Carpentry Tool 5.

Combination Square

Tape Measure (Pull-Push Rule) Meaning: A multi-purpose square with a

movable head.
Meaning: A flexible measuring tool marked Uses:
in inches and centimeters.
Uses:  Measuring and marking 90° and 45°
angles
 Measuring long lengths and widths  Depth and height measurement
of wood  Checking squareness and flatness
 Layout work in construction and
framing 6. Spirit Level (Level)
 On-site measurements
Meaning: A tool with a liquid-filled vial
2. Steel Rule and air bubble.
Uses:
Meaning: A rigid, straight metal ruler with
precise markings.  Checking horizontal and vertical
Uses: alignment
 Ensuring level surfaces (tables,
 Short and accurate measurements shelves, frames)
 Measuring thickness, depth, and
small parts 7. Plumb Bob
 Checking straightness
Meaning: A pointed weight attached to a
3. Zigzag Rule (Folding Rule) string.
Uses:
Meaning: A folding ruler made of wood or
plastic.  Checking vertical alignment (plumb)
Uses:  Layout work in posts, walls, and
framing
 Measuring medium-length
workpieces 8. Marking Gauge
 Convenient for pocket carrying
 Common in workshop settings Meaning: A tool with a pin used to scribe
parallel lines.
4. Try Square Uses:

Meaning: An L-shaped tool used to test  Marking lines parallel to an edge

right angles (90°).  Joinery layout (mortise, tenon, dado)
Uses:
9. Caliper (Vernier / Inside–Outside)
 Checking squareness of corners and
edges Meaning: A precision measuring instrument
 Marking straight, square lines for inside and outside dimensions.
 Ensuring accuracy before cutting Uses:
  Measuring thickness and diameter Meaning: A narrow-bladed saw used for
 Accurate measurement of small parts curved or irregular cuts. Uses:

10. Chalk Line  Cutting curves and holes

 Interior cuts in wood panels
Meaning: A string coated with chalk used to
mark straight lines. 5. Panel Saw
Uses:
Meaning: A general-purpose hand saw for
 Marking long, straight reference cutting panels and boards. Uses:
lines
 Layout for flooring, roofing, and  Straight cuts in plywood and boards
framing  Common in basic carpentry

Types of Saws for Carpentry 6. Coping Saw

(LET – T.L.E)
Meaning: A saw with a thin blade stretched
1. Rip Saw in a U-shaped frame. Uses:

Meaning: A hand saw designed to cut wood  Intricate and curved cuts
along the grain. Uses:  Trim and molding work

 Cutting lumber lengthwise 7. Hacksaw (Limited Carpentry Use)

 Rough carpentry work
Meaning: A fine-toothed saw mainly for
2. Crosscut Saw metal but sometimes used on wood or
plastic. Uses:
Meaning: A hand saw designed to cut wood
across the grain. Uses:  Cutting nails, screws, or thin
materials
 Cutting boards to desired length
 General carpentry work LET EXAM QUICK GUIDE

3. Back Saw  Along the grain → Rip Saw

 Across the grain → Crosscut Saw
Meaning: A saw with a stiffened back for  Curved cuts → Compass Saw /
controlled and accurate cuts. Uses: Coping Saw
 Fine, accurate cuts → Back Saw
 Fine and precise cuts
 Joinery work such as dovetail and Types of Wood in Carpentry (LET
tenon joints – T.L.E)

4. Compass Saw (Keyhole Saw) I. Hardwood

Meaning: Wood obtained from broad-leaf  Plywood – made of thin layers glued
(deciduous) trees. Characteristics: together; used for walls, cabinets,
formworks
 Strong and durable  Particle Board – made of wood
 Usually expensive chips and resin; used for furniture
 Fine texture and shelves
 Fiberboard (MDF/HDF) – made of
Examples: Narra, Mahogany, Molave, Oak fine wood fibers; used for cabinets
and panels
Uses:
IV. Lumber
 Furniture making
 Cabinets and doors Meaning: Wood that has been sawn and
 Flooring prepared for use in construction.
Characteristics:
II. Softwood
 Available in standard sizes
Meaning: Wood obtained from needle-leaf  Can be hardwood or softwood
(coniferous) trees. Characteristics:
Uses:
 Lighter and easier to cut
 Less expensive than hardwood  Structural framing
 Fast-growing trees  Furniture components

