What Are the Types of Hand Tools?
Hand tools come in many different shapes and sizes. Besides hammers and saws, they can also be chisels, pliers, and anvils. In this article, I’ll briefly describe each tool’s purpose and use. This article may contain affiliate links. I earn from qualifying purchases made through these links. Please read our disclaimer before purchasing products. The opinions expressed in this article are my own.
Chisel
A chisel is a tool that is used to cut material. The blade is flat, with four, six, or eight sides, tapering to a point at the tip. This taper is called a forging angle, or Draw Angle, and is important for the cutting action. A chisel can be either straight or angled. The length of the chisel depends on the material being cut.
Pliers
Pliers are a variety of hand tools that have several uses. For example, you can use them to remove oil filter casings. Some types of pliers have curved tips to support the ring while others are simply long and have a straight jaw. A variety of uses for pliers are varied, but all require a particular type of tool. Regardless of the use, there’s a tool for it.
Anvils
Anvils are hand tools that are used to bend metal. An anvil’s shape is based on its intended purpose and regional traditions of the foundry. Classic British and American anvils have a horn that is intimidating and flat behind it. German anvils have a rounded horn on one end and a flat triangle on the other. Depending on the type of application, each anvil can have a different horn shape.
Tapes
Tapes are a great way to keep measurements of various objects accurate. The most commonly used tapes are the metric ones. Metric measurements are displayed in Millimeters, Centimeters, Meters, and Feet, while imperial measurements are shown in Inches and fractions of Inches. Most measuring tapes are also printed with inch and metric markings, which can make them useful when spacing out timbers.
Wrenches
Most people will use a few of the basic hand tools, but if you’re a new DIYer or even a seasoned DIYer, you might find yourself asking: “What are the different types of hand tools?” You may be wondering about screwdrivers, hammers, pliers, wrenches, and more. While they may all seem similar, each one has its own specific uses.