Hand Tools Buying Guide

Hand tools is a broad term used to identify tools which are operated manually, meaning you are doing all of the work and the tool is there to aid you. There are many different hand tools, as well as many hand tools that are very similar to each other.

Hammers

Hammers are meant for driving nails, fitting parts or breaking up objects. They are often designed for a specific purpose and vary widely in their shape and structure. While most Hammers belong outside in the tool shed, there are a few that may have a place in the home.

Carpenter's hammers include hammers used for framing and woodworking.

• Framing hammer- framing hammers have milled faces, long handles and heavy heads, used for driving large nails into dimensional wood quickly.
• Claw hammer- claw hammers have a curved head. One side is flat with a smooth or textured surface and the other curves down and splits, creating a "V" shape. These hammers are associated with woodworking but they are not limited to just this purpose.

For most "around the house" work, keeping a claw hammer in the kitchen isn't such a bad idea, but you will probably want a smaller version (sometimes called a "finishing hammer") since the regular sizes are quite large and heavy.

Upholstery hammers are used to secure upholstery fabric to furniture frames. They use tacks and not nails; hence their nick-name "tack hammer." They are lightweight, with one face magnetized to help the wielder. Staple guns have replaced tacking in most upholstery.

Construction hammers include sledgehammers. A sledgehammer has a large flat heat, typically made of metal. These hammers are capable of delivering more power over a wider area, due to their size. They are typically used in construction work, especially for breaking through walls, such as drywall and brick (masonry).

Also known as an engineer's hammer, ball-peen hammers are a type of peening (see terminology section below) hammer used for metalworking. They have a flat face at one end of the head and a "ball" at the other end. For mechanics, a ball-peen hammer is great for making gaskets or driving drift pins. Look for other useful mechanic's tools in the auto tools department.

Cross-peen hammers, called Warrington hammers, are used in cabinetry. They are a versatile hammer used for driving small nails and brads for light joinery work. They are named for their place of origin: Warrington, England.

Mallets, like sledgehammers, are capable of delivering more power over a widespread area. Mallets are hammers with heads made of softer materials than steel to avoid damaging or marring delicate surfaces.

• Rubber mallets are used to deliver a softer blow. They are typically used to form sheet metal, force tight-fitting parts together or shift plasterboard.
• Wooden mallets are used primarily in carpentry to knock wooden pieces together.
• Copper and leaden mallets are used on machinery to apply force without damaging parts or creating sparks.
• Meat mallets are made from wood or metal and are used to tenderize or flatten meat. They are two-sided, one with slight bumps and the other with pronounced protrusions. They can also be made from plastic. Meat mallets are great for preparing some types of meals. Keep a small mallet in your home.

Screwdrivers

Screwdrivers are designed to insert and tighten or loosen and remove screws. The most common screwdriver heads are flathead, cross-point and hex. They come in a variety of sizes to match the different screw sizes. From tiny jeweler's screwdrivers to large screwdrivers; you can easily find any size you'll need.

Pliers

Pliers are designed mostly for gripping objects. They are also used to grip, turn, pull or crimp, and there are many different types of pliers.

• Flat-nosed pliers are used for gripping. These pliers are stronger than needle-nosed pliers.
• Needle-nosed pliers have long, narrow jaws for gripping. They work especially well in confined places. Typically they include a cutter for convenience.
• Round-nosed pliers are sometimes called snub-nosed pliers. These pliers are also used for gripping.
• Locking pliers are also called "vise grips" or "mole grips" and provide a locking grip.
• Wire cutting or stripping pliers can cut wires or remove insulation on electrical wires.
• Crimping pliers are used for crimping electrical terminals and connectors, crimping metal rings or tags on livestock, crimping metal security seals on cargo, crimping laboratory vials and bottles, etc. They can also be used to create an impression on a document, such as a notary's seal. Crimping pliers are often used in jewelry making, too.

Wrenches and Sockets

Wrenches and sockets are tools used to apply torque to turn bolts, nuts or other hard-to-turn items. Sockets may have either a six-point or twelve-point recess and be shallow or deep.

• Open-end wrenches are the most common type of wrench. This is a one-piece wrench with an opening that resembles a "U." They are often double-ended with a different sized opening at the other end.
• Box-end wrenches are one-piece with an enclosed opening that grips the bolt or nut. The recess is generally a six-point or twelve-point opening.
• Mole grips aren't actually wrenches. They are a type of self-locking pliers.
• Monkey wrenches are an old type of adjustable-end wrench with a straight handle and smooth jaws.
• Pipe wrenches are an adjustable-end wrench that self-tightens. They have hard serrated jaws that securely grip soft iron pipes and pipe fittings.
• Socket wrenches have a hollow cylinder that fit over the head end of a nut or bolt. Socket wrenches can include a handle, but they are usually used with different drive tools, such as break-over handles, ratchet handles, speed handles (crank handles) or a screwdriver handle.
• Allen wrenches are used for screws or bolts. They are also called hex keys and are usually L-shaped.

