LESSON 3: CLASSIFYING TYPES AND CHECKING THE CONDITION OF TOOLS
AND EQUIPMENT
Classification of Hand Tools
One of the classifications of the hand tools is the measuring tools. This
includes the pull-push rule, ruler, meter stick, try square, and caliper. Their
uses are mainly to get the measurements of the material or maintain their
dimensions. They are useful most of the time whenever you need to make sure of
the accuracy of measurement in your carpentry works.
A. Measuring tools
1. Pull-push Rule –a flexible tape that slides into a material case and it is used to measure
irregular and regular shapes.
2. Ruler –a 12-inch or one-foot rule and it is used to take or make simple measurements.
3. Meter Stick –used to measure a workpiece.
4. Try Square –used for squaring, measuring, testing, and checking adjacent surfaces for
squareness.
5. Caliper –used to transfer measurements from the rule to the work.
Some of these hand tools are commonly found in our houses, and even
in offices. Meanwhile, in measuring the dimension of any material, we used to
put a mark using marking and lining tool. Marking and lining tools are used to
draw layout, put patterns, or use as guide when working on our project.
B. Marking and Lining Tools
1. Pencil - used to layout or mark cutting lines.
2. Marking Gauge – made of wood or metal tool consisting of a beam, head and a point used to
mark a line parallel to the grain of the wood.
3. Chalk Line - used to establish a straight line on a surface.
4. Divider – a tool with two metal legs used to lay-out an arc circle or step off division on a line.
5. Compass - used to scribe arcs and circles in a metal wood.
When you want to maintain the accuracy and consistency of the
measurements of the project you are making, you need to use testing tools.
Without these testing tools, you might fail to produce a well-balanced output.
C. Testing Tools
1. Try Square – a tool used in measuring and checking the squareness of a wood.
2. Steel Square – a framing square used to mark out the work for squaring and checking of
angles and is used in the construction of roof framing and large furniture.
3. Spirit Level – a tool used for testing vertical and horizontal surfaces.
4. Plumb bob – a tool used to test the vertical and horizontal surfaces.
In some of our projects, especially when we need to flatten and to smoothen
the surfaces of the material like woods without any chemical application, we use
these edge-cutting tools. These edge cutting tools help to produce well-polished
surfaces and to shape our projects like wooden doors, tables, or chairs.
D. Edge-Cutting Tools
1. Chisel – a tool used to trim and shape wood.
2. Plane - used to obtain a smooth and flat surface.
3. Spokeshave – a small plane-like tool used in irregularly shaped objects.
4. Cabinet scraper – a rectangular piece of steel with two cutting edges used for working flat and
curved shapes
If you want to cut materials like iron and wood in a certain measurement,
the tooth-cutting tools are used. These tools are hand-based that you can use
easily.
E. Tooth-Cutting Tools
1. Cross-Cut Saw – a hand saw used to cut the wood across the grain.
2. Rip Saw – a hand saw used to cut the wood along the grain.
3. Back Saw – a hand saw with a metal back and used to cut plywood and in joinery.
4. Compass Saw - used to cut irregular shape either in large or small board.
5. Turning Saw - used to rip across and cut curves in lumber.
6. Coping Saw – a U-shaped saw used for cutting irregular shape in small board.
7. Dovetail Saw – a small back saw with a straight chisel type handle used to cut very fine joints.
In securing that the surface will not break when installing screws or when
nailing them, boring tools can be used to make a hole just enough to produce
friction to the nails or screws without breaking it.
F. Boring Tools
1. Auger bit - tool used to make hole in woods.
2. Expansive bit - tool used to drill holes of
various sizes in woods.
3. Drill Bit - tool used for boring holes either
in metals, woods, or plastics.
Holding tools are hand tools used to hold materials while you work on
them. Through these tools, you will be able to ensure that the material will be
positioned well.
G. Holding Tools
1. C-Clamp - used for holding together pieces of
lumber while working.
