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A
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- Adjustable Bevel
- A hand tool for marking angles. Consisting of a stock, either metal or wood, and a movable sliding metal or wood blade. Adjustable Bevel page.
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- Adze
- A woodworking tool with a sloping steel or iron blade square off a wooden handle. Adze page.
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- Animal Glue
- A mixture of animal by products rendered down and dried to a hard jelly like consistency. When heated it takes on a liquid state and can be used as glue. It is the oldes of glues having been used by the ancient Egyptians.
Animal Glue page.
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- Auger Bit
- In woodworking, a tool for drilling holes in wood. Auger Bit page.
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- Auto Level
- A tripod mounted optical instrument that is used for obtaining levels in construction work. It's use require one person to read the instrument and on person to hold a staff that readings are taken from. Auto Level page.
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B
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- Ball Peen Hammer
- A mechanic's style hammer with a rounded peen Ball Peen Hammer page.
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- Beam Compass
- A setting out tool that is used for scribing circles and arcs, Beam Compass page.
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- Bevel Edge Chisel
- A woodworking tool with the side edges beveled. It is used for general cutting. Bevel Edge Chisel page.
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- Blacksmith's Vise
- A large strong steel vise that has a leg that sits on the floor to absorb the shock of any hammering. Blacksmith's Vise page.
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- Block Plane
- A small hand plane with a low cutting blade angle mainly used for planing end grain and miter joints Block Plane page.
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- Bow Saw
- In woodworking: A thin metal blade in a metal or wooden frame. Used for crosscutting and ripping and some curved cuts. Bow Saw page.
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- Braided Line
- A string line made out of braided material, rather than twisted. Braided Line page.
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- Breast Drill
- A hand operated drill with a pad on the end which can be place against the chest to increase the force applied. The drill operates through a wheel and pinion gearing, so it is possible to have a range of gearing. Two speed drills are common. Breast Drill page.
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- Broad Axe
- An axe with a wide blade. Used for felling trees, a woodsman's axe. Broad Axe page.
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- Buck Saw
- In woodworking: A thin metal blade in a tubular metal frame. Used for crosscutting, mostly lopping tree branches and sawing up logs.
Buck Saw page.
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- Butt Gauge
- In hand tools. A marking gauge specifically designed for hanging doors with butt hinges. Two gauges in one and can get very close to fixed door stops. Butt Gauge page.
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C
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- Carpenters Axe
- In woodwork a tool with a flat metal blade fixed to a wooden handle. Used to hew and cut wood into rough shape. Carpenters Axe page.
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- Caulking Gun
- A lightweight steel frame with a squeeze grip handle for applying a range of caulks, sealants and fillers that are marketed in tubes.
Caulking Gun page.
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- Chalk Line
- A string line that is covered with powdered chalk. When stretched tight on a surface and flicked the chalk leave a straight line on the surface. Chalk Line page.
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- Chemical Fastener
- A mixture of a polyester base resin and hardener kept in separate compartments of a tube that are mixed together in a nozzle when they are extruded out of the tube.
Chemical Fastener page.
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- Chemical Fastener Gun
- A large form of a caulking gun that is used for applying chemical fastener.
Chemical Fastener Gun page.
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- Claw Hammer
- A carpentry tool the hammer face is used for driving nails and the opposing claw is used for withdrawing nails and other prising or levering work. Claw Hammer page.
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- Cold Chisel
- A former metal worker's tool used for cutting steel. Now used for chipping and breaking concrete etc. Cold Chisel page.
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- Combination Square
- A all purpose all steel square. In it's standard form it is a rightangle and a mitre square, and with an additional bases it is a muliti-angle bevel or protractor and a tool to find the centre of bar stock.. Combination Square page.
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- Concrete Bullfloat
- In concreting: A large wooden or metal float on a long handle used in leveling and smoothing wet concrete. Concrete Bullfloat page.
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- Concrete Screed
- In concreting: A hand held straightedge used in leveling and tamping wet concrete. Concrete Screed page.
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- Cooper
- A person who makes or made wooden barrels. Cooper page.
