Tools

Tools refer to any instrument or equipment that aids its user in completing a manual task.

Tools have been around for a really long time and are believed by anthropologists to have played a pivotal role in the development or evolution of mankind.

See also

• Tool Functions
• Power tools

Tools

The most basic types of tools serve different functions such as:

Protection

Though protective wear do not aid in finishing a task in a more active manner its presence still ensures that the user can finish the task faster since there is less risk of being hurt.

Examples: gloves and harnesses

Cutting

Different kinds of cutting tools have been invented for different materials.

Nowadays almost anything can be cut using the proper tool from paper to diamonds.

Examples: knives, scalpel, scissors, laser cutter, nail clippers, etc.

Holding/grasping

Holds whatever is needed to be done or another tool in place.

Examples: pliers, wrench, clamp, gloves

Adding force or pressure

Again this serves a wide variety of purposes from driving in nails to crushing things.

Examples: hammer, maul, wrecking balls, etc.

Guiding

Guiding tools are very important to ensure precision in accomplish everything from the most mundane to the most important of tasks.

Examples: ruler, straight edge, plumb-lines, set squares

Other tool functionalities

There are also tools that have several functions such as the gloves, which serve to help grasp other tools as well as protect the wearer’s hands. The Swiss knife is also a perfect example of a tool with multiple uses. The different thing about it though is that it has multiple functions because it is really a collection of different tools.

Tools can also be used to do a different task than what it was originally designed to do. For example, in the absence of a hammer any other solid tool can be used to pound in a nail, the flat edge of a small pocket knife can also serve in place of a screw driver, and any straight-edged tool can be used as in place of a manufactured straight edge.

Power tools serve the same basic functions that ordinary tools do, however, they are set apart by the fact that electric power is needed in order to use them.

Power tools are generally split in two groups: portable power tools and stationary power tools.

Portable and stationary tools are differentiated simply by naming any hand held tool as a portable tool.

This means that though a power tool can be carried and brought to another place to be used if it isn’t really hand carried during actual use then it will be classified as a stationary power tool.

Power tools are really very useful since they allow tasks to be done with a lot less physical effort on the part of the user and it allows most tasks to be done with greater precision and efficiency.