"Core Curriculum: Introductory Craft Skills," Vocabulary from Module Three

A claw hammer with a slightly rounded (or convex) face is called a bell-faced hammer. A skilled worker can use it to drive the nail head flush without damaging the surface of the work.

A ball-peen hammer is a type of hammer used in metalworking. It has a flat face for striking and a spherical or hemispherical head for peening (rounding off) metal or rivets.

The head of the sledgehammer is made of high-carbon steel and weighs 2 to 20 pounds (0.9 kg to 9 kg). The shape of the head and length of the handle depend on the job the sledgehammer is designed to do.

The cat's paw is a straight steel rod with a curved claw at one end. It is used to pull nails that have been driven flush with the surface of the wood or slightly below it. The chisel bar has a claw at each end and is ground to a chisel-like bevel (slant) on both ends. It can be used like a claw hammer to pull a nail. The wrecking bar (ripping bar, wonder bar, action bar) has a nail slot at the end to pull nails out from tightly enclosed areas.

They are used for heavy-duty dismantling of woodwork, such as tearing apart building frames or concrete forms. Some may have a deeply curved nail claw at one end for nail pulling. An angled, wedge-shaped face at the other end is used as a prying tool to pull apart materials that are nailed together.

Cold chisels are designed for hard materials such as steel or stone. Cross-cut chisels are used for cutting single grooves or a grid pattern when excessive material needs to be cut from a surface. The round nose (half-round) chisel is generally used for specialized work like forming flutes and channels. The diamond-pointed chisel is used for cleaning square internal angles and chipping through plates.

Firmer chisels for heavier work have rectangular cross-section blades. Paring chisels are longer and thinner than their counterparts so that they can reach deeper into long joints to clean them for a precise fit.

The center and prick punches are used to make small locating points for drilling holes. The straight or tapered punch is used to punch holes in thin sheets of metal.

The most common screwdrivers are slotted (also known as straight, flat, or standard tip) and the crosshead Phillips screwdriver.

The open-end wrench has an opening at each end that determines the size of the wrench. Box-end wrenches form a continuous circle around the head of a fastener. Combination wrenches have both an open end and a box end. Striking wrenches are similar to box-end wrenches but they also have a surface designed to be struck with a hammer to loosen large fasteners.

Although a fixed-jaw wrench is usually better and safer, an adjustable wrench is a good partner to non-adjustable types. In addition to the common adjustable wrench, there are pipe wrenches (used on all sizes of threaded pipes) and spud wrenches (for large nuts used in plumbing and piping).

Click-type torque wrenches are preset with the desired torque by adjusting the handle. Digital electronic torque wrenches display the desired unit of force needed to tighten a fastener. No-hub torque wrenches are calibrated at the factory.

Slip-joint pliers are used to hold and bend wire and to grip and hold objects during assembly operations. Long-nose (needle-nose) pliers are used to get into tight places where other pliers won't reach, or to grip parts that are too small to hold with your fingers. Lineman pliers, also known as side cutters, are typically used to cut heavy or large-gauge wire and to hold work.

They are especially handy for holding metal components together for welding, and for gripping a nut or bolt that has been rounded.

Flat steel rules can also be used as a straightedge for laying out lines and cutting. A tape measure blade has a concave (or curve) design to strengthen it when it is extended, helping it to hold its shape without bending. Wooden folding rules are better than a cloth or steel tape for measuring vertical distance. A laser measuring tool is a battery-powered, electronic version of a tape measure.

Spirit levels typically have three vials filled with alcohol. The center vial is used to check for level, and the two end vials are used to check for plumb. Some spirit levels, like the torpedo level, can show a true 45-degree angle. There are also digital and laser levels.

The try square has a fixed, 90-degree angle and is used mainly for woodworking. The rafter angle square is a combination protractor, try square, and framing square.

Backsaw--11-14 tpi; used for cutting joints.
Keyhole saw--7-8 tpi; used for cutting curves in wood, plywood, or wallboard; can also cut holes for pipes, vents, plugs, or switch boxes.
Coping saw--10-20 tpi; used for making irregular-shaped moldings fit together cleanly.
Hacksaw--14-32 tpi; designed to cut on the push stroke.

Two common types of handsaws are the crosscut saw and the ripsaw. The crosscut saw, which has 8 to 14 tpi, is designed to cut across the grain of wood, cutting slower but smoother than a ripsaw. The ripsaw has 5 to 9 tpi, and is designed to cut with the grain (parallel to the wood fibers), meeting less resistance than a crosscut saw.

A square-bladed shovel is used to move gravel or clean up construction debris. To use a square shovel, place the leading edge of the shovel blade against the gravel or construction debris and push until the shovel is loaded.

Depending on the size and strength of the pick, it can be used to break hardened or rocky soil, to level out stones and pavers, to loosen soil, and to break up stones and concrete. A mattock is similar to a pick but the wide blade makes it better for clearing tree roots.

A come-along is used to move loads horizontally over the ground for short distances.

C-clamps are strong and durable, providing great holding power. Locking C-clamp pliers work just like locking pliers. Spring clamps apply even pressure to the material. Bar clamps have pads that prevent damage to delicate surfaces such as finished woods. Pipe clamps are popular for large or wide clamping tasks.

Hand-screw clamps have wooden jaws that work independently and can spread pressure over a wider area than other clamps can. Web (strap, band) clamps use a belt-like canvas or nylon strap or band to apply even pressure around a bundle of material or similar applications.