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- Coping Saw
- In hand tools. A small saw for cutting curves. Typically for scribing around mouldings on skirtings (baseboards) and cornices (crown molds). Coping Saw page.
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- Crosscut Saw
- In hand tools. A saw for cutting across the grain of timber. Crosscut Saw page.
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D
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- Digital Caliper
- An engineer's tool for making fine measurements, both internal and external Digital Caliper page.
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- Dovetail Saw
- A joinery and cabinetmaking saw with a small thin blade and fine teeth supported by a stiff metal back of brass but also steel. It takes it's name from the dovetail joints that it is used for cutting. Dovetail Saw page.
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- Draw-knife Bench
- A purpose made seat or bench to hold the material while using a draw knife. The main details being that the worker sits down and uses his feet to control the gripping of the material. Draw-knife Bench page.
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- Drawknife
- In woodworking, two handed tool for shaping mainly in the round or curved sections. Used by wheelwrights, coopers, boat builders and others. Drawknife page.
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- Dumpy Level
- An early form of optical leveling instrument. It is a commonly mis-used term when referring to a Builder's Automatic Level. The dumpy has a leveling tube that has to be set at each swing of the instrument. Further it gives an upside down reading in the view finder. It has no auto features.
Dumpy Level page.
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E
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- Ear Muffs
- Ear protectors that muffle sound and protect the ears in noisy environments. Ear Muffs page.
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- Easy Clamps
- One handed clamp that works through a ratchet handle similar to a caulking gun. Easy Clamps page.
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- Edging Tools
- Small hand tools for making neat edges to concrete surfaces. Edging Tools page.
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- ELD Box
- A earth leakage detector ELD, also known as an RCD or residual current device, is an electrical safety device that detects faults in electrical systems within milliseconds and shuts off the current before harm can be done. When fitted into a portable junction box for mains power leads or cords it is called a safety box etc. ELD Box page.
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- Explosive Fastener tool
- Also known as Powder actuated fastener tool. A "gun" that can fire high tensile steel nails and bolt fitting into hard materials like steel of concrete. Sometimes called direct fasteners.
Explosive Fastener tool page.
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F
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- F Clamps
- Carpentry clamps in the shape of an F F Clamps page.
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- Fencing Pliers
- Large pliers with the capacity to cut, bend and twist heavy gauge and high tensile fencing wire. Fencing Pliers page.
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- Fiberglass Tape Measure
- A wind up type of builder's long tape measure. Comes in various lengths up to 50M. Fiberglass Tape Measure page.
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- Fibro Cutter
- A two handed tool metal tool used for cutting fibrous asbestos cement sheeting. Fibro Cutter page.
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- Firmer Chisel
- A woodworking chisel with square sides to the blade. There are no side bevels. These chisels are stronger and can take more punishment than beveled edge chisels. Firmer Chisel page.
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- Floor Clamps
- Aids to fixing tongue and grooved flooring. They clamp to the floor joists and exert pressure on the boards to close the joints. Floor Clamps page.
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- Framing Square
- Also called a roofing square and steel square this is a flat steel square with legs of 600mm and 400mm or 2ft by 18 inches. It can be used just a general square but it can also be used to perform roof and stair set outs by using sets of tables inscribed on both faces of the sqaure. Framing Square page.
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G
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- Gent's Saw
- A smaller version of a dovetail saw whit a straight round handle.
Gent's Saw page.
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- Gimlet
- A one handed tool with a wooden T handle and a metal spike with a small screw on the tip. Used for making starting holes for screwing or drilling. Gimlet page.
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- Glass Cutter
- A simple small tool for cutting glass. Glass Cutter page.
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H
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- Hacksaw
- A metalworking hand tool for sawing metal and hard plastics etc. Hacksaw page.
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- Hand Brace
- A hand tool used for drilling holes. Hand Brace page.
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- Hand Floats
- Hand tools for finishing concrete. The consist of a shaped base and a handle. They are made with different materials for different finishes. Steel, magnesium,wood,plastic and sponge etc. Hand Floats page.
