- Items are grouped under general headings organised alphabetically
- To find individual tems, hold down CONTROL and press the F key to open a search box.
Angle Grinder
Auger Bits
Awl & Bradawl
Back Saw
Ball Pein Hammer
- 12oz Hammers (0.45kg) are a good useful size for general work in Design and Technology.
- Larger 2lb hammers (1kg) are used for heavier work such as Blacksmithing for example.
- Smaller hammers (e.g. 4oz and 8oz) are suitable for jewellery work and model engineering applications.
- Brick Hammers between 1lb and 1.5lb weight (450g to 700g) are suitable for school use and are available also with a Scutch Comb Chisel at one end which can be used for shaping brick and masonry.
- A 2lb Lump Hammer (0.9kg) is a good useful size for general work in Design and Technology and home maintenance tasks.
- 2lb to 4lb Sledge Hammers (1-2kg) are a suitable size for general forge-work in Design and Technology since hammers heavier than 4lb would be difficult for students to use.
Bandsaw
Bench Sanders
Bench Saw
Biscuit Jointer
- The crescent-shaped slots to receive the compressed wooden Biscuits are most easily cut using a purpose made Biscuit Jointer
- But the joining Biscuits can be used also in similar slots created by a Router fitted with a suitable Slot Cutter or into a continuous Groove along the edge of the timber.
Blacksmiths
Blacksmiths Hammer
- 12oz Hammers (0.45kg) are a good useful size for general work in Design and Technology.
- Larger 2lb hammers (1kg) are used for heavier work such as Blacksmithing for example.
- Smaller hammers (e.g. 4oz and 8oz) are suitable for jewellery work and model engineering applications.
- Brick Hammers between 1lb and 1.5lb weight (450g to 700g) are suitable for school use and are available also with a Scutch Comb Chisel at one end which can be used for shaping brick and masonry.
- A 2lb Lump Hammer (0.9kg) is a good useful size for general work in Design and Technology and home maintenance tasks.
- 2lb to 4lb Sledge Hammers (1-2kg) are a suitable size for general forge-work in Design and Technology since hammers heavier than 4lb would be difficult for students to use.
Bossing Mallet
- Traditional Boxwood Mallets are now largely superceded by Nylon, PVC or rubber faced hammers and mallets for general work. They are available in a range of diameters and weights.
- Carpenters' Mallets with a head size of 4-5 inches (100mm - 125mm) are a suitable size for most work in Design and Technology.
- Carving Mallet heads are commonly made from Beech but Lignum Vitea heads are considered better because they are heavier. They may now be hard to find. A modern alternative is to use Polyurethane for the heads (Bronze or Brass also used). A good general size head weight for light work would be approximately 450 grams or less, and for general work, 800 grams is more suitable.
- Bossing Mallets are sized by head diameter (35, 50, 60, or 75mm). The smaller sizes are used for art metalwork and the larger sizes are for shaping and stretching sheet metal and soft roofing materials such as lead.
Boxwood Mallet
- Traditional Boxwood Mallets are now largely superceded by Nylon, PVC or rubber faced hammers and mallets for general work. They are available in a range of diameters and weights.
- Carpenters' Mallets with a head size of 4-5 inches (100mm - 125mm) are a suitable size for most work in Design and Technology.
- Carving Mallet heads are commonly made from Beech but Lignum Vitea heads are considered better because they are heavier. They may now be hard to find. A modern alternative is to use Polyurethane for the heads (Bronze or Brass also used). A good general size head weight for light work would be approximately 450 grams or less, and for general work, 800 grams is more suitable.
- Bossing Mallets are sized by head diameter (35, 50, 60, or 75mm). The smaller sizes are used for art metalwork and the larger sizes are for shaping and stretching sheet metal and soft roofing materials such as lead.
Brick Hammer
- 12oz Hammers (0.45kg) are a good useful size for general work in Design and Technology.
- Larger 2lb hammers (1kg) are used for heavier work such as Blacksmithing for example.
- Smaller hammers (e.g. 4oz and 8oz) are suitable for jewellery work and model engineering applications.
- Brick Hammers between 1lb and 1.5lb weight (450g to 700g) are suitable for school use and are available also with a Scutch Comb Chisel at one end which can be used for shaping brick and masonry.
- A 2lb Lump Hammer (0.9kg) is a good useful size for general work in Design and Technology and home maintenance tasks.
- 2lb to 4lb Sledge Hammers (1-2kg) are a suitable size for general forge-work in Design and Technology since hammers heavier than 4lb would be difficult for students to use.
