Carpentry Tools and

Equipment
Hammers
Warrington hammer
A Warrington hammer is made specifically for
cabinetmaking.
The cross pien is used to start brads or finishing
nails without the risk of damage to fingers. The
round head, with the slightly belled face, lets you
drive nails flush without marring surrounding wood.

Claw hammer
A type of hammer used mainly for pounding nails
into, or extracting nails from, wood. Claw hammers
usually weigh in the range 450g to 900g. The head
is made of hardened steel and the handle of wood,
fiberglass, or steel. One side of the head is flat with
either a smooth or textured surface and is used for
pounding another surface. The rounded end of the
claw, in conjunction with the handle, is used to gain
leverage when pulling out a nail.

Nail punch
Used with a nail to punch the heads of nails just below the
surface of the timber. The small hole is then filled with wood
stop.

Nail pincers
Used to pull out nails and staples.
The timber surface should be protected when levering out
nails.
Wooden Mallet
Traditional beech mallets used by joiners and
cabinetmakers.
Used in the making of woodwork joints to strike
chisels when removing waste material.
The mallet is preferred to a hammer because it is
less likely to damage the handle of the chisel.

Cutting Tools
Bolt Cutters
Bolt cutters are used for heavy cutting of rods, bars
and thick gauge wire.
The main use in construction is to cut reinforcement
bars and steel mesh in preparation for concrete
work.

Tin Snips
Tin snips are used for cutting thin sheet metal such
as for barges, capping, corrugated iron and for cutting band straps found on slings of
timber, pallets of bricks etc.
Aviation snips have greater leverage for easier cutting.

Tin snips Aviation snips

Pliers
Pliers have a variety of shapes and sizes for particular jobs.
They can be used for holding, cutting, banding, twisting and stripping wire.

Combination pliers Diagonal cutters Needle-nose pliers

(side cutters) (long-nose pliers)
Multi Grips
Multi grips are designed to allow the pivot pin to be moved
to different positions enabling the jaws to be opened much
wider.

Lock-Grip Pliers (Vice grips)

Feature compound levers which exert strong pressure at
the jaws and allow the jaws to be locked on to the job. A
release lever is located in the lower handle.

Fibre Cement Sheet Cutters

• Usually called “fibro” cutters.
• Used to cut fibre cement sheets up to 10mm
thick.
• This tool ‘cuts’ by punching out a thin strip of
material in a shearing action.

Wire Tying Tool

• Used on the construction site for tying or
twisting the wire ties which hold reinforcing
steel together.
• The hook at one end of the tool is attached to
a spiral shaft inside the grip. The tool hooks
onto loops at the end of the wire tie which is
twisted by the action of the spiral shaft when
the grip is pulled.

Drilling
High Speed Drill Bit
High Speed Drill Bits are capable of drilling
both wood and metals and are stamped with the
letters HS on the shank.
Selecting a suitable drill speed is important for
efficient drilling. Generally, the larger the drill,
the slower the speed.

Spade Bits
Spade Bits rely on high speed to cut efficiently.
They are used for rough drilling larger holes in
softwood and hardwood.
Auger Bits
Auger Bits have a draw thread to assist entry and
should be used at a slow speed.
Often used to bore deep holes, augers are available up
to 400mm in length.

Masonry Bits
Masonry bits have a tungsten carbide tip that
provides the cutting edge.
They are used for boring holes in brick, concrete
and other masonry products.
You would generally use a hammer drill with
a masonry bit to give faster drilling.

Hole Saws
Hole saws gave interchangeable circular blades with a
pilot drill to guide the cut. Hole saw kits are available with
saw diameters ranging from 14mm to 152mm.
Used in construction for cutting the large holes required
for fitting some types of door locks.

Demolition Tools
Sledge Hammer
Used for demolition work and driving pegs.
Head weights 9range from1.8kg to 6.3kg.
Handles made from either hardwood or fibreglass.

Wrecking Bars (pinch bars)

Used for levering in demolition work.
Some have claws for pulling nails.
Stanley Fubar
Used for demolition work

4-in-1 tool for prying, splitting, board

bending and striking jobs

One piece forged steel bar for increased
durability

Two-tiered jaws for grabbing common
dimensional lumber & decking

Bevelled nail slot for pulling & prying nails

Textured grip for excellent comfort & control, even when wet

Tempered steel that prevents chipping

Other
Lump Hammer
Used with bolster to cut bricks and masonry

Bolster
Used with lump hammer to cut bricks and other masonry
materials.

