Introduction to Hand Tools
Know the families
Hand tools are grouped by function: measuring and layout (tape, framing square, combination square, chalk line, level), striking (claw hammer, sledge, mallet), cutting and shaping (handsaw, chisel, file, utility knife, tin snips), fastening (screwdrivers, wrenches, socket and ratchet), gripping and turning (pliers, locking pliers, pipe wrench), and prying/demolition (crowbar, pry bar). Choosing the correct tool for the material protects both the worker and the work.
Safe use habits
Inspect before use: look for cracked handles, mushroomed chisel or punch heads, loose hammer heads, frayed cords, and dull blades. Dress a mushroomed head or take the tool out of service. Never use a wrench as a hammer, a screwdriver as a chisel or pry bar, or a cheater pipe to extend a wrench handle - each of these is a classic test-question misuse. Pull a wrench toward you rather than pushing it, keep cutting strokes directed away from your body, and use eye protection whenever striking, chiseling, or cutting. Files need a handle. Carry tools in a pouch or belt, never in a pocket, and never toss them to another worker.
Traps to watch
Questions often describe a task and ask which tool is wrong for it, or ask what PPE is required, or ask which tool is safest in a confined or overhead position. "It works" is never the right answer if the tool is being misused.
Rule of thumb
Match the tool to the material and the swing: a claw hammer for nails, a rubber mallet for a chisel you do not want to damage, and a wrench that fits the fastener snugly - an oversized wrench rounds nuts and slips.