Broaches
- If a suitable section of Tool Steel is not available, Broaches for the small-scale work most common in Design and Technology (in Brass for example), can be made by grinding teeth profiles into the shortened length of an old file for example (ideally, first Anneal the old file and re-shape it then re-harden and temper to ensure the finished Broach is not too Brittle).
Safety Point!
If making from an old file, use a short length, grind a chamfer around the striking end, apply only light taps to reduce the risk of pieces breaking off, and always wear eye protection.
Calipers
Carpenters Brace
- Always choose one with a Ratchet to enable boring to continue in restricted spaces.
- Best quality Braces have a ball bearing mounted head for smooth operation.
Carpenters Mallet
- Traditional Boxwood Mallets are now largely superceded by Nylon, PVC or rubber faced hammers and mallets for general work. They are available in a range of diameters and weights.
- Carpenters' Mallets with a head size of 4-5 inches (100mm - 125mm) are a suitable size for most work in Design and Technology.
- Carving Mallet heads are commonly made from Beech but Lignum Vitea heads are considered better because they are heavier. They may now be hard to find. A modern alternative is to use Polyurethane for the heads (Bronze or Brass also used). A good general size head weight for light work would be approximately 450 grams or less, and for general work, 800 grams is more suitable.
- Bossing Mallets are sized by head diameter (35, 50, 60, or 75mm). The smaller sizes are used for art metalwork and the larger sizes are for shaping and stretching sheet metal and soft roofing materials such as lead.
Carpenters Vices
Carving Mallet
- Traditional Boxwood Mallets are now largely superceded by Nylon, PVC or rubber faced hammers and mallets for general work. They are available in a range of diameters and weights.
- Carpenters' Mallets with a head size of 4-5 inches (100mm - 125mm) are a suitable size for most work in Design and Technology.
- Carving Mallet heads are commonly made from Beech but Lignum Vitea heads are considered better because they are heavier. They may now be hard to find. A modern alternative is to use Polyurethane for the heads (Bronze or Brass also used). A good general size head weight for light work would be approximately 450 grams or less, and for general work, 800 grams is more suitable.
- Bossing Mallets are sized by head diameter (35, 50, 60, or 75mm). The smaller sizes are used for art metalwork and the larger sizes are for shaping and stretching sheet metal and soft roofing materials such as lead.
Centre Bit
Centre Drill
Centre Drills (aka Slocombe Drills) were designed to provide a location for a Tailstock Centre (hence their 60deg point angle) but are commonly used to make a small starting indentation to guide further drilling in a Lathe.
- If used only to start a drilled hole then one or two of the mid-range sizes will suffice since it is only the tip of the Centre Drill that will be used.
- Choose only those made from good quality High Speed Steel and offer them carefully up to the workpiece whilst it is rotating since the smaller sizes in particular, can break easily.
Centre Lathe
Centre Punch
- The lowest cost option is to use a hand-held punch with a hammer but a wide range of automatic punches are available - both Dot Punches and Centre Punches.
- In general, Dot Punches have a sharper point (i.e. 60° instead of 90°) and need only the lower ranges of impact force (e.g. 20N to 50N).
- Automatic punches are simply pushed down against the work-piece and do not need to be struck - indeed, should NOT be struck with a hammer.
Chisels
Circular Saw
Claw Hammer
- 12oz Hammers (0.45kg) are a good useful size for general work in Design and Technology.
- Larger 2lb hammers (1kg) are used for heavier work such as Blacksmithing for example.
- Smaller hammers (e.g. 4oz and 8oz) are suitable for jewellery work and model engineering applications.
- Brick Hammers between 1lb and 1.5lb weight (450g to 700g) are suitable for school use and are available also with a Scutch Comb Chisel at one end which can be used for shaping brick and masonry.
- A 2lb Lump Hammer (0.9kg) is a good useful size for general work in Design and Technology and home maintenance tasks.
- 2lb to 4lb Sledge Hammers (1-2kg) are a suitable size for general forge-work in Design and Technology since hammers heavier than 4lb would be difficult for students to use.
CNC Equipment
Safety Point!
- Fully enclosed machines with interlocks are advised for school use.
- Only Lasers with the laser beam totally enclosed should be used in schools and an interlock provided to prevent operation unless the laser is enclosed - check Laser Safety with supplier.
- Always isolate any CNC machine before adjusting tools or work piece and ensure hands are well clear of the table before switching on - when the program runs : the cutter will move!