Measuring
Steel Rule
Used for measuring lengths to a moderate
degree of accuracy. Graduations on the ruler
are usually millimetres and half millimetres. To
be accurate, the rule must be in good condition
with flat, straight and true edges
 Folding Rules
• Used for accurate marking out of small work.
• The ruler divided into 4 lengths which are hinged
where the pieces meet having a total length of 1m
• Made from either wood or plastic.

Tape measure
Used for measuring timber lengths and setting out.
Has a steel blade and is available in lengths up to 10m

Wind-up Tape Measure

Used for site work
Enclosed up to 30m and open frame tapes up to 100m
Trowels and floats
• Wood floats are used for smoothing and finishing wet concrete, cement render,
bedding for ceramic tiling etc. to give a smooth, textured, or non-slip finish.They
are also used to apply the cement render to masonry walls.
• Steel float finishes are usually smooth and dense to provide a hard- wearing, easy
to clean surface.
• Wood floats are also useful for floating up the surface of sand bedding prior to
laying pavers, to ensure that all hollows are filled and the surface is even.

Brooms
• Brooms are available in a variety of sizes for specific uses and may have heads
containing bristles of straw, polypropylene or animal hair.
• Stiff-bristle brooms such as the yard broom and straw broom may be used on
rough surfaces.
• Soft-bristle brooms may be used on smooth surfaces, as found on lined or
coated floors.
• Brooms may also be used to provide a textured non-slip finish to wet
concrete.
• Broom handles are made from seasoned hardwoods which are straight-grained,
strong and flexible.
• Brooms form an essential part of the carpenter’s equipment kit, as they may be
required to clean up a work area before carrying out a task, or to clean up after
work has been carried out. It is each tradespersons responsibility to clean up his
or her own mess to leave a dean, dust-free and safe work surface in line with
each state and territory OH&S Acts and Regulations.
Hoses
Hoses are used for a variety of purposes on a building site,
They are used to deliver oxygen, acetylene, abrasive for sand blasting, compressed
air, or simply to supply or remove water. Hoses are flexible enough to coil or roll up but
have strength to with stand rough treatment. They are normally made of reinforced
plastic or rubber material, or from a tightly woven fabric, as used for fire hoses.

Planks
• Planks may be used with ladders and scaffolding and are made of solid timber,
plywood or boxed aluminium.
• Timber planks are a minimum size of 225 X 38 mm (Oregon) usually up to 3.6m in
length (they may be 32mm thick in hardwood).
• Aluminium planks are 225 x 50 mm and are available in standard lengths of 3, 4, 5
and 6m; they can also be custom made to length.
Saw stools
Saw stools may be made on-site from timber or purchased pre-made with metal legs
and a timber head. They are also available in folding form for easy transport and
storage.
Saw stools may be used to create a bench by placing one or two planks on top; or
singularly, to cut timber and other materials.

Painting tools
Knives
Putty knife blades vary in length from 100 mm to 150 mm
and have a variety of shapes.
They are used to fill up nail holes, cracks and surface
imperfections. They may also be used to patch or reglaze
windows.

Filling knife blades vary in width from 50mm to 150 mm and may be used to apply oil
or water- based fillers to open-grained timbers or shallow holes in the surface of a
variety of materials, Abroad knife may be used to fill or patch wider cracks and areas
with a flat, smooth surface (eg plasterboard)
Hacking knife blades are usually 100 mm to 125 mmm long with tapering sides and a
thick edge on one side to allow them to be hit with a hammer. They are used to
remove old, hard putty from a window sash to enable removal and replacement of
glass.

Filling knife Hacking knife

Shave hooks
Shave hooks are available in a variety of head sizes to suit the surface they are used
on. They are used in conjunction with a blow torch or liquid paint removers to scrape
old paint from ornamental beadings or mouldings and to take out cracks in cornices,
etc. prior to filling.

Paint brushes
Paint brushes are made up of a handle, usually of hardwood; the stock, which holds
the filling or bristles; a setting of epoxy resin or vulcanized rubber, to bind the filling
together at the end; and the filling itself. The filling is mule from pure bristle or animal
hair, synthetic fibre like nylon, natural fibre such as grass or straw, or a mixture of
bristles and fibres.
They may be used to apply oil and water-based paints to a variety of surfaces. The
size and type of filling, together with the length of the handle, will determine the
specific task the brush is designed for, e.g. staining, cutting in, flat surfaces, applying a
textured finish and even applying diluted acid to brickwork to remove mortar smears.

