANUAL for your tool – we all know lots of folks don’t do this so we feel we need to mention it. This not only offers excellent information about the tool and how to operate it safely, it also gives you all the information you need to select the appropriate accessories for your tool.

There is one final step to take and that is to perform a test before actually starting on the project you’re working on.  This ensures that the accessory is mounted correctly and working properly, validating you have made a good choice.

Once you get done properly accessorizing your tools and the work day goes smoothly and safely, you can go out and enjoy another great combination – pizza & beer!!!!!