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Top quality pliers are forged from fine-grain tool steel, machined to close tolerances with hand-honed cutting edges properly hardened. They are polished, adjusted and inspected. Pliers fall into two broad categories-solid joint and slip joint, either of which may...

Planes are used for trimming, beveling, fitting and shaping wood, and smoothing rough spots left by sawing and drilling. Quality is determined by the steel used in the cutter, cap iron, sole and body of the plane. The cap iron should be of hard steel so adjustment...

CLAMPS "C" clamps consist of a "C" shaped frame into which an adjustable screw is assembled. The size of a "C" clamp is measured by its capacity-the dimension of the largest object the frame can accommodate with the screw fully extended. Also important is depth of...

SQUARES Used to check and mark right angles, squares are defined as steel, try and combination. Combination squares will also measure 45 degree angles. If it has a degree scale, it can determine any angle. A steel square is made from one piece of steel, with the long...

Levels measure true horizontal (level) and true vertical (plumb) either with vials (spirit levels) or sensors (electronic levels). These mechanisms are incorporated into rails of wood, plastic, aluminum or magnesium. The rail or body of the level may be solid, I-beam...

Most common home-use hammers are nail, ball peen, tack, mallet, hand drilling, sledge and soft face. Quality features include: Forged steel heads for strength, durability. Heat-treated heads for strength, toughness, wear resistance. Should be heat treated differently...

BRACES Braces guide auger bits and drills. Attaching a screwdriver bit converts them into powerful screwdrivers. Drilling is done by turning the handle or center section in a circular motion. Pressure for drilling is given by bearing down on the head of the bit brace...

There are two main types of woodworking chisels-butt and firmer. A butt chisel has a short blade that ranges from about 2 1/2" to 3" long. It is used by pattern-makers, cabinetmakers, carpenters and do-it-yourselfers for carving, paring and similar work. It can be...

Of the two basic axe styles-single and double bit-single-bit axes are most popular. Single-bit axes are used to fell, trim or prune trees, to split or cut wood, or to drive wood stakes. They are the easiest and safest for an inexperienced woodcutter to use because...

TELEPHONES Telephones are becoming electronic devices in much the same sense that computers are. They contain microprocessors and other electronic parts. New and more sophisticated features are being added, such as automatic dialers. Here are important points to keep...