Core Drill
- REDIRECT Template:Masonry, Glass and Ceramic Drill Buyers Guide Buyers Guide
Countersink Bits
- For most non-critical work in Design and Technology, countersinking can be achieved using a Twist Drill twice the diameter of the hole in question.
- Combined Countersink, Pilot Drill and Counterbore drills can greatly speed up assembly work in wood.
- For more precise work, purpose made Countersink Bits are available.
- Choose High Speed Steel if countersinking steel since ordinary Carbon Steel is suitable only for wood and plastics.
Craft Knives
Cramps & Clamps
Cross Pein Hammer
- 12oz Hammers (0.45kg) are a good useful size for general work in Design and Technology.
- Larger 2lb hammers (1kg) are used for heavier work such as Blacksmithing for example.
- Smaller hammers (e.g. 4oz and 8oz) are suitable for jewellery work and model engineering applications.
- Brick Hammers between 1lb and 1.5lb weight (450g to 700g) are suitable for school use and are available also with a Scutch Comb Chisel at one end which can be used for shaping brick and masonry.
- A 2lb Lump Hammer (0.9kg) is a good useful size for general work in Design and Technology and home maintenance tasks.
- 2lb to 4lb Sledge Hammers (1-2kg) are a suitable size for general forge-work in Design and Technology since hammers heavier than 4lb would be difficult for students to use.
Crow Bars
Dividers and Compasses
Dot Punch
The lowest cost option is to use a hand-held punch with a hammer but a wide range of automatic punches are available - both Dot Punches and Centre Punches.
- In general, Dot Punches have a sharper point (i.e. 60° instead of 90°) and need only the lower ranges of impact force (e.g. 20N to 50N).
- Automatic punches are simply pushed down against the work-piece and do not need to be struck - indeed, should NOT be struck with a hammer.
Drawing Instruments
Drill Press
- Stands for Portable Power Drills are inexpensive and adequate if only light work mainly in wood and plastics is intended.
- For more general purpose home workshop use choose a bench drill.
- The floor-mounted drill shown is for more arduous use drilling larger diameters.
- A combined Milling/Drilling machine would be a popular choice for Model Engineers and in home workshops.
- Mortisers comprise an Auger Bit inside a hollow square chisel which squares off the hole as it is drilled (Mortising attachments for Drill Presses are also available)
- Mini-drills and PCB Drills are useful for modelling and for drilling holes in circuit boards to receive eletronics components.
Electric Screwdriver
Expansive Bit
Files & Rasps
Flat Bit
Forstener Bits
Frame Saw
Gauges
Gimlet
Glass and Ceramic Drills
- REDIRECT Template:Masonry, Glass and Ceramic Drill Buyers Guide Buyers Guide
Gouges
Hand Drill
Hand Saws
Hole Saw
Safety Point!
Use by hand or, if in a Drill Press or Power Drill, at slow speed only and ensure it is guarded or includes an integral Safety Cage. Holesaws included here as a safer alternative to Tank Cutters
Hollow Punch
- The lowest cost option is to use a hand-held punch with a hammer but a wide range of automatic punches are available - both Dot Punches and Centre Punches.
- In general, Dot Punches have a sharper point (i.e. 60° instead of 90°) and need only the lower ranges of impact force (e.g. 20N to 50N).
- Automatic punches are simply pushed down against the work-piece and do not need to be struck - indeed, should NOT be struck with a hammer.
Hot Punches
Template:Hot Punches Buyers Guide
Jewellers Hammer
- Choose Repoussé Hammers which fit neatly into the palm of the hand and have strong but thin flexible shafts, to make long periods of light hammering as comfortable as possible.
Jig
Jig Saw
Laptop
- Single Core processors are hardly ever available these days and Dual Core quite adequate (unless required for gaming and video editing etc.) but Quad Core would be better especially in view of the high graphics content likely to be needed for Design and Technology use.
- Generally, the more expensive and newer processors and faster and more power efficient (although faster will almost always mean shorter battery life). Intel Core i5 and AMD Series-A8 processors or better are first choice but older Pentium or less expensive Celeron may be OK if only basic use is envisaged and speed is not a critical factor but cost is an issue.
- Laptops for Design and Technology should have at least 4Gb of RAM (preferably 8Gb), 500Gb (preferably 1Tb) Hard Drive (but SSD is better), screen resolution of no less than 1600 × 900 pixels and Dedicated Graphics Card in addition to the usual network connections.
Leather Punch
Lump Hammer
- 12oz Hammers (0.45kg) are a good useful size for general work in Design and Technology.
