The plain-language
encyclopedia of hand tools.

Combination Wrench A two-ended open wrench with a box end to break fasteners loose and an open end to finish. Sized to the fastener. Read page →

Adjustable Wrench A single wrench with a jaw that adjusts to many fastener sizes, so you do not need a full set. Read page →

Pipe Wrench A heavy toothed wrench that grips round pipe without slipping while you turn a fitting. Read page →

Socket Wrench (Ratchet) The ratcheting wrench you reuse without lifting, with detachable sockets to fit every fastener. Read page →

Needle-Nose Pliers Long, thin-jaw pliers for reaching and gripping, twisting, or cutting in tight spaces. Read page →

Slip-Joint (Adjustable) Pliers The everyday adjustable pliers with a notched jaw, built to grip just about anything. Read page →

Open-End Wrench A fixed wrench with two open ends, each sized to a fastener head for quick, low-profile turning. Read page →

Box-End Wrench A wrench with closed, ring-shaped ends that grip a fastener on every side, ideal for stubborn bolts. Read page →

Combination Pliers The all-purpose pliers with parallel jaws, a pivoting joint, and built-in wire cutter. Read page →

Diagonal Cutting Pliers Sharp, angled cutting pliers for trimming wire and pins close to a surface, also called dikes. Read page →

Crimping Tool A plier-style tool that presses metal connectors onto wire ends to make secure electrical or mechanical joins. Read page →

Vise-Grip Pliers Adjustable-jaw pliers that lock shut with pliers-style handles, holding work securely hands-free. Read page →

Claw Hammer The standard hammer with a face for driving nails and a claw for pulling them back out. Read page →

Ball-Peen Hammer A machinist hammer with a flat face and a rounded peen, used to shape and set metal. Read page →

Rubber Mallet A soft-faced mallet for applying force without marring or denting surfaces. Read page →

Dead-Blow Mallet A weighted, rubber-faced mallet whose shot-filled head absorbs rebound for controlled, powerful blows. Read page →

Cold Chisel A hardened steel chisel for cutting and shaping metal, driven by a hammer. Read page →

Sledgehammer A heavy, long-handled hammer for high-force blows in demolition and driving. Read page →

Wooden Mallet A wood-headed mallet for woodworking that drives chisels and joints without damaging tools or work. Read page →

Hacksaw A fine-toothed frame saw for cutting metal, plastic, and thin material with replaceable blades. Read page →

Tin Snips Heavy-duty shears for cutting sheet metal and ductwork with long lever handles. Read page →

Hand Saw The classic crosscut and rip saw for cutting wood by hand with a stiff, toothed blade. Read page →

Utility Knife A retractable-blade knife for cutting sheet material, drywall, and packing — a shop original. Read page →

Wood Chisel A beveled steel blade with handle for paring, mortising, and shaping wood. Read page →

Screwdriver A handle and hardened tip for driving screws, available in flat, Phillips, and specialty heads. Read page →

Bench Vise A fixed jaw clamp bolted to a workbench that holds work firmly for sawing, filing, and drilling. Read page →

C-Clamp A C-shaped clamp with a threaded spindle for firm, adjustable clamping across a range of thicknesses. Read page →

Bar Clamp A long parallel clamp on a bar used to clamp wide panels and casework for glue-ups. Read page →

Hex Wrench (Allen) An L-shaped hexagonal bar that drives hex-socket screws, sold in sets by size. Read page →

Nut Driver A screwdriver-handle tool with a socket tip for driving nuts and hex screws quickly. Read page →

Bench Plane A flat-soled plane for squaring, flattening, and smoothing wood surfaces by hand. Read page →

Block Plane A small, one-hand plane held at a low angle for end grain and trimming and detail work. Read page →

Card Scraper A thin sheet of steel that burnishes a burr to shave fine curls, smoothing wood without sanding. Read page →

Try Square A fixed 90-degree tool for checking and laying out right angles on wood. Read page →

Combination Square An adjustable square with sliding head for marking 45 and 90 degrees, and measuring depth and center. Read page →

Marking Gauge A tool with a pin that scribes parallel layout lines along the edge of wood. Read page →

Spokeshave A two-handled, short-soled plane for shaping curved and contoured wood surfaces. Read page →

Flat File A flat, tapered steel file with cutting teeth for smoothing and shaping metal by hand. Read page →

Round File A cylindrical file for enlarging and shaping round holes and concave curves in metal. Read page →

Reamer A fluted cutting tool that enlarges and finishes drilled holes to a tight, accurate size. Read page →

Center Punch A pointed punch used to mark a starting dimple so a drill bit does not wander. Read page →

Pin Punch A narrow, straight punch used to drive out pins and rivets. A tapered set punch starts them. Read page →

Hack Saw Blade A fine-toothed blade mounted in a hack saw frame for cutting metal and plastic. Read page →

Tape Measure A flexible metal tape with markings for measuring length, with a locking blade and end hook. Read page →

Spirit Level A housing with bubble vials that verifies surfaces are level (horizontal), plumb (vertical), or at a set angle. Read page →

Calipers A precision instrument that measures inside and outside dimensions to fine accuracy, in analog or digital. Read page →

Marking Knife A knife with a sharp point or blade used to scribe precise layout lines on wood and material. Read page →

Protractor / Angle Gauge A tool for measuring and laying out angles, from fixed squares to adjustable bevel gauges. Read page →

Bastard File A coarse-cut file for rapid stock removal and shaping of metal, between a course and smooth cut. Read page →

Rasp A coarse, aggressive file with individual teeth for rapidly shaping wood. Read page →

Whetstone A flat sharpening stone used with water or oil to grind and hone a cutting edge to sharpness. Read page →

Diamond Lapping Plate A flat plate bonded with industrial diamond for fast, accurate sharpening and trueing surfaces. Read page →

File Card A stiff brush for cleaning metal filings and debris out of file teeth so they cut sharp again. Read page →

Honing Guide A jig that clamps a blade at a fixed angle to sharpen it consistently on a stone. Read page →

Smooth File A fine-cut file that removes little material and leaves a smooth, finished surface on metal. Read page →

Second Cut File A medium-fine file, finer than a bastard cut and coarser than a smooth — the finishing workhorse of the file family. Read page →

Half-Round File A file flat on one side and rounded on the other, combining a flat file with a round file in one tool. Read page →

Square File A four-sided file with sharp, square edges for filing slots, keyways, and square-cornered openings. Read page →

Striking Wrench A heavy open-end wrench with a reinforced box end, built to be struck with a hammer to break loose seized fasteners. Read page →

Combination Ratcheting Wrench A combination wrench whose box end has an internal ratchet, so it can turn a fastener without lifting and re-aiming. Read page →

12-Point Ring & Spud End Wrench A heavy wrench with a 12-point ring end for turning nuts and a tapered spud end for aligning flange and piping holes. Read page →