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Tools

Be sure to know what these look like! You can find pictures online.

  • Hand-drill
    • Can be cordless or have a cord.
    • Attach drill bits for different sizes.
    • Rotates both ways.
  • Drill press
    • Bigger version of drill.
    • Drills straight down.
    • Types of drill presses
      • Floor/Standing drill press
      • Bench top drill press
      • Upright sensitive drill press
  • Band saw
    • Helps cut irregular shapes.
    • Cuts with more precision.
    • Is a massive band that spins around.
    • Does not go up and down.
  • Lathe
    • The part rotates rapidly, with a tool perpendicular to cut.
    • Safety precautions: Wear safety glasses, long pants, closed-toe shoes, tuck back sweatshirt strings, and tie back longer hair.
    • The cross slide moves the lathe along the x-axis.
  • Miter saw (Chop Saw)
    • Cuts at angles.
    • Cuts metal.
    • Different blades cut different materials.
    • Safety tip: Hold the trigger, allow the blade to reach maximum speed, and then cut through. Let the blade stop moving before you bring it back up.
    • Types of miter saws
      • Single bevel - Tilts in one direction
      • Double bevel - Tilts in two directions
      • Sliding double bevel - Tilts in both directions and doubles the width of its cut.
  • Files
    • Coarse and Fine
      • Coarse
        • Lesser density.
        • Larger particles.
        • Teeth further spaced apart.
      • Fine
        • Higher density.
        • Less particles.
        • Teeth closer together.
  • Saws
    • Yellow blade for metal, unpainted for wood.
  • Tap and Die
    • Tap makes internal threads.
      • 3 Types of taps: Plug (short chamfer, usually 5 threads),

  • Taper (longer chamfer, 9-10 threads),
  • Bottoming (extremely small chamfer, 2 threads).

  • Recommended to use plug or taper tap first.
  • Die makes external threads.
    • When cutting threads, grind a chamfer onto the object for easier turning.
    • Secure the rod, use lubrication, and make one full turn with the die and tap wrench, then one half turn back.
    • Ensure both the rod and tap wrench are level.
    • Clean the metal chips with a wire brush and check if the desired nut fits on the rod after it's been threaded.
  • Tap and Die Sizing
    • SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) threads are measured in TPI (threads per inch).
    • Metric threads are measured by the distance between thread crests in millimeters.
    • Thread pitch gauge helps to properly identify thread measurement.
    • Both cut threads and are made of carbon steel.
    • Lubricating the threads aids in minimizing friction.
    • The empty parts on the tap are called flutes and allow the metal bits to fall through.
  • How to tap/thread things: Attach the circular part (die) or the tap, and rotate to cut threads into the screw. When rotating, make one full turn forward and one half turn back.
  • Purpose: Allows grinded screws or messed up threaded inserts to have a more secure connection.
  • Quarter 20 would be 20 TPI, or threads per inch, with the bolt being ¼ inch in width.
  • Rivet gun
    • There are different tips on the rivet gun, each for different sizes of the rivets.
    • Rivet gun tips can be unscrewed and replaced for different sizes needed.
  • How to remove a rivet:
    1. Sand down one side, and then the other side will pop out.
    2. Drill into the rivet.
    3. Hammer and chisel
  • Rivets are typically made of aluminum or steel.
  • The rivet's length should typically be equal to the thickness of the objects you are fastening.

^ Rivet ^

Bench Grinder (Pedestal grinder)​

  • Sharpens and/or polishes metal.
  • Usable on any metal tool that needs sharpening.
  • The bench grinder typically has 2 wheels.
    • One hard for grinding
    • One soft for polishing
  • Most of the wheel is covered, but 1/4th is exposed.
  • There is also an eyeshield and work rest attached.
  • Spins at 3000-3600 rpm.
  • Tongue guard prevents debris from being carried over by the wheel and shot out.
  • When using a bench grinder, allow it to reach full rpm.
  • Press wheel dresser against the wheel perpendicular to the wheel to square the face of the wheel.

Misc​

  • Screws and screwdrivers:
    • Phillips (Plus head)
    • Flathead (Flat head)
    • Allen wrench / hex key
  • Hex head (the hexagon shape on top of a standard bolt)
  • Know what cross threading and stripped screws are