Hand tools are compact, portable tools used for tasks such as cutting, grinding, shaping and fastening. Hand tools do not depend on external power supply and operate on mechanical energy. They are generally a part of every house-hold, corporate or workshop tool-kit as they are convenient to use.
In this article we discuss the categories, the functions of commonly used hand tools such
as screw-drivers, wrenches and hole saws and list their uses.
Driving and Fastening tools:
- Screw drivers
A screw driver is used to turn screws with a rotational force or torque. The most common screw driver is the flathead, that has a single, sharp wedge shaped blade at the tip. It is generally used in carpentry and woodwork and for traditional slotted screw heads. For general household assembly tasks, the Philips screwdriver with a cross( ‘X’ ) head is common.
There are many other types of screwdrivers used for specific functions such as Star or Hex or Square screw drivers. An Offset is another specialsed L shaped screw driver that is used for assembly in tight spaces.
- Hammers
Hammers are hand tools that operate through delivery of blows or hammering action and are commonly used for shaping materials and driving nails.
The most basic form of hammer used in carpentry is the claw hammer. It has a claw on one side to pull nails and a flat surface on the other to deliver blows to a surface.
A Ball Peen Hammer, used by metal workers to shape metal has a flat striking face on one side and a rounded “peen” on the other.
A Sledgehammer is a large, heavy tool with a long handle and is used for
demolition. Other types of hammers include a rubber mallet available for use on soft surfaces and a lump hammer that can be used when a sledge hammer is too heavy for the task at hand.
- Wrenches
Wrenches are hand or power tools that are used to turn nuts or bolts or pipes to fasten them.
An adjustable wrench with a movable jaw to fit different sizes is a common household implement. A combination wrench with an open jaw on one side and a closed mouth on the other is also quite a versatile tool.
Cutting and Shaping tools
- Hand saws
Saws are tools that are designed to cut wood, metal and plastic. Depending on the material they are used to cut and the type of cut there are different types of saws. Hacksaws are commonly used to cut metal and plastic whereas a cross cut saw and ridge saw are used to
cut wood.
A key hole saw has a narrow , pointed blade that can be used in narrow, interior spaces. A hole saw is a specialized cutting attachment to drill holes. It is more commonly used with power drills.
- Chisels
A tool with a wedge shaped blade that is used for carving and scraping materials such as wood, metal and masonry. Chisels are classified into different types based on the materials they are used on. The wood chisels are used for cutting joints and carving details in wood.
Cold chisels are made of steel and used to chip metals. Masonry chisels are used to remove old tiles or sharpen edges of concrete.
- File
A file is a metallic tool with a ridge that is used to shape and smoothen wood, plastic or metal surfaces. There are many different types of files based on the type of surface they are used on such as flat, curved or angular. The general purpose flat files are most common and are used for filing a flat-surface, smoothing edges, and removing any burrs from the surface.
Gripping and Holding tools
1.Pliers are hand tools that can be used for cutting, bending, detaching, turning and holding. Pliers also find use in specialised work like jewellery making. One of the commonly used varieties of pliers are the slip joint pliers that are used for a variety of functions such as crimping, cutting and bending. There are other types of pliers such as snap pliers that can be used with snap rings, locking pliers that provide a strong grip, cutting pliers and other specialised varieties such as pliers with thin jaws and pliers for use with pumps.
- Clamps
Clamps are fastening tools and help keep the work surface or object in place. C or G shaped clamps with adjustable screws are one of the most common types. There are many other types such as T-bar clamp, vice clamp, spring clamp and others. The choice depends on the task and the object to be clamped.
Measuring and Marking tools
An absolute must in a tool box are a measuring tame and a marking square for taking measurements and marking angles.
1.Measuring tape: It is a long ribbon tape, made of metal with measuring units marked on it in inches and metric units to use for measuring. It can be rolled and easily stored in the tool box.
2.Square: A carpenter’s square is a tool used for marking a right angle.
These are some of the common hand tools that would be seen as a boon to a DIY enthusiast or equally for a professional.
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