Variable speed control for a hand-held electric power tool

A power tool (20, 50) has a variable speed control circuit (24, 54) that comprises a user operable switch (25, 55), a motor (22, 52) and a thyristor (26, 56) connected in series between a pair of power supply terminals (47, 48). A manually variable resistor (36, 66) is connected between a first electrode (27, 57) of the thyristor (26, 56) and a circuit node (40, 70). A capacitor (42, 72) is coupled between the circuit node (40, 70) and the second thyristor electrode (28, 58). A bleed-off resistor (32, 62) is between second thyristor electrode (28, 58) and the circuit node (40, 70) to provide a path for discharging the capacitor (42, 72) when the user operable switch (25, 55) is open. A semiconductor trigger device (44, 74), such as a diac or silicon trigger switch, couples the circuit node (40, 70) to the thyristor gate electrode (29, 59). The circuit operation ensures that the capacitor (42, 72) charges from substantially the same voltage level at the start of each half-cycle during which the thyristor (26, 56) is to be turned on.