Boring & Cutting Tools: Wood Work Hand Tools – JSS1 Basic Technology Lesson Note (Third Term)

Woodwork hand tools for boring and cutting are the tools used to make holes in wood and to cut wood into parts.

Behavioural objectives

1. Name the major boring tools and state what each is used for.
2. Name the parts of the brace and describe each part.
3. List the types of drill bits.
4. State the types of saw used in woodwork.
5. Describe the uses of the different saws.

What are boring tools?

Boring tools are the tools used for making holes in wood.

There are four major boring tools: the brace, the bits, the gimlet and the bradawl.

What is a brace?

A brace is a tool that holds and turns a drill bit when boring a hole in wood.

There are two types of brace: the plain brace and the ratchet brace.

• Plain brace: the handle must make a full sweep (complete circle) to turn the bit.
• Ratchet brace: the handle can work in part of a sweep, so it is used in tight places.

What are the parts of the brace?

The brace has four main parts: the head, the crank, the chuck and the ratchet.

• The head: the hardwood top, shaped to fit the hand. The user presses on it to push the bit into the wood.
• The head fitting: the head is screwed to a steel sleeve that fits over the crank rod and runs on hardened steel balls.
• The crank: a bent metal rod with a handle on it. It moves in a circle called “the sweep of the brace”.
• The chuck: the enlarged, threaded and slotted end of the crank. It receives the socket and the jaws that grip the bit.
• The ratchet: a device fitted to the brace for boring in confined places, such as close corners. It allows the use of “half the sweep” of the brace.

The ratchet drives the bit in one direction at a time, while the handle swings back and forth.

What is a bit?

A bit is the cutting tool fitted into the brace to bore the hole.

• Threaded centre point: bits such as the auger have one. It pulls the bit into the wood as it turns.

What are the types of drill bits?

There are three types of drill bit: the twist drill, the twist bit (auger) and the countersink bit.

• Twist drill: bores small, round holes.
• Twist bit or auger: bores deeper holes in wood and has a threaded centre point.
• Countersink bit: widens the top of a hole so that the head of a screw sits flush with the wood.

What is a bradawl?

A bradawl is a small pointed tool used to make small holes in wood before screws or nails are used.

• Starter holes: it makes a small hole so that a screw or nail starts straight.
• Marking: it marks the position of a hole before drilling.

What is a gimlet?

A gimlet is a small boring tool used chiefly to make holes in wood before inserting small screws and nails.

What is a saw?

A saw is a tool for cutting wood into two or more parts.

• Set of the teeth: the teeth are bent alternately left and right to give clearance, so the blade does not jam in the cut.
• Points per 25 mm: the number of tooth points in 25 mm of blade. More points give a finer cut.

What are the types of saw?

There are eight types of saw used in woodwork: rip saw, cross-cut saw, panel saw, backsaw, tenon saw, dovetail saw, coping saw and fret saw.

What is a rip saw?

A rip saw is a saw used for cutting along the grain of wood.

• Teeth: 4-5 points per 25 mm.
• Length: 610-710 mm.

What is a cross-cut saw?

A cross-cut saw is a saw used for cutting wood across the grain.

• Appearance: similar to the rip saw.
• Teeth: 6-9 points per 25 mm.

What is the difference between a rip saw and a cross-cut saw?

What is a panel saw?

A panel saw is an all-purpose saw that can do the work of both the rip saw and the cross-cut saw.

• Length: 460-550 mm.

What is a backsaw?

A backsaw is a saw with a steel or brass strip along its back, which gives the blade stiffness.

• Examples: the tenon saw and the dovetail saw.

What is a tenon saw?

A tenon saw is a backsaw used for cutting tenons, joints and other small jobs on the bench.

• Back: a folded steel or brass back pressed to the blade. It gives stiffness and weight when cutting.
• Teeth: 12 to 14 points per 25 mm.
• Length: 200-350 mm.

What is a dovetail saw?

A dovetail saw is a small backsaw used for dovetailing and other small jobs on the bench.

• Size: a smaller version of the tenon saw.
• Handle: open.
• Length: 200-260 mm.
• Teeth: 20 points per 25 mm.

What is a coping saw?

A coping saw is a saw used for cutting accurate curves in thin wood and plywood.

• Blade: can be adjusted to cut in any direction.
• Blade length: about 150 mm.
• Teeth: about 14 points per 25 mm.

What is a fret saw?

A fret saw is a saw used for complex shapes and curves in plywood and veneers.

• Blade: finer than the coping saw blade.
• Frame: high, so it can be used over a wide area.

How do you use boring and cutting tools safely?

Safe use of hand tools protects the user and gives a clean job.

• Hold the wood firmly: clamp it in a vice or on the bench before boring or sawing.
• Mark first: mark the line or hole position before starting.
• Keep hands clear: keep fingers away from the path of the blade or bit.
• Store tools properly: keep the teeth and points covered or in a rack after use.

Evaluation

1. What are boring tools?
2. Mention three boring tools and state the use of each.
3. What is a saw?
4. State five types of saw.
5. Describe the following saws and their uses: (a) fret saw, (b) panel saw.

Assignment

Name the four parts of the brace and describe each one.