Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 2
TOOLS AND MACHINES IN WOODWORK INDUSTRY
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TOOLS AND MACHINES IN WOODWORK INDUSTRY
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Ghana app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Applied Technology
Class: SHS 2
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 6
Grade code: 2.4.1.LI.2
Strand code: 4
Sub-strand code: 1
Content standard code: 2.4.1.CS.1
Indicator code: 2.4.1.LI.2
Theme: WOOD TECHNOLOGY
Subtheme: TOOLS AND MACHINES IN WOODWORK INDUSTRY
This page supports the lesson note with a companion video and a short classroom-ready summary.
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In Ghana, from the local carpenter in our community making furniture and roofing houses, to large-scale furniture companies in Accra and Kumasi, woodworking is a vital skill and industry. The foundation of all good woodwork is the correct use and care of hand tools. A well-maintained tool is not only safer to use but also produces higher quality work and lasts much longer. This lesson will introduce the main families of woodworking hand tools and, most importantly, teach us how to care for them like a professional. Proper maintenance saves money, ensures safety, and is a mark of a skilled craftsperson.
This lesson focuses on the classification, uses, and maintenance of hand tools. We can group these tools into six main families based on what they do. A. The Six Main Categories of Woodwork Hand Tools Geometrical Tools (Measuring, Marking and Setting Out Tools) Purpose: These tools are used for accuracy. They help measure dimensions, mark lines for cutting or shaping, and check angles. Without them, no work can be accurate. Examples: Steel Rule, Tape Measure, Try Square, Marking Gauge, Mortise Gauge, Sliding Bevel, Pencil, Marking Knife. Detailed Uses: Try Square: Has a steel blade and a wooden or metal stock set at a perfect 90°. It is used for i) marking lines perpendicular (at 90°) to a straight edge, and ii) checking if a corner is "square" (a perfect 90° angle). Marking Gauge: Used to scribe a line parallel to a straight edge of the wood. This is very important for marking out the thickness or width of a piece of wood consistently. Specific Care: Do not drop them, as this can knock them out of alignment (especially the Try Square). Keep metal parts lightly oiled to prevent rust, which can obscure the measurement markings. Wipe them clean after use. Store them by hanging them on a tool rack or in a designated drawer to protect them. Abrading and Cutting Tools Purpose: These tools are used to cut wood into pieces or shape it by removing material. This category can be split. Saws cut along a line, while abrading tools (like files) remove wood through friction. Examples: Saws: Tenon Saw, Crosscut Saw, Rip Saw, Coping Saw. Abrading tools: Files (Flat, Round), Rasps, Scrapers. Detailed Uses: Tenon Saw: A saw with a stiff brass or steel back. It is used for making fine, accurate cuts, such as cutting joints (like tenons). Hand Plane (also a paring tool): Used to smooth and flatten wooden surfaces. It shaves off thin layers of wood. Specific Care: KEEP THEM SHARP! A blunt tool is dangerous because it requires more force to use, which can lead to slips and injuries. It also produces a poor-quality finish. The teeth of saws must be sharp and properly set (bent slightly outwards). After use, wipe the blade with an oily rag to prevent rust. Store saws by hanging them up. Store planes on their side to protect the sharp blade. Paring and Shaping Tools Purpose: These tools shape wood by cutting away shavings or chips. They are used for finer, more controlled shaping than saws. Examples: Chisels (Firmer, Bevel-edge), Spoke Shave, Gouges. Detailed Uses: Firmer Chisel: A strong, general-purpose chisel used for cutting away wood, often with the help of a mallet. Used for creating joints like mortises. Spoke Shave: Looks like a small plane with two handles. It is used to shape curved surfaces, like the legs of a stool or the handle of a tool. Specific Care: The cutting edge must be kept razor-sharp using a sharpening stone (oilstone). Never use a chisel as a screwdriver or a pry bar. Store chisels in a tool roll or a rack with the plastic caps on to protect the sharp edges from damage and to prevent accidents. Boring Cutting Tools Purpose: These tools are used to make holes in wood. Examples: Ratchet Brace, Hand Drill, Wheel Brace, and various Woodwork Bits (e.g., Auger bit, Flat bit). Detailed Uses: Ratchet Brace and Auger Bit: The brace is the handle that turns the bit. The auger bit is a spiral-shaped drill bit used for boring deep, clean holes in wood. Specific Care: Keep the drill bits sharp. Regularly apply a few drops of light machine oil to the moving parts of the brace or hand drill (the chuck and ratchet mechanism) to ensure smooth operation. Store bits in a case or rack to protect their cutting edges. Impelling and Precaution Tools (Driving Tools) Purpose: These tools are used to drive other objects (like nails and screws) into wood or to strike other tools (like chisels). Examples: Claw Hammer, Mallet, Screwdriver (Flathead, Phillips/Star), Pincers, Nail Punch. Detailed Uses: Claw Hammer: The flat face is used to drive nails in. The claw is used to pull nails out. Mallet: A wooden-headed hammer used to strike chisels. Using a metal hammer on a chisel's wooden handle would damage it. Specific Care: Regularly check that the head of the hammer or mallet is securely fixed to the handle. A loose head can fly off and cause a serious accident. Use the correct screwdriver for the screw type and size to avoid damaging the screw head or the screwdriver tip. Keep the faces of hammers clean. Holding and Supporting Tools Purpose: These tools are used to hold the wood securely in place while you are working on it. This is crucial for both safety and accuracy. Examples: Woodworker's Vice, G-Cramp, Sash Cramp, Bench Hook. Detailed Uses: Woodworker's Vice: A large vice attached to the workbench. It is used to hold pieces of wood firmly while you saw, plane, or chisel them. G-Cramp: A C-shaped (or G-shaped) tool used to clamp pieces of wood together, for example, while glue is drying. Specific Care: Keep the screw threads of vices and cramps clean and lightly greased or oiled to allow them to move smoothly. Do not over-tighten them, as this can damage the tool or the workpiece. Store them properly; don't leave cramps lying on the floor where they can be a trip hazard.
Guided Practice (With Solutions)
Instructions: Let's work through these questions together as a class.
Question 1: You find a rusty tenon saw in the workshop. What are the three most important steps you should take to care for and maintain it before storing it?