Hand Tools

Question 1

What is a steel rule?

Answer 1

Steel rules are more accurate than plastic rulers. Steel rules measurements start at the beginning of the rule unlike plastic rulers whose measurements start around half a centimeter from the beginning.

Question 2

What is a tape measure

Answer 2

A tape measure or measuring tape is a flexible ruler used to measure larger pieces of timber such as sheets or planks. It is a common measuring tool.

Question 3

What is a try-square?

Answer 3

The woodworkers try-square is composed of two main parts - the stock and the blade.

A brass face is added to the stock to ensure a straight edge.

It’s generally used to mark straight lines and check angles are 90°

Question 4

Describe a marking gauge

Answer 4

A marking gauge is used to mark a line parallel to a straight edge. . The marking gauge is an extremely important tool for marking parallel lines and preparing for cutting joints.

Question 5

What is a marking knife

Answer 5

A marking knife is a woodworking layout tool. It is used to scribe a line to be followed by a hand saw or chisel when making woodworking joints and other operations.

Question 6

Describe a mortise gauge

Answer 6

The mortise gauge is a special type of marking gauge and it is used to mark wood so that a mortise can be cut into it.

The mortise is marked out using the mortise gauge although it must be set to the correct size of mortise chisel very carefully. A mortise chisel is then used to remove the waste wood.

Question 7

Describe a sliding bevel

Answer 7

The sliding bevel is composed of two parts, the stock and the blade. This is useful when a line has to be marked at an angle on wood.

Question 8

Describe a dovetail templated

Answer 8

A dovetail template is used for accurate marking of a Dovetail joint.

Question 9

What is a hand drill used for?

Answer 9

These are used for drilling a range of sizes of hole and they are very useful especially if machine drills are not available. The hand drill generally holds drill sizes from 1mm to 9mm whilst the brace will hold larger drill bits called ‘forstner bits’ and ‘auger bits’

Question 10

Summarise how a hand drill is used

Answer 10

When using these drills, always hold them so that they are vertical and turn the handles in a clockwise direction. The common mistake is to turn the handles anticlockwise as this makes it almost impossible to drill even the smallest holes.

Question 11

What is a screwdriver?

Answer 11

Screwdrivers are the basic tools for rotating screws with special slots of different types in their heads (screwing and unscrewing operations).

Typically a screwdriver consists of two parts: a handle on the one hand and a blade on the other.

Question 12

What is the most important part of using a screwdriver

Answer 12

The most important thing in using a screwdriver is to select the appropriate tip and size to fit the fastener’s head. Never use the screwdrivers inappropriate to the selected type of screws.

Question 13

Name 4 types of screwdriver

Answer 13

Bradawl
Pozidriv
Phillips
Slotted

Question 14

What is the purpose of planes

Answer 14

The general purpose of all planes is to smooth rough surfaces, tidy up joint work or take a piece of material down to desired thickness. Planes generally remove very thin or small pieces of material.

Question 15

Name atleast 4 types of plane

Answer 15

Jack plane
Small block plane
Smoothing plane
Bullnose plane
Rebate plane
Combination/Plough plane
Router plane

Question 16

Describe the jack plane

Answer 16

. It has a steel body and because it is heavier than the wood block plane it is easier to hold down on the surface of the wood being planed. It is used to plane longer pieces of wood.

Question 17

Describe the small block plane

Answer 17

This is a small version of a wood block plane and it is used for light work such as producing ‘chamfers’. It is normally held and used in one hand.

Question 18

Describe the smoothing plane

Answer 18

A shorter version of the steel jack plane. It is used for general work such as smoothing short pieces of wood. It is lighter and smaller than the jack plane

Question 19

Describe the bullnose plane

Answer 19

This is used to plain right into corners. The blade can be seen to go almost up to the end of the plane’s body and consequently very little material is missed in a corner.

Question 20

Describe the rebate plane

Answer 20

Used for producing shoulders or rebates.