Rollers
Rollers consist of a central core of heavy duty cardboard tube impregnated with
phenolic resin to resist solvents and water, and are covered with a selection of fabrics.
This cover, called the nap or pile, maybe made from natural fibresd such as wool,
mohair or cotton, or a synthetic fibres such as acrylic, polyester and nylon.
They are used to paint a wide variety of internal and external surfaces such as walls,
ceilings, furniture, corrugated shapes, pipes, textured surfaces and wire fences.
The roller tube is fitted over a wire frame with a handle, and paint is applied to the
roller by rolling it in a ribbed rolling tray to evenly distribute the paint on the nap.
A variety of fittings, extension arms and cleaning devices is available.
Abrasive papers
Common size of sheet 275 X 225mm.
Papers for machine use are available in sheet, roll, disc and belt form for use on belt
sanders, drum sanders and disc or orbital sanders.

Grade of paper and use

The grade of paper used will vary according to the original condition of the timber and
the smoothness of the finish required.
Grade Use
Rough sanding
60 - 80 Removing marks left by machines or hand
tools
Finishing work prior to painting or
100, 120, 180
lacquering

Types of abrasive grain and uses

Type Description Use
Glass Cream Cheapest
Best cutting property and is suitable for hard
Garnet Red
work and many classes of machine work
Reddish brown
Aluminium oxide Best available for general use
White
Silicon carbide Suitable for floor sanding
Blue-black
(wet & dry) Sanding between coats of lacquer
Emery Black Sanding of metal surfaces
Glass paper Garnet paper Aluminium paper

Aluminium paper Silicon carbide paper Emery paper

Squares
Combination Square
Used for squaring lines, checking
for square. Also marking and
checking 45º mitres.
The movable stock allows the
square to be used as a pencil
gauge.

Roofing Square (Carpenters square)

Used for setting out angle cuts on roof rafters.
Also used for checking 90º on small frames of
formwork

Sliding Bevel
For setting out angles on timber.
Levels
Spirit Level
Used to indicate whether a surface is
horizontal (level) or vertical (plumb).
Usually made from aluminium.

Line level
Used to check if a string line is level

Lines
Chalk Lines
Used in setting out where a long straight line is required on
a flat surface such as a concrete floor.
The line passes through a chalk reservoir, is pulled taut
then snapped to leave a line on the surface to be
marked.

String Lines
Used where a long straight line is required, such as setting
out the profiles for a building.
Manual Excavation Tools
Breaking, cutting and grubbing
Crowbars, picks, shovels, mattocks, etc. may be used by carpenters from time to time
in the preparation of the site prior to site setting-out activities. They may also be used
to clean up, dig holes for fence posts, move rubbish, dig and trim trenches, grub tree
roots or break up old concrete paving.

(a) Crowbar
(b) Spud bar
(c) Fork
(d) Mattock
(e) Pick

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

Light digging, cleaning out and spreading tools

After breaking compacted soils or martials into manageable sizes, shovelling or
cleaning-out tools are employed to move loose materials clear of the work area or load
the spoil directly into a barrow or transporter for disposal.
The most suitable hand tool for this purpose is the long-handled shovel of either round-
nose or square-mouth design, depending on the type of material being moved. The
square-mouth shovel is best suited for granular material such as sand or gravel, while
the round-nose is a universal design and performs well in materials of uniform or
irregular shape and size.
Long-handled shovels allow for a more upright posture. This will prevent back strain
and enable extra body weight to be applied with the assistance of the more efficient leg
muscles. A short-handled, square mouth shovel allows more control when cleaning out
loose materials from corners and edges of work.
Common Shovels
Short handled Long handled

Spade

Square nose

Round nose

Trimming, detail and finishing tools

As noted previously, a number of the basic breaking and cutting tools and some
shovelling and cleaning-out tools are suitable for trimming and finishing operations. For
example;
• A cutter end or grubbing mattock is an ideal tool for trimming a flat surface such
as a pavement base or trench bottom. A square mouth, D-handled shovel is a
good trimming and detailing tool for medium-density moist soils
• A crowbar or spud bar is suitable for trimming the sides of trenches or footing
pads. A spade will also give good results when trimming or squaring an
excavation, although it is not efficient for shovelling or cleaning out.
Trenching shovel Post hole shovel Post hole digger