Practical guide: Using hand tools
In workshops there are a range of common hand tools that can be used when working with different materials.
Hand tools
There several types of hand tools commonly used in workshops to process and manufacture products.
Saws and files
| Tool | Use | Material |
|---|---|---|
| Tenon saw | A brass back saw used for precision cuts such as woodwork joints | Wood |
| Coping saw | A tension saw that is used to cut on the back stroke to cut details and curves | Wood |
| Hack saw/ Junior hack saw | Tension saws that have replaceable blades | Wood, plastic, metal |
| Panel saw | A basic rip saw that is used for rough cutting | Wood |
| File | An abrasive hand tool the removes and shapes materials | Wood, plastic, metal |
| Abrafile | A saw with a file blade that allows to cut in different directions | Wood, plastic, metal |
| Rasp | Similar to a file but with bigger teeth. They are rough tool that requires more finishing work | Wood |
Drills
| Tool | Use | Material |
|---|---|---|
| Twist drill | A standard drill bit with two twisted, fluted cutting edges to remove material | Wood |
| Flat drill | Has a flat face, a pin at the bottom, and two cutting edges. Allows for a flat blind hole to be drill or larger diameter holes to be cut | Wood |
| Auger | Has a wider twist than a normal drill. It has a screw shaped end point. Not as clean cut as a twist or flat bit. It is used with a hand drill | Wood |
| Hole saw | Comprised of a twist drill surrounded by a large circular tube with a saw teeth. Allow for larger through-holes to be cut | Wood |
| Forstner bit | Used for drilling flat bottomed blind holes and is more stable to use than a flat bit | Wood |
Chisels, planes, and routers
| Tool | Use | Material |
|---|---|---|
| Bevel chisel | Has tapered angles that break away excess material away and give access tight corners | Wood |
| Firmer chisel | Has straight edges for direct chiselling | Wood |
| Mortice chisel | Designed for impact. Has a metal band called a ferrule on the end to stop the handle from splitting and a rubber support designed to absorb the shock from a mallet | Wood |
| Skew chisel | A long, flat, bevel-edged chisel with an angled tip used for turning spindles and for creating dovetail joints | Wood |
| Cold chisel | A hardened chisel used to shear metal | Metal |
| Plane | A hand tool that removes material and smoothes the surface of wood by removing shavings | Wood |
| Hand router | Used to create a housing joint. Has a chisel tooth and can be set to a fixed depth | Wood |
| Surform | Has a surface similar to a food grater. They can quickly shape wood but produce a rough surface | Wood |