2. Bench Vise - used to hold any materials or
tools in place.
3. Bar Clamp - used to hold large boards or
frames together while assembling or gluing.
The Miscellaneous tools are the light hand tools which are particularly
used in some polishing or enhancing the quality of the output you can produce.
H. Miscellaneous Tools
1. Oil Stone - used for sharpening edges of cutting tools such as chisel.
2. Files - used to smoothen metal and wood surfaces.
3. Paint brush - used to apply paint or varnish on surfaces.
4. Nail Set - used to drive the head of nails lower than the surface of wood.
5. Saw Set - used to bend the upper half of each saw tooth to one side or the other to
form a set.
Most of the portable power tools are electric-based tools used in carpentry
works. These tools can help in finishing works easily. Using these tools can make a
quality and well-polished output.
I. Portable Power Tools
1. Sander – a portable power tool used for sanding furniture pieces.
2. Router - used for shaping surfaces and edges of furniture parts.
3. Jigsaw – a power tool used primarily for cutting curved or irregular shapes on wood surfaces.
4. Circular saw – a power saw used for many types of cutting particularly on large panel stock.
5. Electric Drill – a power drill is used to drill holes in various materials to perform a multitude
of tasks.
The last classification of hand tools is the driving tools. These tools are
necessary in the installation of screws and nails on wooden or any surface in
carpentry works.
J. Driving Tools
1. Claw Hammer - used to drive and pull out nails on wooden surfaces.
2. Mallet - made of wood or rubber used to drive other tools like chisel.
3. Nail Set - used in setting the head of a finishing nail below the surface of the wood.
4. Screwdriver - used to drive and loosen screws.
During your working time, protection must always be observed. Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) is particularly designed for the protection of the
sensitive parts of your body such as your eyes and skin. Try to look at some of
their examples.
K. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
1. Goggles - used to protect the eyes against flying debris and harmful liquids.
2. Ear Protector - used to protect the ears against high frequency noise.
3. Face Mask - used to prevent the inhalation of sprayed paint fumes.
4. Gloves - used to protect the hands while working.
5. Apron - used to protect the worker against dirt
Identifying Defective Tools
Defective tools can be harmful to use. These can cause serious injuries if still being used in
making projects. So, it is advisable to refrain from using defective tools once identified. When
defective tools are identified, attach an “Out of Service” tag with signature and date to protect
the users from any injury. However, the tag will be removed once the defective tools are repaired
with its receipt. Additionally, the receipt must contain the continuous monitoring of repairs, and
dates completed of the identified tools.
For hand tools, you can easily identify their defects when:
1. The chisels and wedges have mushroomed heads.
2. The tools have split or cracked in their handles.
3. The tools like drill bits are chipped or broken.
4. The wrenches have worn-out jaws.
5. The tools are not yet complete, such as tools without any protective handles.
For air, gas, or electric power tools, you can easily identify their defects when:
1. The tools have broken or dysfunctional guards.
2. The tools have insufficient or improper grounding due to damage on double-insulated tools.
3. The tools have no ground wires, on plugs, or cords of standard tools.
4. The on and off switches of the tools are not in good condition or not functional.
5. The tool blades are cracked.
6. The guard is wedged back on the power saw after the wrong grinder wheel is being used.
Procedure in Segregating and Labeling Non-functional Tools and Equipment
1. Conduct an inventory of tools and equipment.
2. Record the number of non-functional tools and equipment.
3. Segregate tools that are serviceable or unserviceable.
4. Report the number of tools and equipment that are non-functional but subject to repair.
5. Label tools and equipment which are condemnable.
6. Return tools and equipment in the tool cabinet as per operating procedures.
Procedure in Checking Condition of Personal Protective Equipment
1. Inspect any damaged or defective Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
2. Test the functionality of each PPE.
3. Separate the non-functional and functional PPE.
4. Repair/replace the non-functional PPE.
5. Report the condition or status of PPE
