Types, Uses and Care of Woodwork Hand Tools for JSS 1

Machines and Tools: Woodwork Hand Tools

Performance Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. identify different types of woodwork hand tools;
2. describe woodwork hand tools;
3. use woodwork hand tools to make simple technology products: measuring ruler, chop board etc. (End of Term Project);
4. care and maintain woodwork hand tools.

Meaning of Woodwork Hand Tools

Woodwork hand tools are portable devices operated manually by human effort to cut, shape, measure, mark, hold or join wooden materials.

Unlike power tools, these instruments do not require electricity, batteries or engines to function. They rely entirely on the physical strength, control and skill of the woodworker.

Types and Descriptions of Woodwork Hand Tools

Woodwork hand tools are classified into different groups based on their specific functions in the workshop. These groups include measuring tools, setting and marking out tools, driving tools, boring tools, holding devices, and cutting and paring tools.

1. Measuring Tools

Measuring tools are instruments used to determine the dimensions, lengths, widths or thicknesses of wood before cutting or shaping begins.

Common measuring tools include:

1. Steel Rule: A rigid or flexible strip of tempered steel marked with measurements in millimetres, centimetres and inches, used to measure lengths accurately and draw straight lines.
2. Tape Measure: A flexible, retractable ribbon of metal or plastic housed in a case, used for measuring longer distances on wooden planks.

2. Setting and Marking Out Tools

Setting and marking out tools are used to transfer measurements onto the wood by drawing lines, angles or points where cuts and joints will be made.

Common setting and marking out tools include:

1. Try Square: An L-shaped tool with a thick wooden or metal stock and a thin steel blade, used to test the squareness of edges and to draw lines at exact right angles (90 degrees) to an edge.
2. Marking Gauge: A wooden tool with a sliding stem, a stock and a sharp metal pin, used to scribe lines parallel to a straight edge on a wooden board.
3. Pencil: A standard workshop pencil with thick lead, used to make visible marks and lines on the surface of the wood.

3. Driving Tools

Driving tools are instruments used to force other objects, such as nails, screws or dowels, into wood, or to strike other tools like chisels.

Common driving tools include:

1. Claw Hammer: A tool with a heavy metal head containing a flat face for driving nails and a curved claw for pulling out unwanted or bent nails.
2. Mallet: A hammer-like tool with a large wooden or rubber head, used to strike wooden chisels or assemble wooden joints without damaging the wood surface.
3. Screwdriver: A tool with a shaped tip designed to fit into the head of a screw, turned clockwise to tighten or counter-clockwise to loosen screws. Common types include flat-head and Phillips (star) screwdrivers.

4. Boring Tools

Boring tools are used to make circular holes in wood for screws, dowels, bolts or decorative designs.

Common boring tools include:

1. Wood Brace (or Ratchet Brace): A hand-operated tool with a cranked handle that holds and rotates drill bits to bore large holes in wood.
2. Bradawl: A small hand tool with a sharp, pointed metal tip and a wooden handle, used to make small starter holes for screws or nails to prevent the wood from splitting.

5. Holding Devices

Holding devices are tools used to grip, clamp or secure pieces of wood firmly in place on a workbench while cutting, planing, drilling or gluing.

Common holding devices include:

1. G-Cramp (or C-Clamp): A G-shaped metal clamp with a screw mechanism, used to hold small pieces of wood together or secure them to a workbench.
2. Sash Cramp: A long metal bar with an adjustable jaw and a screw jaw, used to hold large wooden frames, doors or boards together during gluing.
3. Bench Vice: A heavy clamping device permanently attached to a workbench, used to hold wood securely during sawing, chiselling or planing.

6. Cutting and Paring Tools

Cutting and paring tools are used to cut wood into smaller sizes, shape edges, or shave off thin layers of wood to create smooth surfaces and joints.

Common cutting and paring tools include:

1. Tenon Saw: A hand saw with a stiff brass or steel back along the top of the blade, used for making straight, accurate cuts in small pieces of wood and joints.
2. Rip Saw: A larger hand saw with coarse teeth, used for cutting along the grain of large wooden planks.
3. Chisel: A tool with a sharp, bevelled cutting edge at the end of a metal blade, used with a mallet to pare away wood or cut out joints.

