LESSON 2

While power tools and fixed machinery are convenient and often essential
equipment, hand tools remain very important across the trades. There are
many tasks that a competent person can complete with hand tools at least
as effectively as with power tools or fixed machinery. Some tasks can only
be done with hand tools.

INTRODUCTION

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HAND TOOLS SAFETY RULES

ALWAYS
1. Select the right tool for the job
2. Carry sharp-edge and pointed tools carefully. Hold firmly, close to the
body, and point downwards
3. Pass them handle first or by holding them sideways (without holding any
sharp edge)
4. Clean and store tools correctly
5. Use them only as you have been instructed to
6. Select and use appropriate PPE for the job

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HAND TOOLS SAFETY RULES

NEVER
1. Use tools that are blunt or damaged
2. Use a tool for a job it is not designed for
3. Use a sharp tool without securing the work first
4. Run your fingers across a blade to check how sharp it is
5. Carry too many tools at once.

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CARE, MAINTENANCE, & SAFETY
Keep tools sharpened and in good condition. Good-quality work is impossible to achieve
with blunt or incorrectly sharpened tools. They are also dangerous because you have to
apply extra pressure on the tool. This reduces your control and this increases the
likelihood of injury. Keep them sharp and use them safely at all times.
When starting a job outdoors it is useful to take all the hand tools you think you’ll use.
Keep them all to one side of the job, as shown below. Once finished, clean and store the
tools as per the guidelines in this resource or how you were trained to.

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MEASURING, MARKING AND SETTING OUT TOOLS

Measuring and marking out tools are instruments used to take accurate
dimensions and transfer design details onto a material (like wood, metal, or
plastic) before cutting, shaping, or assembling.
They ensure precision, serving as the essential first step to prevent costly
mistakes in any construction or craft project

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STEEL RULE
 For accurate measuring
and marking out,
particularly for bench
work and setting up
machines.
 Use with a sharp
marking knife or sharp
pencil for maximum
accuracy.

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CARPENTERS PENCIL
 For marking and recording
measurements.
 Use as a finger gauge for drawing
lines parallel to an edge.
 The carpenter’s pencil has a
rectangular shaped lead and
comes in hard, medium or soft
grades. Other softer pencils, such
as a HB pencil, can be used for
marking out and recording
measurements.

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MEASURING TAPE

 A flexible strip of steel divided

into millimetres, centimetres and
metres. Common lengths used by
carpenters are 5m and 8m.
 To accurately measure lengths.

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LASER MEASURE
 A laser measuring device is an electronic
measuring device that is used to take
site measurements, such as
measurements of room sizes. The tool
sends out a laser beam that bounces
back off an obstruction. They are used as
an alternative to manual tape measures
because they provide a high, reliable
degree of accuracy. They are not used in
the workshop but you may use one
when checking measurements for
projects such as a non-consent utility
building.

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TRY SQUARE
 For marking angles of 90 degrees.
 To test if edges and corners are square.

COMBINATION SQUARE
 The stock is adjustable and can be fixed by a
thumb screw in any position along the blade.
 For marking angles of 45° and 90°

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SPIRIT LEVEL
 Spirit levels are made of either wood or
metal and can have up to 6 level tubes
or vials. They come in many different
lengths.

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PLUMB BOB
 Plumb bobs have a metal weight or
“bob” which is usually pointed and
suspended on a string. The weight of the
bob reduces the effects of wind when
checking for plumb (perfectly vertical).
Bobs range in size and weight - the
heavier the bob, the more resistant it is
to wind.
 To test that vertical surfaces are true
and straight.

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CUTTING TOOLS

In construction, hand cutting tools are defined as manually operated,

non-powered instruments designed to separate, shape, slice, or
remove material from a workpiece using human physical force.
These tools rely on a sharp blade, teeth, or a hardened edge to shear or
abrade materials like wood, metal, plastic, gypsum board, and wire. They are
indispensable for tasks requiring extreme precision, silent operation, or
portability where power sources are unavailable.

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TENON SAW

 For general bench work, especially

when a fine cut is needed on small
items, such as mouldings.
 Can also be used in a miter box
for consistency and improved
accuracy.

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CROSSCUT SAW
 For general-purpose cutting
across the grain of timber
 Crosscut saws are normally
700mm long, with 5 to 10 points
per 25mm.

RIP SAW`
 For general-purpose cutting
across the grain of timber
 Rip saws are normally 700 to
800mm long, with 3 to 6 points
per 25mm

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HACK SAWS
 Blade lengths vary from 225 to 305mm, with
18, 24 or 32 teeth per 25mm. Hack saws
have a detachable blade held in a heavy duty
metal frame. The blade is held under tension
to help prevent it twisting and bending
 For cutting metal or plastic.