- Larger 2lb hammers (1kg) are used for heavier work such as Blacksmithing for example.
- Smaller hammers (e.g. 4oz and 8oz) are suitable for jewellery work and model engineering applications.
- Brick Hammers between 1lb and 1.5lb weight (450g to 700g) are suitable for school use and are available also with a Scutch Comb Chisel at one end which can be used for shaping brick and masonry.
- A 2lb Lump Hammer (0.9kg) is a good useful size for general work in Design and Technology and home maintenance tasks.
- 2lb to 4lb Sledge Hammers (1-2kg) are a suitable size for general forge-work in Design and Technology since hammers heavier than 4lb would be difficult for students to use.
Masonry Drill
Metal Cutting and Forming
Milling Machine
Mortiser
Multi-headed Mallet
- Traditional Boxwood Mallets are now largely superceded by Nylon, PVC or rubber faced hammers and mallets for general work. They are available in a range of diameters and weights.
- Carpenters' Mallets with a head size of 4-5 inches (100mm - 125mm) are a suitable size for most work in Design and Technology.
- Carving Mallet heads are commonly made from Beech but Lignum Vitea heads are considered better because they are heavier. They may now be hard to find. A modern alternative is to use Polyurethane for the heads (Bronze or Brass also used). A good general size head weight for light work would be approximately 450 grams or less, and for general work, 800 grams is more suitable.
- Bossing Mallets are sized by head diameter (35, 50, 60, or 75mm). The smaller sizes are used for art metalwork and the larger sizes are for shaping and stretching sheet metal and soft roofing materials such as lead.
Nail Punch
- The lowest cost option is to use a hand-held punch with a hammer but a wide range of automatic punches are available - both Dot Punches and Centre Punches.
- In general, Dot Punches have a sharper point (i.e. 60° instead of 90°) and need only the lower ranges of impact force (e.g. 20N to 50N).
- Automatic punches are simply pushed down against the work-piece and do not need to be struck - indeed, should NOT be struck with a hammer.
Name and Number Stamps
- The lowest cost option is to use a hand-held punch with a hammer but a wide range of automatic punches are available - both Dot Punches and Centre Punches.
- In general, Dot Punches have a sharper point (i.e. 60° instead of 90°) and need only the lower ranges of impact force (e.g. 20N to 50N).
- Automatic punches are simply pushed down against the work-piece and do not need to be struck - indeed, should NOT be struck with a hammer.
Paper Punch
Pastry Cutter
- Metal cutters may have quite sharp edges so choose Plastics for young children to use.
PCB Drill
Pens and Pencils
Pin Hammer
- 12oz Hammers (0.45kg) are a good useful size for general work in Design and Technology.
- Larger 2lb hammers (1kg) are used for heavier work such as Blacksmithing for example.
- Smaller hammers (e.g. 4oz and 8oz) are suitable for jewellery work and model engineering applications.
- Brick Hammers between 1lb and 1.5lb weight (450g to 700g) are suitable for school use and are available also with a Scutch Comb Chisel at one end which can be used for shaping brick and masonry.
- A 2lb Lump Hammer (0.9kg) is a good useful size for general work in Design and Technology and home maintenance tasks.
- 2lb to 4lb Sledge Hammers (1-2kg) are a suitable size for general forge-work in Design and Technology since hammers heavier than 4lb would be difficult for students to use.
Pin Punches
- The lowest cost option is to use a hand-held punch with a hammer but a wide range of automatic punches are available - both Dot Punches and Centre Punches.
- In general, Dot Punches have a sharper point (i.e. 60° instead of 90°) and need only the lower ranges of impact force (e.g. 20N to 50N).
- Automatic punches are simply pushed down against the work-piece and do not need to be struck - indeed, should NOT be struck with a hammer.
Planer/Thicknesser
Planes
Plastics Forming
Pliers
Plotters
Plug Cutter
Portable Electric Drills
Portable Planer
Portable Sander
Precision Marking
Printers
Pump Drill
Rawhide Mallet
- Traditional Boxwood Mallets are now largely superceded by Nylon, PVC or rubber faced hammers and mallets for general work. They are available in a range of diameters and weights.
- Carpenters' Mallets with a head size of 4-5 inches (100mm - 125mm) are a suitable size for most work in Design and Technology.
- Carving Mallet heads are commonly made from Beech but Lignum Vitea heads are considered better because they are heavier. They may now be hard to find. A modern alternative is to use Polyurethane for the heads (Bronze or Brass also used). A good general size head weight for light work would be approximately 450 grams or less, and for general work, 800 grams is more suitable.
