Woodwork Hand Tools: holding and cutting tools

Holding Devices are used to hold woods and metals firmly on a workbench or on a machine tool in order to have a successful operation on them.

Some holding devices are bench vice, bench hook, G-Clamp, Pliers, sash clamp and F-Clamp

Vices
I. Bench Vice: this is used to hold wood and metal for filing, sawing, chiseling and tapping.   

They are fitted into the edge of the workbench by bolts and nuts. The jaw is tightened by rotating the bar. 


 
II. Hand Vice: Unlike the bench vice, the hand vice is not fixed to anything. It is held by the hand.  

The work piece is put in between the two arms of the vice and it is tightened by means of a screw.

 
III. Machine Vice: the machine vice looks like a bench vice. 

However, it is not permanently fixed on the machine tool bed. It can be rotated for machining at any desired angle.


Pliers
Pliers are work holding devices held in the hand of users. It is used for gripping and cutting wires and thin metal sheets. Pliers come in different forms. Some common pliers are: 

I. Long nose pliers

II. Cutting pliers

III. Combination pliers

IV. Gripping pliers


V. Groove joint pliers etc.



 
Clamps
Clamps are used to hold work piece at right angle while gluing and pining. Some clamps are:

I. Sash clamp: 

This is a large clamp used for holding and drawing parts of a work piece together while gluing.

 
II. G-clamp: 

This is a metal clamp used for holding a work piece while sawing or chiseling. It looks like letter ‘G’

 
III. F-clamp: 

This is a metal clamp used for holding a work piece while sawing or chiseling. It looks like letter ‘F’

 
Some other holding devices are:

I. Bench Holdfast: 

This is used to hold job firmly on the bench when moulding and rebating

II. Bench Hook: 

This is used to hold job to the bench while sawing or chiseling. It is also used to protect the bench.

 
Practical Class: Use of holding devices to hold timber jobs.

 
Exercises:

1. What are holding devices used for?

2. Mention 5 holding devices.

3. Mention three types of vices.

4. What are pliers?

5. Mention four examples of pliers.

6. List three examples of clamps.

7. What is the function of a bench holdfast?

8. What is the function of a bench hook?

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