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CHISELS
 There is a wide range of chisels,
each designed for a different
purpose. Chisel widths vary from
6 to 50mm. The beveled edged
and firmer chisels are most
commonly used. Other chisels
available include butt, registered
firmer, parring, mortise and
carving chisels. A set of the
standard size bevel-edged type is
suitable for most construction
work.

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PLANES
 Planes have a cast steel body and a steel blade
attached to a cap iron held firmly in place with
a lever cap. The blade can be adjusted in two
directions using a lever and a wheel
adjustment.
 To produce smooth timber surfaces, straighten
timber, and reduce timber to the required
width.

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IMPELLING TOOLS

Impelling, or driving, tools are those that help drive something into
something, such as a nail into timber or a peg into the ground. There are
many types of hammers and mallets. As with all other hand tools, choose
the best tool for the task and use it correctly.

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SLEDGEHAMMERS
 Sledgehammers are used for driving pegs and
stakes into the ground. They are also used for
demolition work. They come in a range of sizes
and weights to suit job requirements.

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MALLETS
 Mallet heads are made out of either hardwood
or rubber fitted to a wooden handle.
 Mallets are used for striking chisels or
assembling frames or carcasses.
 Rubber headed mallets are generally used for
carcass assembly. Because of their softer heads,
you do not need to hold scrap timber against
the job when using this mallet

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HAMMERS
 Hammers come in a range of head and
claw styles, shapes, weights and handle
designs and lengths. The claw hammer,
which is used for construction, and the
Warrington hammer, which is used for
bench work, are the most commonly used
types.
 For driving in and pulling out nails, and
driving chisels and set punches.

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NAIL PUNCH
 Nail punches are manufactured from
hardened steel with a knurled body for
grip. They are available in varying tip sizes.
Select the best for the size of nail they will
be setting. The tip is cupped and
chamfered for ease of alignment and to
reduce slipping on the nail head.
 Nail punches are used to drive or set the
head of the nail below the surface of the
timber.

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SCREWDRIVER
 Screwdrivers are available in various sizes
and to suit various screw head
configurations.
 Use only for driving or withdrawing
screws.

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GRIPPING TOOLS

Gripping tools are mechanical instruments designed to firmly hold,

stabilize, rotate, or manipulate objects when direct human hand
strength or precision is insufficient. By utilizing the principle of levers,
these tools convert a standard squeeze from your hand into a highly
concentrated, amplified force at the jaws.

They serve as an essential "third hand" across construction,

automotive repair, plumbing, and electronics

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SET SPANNER AND SOCKET / ADJUSTABLE SPANNERS
 Made from strong tempered steel.
Available in a large range of sizes, both
imperial and metric. They are used for
precision work.
 For fastening or holding various sizes of
nuts and bolts.

PLIERS
 For cutting wire, bending metal and
gripping work.

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CLAMPS
 Clamps are used to hold pieces of timber
together while they are being worked,
glued or fixed. Other uses include holding
components in place while the final
position is checked.

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PAVING AND/OR CONCRETE PLACING TOOLS

Paving and concrete placing tools are specialized instruments used

to transport, spread, level, compact, and finish concrete or
segmental units to ensure structural durability and a visually
appealing surface. Selecting the correct tools prevents common
installation failures, such as material segregation, surface cracks, or
premature wearing.

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SPADES AND SHOVELS
 For excavating foundations, mixing
concrete, and shoveling/controlling the
flow of concrete.

SCREED
 For flattening/levelling concrete after
pouring the mix

CONCRETE FINISHING TROWEL

 For flattening/levelling concrete after
pouring the mix.

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LESSON 2
 Portable power tools are an essential part of a tradesperson’s toolkit.
They can make creating projects and doing repairs easier, quicker, and
more cost effective.

INTRODUCTION

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POWER TOOLS SAFETY RULES

ALWAYS
1. Only use tools you have been taught how to use properly and safely
2. Know the capabilities and limitations of the tool
3. Select the right tool for the job
4. Strictly follow safe working practices
5. Check the tool and any cords for damage or faults before and after use
6. Keep power tools well maintained and report any damage immediately
7. Select and use appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).

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CARE, MAINTENANCE, & SAFETY

1. Keep power tools in good condition. Good quality work is impossible to achieve
with blunt, incorrectly sharpened, or damaged blades.
2. Power tools with blades in poor condition are dangerous because you have to apply
extra pressure on the tool. This reduces your control and this increases the
likelihood of injury. Keep them sharp and use them safely at all times
3. When starting a job it is useful to have all the power tools you think you’ll use for
each individual stage. Keep them all to one side of the job, as shown to the right.
Once finished, clean and store the tools.