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- Hand Mortiser
- In woodworking: A machine that speeds up the task of making mortises but is powered by hand. Hand Mortiser page.
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J
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- Jointing Tools
- Small hand tools for making neat looking joints to concrete pavements. Jointing Tools page.
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- Junior Hacksaw
- First made by Stanley. A small saw with a simple one piece bent metal frame for metal and plastics cutting. It uses cheap disposable 6 inch blades. Junior Hacksaw page.
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K
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- K Clamps
- Joinery sash clamp named after the shape of the main bar which is a K rather than T shape. Made by Bessey K Clamps page.
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L
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- Leveling Staff
- A surveyors and builders aid in leveling. Most commonly an extendable aluminium rod with checkered painted graduations on the face. In close work it could just as easily be a simple board with pencil marking on it.
Leveling Staff page.
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- Lump Hammer
- Also known as a club hammer. A short heavy two faced hammer used with heavy short strokes when working with cold chisels and the like. Lump Hammer page.
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M
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- Manual Flooring Nailer
- A hand tool used for secret fixing flooring.
Manual Flooring Nailer page.
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- Marking Gauge
- In woodworking: A hand tool made out of mainly wood to mark or score lines parallel to an edge or face. Marking Gauge page.
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- Mechanics Vise
- A workshop tool, firmly mounted at a convenient height for holding and gripping material while working on it. Mechanics Vise page.
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- Metal Smoothing Planes
- Carpentry and joinery hand planes made out of mainly metal. A small light plane used for dressing off and finishing. Metal Smoothing Planes page.
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- Mini Hacksaw
- A handle and a support bar that uses standard length hacksaw blades. The front end of the blade is not supported and so it is useful for sliding into spaces that a standard hacksaw will not fit into.
Mini Hacksaw page.
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- Mortise Chisel
- A woodworking chisel with square sides to the blade. The blade increases in depth the closer it gets to the handle Mortise Chisel page.
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- Mortise Gauge
- A joinery tool for marking mortise joints or similar parallel lines. It has two adjustable gauge points on one side an a single gauge point on the other side of the main bar. Mortise Gauge page.
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N
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- Notched Floats
- In hand tools. Steel floats with notched edges used for spreading adhesive. Mainly used by ceramic tilers to get an even bed. Notched Floats page.
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P
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- Panel Saw
- In hand tools. A smaller version of a crosscut saw used for finer work. Panel Saw page.
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- Pipe Cutter
- A hand tool for cutting metal pipes. Ranges in size from a small copper pipe cutter through to say 300mm diameter steel and cast iron pipes.
Pipe Cutter page.
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- Pit Saw
- The main tool of the trade of the pre industrial age sawyer. A long steel blade with handles for a man at each end. Used in a saw pit, with one man on the top and one man underneath. for ripping down the length of logs. Pit Saw page.
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- Plumb
- Exactly vertical. If a member is vertical it is said to be "plumb". If not it is said to be "out of plumb". Plumb page.
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- Plumb Bob
- A weight suspended on a string line, cord or wire to find true vertical. The main metal used for this was lead, from the Latin for lead Plumbum. Also called a plummet. Plumb Bob page.
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- Plumb Rule
- A length of wood from which a plummet can be conveniently strung to find vertical. Plumb Rule page.
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- Pop Rivet-Tool
- A tool for fixing pop rivets. Comes in various layouts and sizes depending on the rivet size, but the small pliers like tool is the most common. Pop Rivet-Tool page.
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- Pump Screwdriver
- An Iconic tool in it's day pump screwdriver had a short few years when it was the fastest way to drive screws.
Pump Screwdriver page.
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R
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- Ratchet Brace
- A brace that includes a ratchet for ease of use in tight spaces, and also to use just the most powerful or easiest arc of turn. Ratchet Brace page.
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- Ratchet Mechanism
- A device used to convert a full circular motion of a tool or machine, into smaller arcs of motion to give more power and or convenience. Consists of a ratchet wheel and pawl. Ratchet Mechanism page.
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- Retracting Tape Measure
- The device that replaced the carpenter's folding rule. A spring loaded self retracting thin steel tape measure. Retracting Tape Measure page.
