Two blades can be used with the same circular saw and behave in entirely different ways. One blade cuts cleanly through a melamine-faced board, while another one will tear the face off. Two bits can both fit into the same drill but only one of them will do any good drilling through a concrete lintel.
The tool supplies the power but the accessory does the work. Its design needs to match the material and the process you plan to carry out. In this guide, we'll be selecting the power tool accessories based on the material you will be working with.
Fitting the tool is the last step, not the first. Start with the material and the operation you have to perform, which can be cutting, drilling, grinding, sanding or creating an opening. Then consider how thick and hard the material is, the finish you require and how fast speed ranks compared to finish.
Material compatibility is important even after you've selected the right accessory type. The accessory designed for steel or masonry will not necessarily fit all tools used on that material. You need to consider the dimensions, the mounting system and the accessory manufacturer's requirements for your tool.
"Wood" includes softwood, hardwood, plywood, MDF and chipboard, and the accessory type depends on the operation you need to perform.
The number of teeth and their design affect the cutting speed, finish and splintering. Fewer teeth and large ones will provide faster cutting with a rougher finish, which is great for framing. On the other hand, more teeth provide a finer finish when cutting sheet goods and trim. Coated boards and laminates create their own chipping problems, hence special blades for these materials.
The size and finish of the hole determine the bit you should use. Twist and brad point bits work well for general holes, flat bits are perfect for quick holes in joists and Forstner bits produce clean, flat-bottomed holes for hinges and fittings.
The abrasive you need depends on the amount of material you want to remove, the surface you are starting from and the finish you are trying to achieve. Stripping old paint and preparing bare oak for oil require two very different discs.
Metal requires more specific identification. Mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium are different materials with their own characteristics. Hence, different accessories will be required for each of them.
Use bits made for drilling metal instead of general-purpose bits. You need to match them to the material and the hole size. Cobalt HSS bits are frequently used for stainless steel, as it hardens and generates heat when drilling.
Depending on the tool you have, you will either need a bi-metal reciprocating saw blade, a thin cutting disc in a grinder or a special metal cutting blade in a chop saw. Stainless steel will normally require discs designed for it.
Cutting, stock removal and surface finishing are different operations, even when performed on the same grinder. A thin cutting disc is not supposed to be used for side grinding, and a flap disc designed for blending cannot cut through a bracket. There are different types of angle grinder disc for different purposes. The tool does not decide the accessory. The material and the operation do.
Masonry is an abrasive and hard material, and accessories designed for timber or metal cannot cope with it.
Carbide-tipped masonry bits are used for brick and block in a combi drill in hammer mode. Harder concrete and larger holes require SDS bits in an SDS drill.
Drilling soil pipes or ducting openings requires diamond core bits, which are described in our diamond core drilling guide.
Diamond blades and cup wheels are designed for specific materials. The blade suitable for hard concrete may perform poorly with abrasive block, and vice versa. Check the blade's material suitability instead of assuming that any diamond blade will cut any masonry.
Tiles require a specific approach as chipping, cracking and edge quality are as important as cutting through. Ceramic wall tiles are relatively soft and can be easily drilled with tile bits. Porcelain is much harder and denser, and it will normally require diamond-tipped bits for porcelain. Natural stones differ from one another as well. Cutting and larger openings follow the same pattern, requiring diamond blades and diamond hole cutters for the specific tile.
The message is to identify the actual material instead of relying on "masonry".
There are some materials that don't fit the major categories. Plastics, laminated boards, composite decking and coated sheet products present different challenges with heat, melting, chipping or finish. The rules are different for various products, so you need to check the accessory manufacturer's compatibility with the material you are working with.
"What's the best accessory for timber?" is a too broad question. A single piece of timber may require four different accessories.
| Operation on Timber | Accessory Involved |
|---|---|
| Cutting to length | A saw blade suitable for the cut and finish |
| Drilling for fittings | A bit suitable for the hole size and finish |
| Fixing | A driver bit suitable for the screw head |
| Finishing | An abrasive suitable for the surface and finish |
Metal work is similar, as it may involve drilling, cutting, grinding and finishing accessories. The question you need to ask is what accessory suits this operation on this particular material.
Selecting the accessory based on the material is only one part of the decision-making process. You need to check the dimensions, mounting/fitting system, tool capacity, any speed rating and instructions for both the tool and the accessory. Ensure that the accessory is designed for the specific tool.
It matters the most for discs and other rotating accessories. Just because the disc physically fits the grinder doesn't mean it is rated for it.
The worn out accessory suitable for the operation can perform so poorly that it may look like the wrong accessory choice. If the performance has deteriorated comparing to the previous operation with the same accessory, check the condition of the accessory before concluding that the accessory type is inappropriate.
Identify the material, then the operation and the result you need. Choose the accessory type suitable for this combination and ensure that it is compatible with your tool.
Selecting the accessory based on the tool is a sure recipe for poor performance. However, not every job requires a specialized accessory. For simple operations, the general-purpose accessory is frequently perfectly suitable when the manufacturer specifies it for that material and application.
Q1. Can I use the same saw blade for different materials?
A1. Some blades are designed for several materials, while others are specific for one. Check the blade's material suitability and compatibility with your saw.
Q2. What drill bit should I use for wood, metal and masonry?
A2. Each of them usually requires a specially designed bit, like wood bits, HSS metal bits and carbide-tipped masonry bits. The hole size, tool and application also matter.
Q3. Can I use the same cutting disc for metal and concrete?
A3. Only if the manufacturer specifies it for both. Discs are not interchangeable just because they fit the same grinder, so check the applications.
Q4. Do porcelain tiles require different accessories from ceramic tiles?
A4. Usually, yes. Porcelain is harder and denser than most ceramic tiles, so check the accessory suitability for the specific tile material.
Q5. How do I know if the accessory is compatible with my power tool?
A5. Check the dimensions, mounting system, tool capacity, any speed rating and the manufacturer's specifications for both. Fitting physically is not the same as being suitable.
Q6. Are multi-material power tool accessories worth using?
A6. They are practical if designed for the materials involved, especially for mixed jobs. For repeated or demanding work in one material, a dedicated accessory may make more sense.