Mechanical Tools and Vocabulary
Mechanical tools are used in nearly every industry, including construction, manufacturing, and engineering. The following is a breakdown of common mechanical tools and their associated terms.
Wrench: A wrench is a highly versatile hand tool that is designed to turn nuts, bolts, and other tight-fitting items. There are several varieties of wrenches, including combination wrenches, ratcheting wrenches, pipe wrenches, and adjustable wrenches.
Screwdriver: A screwdriver is a tool made with a flat or Phillips head tip, used to insert and turn screws.
Drill: A drill is an electric tool used to cut holes and drilling into wooden or metal surfaces.
Hammer: A hammer is an essential tool used to drive nails and other items into hard surfaces. It is composed of a heavy metal head connected to a lightweight handle.
Pliers: Pliers are also a versatile tool used in many industries. They feature two handles connected by a pivot, with a pair of sharp metal jaws that can grip and manipulate wire and small parts.
Saw: A saw is used to cut wood, metal, or other materials. Common types of saws include hand saws, hacksaws, jigsaws, and power saws.
Grinder: A grinder is an electric device used to shape and polish metal surfaces.
Hacksaw: A hacksaw is a long handled saw used to cut metal.
Pry Bar: A pry bar is a long metal lever used to pry open or loosen bolts, nails, and other stubborn objects.
File: A file is sharp-toothed metal tool used to smooth metal, wood, or plastic surfaces.
Clamp: A clamp is used to hold two workpieces together, or to keep objects in place while they are being worked on.
Tape Measure: A tape measure is used to measure length and distance, and is commonly used in carpentry and other construction trades.
Level: A level is a valuable tool for leveling surfaces, making sure that walls and floors are perfectly even.
Spray Gun: A spray gun is used to coat surfaces with paint, varnish, epoxy, and other substances.
Square: A square is a widely used carpentry and masonry tool used to create right angles.
Torque Wrench: A torque wrench is a specialized wrench used to tighten nuts, bolts, and screws. It uses a set amount of torque, which prevents nuts and bolts from being over-tightened and damaged.
Potentiometer: A potentiometer is a type of adjustable transition used to measure current in electrical devices.
Caliper: A caliper is a device used to measure the distance between two points, or the thickness of an object.
Heat Gun: A heat gun is a device used to heat and soften materials such as plastic, metal, and wood.
Socket Wrench: The socket wrench is a type of wrench used to remove and replace nuts or bolts with a socket attached to the end.
Nut Driver: A nut driver is another specialized tool used to tighten or loosen nuts. It is typically used by plumbers and mechanics.
Pipe Cutter: The pipe cutter is a specialized tool used to precisely cut metal pipes.
Soldering Iron: The soldering iron is a temperature-controlled tool used for soldering electrical components.
Sander: A sander is an electric tool used to sand surfaces to achieve a smooth finish.
Hose clamp: The hose clamp is a tool used to securely attach hoses or pipes to fittings, and is commonly used in plumbing and automotive repair.
Rivet: The rivet is a fastener that is used to join two pieces of metal. It is inserted into a pre-drilled hole and then compressed with a hammer, drill, or rivet gun.
Grommet: The grommet is a small metal cap fastener used to join metal or fabric materials.
Tubing Bender: The tubing bender is a specialized tool used for bending metal tubing for vehicle exhaust systems, or for other applications.
Tap and Die Set: The tap and die set is a tool used to cut threads in metal objects. It consists of two parts--the tap, which is used to cut threads into a predrilled hole, and the die, which cuts threads on a piece of metal rod.
Welder: A welder is an electric device used to join two metal objects by heating and melting them together. Welders are commonly used in shipbuilding and construction.
The above is only a small sampling of common mechanical tools and vocabulary. There are many other terms associated with this trade that makes it exciting for both novice and experienced tradesmen alike. Mechanical tools are powerful, precise, and essential to the construction industry.
