Workshop tools & machines
Design & Manufacture · National 5 · mrkellydt.co.uk
What you're learning in this topic
Learning intention WALT
We are learning about workshop tools & machines, specifically to:
know
- the correct holding tool: vices, G-clamp, sash cramps, formers and jigs
understand
- the use of saws, chisels, planes, hammers and mallets
- the use of drill bits: twist, Forstner, countersink, centre
- centre lathe setting up, parallel, step and taper turning, drilling and knurling
- wood lathe setting up, preparing the blank, parallel turning, parting off and finishing
- the use of taps and dies, the strip heater, oven and fluidiser
be able to
- set up and use the pillar drill safely, including the depth stop
Success criteria WILF
- I can name and describe the use of saws, chisels, planes, hammers and mallets
- I can name and describe the use of drill bits: twist, Forstner, countersink, centre
- I can set up and use the pillar drill safely, including the depth stop
- I can describe centre lathe setting up, parallel, step and taper turning, drilling and knurling
- I can describe wood lathe setting up, preparing the blank, parallel turning, parting off and finishing
- I can describe the use of taps and dies, the strip heater, oven and fluidiser
- I can name the correct holding tool: vices, G-clamp, sash cramps, formers and jigs
Measuring and marking out N5
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
| Steel rule | Measuring and marking |
| Try square | Lines at 90° on wood; checking squareness |
| Engineer's square | Lines at 90° on metal |
| Marking gauge | Lines parallel to an edge on wood (one spur) |
| Mortise gauge | Two parallel lines for mortise and tenons (two spurs) |
| Scriber | Scratches lines on metal (and plastic with care) |
| Odd-leg callipers | Lines parallel to an edge on metal |
| Outside callipers | Measuring outside diameters |
| Dividers | Scribing circles and arcs on metal |
| Centre punch | Dimple marks the centre of a hole before drilling |
Plastic: mark on the protective film with pencil, or use a non-permanent spirit marker or masking tape. Mark out in the corner of the sheet to reduce waste. Templates speed up repeated marking.
Hand tools N5
- Saws: tenon (straight cuts in wood), coping (curves in wood/plastic), hacksaw and junior hacksaw (metal and plastic).
- Chisels: mortise (heavy chopping of mortises, hit with mallet), bevel-edged (accurate paring, dovetails).
- Planes: jack (large areas), smoothing (finishing), rebate (cutting rebates), plough (grooves).
- Hammers/mallets: claw (nails, removing nails), cross-pein (pins), ball-pein (metalwork, riveting); wooden mallet (chisels), hide mallet (shaping sheet metal without marking).
- Drill bits: twist (general holes), Forstner (clean flat-bottomed holes in wood), countersink (screw heads flush), centre (starting holes on the lathe).
- Also: files, hand router (levels housing joints), pliers, tin snips, pop-rivet gun, bending bars, taps and dies (internal/external threads), nail punch, bradawl (pilot holes in wood).
Machine tools N5
- Pillar drill: secure work in a machine vice; set the depth stop for blind holes; guard down.
- Centre lathe (metal): parallel and step turning, taper turning, facing, drilling, knurling (a grip pattern).
- Wood lathe: prepare blank (remove corners), parallel turning, parting off, sanding and finishing on the lathe.
- Mortise machine: cuts mortises accurately; set the depth stop.
- Disc and belt sanders: shaping and smoothing.
- Scroll/fret saw: intricate curves in thin material.
- Strip heater: line bending acrylic. Oven: heating plastic or metal. Fluidiser: dip-coating hot metal in plastic powder.
Setting up the centre lathe: secure the bar in the three-jaw chuck with little overhang; remove the chuck key; set the tool at centre height in the tool post; set the spindle speed for the material and diameter; close the guard; check the work runs true. For taper turning, set the compound slide to the angle.
Holding tools N5
- Woodwork bench vice, engineer's vice (use soft jaws for plastic), machine vice (drilling), hand vice (small parts).
- G-clamp (holding work, gluing), sash cramps (gluing up large frames).
- Jigs and formers: guide tools or shape parts accurately and repeatably.
Key terms
| Marking gauge | Marks a line parallel to an edge on wood (one spur). |
|---|---|
| Mortise gauge | Marks two parallel lines for a mortise and tenon (two spurs). |
| Odd-leg callipers | Scribe a line parallel to the edge of metal. |
| Centre punch | Makes a dimple to locate a drill before drilling metal. |
| Coping saw | Cutting curves in thin wood or plastic. |
| Forstner bit | Drills clean, flat-bottomed holes in wood. |
| Knurling | Centre lathe operation creating a textured grip pattern. |
| Depth stop | Pillar drill/mortiser setting to control hole depth. |
| Taps and dies | Taps cut internal threads; dies cut external threads. |
| Strip heater | Heats a line on acrylic so it can be bent. |
Quick check
1. Which tool marks a line parallel to the edge of a piece of metal?
- Marking gauge
- Bradawl
- Try square
- Odd-leg callipers
Show answer
2. Which tool would you use before drilling a hole in mild steel?
- Centre punch
- Bradawl
- Marking knife
- Mortise gauge
Show answer
3. Which saw is best for cutting a curve in 6 mm acrylic?
- Tenon saw
- Coping saw
- Hacksaw
- Panel saw
Show answer
4. A flat-bottomed hole for a hinge recess in wood is drilled with a…
- Twist drill
- Countersink bit
- Forstner bit
- Centre drill
Show answer
5. Which centre lathe process creates a diamond grip pattern?
- Parting off
- Taper turning
- Facing
- Knurling
Show answer
6. Which tool levels the bottom of a housing joint?
- Hand router
- Jack plane
- Rasp
- Tin snips
Show answer
7. How is a hole of a set depth drilled consistently on a pillar drill?
- Use a centre punch
- Set the depth stop
- Use a larger bit
- Use soft jaws
Show answer
Exam-style questions
1. Describe how the centre lathe would be set up and used to taper turn a mild steel handle. (4 marks)
Show marking guidance
- Secure the bar in the three-jaw chuck (1)
- Set the compound slide to the required angle (1)
- Set tool at centre height and check guards/safety (1)
- Wind the compound slide to cut the taper in several passes (1)
2. Name two marking-out tools you would use to mark out a housing joint and state why. (2 marks)
Show marking guidance
- Try square: lines across the grain at 90° (1)
- Marking gauge: depth of the housing parallel to the edge (1)
- Marking knife: cuts fibres for a clean saw line (1)
Printable worksheet
An I do, we do, you do worksheet for this topic, with a separate answer sheet.