Woodwork hand tools

There are six classes of wood work hand tools. They are:

1. Measuring tools
2. Marking out/setting out tools
3. Work holding tools
4. Boring tools
5. Cutting and paring tools
6. Driving tools.

The Work Bench

A very vital tool in the wood workshop upon which operations such as sawing, drilling, planning, chiseling and boring are all carried out.

Work bench fittings are:

1. Bench Stop is a provision made to prevent the work piece from slipping off the top surface of the work bench during planning.
2. Bench Hook is a device used to hold the job (or work piece) down during sawing or chiseling.
3. Bench Vice is a device that has a torsion bar for opening the jaws to allow a work piece to be held firmly between them. Usually more than one of this is fixed on the bench.

The Well is an important longitudinal hollow feature at the center of the work bench which serves as storage area for keeping bench tools during the process of work

Measuring Tools

Measurement is the first operation in woodwork. It is an activity that involves taking, checking and recording of distance between two points (or dimension) of object.

There are:

• Linear measurement and
• Angular measurement.

A linear measurement is when the two points are on a straight line. e.g. length, breadth and height. When there is bending in a size, then we have angular measurement.

Examples of measuring tools are metric rule, inside calipers, outside calipers, pairs of dividers etc.  Metal or wood has to be measured into the required lengths relevant to the expected construction before cutting and construction can be done.

Metric Rule: This is the simplest measuring tool in a woodwork workshop.  It is made of metal, wooden, plastic or coiled tape rule.

1. Calipers are measuring instruments that are used to measure the diameters of circular shapes. There are three types of calipers.

(i) Inside caliper is used for measuring the diameter of the inner parts of a circular object.

(ii) Outside caliper is used to measure the diameter of a cylindrical bar.

(iii) Odd-leg caliper is used to measure the center lines of round bars. This caliper is also called Jenny’s Caliper.

(iv) Vernier caliper

(v) Divider is similar to the actual place where it is needed.

2. Measuring tape:The measuring tape device is made up of a length of metal blade between 1.8m to 5.0m, which is coiled up inside housing.

3. The folding rule: It is a rule about 1.8m to 2.4m in length when fully extended. The entire is made up of several spring joints connecting short length of rule of rule, some model have extension slide for measuring tight areas such as doorways and window frames

EVALUATION

1. What is measuring tools?
2. What are calipers?

Setting and Marking Out Tools

Setting and marking out tools include try-square, sliding bevel, mitre rule, square, compass, etc.

The next operation after measurements in woodwork or metalwork is marking out of the beginning and end of such measured lengths.

1. Try square:It is used to mark lines that form a right angle. It is used to test the square-ness of an edge.

2. Sliding bevel:It is used for duplicating angles and for setting out bevels. The lines of such angles should not be 45⁰

3. Mitre square:The mitre square is also used to mark angles, particularly angle 45⁰

3. Compass: It is used to mark the arcs of a circle.

EVALUATION

1. Explain the function of the work bench.
2. Explain the function of try square.
3. What is next operation after measurement?