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CARE, MAINTENANCE, & SAFETY

5. Take care when handling, packing, or storing power tools. Blades fitted to power
tools can lose their edges when they come into contact with hard surfaces such as
metal or concrete. Storing the power tool in its case or on a storage rack prevents
the blades from coming into contact with each other and dulling (losing their cutting
edge).
6. Wind the power cords around the power tool to prevent kinking. If the power tool
is battery powered place the battery on charge once the task has been completed.
7. Putting power tools away as soon as you’ve finished using them is also good practice
because a cluttered area can be unsafe. It is too easy to trip over or knock over
tools left lying around.
8. Always store power tools in a dry place. Periodically rub metal components down
with light machine oil to prevent rust.
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PORTABLE ELECTRIC DRILLS

Portable electric drills are among the most versatile of all power tools.
They are available in a wide range of sizes and power ratings. They can
be used for drilling holes in most materials including wood, plastic, steel,
fibreglass, and concrete.

Attachments can be added to allow for tasks such as sanding, grinding,

and polishing.

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BASIC LIGHT-DUTY DRILL
 A high-speed, basic drill, which is suitable
for drilling a hole of up to 6.5mm in steel
or up to 9mm in wood. It is lightweight
and compact, which makes it easy to use
and handle in a range of situations

IMPACT OR HAMMER ACTION

 A common 10mm hammer drill is suitable
for use on metal, wood and concrete. Its
drilling capacity for wood is 15mm, with an
auger bit, and 25 mm with a flat bit, and for
steel is 10mm.

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MEDIUM-DUTY DRILL
 A common 10mm hammer drill is suitable
for use on metal, wood and concrete. Its
drilling capacity for wood is 15mm, with an
auger bit, and 25 mm with a flat bit, and for
steel is 10mm.

HEAVY-DUTY DRILL
 A heavy-duty drill allows you to drill larger
holes in a range of materials. Reduction
gearing allows you to select a range of
speeds. Because of its size and power it
weighs approximately three times as much
as a basic drill. Its drilling capacity is
approximately 13mm for steel and 36mm for
wood.
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CORDLESS POWER TOOLS

There is a variety of power tools for both home and industrial use.
Most traditional power tools (such as drills, jigsaws, electric planer,
orbital sanders, and routers) are available as cordless power tools.

The main benefit of using cordless power tools is that a mains power
supply is not required. When working outside this removes the risk of
running power cords over wet or damp ground. It also removes the risk
of power cords being accidently cut.

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CORDLESS DRILL
 Most cordless drills will not produce the
same extreme torque as a cord type drill
and will eventually run out of power when
the battery discharges (goes flat). For light-
duty work, the average drill can operate
continuously for about a half an hour.
Some heavy-duty cordless drills may
operate longer on a single charge.

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DRILL ATTACHMENTS

There is a wide range of attachments that can be used to convert a drill

into a screwdriver, bench grinder, circular saw, hammer unit, jigsaw,
orbital sander or lathe.

Most attachments can only be used for light-duty work and have limited
effectiveness. The best and safest option is therefore to select and use
the tools specifically designed for these jobs.

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SPADE OR FLAT BITS
 Spade bits operate at high speeds and are
excellent for boring large holes in wood.

AUGER BITS
 Auger bits are available in a large range of
sizes and lengths. The bit will run straight
and true providing that the drill is held at
90 degrees to the surface being drilled. A
slow-speed drill with reversing features is
most suited for this bit.

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DRILL BITS (STANDARD)
 Used for drilling holes in a range of
materials including timber, metal and
concrete.

MASONRY BITS
 Masonry bits have ultra-hard tungsten
carbide welded to the drill tips so they will
cut through concrete, brick and ceramics.
Standard masonry drills should be used at
low speed on soft masonry such as brick.

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HOLE SAWS
 Hole saws are used as well as spade bits
for drilling holes larger than 13mm. The
common sizes range up to 64mm in
diameter. Use a slow speed.

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SAWS

Power saws are motorized cutting tools powered by electricity,

rechargeable batteries, or gasoline motors to slice through materials
like wood, metal, plastic, and masonry with speed and precision.
Unlike manual hand saws, power saws use continuous mechanical
movements—such as spinning discs, reciprocating strokes, or moving
chains—to complete heavy-duty tasks efficiently and cleanly. They
serve as a foundational element in woodworking, metalworking,
construction, and DIY home improvements.

