The portable machine tools identified and described in this chapter are  intended for use by maintenance personnel in a shop or field environment. These lightweight, transportable machine tools, can quickly and easily be moved to the workplace to accomplish machining operations. The accuracy of work performed by portable machine tools is dependent upon the user's skill and experience.

     Portable machine tools are powered by self-contained electric motors or compressed air (pneumatic) from an outside source. They are classified as either cutting tool (straight and angle hand drills, metal sawing machines, and metal cutting shears) or finishing tools (sanders, grinders, and polishers).