4.

Hand and Power Tools Theory Support

Hand and Power Tools

Automotive – Foundation

This presentation will explore:

 Typical Hand Tools
 Typical Electrical Tools
 Typical Air Tools

1 of 18
4. Hand and Power Tools Theory Support

Typical Wrenches
Combination wrenches have an
Combination
open jaw on one end and a box jaw wrenches
on the other. Each end is typically
the same size.
Automotive – Foundation

Box wrenches have the closed box

jaw at both ends. Each end will
typically be a different size. They Box wrenches
have 6 or 12 point openings.

Offset box wrenches allow access to

nuts and bolts that are not easily Offset box
wrenches
accessible. 15° offset box wrenches
are shown.

Ratchet box wrenches remove the

Ratchet box
need to ‘re-set’ the wrench for each
wrench
new turn of the nut or bolt.
2 of 18
4. Hand and Power Tools Theory Support

Typical Wrenches
An adjustable wrench has jaws that
can be opened or closed to fit a
wide range of nuts or bolts. They Adjustable
are not as strong as open end
Automotive – Foundation

wrench
wrenches and are typically only
used in emergency situations.

Allen (hex) wrenches are

hexagonal (six sided) in shape Allen (hex)
and are used to fit and remove set wrenches
screws and cap screws.

Torque wrenches allow nuts and

bolts to be tightened to an exact
tightness (torque). This is essential in
situations such as a cylinder head Torque
wrench
where the incorrect torque can cause
distortion and damage. 3 of 18
4. Hand and Power Tools Theory Support

Typical Ratchets, Sockets and Extensions

Ratchets allow nuts and bolts to be
Ratchet
fitted or removed without ‘re-setting’
the tool. The head of a ratchet can
either be fixed or flexible.
Automotive – Foundation

Standard sockets are used by the

Standard
ratchet to fit and remove nuts and sockets
bolts. They typically have 6 or 12
point openings and come in a
variety of imperial and metric sizes.

Deep-well sockets are used when a Deep-well

longer-than-normal reach is required. sockets

Plug sockets are used for removing spark

plugs. They typically have a rubber insert Plug socket
that grips the plug’s insulator.
4 of 18
4. Hand and Power Tools Theory Support

Typical Ratchets, Sockets and Extensions

Extension bars allow nuts and bolts
to be reached where it would be
difficult to rotate the ratchet. They
come in a range of lengths, so can be
Automotive – Foundation

Extension
specially chosen for a given situation. bars

The universal joint allows access

to a nut or bolt that is situated in a Universal
difficult-to-reach position or is joint
obstructed by another object.

T-bars have a sliding head, so the T-bar

length of the handle can be varied (T-handle)
depending on the situation, in
which it is used.
5 of 18
4. Hand and Power Tools Theory Support

Typical Ratchets, Sockets and Extensions

Breaker bars are very strong and
are used to loosen large or very
tight nuts and bolts.
Breaker bar
Automotive – Foundation

A speed handle can be used to

quickly remove a nut or bolt once
it has been loosened. It can also Speed handle
be used to quickly fit nuts and
bolts, but is not recommended for
final tightening.

6 of 18
4. Hand and Power Tools Theory Support

Typical Pliers
Combination pliers are the most
Combination
common type. They have serrated pliers
jaws and an oval recess for gripping
and crimping. They also sometimes
Automotive – Foundation

have a wire cutter or slip joints.

Long nose
Long nose pliers are used to pliers
handle small parts and to
retrieve components from
inaccessible locations. Needle nose
pliers
Needle nose pliers perform a
similar task to long nose pliers,
but the nose is thinner.
Snap ring
Snap ring (circlip) pliers are
(circlip) pliers
designed to remove and fit snap
rings. They have a pair of parallel
jointed tips to perform this task.
7 of 18
4. Hand and Power Tools Theory Support

Typical Pliers
Side cutters (also known as diagonal
Side
cutting pliers) are used for cutting wire cutters
and removing split pins. They are more
versatile than the cutter included on
Automotive – Foundation

some combination pliers.

Rib joint
Rib joint (also called water pump) pliers
pliers
allow the jaws to be adjusted over a wide
range of opening sizes. While doing this the
jaws also remain parallel to each other.

Vise grips (also called locking pliers) are

used to clamp a component or
components in place, freeing the Vise grips
operator’s hands to perform another task.
8 of 18
4. Hand and Power Tools Theory Support

Typical Hammers
The ball peen hammer has a flat face Ball peen hammer
for general hammering work and a
round end (ball) that is used for
shaping metal. Ball peen hammers
Automotive – Foundation

are available in a variety of sizes.

A copper and hide hammer has a Copper and

copper face that is soft and used hide hammer
when you do not want to mark a
hammered surface. The hide face is
used when light blows are required
on an easily damaged part.

