Hand Tools and Marking Out: notes

Marking out

• Try square: checks and marks right angles (90 degrees) from a true edge.
• Marking gauge: scratches a line parallel to an edge. A mortise gauge has two pins to mark both sides of a mortise at once.
• Sliding bevel: copies and marks any angle other than a right angle.
• Marking knife: gives a fine, exact line that guides a saw or chisel better than a pencil.
• Face side and face edge: the first flat, straight surfaces; all other measurements start from them.

Cutting and shaping

• Saws: a panel saw cuts boards. A tenon saw has a stiff brass or steel back for fine, straight cuts in joints. A coping saw cuts curves. A dovetail saw is like a small tenon saw with finer teeth.
• Planes: a jack plane works rough timber flat. A smoothing plane gives a fine finish. A rebate plane cuts a step along an edge.
• Chisels: a firmer chisel is for general work. A mortise chisel is thick and strong for chopping out mortises. Strike with a mallet, never a metal hammer, on a wooden handle.
• Drilling: a bradawl starts small screw holes; a brace and bit bores larger holes.

Care of tools

• Sharpening: grind the bevel on a grinder, then hone the edge on an oilstone. A sharp tool is safer and cuts cleaner.
• Storage: keep edges covered and tools dry to stop rust.