Basic Hand Tools

CLASSIFICATION AND FUNCTION

Prepare hand tools
When doing any kind of work, tools are needed to
have things done. When fixing furniture, repairing home
appliances, or doing simple repairs, tools help you make work
easy, with less effort but with an efficient result. Without the
needed tools, much time is consumed, and more effort is
required to accomplish your task.
 For you to accomplish a task efficiently, you must possess
basic knowledge on how to identify and select tools that are
usable, of good quality, and free from faults. The task required
calls for the right kind of tools to prepare. Simple jobs usually
need simple tools to use. Heavy jobs need the use of heavy tools.
Through constant practice and simple observation, you become
skillful in selecting the right tool for the job.
In automotive applications, it is important that the needed
tools are not defective and must be perfect for the job to finish on
time. The use of faulty tools might result in injury and damage to
you and the parts you are working on.
 Preparing hand tools to use is easy but requires a lot of practice.
Depending on the level of work to be done, whether it is a basic level
which involves inspection and checking, cleaning, and simple fixing of
parts; the common level for replacing of basic parts such as air cleaner,
fuel filter, hoses; and the core level when performing major tasks such
as tune-up, overhauling and under-chassis work.
The extent of work will give you information to identify and select
the size, shape, and type of tools needed to accomplish the task.
The following tools for the specific task have the corresponding
name of specific tools in performing the task.
TOOLS FOR A SPECIFIC PROCEDURE/TASK NAME OF SPECIFIC TOOLS
· Cleaning tools Brushes (fiber and wire), Scraper, Wiping cloth
· Cutting Tools Chisel, File, Hacksaw, Electric drills, Hole saw,
Machinist pliers, Side cutting pliers, Tin snip
· Driving tools Hammers - Ball peen, Brass/Plastic, Starting and
Drift punch
· Bending /Holding/ Twisting/ Crimping Pliers – Combination, Crimping and Splicer,
Tools/Gadget Cutting, Long nose, Vise-grip, Bench vise
· Loosening and tightening tools Wrenches - Allen, Box, Combination, Open,
Socket, Spark plug, Torque wrench Screwdrivers –
Allen, Flat, Offset, Phillips, Stubby,
· Marking tools Center punch, Scriber
· Measuring tools Caliper, Metal tape measure, Steel rule, Torque
wrench
 Operation of Hand Tools

To gain more knowledge

about the tools, you must
know its basic functions
so that you will be able to
identify its use.
I. CLEANING TOOLS

