Identify and describe the use, care and safe operation of hand tools and portable power tools used in timber and furniture work for marking out, cutting, shaping, drilling and assembly

What this dot point is asking

This dot point covers the hand tools and portable power tools you use throughout a timber project, from marking out to final assembly. NESA expects you to identify each tool, describe what it does, and explain how to use, care for and operate it safely and accurately. Tool knowledge is examined in the written paper and is demonstrated directly in the quality and safety of your Major Project, so you need both the names and the technique behind them.

Marking and measuring tools

Accurate work starts with accurate marking out. Steel rules and tape measures give length; a try square checks and marks right angles; a marking gauge scribes lines parallel to an edge; a marking knife gives a fine, precise line that a pencil cannot; and a sliding bevel sets and transfers angles. Mark from a single face side and face edge so errors do not accumulate, and always measure twice before you cut.

Cutting and shaping hand tools

• Saws: handsaws, tenon saws and coping saws cut to length, cut joints and cut curves respectively. Cut on the waste side of the line.
• Planes: jack and smoothing planes flatten and smooth surfaces and reduce stock to size; a block plane trims end grain. They must be sharp and finely set.
• Chisels: bevel-edge and firmer chisels pare and chop joints such as mortises. They are kept razor sharp and always cut away from the body.
• Files, rasps and spokeshaves: shape and smooth curves and edges.

Drilling and assembly hand tools

Braces, hand drills and bradawls bore holes; screwdrivers and mallets drive fasteners and assemble joints; clamps and cramps hold work while glue cures. A mallet, not a hammer, drives chisels so the handle is not damaged.

Portable power tools

Portable power tools do the same jobs faster and are central to modern furniture making:

• Circular saw: fast straight cuts and breaking down sheet stock, guided by a fence or straightedge.
• Jigsaw: curved and internal cuts in boards and panels.
• Router: cuts grooves, rebates, moulded edges and joints; one of the most versatile tools, used freehand or against a fence or template.
• Power drill and driver: drills holes and drives screws quickly.
• Sanders: belt, orbital and random-orbital sanders prepare surfaces for finishing.

Care and maintenance

Tools only work well if they are maintained. Keep cutting edges sharp by honing plane irons and chisels on stones; set saw teeth and keep blades clean; check that plane soles are flat and squares are true; oil bare metal to prevent rust; and replace worn power-tool blades and bits. A blunt tool is both inaccurate and dangerous because it forces you to push harder and lose control.

Safe operation

Safe use is the same theme for every tool. Secure the work with clamps or a vice rather than holding it by hand. Use guards and never remove them. Set the tool up correctly, with the right blade or bit and the correct depth or fence. Wear the right personal protective equipment: eye protection always, hearing protection for noisy tools, and a dust mask plus extraction for sanding and routing. Keep hands clear of the cutting line, let power tools reach full speed before cutting, and switch off and wait for blades to stop before putting a tool down.