If you have a toolbox at home without a doubt you have at least one hammer and a set of screwdrivers. They are always handy for doing those quick little assembly jobs around the house. There are several different types of hammers and screwdriver shop tools and I thought I would take a few moments to identify some of them and explain their different duties.
Shop Tools:Hammers
Hammer heads should be made of quality, heat treaded steel that is hardened for long life. The weight of the hammer is measured in ounces (not metric) from a very small pin hammer weighing only 4 oz. all the way up to 20oz.
Ball P
een Hammer
The ball peen (also spelled Pein) is more of an engineers tool. It is the most heavy duty hammer commonly used but it is not very effective for woodwork.
Claw Hammer
The common claw hammer has a hickory handle which is chosen for it’s great shock resistant qualities.The head of the claw hammer should be precision ground and the hammer should feel well balanced for driving nails straight. The hickory handle should be fastened to the head with hardwood and iron wedges.
Cross Peen or Pin Hammer
This hammer is used when fixing small panel pins (brads). Using the small cross peen you can gently tap a brad that is being held between your thumb and finger. The narrow blade will fit right between your fingers.
Rubber Mallet
This is a particularly useful tool for assembly work. When a component needs a firm blow to pop into position the rubber mallet works very well and the rubber head does not bruise the wood surface. There is also variation called a dead-blow mallet which has a synthetic, hollow head filled with lead shot. It delivers a hard blow with little effort and there is no rebound. It is also used for assembly.
Carpenter’s Mallet
Made of solid beech a carpenter’s mallet is just the right strength and density to use when using a wood chisel. There is no jarring of the chisel when this type of mallet is used. The carpenter’s chisel is an important tool for any carpenter.
Screwdrivers
Screws come in a variety of shapes and sizes with different types of head and there is a screwdriver to fit each one of them. The surest way to strip the head of a screw is to use a screw driver that does not match. Using the wrong screwdriver you can slip and damage the work.
Screw heads vary in size according to their gauge and range from a No.4 (which is the smallest) up to a No.12 or larger and of course there is a screwdriver to fit each one. A longer shafted screwdriver provides more torque but shorter shafted screwdriver makes this up by having a larger handle for extra grip. Slotted screws are being used less and less as more cross heads are being used since they prevent the driver from slipping out of position providing you are using the correct size
Screwdriver Bits
Small bits with hexagonal shafts are designed for use in special socketed handles, but some can be clamped into the jars of a power drill. Screwdriver bits range from long bits for heavy duty work to short, 25mm (i in.) bits, which must be fitted into a holder. ALL have a standard 6mm hexagonal shank. Quite often you will find screwdriver bits that are magnetized to hold the screw for a one handed operation. Cross head screws come in two types and require two different screwdrivers. A Philips head has a simple four way cross design, while the posidrive gives a more positive grip with four additional flutes between the main slots. It is important to be able to recognize the difference and select the right bit to suit the screw otherwise the head will strip as you tighten the screw.