Uses and Functions of Woodwork Hand Tools

Each woodwork hand tool is designed for a specific task. Using the correct tool for the job ensures safety, accuracy and a high-quality finish.

The table below outlines the primary functions of common woodwork hand tools:

Care and Maintenance of Woodwork Hand Tools

Proper care and maintenance of woodwork hand tools prevent damage, ensure safety during use, and extend the lifespan of the tools.

Important care and maintenance practices include:

1. Cleaning after Use: Wipe dust, wood shavings and sweat off the tools with a clean, dry cloth after every workshop session.
2. Rust Prevention: Apply a thin layer of light machine oil to metal parts of tools, such as saw blades, chisels and clamps, to prevent rust.
3. Sharpening: Keep cutting tools, such as chisels and saws, sharp. Dull tools require more force to use and can slip, causing accidents.
4. Proper Storage: Store tools in designated toolboxes, racks or cabinets. Do not pile tools on top of each other, as this can dull sharp edges.
5. Handle Maintenance: Replace cracked or loose wooden handles on hammers, mallets and chisels immediately to prevent the tool head from flying off during use.
6. Correct Tool Usage: Use each tool only for its intended purpose. For example, do not use a screwdriver as a chisel or a mallet to drive metal nails.

How to Sketch Woodwork Hand Tools

Sketching is an important skill in woodwork. It helps woodworkers plan their designs and identify tools easily. Simple line drawings showing the basic shape and parts of a tool are sufficient.

The procedure for sketching a woodwork hand tool involves the following steps:

1. Observe the tool carefully to understand its basic geometric shapes (for example, a hammer head is a cylinder and its handle is a long cuboid).
2. Use a sharp pencil to draw light guidelines representing the overall length and width of the tool.
3. Sketch the main body or handle of the tool first, keeping the proportions realistic.
4. Add the specific details, such as the claw of a hammer, the teeth of a saw, or the thread of a clamp.
5. Darken the final outlines and erase any unnecessary guidelines.
6. Label the key parts of the tool clearly using straight leader lines.

Practical Project: Making a Simple Chopping Board

Making a simple chopping board is an excellent project to practice using woodwork hand tools. This project involves measuring, marking out, cutting, paring and finishing a piece of wood.

The required materials and tools are:

1. A flat piece of hardwood (such as mahogany or obeche) measuring about 300 mm by 200 mm, with a thickness of 20 mm
2. Steel rule
3. Try square
4. Pencil
5. Tenon saw
6. G-cramp
7. Wood chisel and mallet
8. Sandpaper (coarse and fine grades)
9. Vegetable oil or beeswax for finishing

The procedure involves the following steps:

1. Measuring and Marking: Use the steel rule and pencil to measure a length of 300 mm and a width of 200 mm on the wooden board. Use the try square to draw straight lines across the wood at 90 degrees to ensure the corners are square.
2. Securing the Wood: Clamp the wooden board firmly to the workbench using a G-cramp to prevent it from moving during cutting.
3. Cutting: Use the tenon saw to cut carefully along the marked lines. Keep the saw at a low angle and use steady, even strokes.
4. Paring the Edges: Use a wood chisel and mallet to round off the sharp corners of the board slightly, or to smooth out any rough spots on the edges.
5. Sanding: Wrap coarse sandpaper around a small block of wood and sand all surfaces of the board to remove rough saw marks. Switch to fine sandpaper to make the surfaces completely smooth.
6. Finishing: Wipe away all wood dust with a clean cloth. Apply a thin coat of food-safe vegetable oil or beeswax to protect the wood and bring out its natural beauty. Let it dry completely.

Review Questions

Answer the following questions to test understanding of the topic:

1. Explain how to identify woodwork hand tools in a workshop.
2. Describe the functions of the following tools: Try square, Sash cramp, Wood brace, and Tenon saw.
3. Sketch a claw hammer and label the head, claw and handle.
4. Outline four important practices for the care and maintenance of woodwork hand tools.
5. List the tools required to make a simple wooden chopping board.