CHAPTER 3 WOODWORKING TOOLS, MATERIALS, AND METHODS

As a Builder, hand and power woodworking tools are essential parts of your trade. To be a proficient woodworking craftsman, you must be able to use and maintain a large variety of field and shop tools effectively. To perform your work quickly, accurately, and safely, you must select and use the correct tool for the job at hand. Without the proper tools and the knowledge to use them, you waste time, reduce efficiency, and may injure yourself or others.

Power tools not only are essential in performing specific jobs, but also play an important role in your daily work activities. Keep in mind that you are responsible for knowing and observing all safety precautions applicable to the tools and equipment you operate. For additional information on the topics discussed in this chapter, you are encouraged to study Tools and Their Uses, NAVEDTRA 10085-B2. Because that publication contains a detailed discussion of common tools used by Builders, we will not repeat that information in this chapter.

In this chapter, several of the most common power tools used by Builders are briefly described. Their uses, general characteristics, attachments, and safety and operating features are outlined. To become skilled with these power tools and hand tools, you must use them. You should also study the manufacturer's operator and maintenance guides for each tool you use for additional guidance. We will also be covering materials and methods of woodworking.

POWER TOOLS

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Upon completing this section, you should be able to determine the proper use and maintenance requirements of portable power tools.

Your duties as a Builder include developing and improving your skills and techniques when working with different power tools. In this section, we'll identify and discuss the most common power tools that are in the Builder's workshop or used on the jobsite. We'll also discuss safety precautions as they relate to the particular power tool under discussion. You must keep in mind and continually stress to your crew that woodworking power tools can be dangerous, and that safety is everyone's responsi- bility.

SHOP TOOLS

As a Builder, you might be assigned to a shop. Therefore, you will need to know some of the common power tools and equipment found there.

Shop Radial Arm Saw

Figure 3-1 illustrates a typical shop radial arm saw. The procedures used in the operation, maintenance, and lubrication of any shop radial arm saw are found in the manufacturers' operator and maintenance manuals. The safety precautions to be observed for this saw are found in these same manuals. The primary difference between this saw and other saws of this type (field saws) is the location of controls.

Tilt-Arbor Table Bench Saw

A tilt-arbor table bench saw (figure 3-2) is so named because the saw blade can be tilted for cutting bevels by tilting the arbor. The arbor, located beneath the table, is controlled by the tilt handwheel. In earlier types of bench saws, the saw blade remained stationary and the table was tilted. A canted (tilted) saw table is hazardous in many ways; most modern table saws are of the tilt-arbor type.

To rip stock, remove the cutoff gauges and set the rip fence away from the saw by a distance equal to the desired width of the piece to be ripped off. The piece is placed with one edge against the fence and fed through with the fence as a guide.

To cut stock square, set the cutoff gauge at 90 to the line of the saw and set the ripping fence to the outside edge of the table, away from the stock to be cut. The piece is then placed with one edge against