Most Common Carpentry Tools
Professional carpenters use both hand and power tools to build houses or to build cabinets. The style of the tools are the same as what our great-grandfathers used to build covered wagons or gold mining towns in the old west except now we have electric power and air compressors making the job faster and more precise.
Hand and power tools are as vital as wood. Without the right tools, a carpenter cannot do his job. Training and understanding of how tools are used is critical to becoming a skilled craftsman.
Non Power Tools Used in Carpentry
• Carpenter's Pencil
• Clamps: Hold glued pieces of wood together.
• Hammer: The claw hammer is the most commonly used. It has a flat head, with a claw on the other end. The perfect tool to drive and pull nails.
• Hand Saws:
1. Rip Saws: Used to cut with the grain.
2. Cross-cut Saws: Used to cut across the grain.
3. Two-man Saws: Long saws used to cut down trees.
4. Hacksaw: Used for find wood cutting and detailing.
• Measuring Tape: Used to measure wood length to be cut.
• Miter Box: A tool used to precisely angle a cut for corner molding.
• Screw Driver: Screw drivers come in various sizes both US standard and metric with different styles of tips.
- Flat head: Tapered to a thin edge used with screws with a groove.
- Phillips: Tapered into a cross shape used with screws with an X type groove.
• Tool Belt: The tool belt has pockets, loops and hooks.
Power Tools
- Air Compressor: Uses compressed air to power other tools.
- Power Drills: Uses drill bits and attachments to perform various tasks easily.
- Power Saws:
- Band Saw: A saw within a table for cutting sheets or long pieces of wood.
- Jig Saw: for finer wood detailing
- Miter Saw: Used with a miter box to create mitered corners
- Skil or Circular Saw: portable saw that has a round toothed blade.
- Router: Versatile tool used for finer, more intricate wood cutting. A router has several bits which can be used for decorative molding, stair cases, and artistic wood design.