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S
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- ShoulderPlane
- A hand plane related to and similar to a rebate plane but with a low cutting blade angle mainly used for planing end the grain of shoulder joints in tennons ShoulderPlane page.
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- Side Axe
- An axe with one flat face the better to give a smoother finish. Typically used working downwards on the side od a baulk of timber. Side Axe page.
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- Socket Chisel
- A woodworking chisel made out of solid cast steel. Normally used for heavier work. The handle fits into the cast socket and quite often has a ferule or button on the end. Socket Chisel page.
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- Speed Square
- An aluminium triangular square, with one right angle and two 45 degree angles. Used for general squaring when marking out and by some people (reputedly) for obtaining roofing angles. Speed Square page.
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- Spirit Level
- A hand tool with curved sealed glass vials containing a liquid and a bubble of air. The glass bubbles are located parallel to or at rightangles to the body of the level to give horizontal or vertical readings.
Spirit Level page.
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- Spokeshave
- In woodworking, a hand tool having a blade set between two handles. Used on curved and flat work and for rounding off edges. Spokeshave page.
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- Spring Caliper
- A machinists tool for checking the size of something turned on a lathe. They can be categorised by being Inside calipers or outside calipers. Spring Caliper page.
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- Stonemasons Level
- Historic usage: A wooden frame from which is suspended a plumb bob to find a horizontal level.
Also used by carpenters etc. Stonemasons Level page.
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- String line.
- Line usually out of string, but also used is wire, cord, nylon fishing line etc. When stretched tight it is used as an aid to creating straight lines. String line. page.
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- Stud Finder
- A small electrical tool that can accurately find the position of studs in a framed wall. Stud Finder page.
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- Swivel Base Vise
- A mechanics style vise that has a base that can be swiveled to allow for different working positions. Swivel Base Vise page.
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T
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- Tile Laser
- A small laser tool designed for fast setting out square lines on floors for professional floor tilers.
Tile Laser page.
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- Tin Snips
- Snips or shears for cutting thin sheet metal.
Tin Snips page.
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- Toggle Clamps
- Hand operated lever clamps which can quickly apply pressure and just as easily release it. Very useful for repetition work. Toggle Clamps page.
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- Treadle Metal Lathe
- An example of an almost modern metal screw cutting lathe driven by a treadle, that is by foot power. Treadle Metal Lathe page.
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- Treadle Wood Lathe
- An example of a woodworking lathe driven by a treadle, that is by foot power. Treadle Wood Lathe page.
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- Try Square
- A joinery tool for testing timber or lumber for square, that is 90 Degrees. Also used for general squaring work. Comes in various sizes. Try Square page.
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- Two Man Crosscut Saw
- A saw with a handle for a man at each end. These saws are designed to cut on both strokes and so have distinctive teeth. Two Man Crosscut Saw page.
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V
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- Vise Grips
- Small adjustable hand tools that can grip and lock onto, and hold together small objects. Vise Grips page.
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- Vise Jaw Caps
- Parts that fit over the steel jaws of a vise to protect the work. Often copper, aluminium, plywood or timber. Vise Jaw Caps page.
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- Vise Jaw Inserts
- Replaceable hardened steel inserts for vise jaws. Vise Jaw Inserts page.
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W
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- Wheelwright
- A person who makes or made wooden wheels. Wheelwright page.
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- Wing Compass
- A compass, often large, for scribing arcs and circles, with an arced wing that helps to steady the legs in use, and with a locking screw on the arc to hold the legs firmly in position. Wing Compass page.
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- Wood Turning Tools
- Metal chisels of robust construction with long wooden handles used for wood turning. Wood Turning Tools page.
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- Wooden Planes
- Carpentry and joinery hand planes made out of mainly wood. The oldest form of hand plane. Wooden Planes page.
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- Woodworking Pipe Clamps
- Clamp ends that are attached to standard diameter steel pipes. Woodworking Pipe Clamps page.
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- Woodworking Vise
- A vise that is built into a carpenter or joiner's bench. Optimised for holding timber. Woodworking Vise page.
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