1. Scraper is a flat thin sheet of metal with a wooden or

plastic handle. It is used to scrape hard to remove dirt
or stubborn grime or plastic sticker.
2. Steel/Wire brushes are thin strips of metal inserted in
a wooden or plastic stock. It is used to remove rust,
hard-to-remove dirt, and grime with a sweeping action.
3. Utility rag is a fibrous cloth used in cleaning and wiping
dirt and dust.
II . BENDING/HOLDING/TWISTING/CRIMPING TOOLS
Pliers are generally used as all-around tools.
They have the capability for bending, crimping,
cutting, holding, stripping, and twisting. They
are available in various shapes and sizes.
Generally, pliers used for the electrical job are
insulated, whereas those for mechanical work
are not insulated but are sometimes equipped
with rubber for gripping. Pliers are not used as
substitutes for wrenches.
Side-cutting pliers are tools having a broad, flat, and rough
jaw. They have a pair of nipper-like blades used for cutting
and bending wires.
Combination pliers are equipped with adjustable openings
by means of a slip joint. It is used for gripping objects
because of its inner notch and used for cutting and
bending small wires.
Long nose pliers have needle-nose ends used for holding
or picking small objects. They have a razor-like blade on
their jaw for stripping, cutting, and bending wires.
Stripping and crimping pliers have two-half round edges
used to strip electrical wire and a crimping nose to fold and
lock wire connectors.
Vise grip or locking jaw pliers are specially-designed pliers
used for holding work pieces together. They have a variety of
uses such as inserting a fastener, holding bolts while
tightening or loosening the nut, and removing rounded head
bolts and nuts.
Machinist pliers have adjustable and cutting jaws with tooth-
edged noses used for holding, bending, and cutting wires.
2. Bench vise is a device for
holding and bending pieces of
metal. It consists of one fixed
and one movable jaw operated
by a clamping action of the
screw.
III. CUTTING TOOLS
1. Chisel is a hand tool essentially used for
cutting bolts, nuts, and rivets. It comes in
different types and sizes. A flat cold chisel is
used for general cutting. Special chisels like
a diamond point are used for cutting sharp-
bottomed grooves and a round-end chisel
for cutting oil grooves.
Electric Drill is a tool for boring holes. It is made of
either carbon steel which requires frequent
sharpening or high-speed steel which requires less
sharpening. The electric drill is designed for slow
and high-speed drilling. It can be hand operated for
slow drilling or electrically operated portable or
heavy-duty machine for high-speed drilling with a
replaceable drill attachment at the end. Drills come
in various diameter sizes. The electric drill can also
be used as a portable grinding machine by attaching
a handy grinder on its end.
2. File is a hard steel tool used for
smoothening metal. It comes in various
shapes such as flat, round, half-round, and
triangular. It also comes in different fine-
to-coarse cutting edges. A single-cut file
has a single series of cutting edges parallel
to each other whereas a double-cut file
has two sets of cutting edges that cross at
an angle.
3. Hacksaw is an excellent tool for cutting bolts, tubing,
and light to thick metal. It has a light frame handle with a
blade connected to both ends of the frame. Depending
on the type of work to be cut, a hacksaw blade tooth per
inch (TPI) determines the extent of metal being cut. It
comes in 14, 18, 24, and 32 teeth per inch. The lower the
number, the lesser the number of TPI and the greater it
is cutting ability. A special hacksaw such as a hole saw is
used when boring thin and large diameter sheets of
metal. It is electrically operated by an electric drill.
4. Tin Snip is a scissor-
shaped tool used for
cutting thin sheets of
metal.
IV. DRIVING TOOLS
1. Hammer are generally used for driving or striking
work. It comes in various sizes, weights, and kinds.
 The ball peen hammer is basically used by machinists in
automotive applications. It has a weighty ball-shaped
metal at the end of the handle with a flat surface on one
side for striking a chisel or appropriate work and a
rounded shape for riveting or penning.
 The brass or plastic-tipped hammers are used for
striking soft and delicate parts such as aluminum or
plastic to avoid danger of breaking or marring the
surface.
2. Puncher is a tool made of steel. It is used
to cut or drive outa bolt or lock needle pin
out of a hole. Starting punch is a punch with
a tapered portion used for initially starting a
pin or rivet removal. After initially starting
the pin, the drift punch or pin punch is used
to complete the job of removing the pin. A
hole punch is used in cutting a paper gasket
in making holes.
V. LOOSENING AND TIGHTENING
TOOLS
1. Wrenches are tools for loosening and tightening bolts and nuts. It comes in
different forms and numbers in Metric or in English sizes.

