Common hand tools
There's a huge array of cutting and shaping hand tools used in woodworking – in particular, chisels and hand saws. However, although they are sometimes used in the timber industry, they belong more in the domain of cabinet making, furniture making, and carpentry and joinery. Because these fields have their own industry sectors, their woodworking tools have not been included in this discussion of common 'timber industry' tools.
The particular tools you are likely to use at work will depend on your job and type of business you work in. Below are some common examples of hand tools.
Using the right tool for the job
There are hundreds of different types of hand tools, and often several different designs for each type. Sometimes you can get away with using a tool that isn't quite right, but gets the job done anyway. But it's always best to make the effort to get the exact tool you need, especially if you're doing a certain job over and over again. The right tool for the job not only makes it easier and quicker to get the task done properly, it's also greatly reduces the chance of someone getting hurt, or of any damage being caused to the tool or equipment.
Learning Activity
Below are several hand tools found in just about every workshop. You probably know the names of them all, but you may not necessarily use them all yourself. Give each tool its correct name by selecting the name and moving it across to the right tool. As you identify each one, give an example of a typical use for the tool. For some tools, you may be able to come up with a couple of different uses.
Go to text alternative version for the interactive learning activity below.