Question 21

Describe the combination/plough plane

Answer 21

Used in a similar way to a rebate plane. It can be used for creating a shoulder/rebate on the edge of a piece of wood. This plane has an advantage over the rebate plane as it is adjustable for different widths.

Question 22

Describe the Router plane

Answer 22

A router plane is a plane used for smoothing out sunken panels, and more generally for all depressions below the general surface of the pattern. It planes the bottoms of recesses to a uniform depth and can work into corners that otherwise can only be reached with a chisel.

Question 23

Describe the spokeshave

Answer 23

A spokeshave is a tool used to shape and smooth woods in woodworking jobs such as making wheel cart wheel spokes, chair legs, paddles, bows, and arrows.

Question 24

Name 3 types of hammer

Answer 24

Ball pein hammer
Pin hammer
Claw hammer

Question 25

Describe the ball pein hammer

Answer 25

The Ball Pein hammer is used mainly by engineers. It is a general hammer, but has certain specific uses. One such use is cold riveting.

Question 26

Describe the pin hammer

Answer 26

A Pin Hammer is a light-wieght hammer, with a ‘thin head’, ideal for hammering panel pins in place. .

Question 27

Describe the claw hammer

Answer 27

This is a general hammer, preferred by those working in wood. Ideal for hammering nails, with the claw being designed to remove nails from wood.

Question 28

Describe pincers

Answer 28

Pincers are a hand tool used in many situations where a mechanical advantage is required to pinch, cut or pull an object. Pincers are first-class levers, but differ from pliers in that the concentration of force is either to a point, or to an edge perpendicular to the length of the tool.

Question 29

How is a wooden mallet used?

Answer 29

A wooden mallet is used to hit the handle of a chisel to remove waste material from a woodwork joint.

Question 30

Name 3 types of chisel

Answer 30

bevel edges chisel
Firmer chisel
Mortise chisel

Question 31

Describe bevel edged chisels

Answer 31

Bevel edged chisels are slightly undercut making them easy to push into corners. They are normally used for finishing dovetail joints.

Question 32

Describe firmer chisels

Answer 32

Firmer chisels have a blade with a rectangular cross-section. This means that they are stronger and can be used for tougher/heavier work.

Question 33

Describe the mortise chisel

Answer 33

Mortise chisels are used for ‘chopping out’ joints (chiselling away the waste wood). They are particularly useful for cutting mortise joints as they are strong enough to withstand heavy blows with a mallet.
The handle is normally made of ash or beech with a steel hoop at the top to stop it splitting

Question 34

Name 5 types of saw

Answer 34

Tenon saw
Dovetail saw
Coping saw
Cross cut saw
Ripsaw

Question 35

Describe the tenon saw

Answer 35

A tenon saw is used for general cutting of straight cuts into wood.

Question 36

Describe the gent saw (dovetail saw)

Answer 36

A Gent saw is a smaller version of the tenon saw for more intricate cuts.

Question 37

Describe the coping saw

Answer 37

A coping saw is used for cutting a range of woods. A coping saw allows you to cut unusual and curved shapes.

Question 38

Describe the cross-cut saw

Answer 38

A cross-cut saw is used to cut across the grain of wood.

Question 39

Describe the ripsaw

Answer 39

Although these saws look similar to a panel saw, they are designed to cut parallel to the grain.

Question 40

Describe the power drill

Answer 40

A power drill is an electrical motor that rotates a replaceable drill bit to make a hole in wood, plastic, or metal. Alternately, a screwdriver tip can be installed to turn screws. Drill bits are placed into the Chuck and held securely

Question 41

Describe sheet sanders

Answer 41

Sheet sanders are designed to work with partial sheets of standard sandpaper

Sheet sanders should be used in the direction of the grain to avoid scratching.

Question 42

Describe orbital sanders

Answer 42

orbital sanders require round disks, typically attached to the sander base with either adhesive or hook-and-loop type fasteners.

Question 43

Describe the power screwdriver

Answer 43

A power screwdriver works in very much the same way as a power drill, however its purpose is to insert screws or fixings into a pre-drilled hole.