LSC S1:TOOLS

Introduction
There is a wide range of tools in use today. Tools play a very important part in the making of products. Tools are specialised. Imagine you are making a table; you will need different tools, for instance; measuring the wood,
marking the wood, cutting the wood to the sizes required, smoothening the surfaces of the pieces and eventually joining the parts together.

A tool is a hand held device or an implement used to carry out a particular activity or function.
In this chapter, you will learn how to use measuring tools accurately and maintain common marking out tools.
2 Measuring and Marking Out Tools
There are different types of measuring and marking out tools for different materials such as wood, metal and plastic.
Measurement is the process or the result of determining the magnitude of a quantity, such as length or mass, relative to a unit of measurement, such
as a meter or a kilogram. The science of measurement is called metrology. Therefore a measuring tool is anything used to take a count of quantitative data, such as weight, length, time or temperature.
Marking out is the process of transferring a design, layout or dimensions from a drawing to a work piece. It is considered as the first step in the manufacturing process. Therefore tools used to mark out the required measurements on a material are called marking out tools.

Measuring Tools
There are different types of measuring tools designed for specific tasks or uses.
Which measuring tools have you used before and what did ou measure?

@ Activity 7.1
Exploring measuring tools
What you need: Exercise books, pens, pencils, workshops, a computer
with an internet connection where possible and a Metalwork/Woodwork
textbook.
What to do: In groups, carry out this activity.
1.Visit a workshop such as a wood workshop, a garage or a metal workshop in or near your school.
2. Observe and identify the different types of measuring tools, some of them might even be familiar to you. Make a list of these tools.
3.Observe how they are being used.
4.What type of measurements are they used for?
5.Record your findings and exchange your books with other groups to compare your findings.

How to Use Measuring Tools
It is important that you acquire skills and techniques on how to use measuring tools.

Activity 7.3
Using Measuring tools to measure different objects
What you need: Rule/ruler, calipers—inside and outside, different objects, tape measure and vernier caliper
What to do: Individually carry out this activity.

1. Take measurements of the following objects in your class and record
   your findings in such a table as follows.
   a) The length of your desk
   b) The lengths of your mathematics set
   c) The thickness of your ruler
   d) The diameter of your round HB pencil

2.
3.
4.
5.
Which measuring tool did you find difficult to use?
Which tool did you find to be suitable for taking small size measurements?
Which tool did you find suitable for taking large size measurements?
Did you ask for assistance from your teacher or friends when carrying out this practice?
Marking Out Tools for Metal
Metal is a very hard material. It needs something harder to make clear marks or cuts on its surface. The purpose of marking out is to get the outline of the shape of the article along with its size.

Activity 7.4
Practising using marking out tools

What you need: A scriber and steel rule, a centre punch, a piece of metal, odd leg caliper, a dot punch, a straight leg caliper and a try square.

What to do: Individually carry out this activity.
Study and follow the following procedures and practise using marking out tools.

Important points to note when marking out:
Take accurate measurements before marking out.
Be aware of safety precautions.
Lines drawn using a scriber are used for folding the article when it
is being made.
Lines which are dot punched are for cutting out the shape of the
article.

Using Marking Out Tools for Metal

What to do: Individually carry out this activity.
Follow the procedure given to mark out the key tag.

Marking Out Wood
After you have cut timber, its sides and surfaces remain rough. Before you mark out, prepare the surface of timber to make it smooth and flat.

Activity 7.6
Practicing preparing a piece of timber What you need: A plane, a pencil,
smoothing plane, a rule, a try square and a piece of wood
Figure 7.14
What to do: In groups, carry out this activity.
Study and carry out the following procedures to prepare a piece of timber ready for marking out.

Using Marking Out Tools for Wood
You can mark out timber or wood after preparing it.

Preparing a piece of wood ready for marking out What you need: A pencil, a rule, try square,
a marking gauge, a tape measure, a saw and a piece of wood 150x60x25 mm

Mark out a piece of wood to size Activity 7.8
What you need: Pencil, marking gauge, a piece of wood, rule (if the pieces are short), tape measure (if the pieces are very long).
What to do: In groups, carry out this activity.
Follow the followng steps and mark out a piece of wood to size 145x55x20 mm.

Maintenance of Measuring and Marking Out Tools
It is important to take care of the tools you are using by keeping them well or safely in their racks or tool boxes.
You also need to maintain them so that they are in a good working condition.
A poorly maintained tool will not produce accurate work.
) Activity 7.9
Practising maintaining measuring and marking out tools
What you need: Rule, pencil, tape measure,try square, punches,vernier
caliper, calipers,marking pen and scriber
What to do: In groups, carry out this activity.
A. Match the pictures with the correct method of maintenance.