- Bossing Mallets are sized by head diameter (35, 50, 60, or 75mm). The smaller sizes are used for art metalwork and the larger sizes are for shaping and stretching sheet metal and soft roofing materials such as lead.
Reamer
Repoussé and Chasing Punches
- The lowest cost option is to use a hand-held punch with a hammer but a wide range of automatic punches are available - both Dot Punches and Centre Punches.
- In general, Dot Punches have a sharper point (i.e. 60° instead of 90°) and need only the lower ranges of impact force (e.g. 20N to 50N).
- Automatic punches are simply pushed down against the work-piece and do not need to be struck - indeed, should NOT be struck with a hammer.
Router
Rubber Headed Mallet
- Traditional Boxwood Mallets are now largely superceded by Nylon, PVC or rubber faced hammers and mallets for general work. They are available in a range of diameters and weights.
- Carpenters' Mallets with a head size of 4-5 inches (100mm - 125mm) are a suitable size for most work in Design and Technology.
- Carving Mallet heads are commonly made from Beech but Lignum Vitea heads are considered better because they are heavier. They may now be hard to find. A modern alternative is to use Polyurethane for the heads (Bronze or Brass also used). A good general size head weight for light work would be approximately 450 grams or less, and for general work, 800 grams is more suitable.
- Bossing Mallets are sized by head diameter (35, 50, 60, or 75mm). The smaller sizes are used for art metalwork and the larger sizes are for shaping and stretching sheet metal and soft roofing materials such as lead.
Rules
Scissors
Screw Pocket
Screwdrivers
Shears and Nibblers
Silversmiths Hammer
- 12oz Hammers (0.45kg) are a good useful size for general work in Design and Technology.
- Larger 2lb hammers (1kg) are used for heavier work such as Blacksmithing for example.
- Smaller hammers (e.g. 4oz and 8oz) are suitable for jewellery work and model engineering applications.
- Brick Hammers between 1lb and 1.5lb weight (450g to 700g) are suitable for school use and are available also with a Scutch Comb Chisel at one end which can be used for shaping brick and masonry.
- A 2lb Lump Hammer (0.9kg) is a good useful size for general work in Design and Technology and home maintenance tasks.
- 2lb to 4lb Sledge Hammers (1-2kg) are a suitable size for general forge-work in Design and Technology since hammers heavier than 4lb would be difficult for students to use.
Sledge Hammer
- 12oz Hammers (0.45kg) are a good useful size for general work in Design and Technology.
- Larger 2lb hammers (1kg) are used for heavier work such as Blacksmithing for example.
- Smaller hammers (e.g. 4oz and 8oz) are suitable for jewellery work and model engineering applications.
- Brick Hammers between 1lb and 1.5lb weight (450g to 700g) are suitable for school use and are available also with a Scutch Comb Chisel at one end which can be used for shaping brick and masonry.
- A 2lb Lump Hammer (0.9kg) is a good useful size for general work in Design and Technology and home maintenance tasks.
- 2lb to 4lb Sledge Hammers (1-2kg) are a suitable size for general forge-work in Design and Technology since hammers heavier than 4lb would be difficult for students to use.
Spanners
Spot Face Cutter
Squares
Step Drill and ConeCut
Table Saw
Tank and Washer Cutter
Safety Point!
Use by hand or, if in a Drill Press or Power Drill, at slow speed only and ensure it is guarded or includes an integral Safety Cage. Holesaws included here as a safer alternative to Tank Cutters
Taper Shank Drill
- Traditional Number Drill sizes and Imperial Drill sets are included but these can be replaced for most purposes by choosing a Metric Drill size to the nearest 0.1mm. This is true also of Letter Drill sizes. See drill size Equivalent Charts.
Threading
Threading Wood
Tinsnips
Tool Grinder
- A range of tool grinders and sharpeners is given but few machines are fully automatic and users must take care to follow instructions exactly, look up grinding angles before use and keep the tool well cooled by frequent dipping into a coolant in order to avoid drawing the temper by over-heating.
Turning Tools
Twist Drill
- Traditional Number Drill sizes and Imperial Drill sets are included but these can be replaced for most purposes by choosing a Metric Drill size to the nearest 0.1mm. This is true also of Letter Drill sizes. See drill size Equivalent Charts.
Vertical Panel Saw
Winches and Hoists
Wire Cutters and Strippers
Wood Joints
- Good tools will last a lifetime - buy the best you can afford!