Chisels

Chisels have a cutting edge or blade on one end used for carving and/or cutting hard materials, such as wood, stone or metal. The driving force for chisels can be applied manually or applied with a mallet or hammer.

• Woodworking (carving) chisels range from very small, for fine details, to large chisels, used to remove large sections of wood. Typically, in woodcarving, you start out with a larger chisel to form your basic shape and then work down to smaller and smaller chisels to finish the piece.
• Lathe chisels can be used in woodworking to cut wood as it is spun on a lathe. These chisels have longer handles for better leverage and to counteract the chisels tendency to move with the downward force of the spinning lathe.
• Metal working chisels can be divided into two main types: hot chisels, used to cut metal that has been heated in a forge; and cold chisels, used for cutting "cold" metals. They are used when it isn't required to have a nice smooth finish.
• Stone chisels are used to carve stone. They also cut stone, bricks and concrete slabs. Picture Michelangelo crafting the David and you have the right idea. This chisel has a wide, flat blade.
• Masonry chisels are heavy with a rather dull head that is meant to wedge or break, rather than cut. They are usually used as a demolition tool. For this heavy chisel you will need a heavy hammer, at least 3 pounds or heavier.

Cutting Tools

Used to remove metal or wood from projects by means of shear deformation; Cutting tools need to be made from harder material than that which they are cutting. These include adze, axes, bolt cutters, ceramic tile cutters, hand-held manual saws, knives, broach, endmills, reamers, countersinks, milling cutters, razor blades, scissors, blades and water jet cutters.

• Adze: This tool is used in woodworking to smooth rough-cut wood.
• Axes: Every man should own an axe. These great tools are used to shape, split and cut wood, such as timber for firewood.
• Bolt cutter: A tool used for cutting bolts and chains, as well as wire mesh; these tools have long handles and are capable of exerting a lot of force.
• Ceramic tile cutter: These cutting tools are used to cut tiles to desired sizes and shapes.
• Broach: A tool used in metalworking with a series of chisel points mounted on one piece of steel.
• Endmill: Endmills are a shank-type milling cutter.
• Reamer: This tool is used in machining to enlarge holes. Used mostly in the metalworking areas of machining.
• Milling cutter: This is a cutting tool used in milling machines.

Paintbrushes and Rollers

These hand tools are used in the application of paints, varnishes, sealants or stains to small or large surfaces. There are many different sizes of paintbrushes, as well as rollers. Many rollers can be attached to arm extenders to reach tall areas. Keeping a few smaller sized paintbrushes in the house makes crafting easy, not to mention repainting that kitchen!

Other Hand Tools

To supplement the hand tools that you will use most frequently, it is a good idea to have these tools on hand as well:

• Clamps: Clamps hold projects steady for delicate or precise work.
• Ties: Ties are perfect for securing loads to trucks and cars.
• Electrical tools: These tools include fuses, power cords, digital meters and small tools, including pliers and wire strippers, for electrical work.
• Measures: There are several types of measures: wheel measures, laser measures and tape measures. Tape measures are a tool that everyone should have in their workshop, home or office.
• Levels: There are many types: standard levels (with the bubble), laser levels and square levels. Make sure surfaces are flush and even with levels in order for them to be effective.

Hand Tool Accessories

Look for accessories to complete tool sets and make your work more efficient. Hand tool accessories include all of the tables, stands, brooms, hoists, belts, straps and cables (towing and power) you'll need to complete your projects.

Hand Tools Terminology

• Adjustable wrench: A wrench that has an adjustable head to fit different sized nuts and bolts.
• Cam out: This is the process where the screwdriver slips out of the head of the screw, often resulting in damage to the screw.
• Peening: Mechanical working of metals with hammer blows.
• Phillips: Although Phillips is a brand of screwdrivers; it also refers to the shape of the screwdriver tip. These are the cross-point screwdrivers. The term also applies to screws with the corresponding cross-point slots.
• Pozi: Similar to a Phillips screw head; however, with more points of contact than a Phillips, it does not cam out. Often called Pozidriv, it stands for positive drive.
• Quick release: This is a very nice feature in tools, allowing drill bits and other attachments to be removed by pressing and holding a button while the head is twisted.
• Spanner: Spanner is a term used in the UK in for a wrench. Spanners are the same as wrenches. In American English, spanners are certain wrenches designed for certain functions.
• Torque: Torque refers to the rotational force applied to an object; in this case, tools.