How tools actually work, and how to choose one
A random orbital sander moves its round pad in two ways at once: it spins in a circle and it wobbles off-centre, so no single point on the disc ever travels the same path twice. That randomness is what stops it leaving the curved swirl marks other sanders create, which is why it’s the sander … Read more
A jigsaw is best at cutting curves, circles and irregular shapes in sheet material and boards, and at cutouts where the blade needs to plunge into the middle of a panel. It struggles with long dead-straight cuts, thick hardwood, and any job where a clean, splinter-free edge matters more than flexibility. What is a jigsaw … Read more
A circular saw is built to make fast, straight cuts through sheet goods and dimensional lumber — ripping a sheet of plywood down to size, cutting a stack of studs to length, trimming a door. It struggles with curves, intricate shapes, very short pieces, and cuts that need factory-level flatness or precision. What is a … Read more
About what you read here. Everything on Find Tool is general information and our own editorial opinion. We research carefully and we say when the evidence is unclear, but we can be wrong, things change, and no article can know your particular situation. Please do your own research and make your own judgement rather than treating anything here as the final word. Prices, products and specifications around tools and workshop equipment change constantly, and what suits one person will not suit another. Check current details yourself, and where a decision involves real money, safety or something you cannot undo, it is worth confirming with the manufacturer, or a qualified electrician or tradesperson before you act.