Hand Tools
What the domain tests
Hand Tools tests safe selection and control of measuring, marking, cutting, striking, tightening and holding tools. The exam favours tool-condition checks, correct use, and matching the tool to the material and task.
Core rules
- Use the correct size: a spanner must fit the flats fully; an adjustable wrench is for light work and should be pulled toward the fixed jaw.
- A file needs a firmly fitted handle. Cut on the forward stroke, keep the file moving, and clean it with a file card.
- Hacksaw blades are selected by pitch: coarse teeth (about 14–18 TPI) for thick soft sections, fine teeth (24–32 TPI) for thin tube and sheet.
- Strike with the face of a hammer, not the side; never use a hammer with a loose head. Use a punch or drift rather than a hardened tool as a striking surface.
- Keep cutting edges sharp; blunt tools need more force and slip.
Worked example
A 25 mm diameter mild steel bar must be cut by hand. Choose a hacksaw with a coarse blade, about 18 TPI, because the thick section clears chips easily and cuts faster. Clamp the bar low in a vice, start the cut with a light stroke on the corner, then use full strokes with pressure on the forward stroke. A fine blade would clog and cut slowly.
Traps
Common errors are using a file without a handle, using an adjustable wrench as a hammer, applying pressure on the return hacksaw stroke, or choosing a fine blade for thick soft metal. Also check blade tension and tooth direction.