9 of 18
4. Hand and Power Tools Theory Support

Typical Hammers
Rubber mallets are used on sheet
metals or plastic parts, as the Rubber mallet
hammer bounces when it strikes.
This would make it inefficient on
Automotive – Foundation

solid metal parts.

A plastic and rubber hammer is

used when light, non-marking
blows are required. Plastic and
rubber hammer

10 of 18
4. Hand and Power Tools Theory Support

Typical Screwdrivers
A slot (also called a standard) Slot
screwdriver has a single blade screwdriver
that fits slot screw heads.
Automotive – Foundation

Phillips screwdrivers have two

crossing blades that fit cross- Phillips
head screws. screwdriver

Pozidriv screwdrivers are similar

Pozidriv
to Phillips screwdrivers, except
screwdriver
that the tip is longer and narrower,
so providing better engagement in
the screw.
Ratchet
Ratchet screwdrivers are normally screwdriver
provided with a number of
interchangeable tips and blades
of different types and sizes. 11 of 18
4. Hand and Power Tools Theory Support

Typical Chisels and Punches

Chisels are used to cut metal, and
remove rivet heads and rusty nuts
& bolts. Flat chisels are shown,
but there are many different
Automotive – Foundation

shaped chisels used for Flat

different applications. chisels

Center punches are used to

Center
mark material before drilling punches
and components for
reassembly purposes.

12 of 18
4. Hand and Power Tools Theory Support

Typical Chisels and Punches

Drift (also called starting) punches
have a tapered shank and are
more robust than pin punches.
These can be used to start
Automotive – Foundation

removing shafts, rods and pins

Drift punches
before changing to a pin punch.

Pin (also called parallel) punches

Pin punches
have a straight shank and are
used to remove shafts, rods and
pins once the drift punch has
been used.

13 of 18
4. Hand and Power Tools Theory Support

Typical Gauges
Feeler gauges are used to measure
Feeler
small clearances between parts. gauges
Feeler gauge sizes are either in
thousandths of an inch or
Automotive – Foundation

hundredths of a millimeter.
Dial gauges measure movement, Dial
for example, differential backlash, gauges
rotor runout, camshaft wear, etc.
A caliper gauge can take inside,
outside and depth measurements.
It can have either a sliding scale
Vernier
(as shown) or a dial gauge to caliper gauge
show the measurements.
Micrometers are used to make Micrometer
very precise measurements.
Outside (shown), inside and
depth micrometers are available. 14 of 18
4. Hand and Power Tools Theory Support

Typical Gauges
The brake rotor caliper is specially
Brake rotor
designed to accurately measure the caliper
thickness of a brake rotor. A
micrometer may be used in place
Automotive – Foundation

of this gauge.

Telescopic gauges are used to Telescopic

gauges
measure internal sizes. Once set to
the correct size, they are removed
and measured with a micrometer.

Tire pressure gauges measure the Tire pressure

air pressure in a tire. Measurements gauge
are typically in psi or bar.

Tire tread depth gauges are used to Tire tread depth

gauge
measure the depth of a tire’s tread.
15 of 18
4. Hand and Power Tools Theory Support

Typical Electrical Tools

Electric hand drills are used for
portable drilling operations. They
come in a number of sizes and can Electric
either be connected to the AC outlet drill
Automotive – Foundation

or battery powered.

An electric grinder is used to smooth

new welds on vehicle panels and to
de-burr rough edges. A range of Electric
grinder
grinding wheels are available for
different applications.

An electric sander is used to

smooth and clean surfaces. It can Electric
be used during bodywork repairs. sander
A range of sanding discs are
available for different applications.
16 of 18
4. Hand and Power Tools Theory Support

Typical Air Tools

An air wrench allows nuts and
bolts to be quickly fitted and
removed. Special heavy-duty Air wrench
sockets are used by air wrenches.
Automotive – Foundation

A button is used to control the

direction of rotation.

An air ratchet is often used in

situations where there is no
Air ratchet
space to move the handle of a
hand ratchet.

An air sander, like an electric

sander, is used to smooth and Air sander
clean surfaces. A range of sanding
discs are available for different
applications.
17 of 18
4. Hand and Power Tools Theory Support

Typical Air Tools

An air grinder, like the electric
Air grinder
grinder, is typically used to smooth
new welds on vehicle panels and to
de-burr rough edges.
Automotive – Foundation

An air drill can have its speed

varied to match the task it is
performing. A number of
Air drill
attachments allow it to also sand,
grind and polish.

Air blow guns are used to clean &

Air blow
dry parts and remove loose dirt gun
from around components. Eye
protection must be worn when
using an air blow gun.
18 of 18