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JIGSAWS
 The jigsaw is used for cutting internal and
external curves in a variety of materials.
Most saws come with a tilting base to
allow for bevel and compound cuts.

RECIPROCATING SAW (SABRE SAW)

 The portable reciprocating (sabre) saw is a
heavy-duty, powerful and versatile hand
held saw which can be used to cut a wide
range of materials. It is designed especially
to cut spaces for doors and windows,

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PORTABLE CIRCULAR SAW
 A circular saw offers the power and
precision to make long, straight ripping
cuts and crosscutting cuts. It can also be
used for beveling, rebating, grooving and
trenching.
 They are most commonly used to cut
wood and timber-based manufactured
board. With specialized blades, however,
they can be used to cut a wide range of
materials, including metal, plastic, fibreglass,
fibre cement sheet, fibre plank, brick, and
tile.

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POWER PLANER
 Power planers can do most jobs that a
hand plane can do but in a fraction of the
time and with a lot less effort.

ROUTERS
 The router simplifies the task of making
complex timber joints like dovetails,
cutting decorative edging and rebates. It is
also invaluable when trimming laminates
for bench tops and tables.

48
FINISHING SANDERS
 A finishing, or orbital, sander is a
lightweight power tool that quickly
produces a smooth surface on materials
such as wood, metal, fibreglass or paint. It
is not designed for fast removal of
material.
BELT SANDER
 Belt sanders are capable of removing
material at a faster rate than a finishing
sander. Belt sanders use continuous
sanding belts. These are available in a wide
range of grits to suit various applications.

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DISC BASED SANDERS/GRINDERS

Disc-based sanders and grinders are versatile power tools

used to shape, smooth, and polish materials. They utilize a
rapidly rotating circular abrasive disc to quickly remove stock
from wood, metal, plastic, or masonry.

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DISC SANDER/POLISHER
 Disc sanders can be used for rough
sanding jobs and are ideal for the fast
shaping of wood, fibreglass and for the
removal of rust and paint. The speed of
removal and quality of finish depend on
the coarseness of the abrasive disc.

PORTABLE DISC GRINDERS

 Disc or angle grinders are used to grind
steel and other hard materials. They may
be used to remove burrs or for preparing
an edge for welding.

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NAIL GUN
 Nail guns can sink thousands of nails a day
with excellent accuracy. They are used
when a large number of nails are required,
such as when framing a building.

52
PAINTING AND DECORATING

Construction painting tools are the essential instruments, machinery,

and equipment used to prepare building surfaces, apply protective or
decorative coatings, and achieve high-quality architectural finishes.

53
WATER BLASTERS
 Water blasters can be very useful as part
of the paint preparation process, helping
to clean off dirt, grime and salt.

SPRAY GUNS
 Spray painting allows surfaces to be
painted quickly and gives a high quality,
consistent finish.
 COMPRESSED AIR- Compressed air systems
project the paint out of the tip using compressed
air, creating an even and smooth finish.
 AIRLESS-Airless spray doesn’t use compressed air
to atomise the paint. Instead, paint is drawn from a
supply container into a pump, which pressurises the
paint. The paint is forced through a hose to a small
hole in a spray gun tip, atomizing the fluid as it
leaves the gun.
54
CONCRETING

Concreting tools are specialized instruments utilized sequentially

to mix, place, consolidate, level, and finish concrete to ensure
maximum structural strength and a smooth surface. Working with
concrete is highly time-sensitive.

Having the correct tool for each stage of the curing process
determines whether a slab is durable and level or prone to early
cracking and surface failure.

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CONCRETE MIXER
 A concrete mixer efficiently combines
cement, aggregates (like sand or gravel),
and water to produce a uniform batch of
concrete while reducing manual labor. The
best mixer depends on your job scale,
power access, and required portability
JACK HAMMER
 A jackhammer is a heavy-duty
mechanical tool that combines a hammer
mechanism directly with a chisel to break
up hard materials like concrete, asphalt,
masonry, and rock. Also called a demolition
breaker or road hammer, it works by
utilizing rapid, repetitive internal impacts
to fracture surfaces efficiently
56
CONCRETE CUTTER
 A concrete cutter (or concrete saw) is a
highly specialized tool designed to slice
through tough materials like concrete,
asphalt, brick, and tile.

PLATE COMPACTOR
 A plate compactor is a large motorised
tool that is used to compact granular
surfaces, such as hardfill or sand, to create
a dense, tightly packed base for concrete
to be laid over.

57
CONCRETE VIBRATORS
 Vibrators are used to settle and compact
concrete during pours or as concrete is
being finished. The purpose of the vibrator
is to shake the wet concrete, eliminating
air pockets so the slab becomes more
solid.

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