Examples: Pine, Cedar, Fir LET REVIEW REMINDERS

Uses:  Hardwood = broad-leaf trees

(strong, durable)
 Framing and construction  Softwood = needle-leaf trees (light,
 Formworks easy to cut)
 Temporary structures  Plywood = thin layers glued together
(very common LET item)
III. Engineered Wood  Ideal moisture content for furniture
wood: 6–12%
Meaning: Man-made wood products
produced by binding wood fibers, particles, Types of Joints in Carpentry (LET
or veneers. Characteristics: – T.L.E)
 Uniform size and shape
1. Butt Joint
 Cost-effective
 Less warping
Meaning: The simplest joint where two
pieces of wood are joined end to end or edge
Types and Uses:
to edge. Characteristics:

 Weakest type of joint

  Easy to make  Drawers
 Cabinets and boxes
Uses:
5. Dado Joint
 Temporary structures
 Simple furniture and framing Meaning: A rectangular groove cut across
the grain of wood. Characteristics:
2. Lap Joint
 Provides strong support for shelves
Meaning: A joint formed by overlapping
two pieces of wood. Characteristics: Uses:

 Stronger than butt joint  Cabinets

 Provides more surface area for  Bookshelves
fastening
6. Groove Joint
Uses:
Meaning: A slot cut parallel with the grain
 Frames and supports of wood. Characteristics:
 Tables and basic furniture
 Holds panels in place
3. Mortise and Tenon Joint
Uses:
Meaning: A joint where a projecting tenon
fits into a hole called mortise.  Cabinet backs
Characteristics:  Drawer bottoms

 Very strong and durable 7. Tongue and Groove Joint

 Common in traditional carpentry
Meaning: A joint where a tongue on one
Uses: board fits into a groove on another.
Characteristics:
 Door and window frames
 Furniture construction  Allows expansion and contraction
 Strong alignment

Uses:
4. Dovetail Joint
 Flooring
Meaning: A joint with interlocking wedge-  Paneling
shaped projections. Characteristics:
8. Miter Joint
 Very strong
 Decorative appearance Meaning: A joint formed by cutting two
pieces at an angle (usually 45°).
Uses: Characteristics:
  Clean and decorative running in different directions.
 Requires accurate cutting Characteristics:

Uses:  Strong and durable

 Resistant to warping
 Picture frames
 Moldings and trims Uses:

 Cabinets and furniture

 Walls, ceilings, and formworks
LET REVIEW REMINDERS
III. Particle Board
 Weakest joint → Butt joint
 Strongest for frames → Mortise Meaning: A wood product made from wood
and tenon chips, shavings, and resin pressed together.
 Decorative and strong → Dovetail Characteristics:
joint
 Best for shelves → Dado joint  Less expensive
 Best for flooring → Tongue and  Not water resistant
groove
Uses:

 Shelves
Wood Products in Carpentry (LET  Furniture with laminate finish
– T.L.E)
IV. Fiberboard
I. Lumber
Meaning: A wood product made from fine
Meaning: Wood that has been sawn and wood fibers bonded under pressure. Types:
prepared into standard sizes for use in
construction and carpentry. Characteristics:  MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard)
 HDF (High Density Fiberboard)
 Can be hardwood or softwood
 Available in different thickness and Characteristics:
lengths
 Smooth surface
Uses:  Easy to paint

 Framing and structural work Uses:

 Furniture making
 Cabinets
II. Plywood  Panels and decorative works

Meaning: A wood product made of thin V. Veneer

layers (veneers) glued together with grains
Meaning: A thin slice of wood glued onto  Fiberboard (MDF) = smooth
core panels for decorative purposes. surface, good for paint
Characteristics:  Veneer = decorative wood covering

 Improves appearance
 Uses less solid wood

Uses:

 Furniture finishing
 Doors and cabinets

VI. Hardboard

Meaning: A dense fiberboard with a smooth

surface. Characteristics:

 Thin but strong

 One smooth side

Uses:

 Cabinet backs
 Drawer bottoms

VII. Blockboard

Meaning: A wood product made of

softwood strips sandwiched between veneer
sheets. Characteristics:

 Lightweight
 Good strength

Uses:

 Doors
 Shelves and tables

LET REVIEW REMINDERS

 Plywood = thin layers glued together

(very common LET item)
 Particle board = wood chips + resin
(cheap, weak when wet)