1.1 Allen wrench is used in a type of screw bolt with a

hexagonal hole on the head.
1.2 Boxend wrench is an enclosed end tool used for moderate
application for loosening and tightening bolts and nuts.
1.3 Combination wrench is a tool with an open end on one side and a box end on the
opposite side. It has the same size on both ends and is used in loosening and
tightening bolts and nuts.
1.4 Oil filter wrench is circular-shaped steel with an internal tooth
and handle. It is inserted into the oil filter body and tightened as it
is turned for removal.
1.5 Open end wrench is a tool with an open end used for light
application in loosening and tightening bolts and nuts.
1.6 Socket wrench is a tubular-like tool with an enclosed end used
for heavy application for loosening and tightening bolts and nuts.
1.7 Spark plug wrench is a socket-like wrench intended for
removing and installing spark plugs.
1.8 Tire wrench is a cross-like or sometimes L-shaped piece of
round bar used to remove the wheels of the vehicle.
VI. MARKING TOOLS
1. Center punch is a tool made of hardened steel with a conical tip point on its end.
It is about 3 to 4 in. long in length and used for marking the material before
drilling. It is also used for marking two parts so that after removing them, they
can be easily replaced by aligning the marks together.
2. Scriber is a thin steel rod with a pointed tip on its end. It is used for marking fine
lines on metal for layout work.
3. Pencil is a thin strip of graphite enclosed in a wooden case and used for making
drawings and marking lines.
VII. MEASURING TOOLS
1. Torque wrench is a special service tool for
measuring the twisting force applied when
tightening bolts and nuts.
2. Steel rule is a measuring strip of steel available in
various lengths in the metric and English systems.
It is available in 12-, 24-, 36- and 48-inches sizes. It
is used in the linear measurement of short length
or height.
3. Caliper is a tool used in measuring the diameter of a circular work. The Inside caliper is used in
measuring the inside diameter whereas the outside caliper is used in measuring the outside
diameter of an object. The caliper is adjustable. The Vernier caliper is a good example that is
capable to measure both the inside and outside diameter of an object with accuracy. It can also
measure the thickness and thinness in thousandths of an inch.
4. Metal tape measure is a push and pull, long strip of a thin sheet of metal with corresponding
increments in millimeters and inches graduation. It is used for measuring stock and can be bought in
different sizes of lengths.
5. Feeler gauge is a thin strip of metal with different thicknesses used to measure or set gap and
clearance between parts of the mechanism.
PRINCIPLES OF TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT (TQM)
-5S
The total quality management in automotive servicing is getting the job done with excellence and
direction. This is one of the principles that should be implemented for the management to work.
One of the key principles is the proper maintenance of the shop. To be effective, there must be
some methods to work on. One is the management of peopleware. They are the ones that need
sustainable training in the shop and workshop environment. This increases their manpower
capability in the field of work. Because of this, they become assets in managing the shop. Increasing
their skills also increases their values and worth. Therefore, it decreases the chance of accidents
and expenses in the workplace by applying corrective and preventive maintenance. These corrective
and preventive measures also include the hardware. The hardware part of management in
automotive servicing is the workshop facilities like the tools, materials, equipment/machinery
including facilities like furniture, lighting, water, and furniture. Proper management of this hardware
results in cost-effective expenses in the workplace.
In Japan, they use the 5 S principles of
management to increase efficiency and
effectiveness in the workplace. These 5
S principles of management will help
you a lot in sorting, setting in
order/simplifying, sweeping,
standardizing, and sustaining.
1. Sorting – a process of taking things that are needed and
taking away those that are not needed anymore. In this way,
eliminating unnecessary items gives more free space to
those items that are needed. To be more specific, those
items for disposal must be marked or tagged with the
appropriate color for easy identification. Sample guide
questions:
 What items should be eliminated?
 What items should be retained?
 What items can be reconditioned/ repaired?
2. Setting in order, Straightening, Simplifying – a
process of making things easy to see, easy to get, and
easy to return. Sample guide questions:
 Where are the tool, materials, and equipment
located?
 What tools, materials, and equipment are common?
 Where is the best location for each of them to be
placed?
3. Sweeping, Shining, Systematic cleaning – a
process of clearing out the dirt, dust, and residual
grime to make the space, machines, and fixtures
clean. Examples are:
 What location or machines need immediate and
regular clean-up?
 Which of them should be cleaned first?
4. Standardize – a process of having a uniform
procedure of work or placement of things in the
proper place. Examples are:
 How are the procedures done?
 What is the schedule of work from start to
finish?
 Where should the finished work be placed?
 Who will be in charge of testing the work?
5. Sustaining - a process of
maintaining a continuous
and consistent
implementation of the 5S
principles.
With this 5S in mind as a tool for
management principles, it is expected
that it can build a good workshop and
workplace environment that in the
process it will result in shop maintenance,
efficiency, and effectiveness.