What are hand tools used for?

Hand tool: any of the instruments used by craftsmen in manual operations, such as chopping, chiseling, sawing, filing or forging. Complementary tools, which are often needed as aids to shape tools, include instruments such as the hammer for nailing and the press for holding.

What are hand tools used for?

Hand tool: any of the instruments used by craftsmen in manual operations, such as chopping, chiseling, sawing, filing or forging. Complementary tools, which are often needed as aids to shape tools, include instruments such as the hammer for nailing and the press for holding. Electricians perform a wide range of tasks with hand tools. In fact, most of the tools they commonly use are hand tools.

Probably the most useful hand tools for electrical work are pliers. From combination pliers to long-nose pliers to diagonally cut pliers, they can perform a wide range of applications, such as cutting, bending, twisting, gripping and even smoothing wires. Screwdrivers are another must-have tool box for electricians. Nowadays, many professionals have adaptable screwdrivers with interchangeable tips.

This way, they will have lighter tool boxes. Pliers are powerful hand tools used to grab or pull something that can't be done with your bare hands. Small tools, such as insulated wires or nails, are usually removed from the cable, wall, or wood with pliers. They are also used to tighten things like hooks or knobs.

Different types of hand tools include screwdrivers, hammers, pliers and wrenches. Depending on your needs, each of them has a different use and most are not interchangeable. Knowing what hand tools are and their purpose is essential for anyone who wants to build or repair just about anything. Humans have used hand tools since the Stone Age, when stones were used for hammering and cutting.

And although today many of the tasks in this industry are performed with the help of machines, the use of hand tools is still inevitable. The Allen wrench and the hexagonal wrench are a simple tool used to drive bolts and screws with hexagonal bushings into the head. Driving and removing nails is another popular task in carpentry and the perfect hand tool for this is a claw hammer. There's nothing subtle about this tool, but it will make home demolition quick compared to a simple claw hammer.

Another great advantage of hand tools is that they are much safer than power tools, and this is important for both novice craftsmen and hobbyists, who use hand tools only for quick repairs. Different tools require different shapes and sizes of screwdriver bits, so get an assortment that includes at least more than 40 different types of drill bits. It's usually a demolition tool, so it's sometimes called a wrecking rod and it's not a tool for delicate work. Finding the right tool for the job is a little more complicated when it comes to axes because there are so many different types, but that just means that what you ultimately decide on will be exactly what you need.

However, most people familiar with hand tools and their uses would agree that many of the tools mentioned in the list above could be considered primary needs for any toolbox or workshop. You're likely to find the same thing for your own work and you're looking for a sturdy chisel that feels good in your hand. By having two blade-shaped structures at right angles, the Phillips screwdriver can bite the screw more securely, preventing the tool from sliding to one side.

Darla Kinstle
Darla Kinstle

Incurable zombie geek. Professional beer advocate. Lifelong bacon guru. Friendly internet buff. Total twitteraholic.