History and Development of Power Tools
Posted by cjs727 on Oct 8th, 2011 | 11 comments
Humans have made and used hand tools for more than 2 million years. Yet, when we look at the history and development of Power Tools, the first wasn’t invented until 1895. The earliest power tools were made by attaching motors to traditional hand carpentry tools.
Although power tools were available in the early 20th century, their use was not widespread. The high purchase price along with their cumbersome and often unreliable nature caused most to stick with regular hand tools rather than switch to the then new power tools. The American manufacturer “Black & Decker” refined the electric drill in 1917. Later Michel and Sullivan improved their saw. Their new saw cost much less than previous models which aided in creating and increased interest among the average person.
Early power tools were, in part, responsible for the development of manufacturing as we know it today. Products made while using hand tools were often imperfect. Accuracy depended entirely on the skill level of the worker. The finished pieces, even those made by the same worker, would differ in size or shape from day to day. With large power tools, like milling machines, saws, and drill presses, precision could be determined with the machines settings. A product made on Tuesday would be the same as one made on Thursday. It finally became possible to manufacture identical, interchangeable parts, which led to mass production using assembly lines. The production of large quantities of the same product was accomplished much faster and at a reduced cost.
In 1886 Robert Bosch founded the Bosch Company in Germany where they made electrical components for the newly invented horseless carriage. The first Bosch power drill was produced in 1932. Today their collection of tool products is vast.
In 1924, the Milwaukee Electric Tool Company was founded. Known for manufacturing heavy-duty power tools, they are best known for the ‘Sawzall’ reciprocating saw. They also make over 500 different models of portable and stationary power tools including circular saws, drills, band saws, grinders and sanders. Also in 1924 the DeWalt power tool company was established in Baltimore, Maryland. Now they manufacture over 200 types of power tools worldwide.
Sears started marketing the Craftsman brand of tools in 1927, initially hand tools, though now they are one of the top-selling brands of power tools with both stationary and portable models.
The Makita Corporation introduced the cordless, battery-powered hand-held drill in1978. Within nine years they marketed a full range of cordless, professional-grade power tools. Today Makita manufactures more than 350 products.
While hand tools are limited by the strength of the person who uses them, power tools are not. Power tools, being equipped with motors or engines, far exceed human strength and can usually do a project much more quickly than a human worker possibly could.
Recent power tool improvements have concentrated on making longer-lasting batteries and more powerful motors. Some circular saws have laser pointers to aide in making straight cuts, and drills come with built-in lights to help working in dark spaces. There have also been ergonomic refinements made to the tool handles.
This article contains information gathered from Google, Wikipedia and other sites found during my research.
The Jigsaw – A Versatile Tool
Posted by cjs727 on Oct 5th, 2011 | 15 comments
The jigsaw is a versatile tool and is a very practical tool. It is used for cutting curved designs into wood, metal and other materials. It can be utilized in more artistic ways than other saws, which usually will only cut straight lines. Although a jigsaw can be used to create cuts of various patterns and curves, making a straight line cut is quite difficult.
History
Originally jigsaws were manual hand saws, comprised of a handle attached to a small, thin blade. The first jigsaw puzzles were cut using this kind of saw. Most modern jigsaws are now made with an electric motor and a reciprocating saw blade.
A jigsaw with a bevel function on the sole plate allows cutting angles of typically up to 45 degrees relative to the normal vertical stroke for cutting miter joints.
In the past what we now usually call “scroll saws” were referred to as jigsaws.
Jigsaws are also referred to as “bayonet saws”.
The first powered jigsaw was created in 1946 by Kaufmann, an engineer. He replaced the needle on his wife’s sewing machine with a saw blade. Then in 1947 Scintilla started producing jigsaws under the name “Lesto jigsaw”. In 1954 Scintilla was acquired by Bosch and the name “Bosch” took over in 1964.
Blades
There are 2 main types of blade fittings in use today. One type uses a screw to hold the blade in place while the other has a slot in which to insert the blade and hold it.
A wide variety of blade types are available, including:
- thin blades to allow tighter curves to be cut
- push stroke cutting blades to avoid damage to the top surface.
Cut control is a problematic issue with jigsaws. The small blades are weak and not supported at the lower end. In order to get high quality cuts you should use blade rollers, which help keep the blade aligned just above the sole plate. Heavy metal sole plate saws are somewhat better than pressed steel models for their superior line control. To maneuver a jigsaw on a curved cut, it must be manually steered, not forced, to move sideways. Using fresh, sharp blades is recommended to ensure you get high quality cuts, so make sure you replace the old, worn blades often.
References
The Definition, Uses and History of Staples
Posted by cjs727 on Oct 1st, 2011 | 10 comments
A staple is a two-pronged fastener, usually metal, used for attaching or binding various items together.
The crown of the staple can be used to bridge materials butted together.
The crown can bridge a piece and fasten it without puncturing it, with a leg on either side, e.g. fastening cable to wood framing.
The crown provides greater surface area than other comparable fasteners. This is helpful with the many various thin materials you might want to adhere to one another.
Large staples are used with a hammer or staple gun for masonry, roofing, corrugated boxes and other heavy-duty uses. Smaller staples are used with a stapler to join pieces of paper together; these are permanent fasteners for paper documents, unlike paper clips.
Construction staples are usually larger, have a more varied use, and are delivered by a staple gun or tacking hammer. Staple guns typically have staples made from thicker metal. Faster and easier devices known as tacking hammers or staple hammers operate with a simple head, loaded with a strip of staples, to hit them directly. Some staple guns use arched staples for fastening small cables, e.g. phone or cable cords, without damaging the wires. Powered electric staplers or pneumatic staplers drive the staples easily and accurately.
History
In ancient times, the staple was used in buildings.
Large metal staples dating from the 6th century BC have been found in the masonry work of ancient Iran. In the construction of the Pasargadae, staples, known as “dovetail” or “swallowtail” staples, helped to hold large stones together.
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History of Utility Knives
Posted by cjs727 on Aug 23rd, 2011 | 6 comments
The fixed-blade utility knife was developed some 500,000 years ago. At first they were made of stone. These knives were designed to be used as general-purpose tools. For example, they could be used for cutting and shaping wood, for preparing food and for scraping hides.
By the 19th century the fixed-blade utility knife had evolved into a steel-bladed outdoor field knife capable of butchering or cleaning wild game, opening tins or cans, shaving or notching wood, cutting up branches for campfires and preparing meals.
With the invention of the backspring, pocket-sized utility knives could be produced with folding blades, designed to increase their portability and safety. These folding pocket utility knives were widely purchased and the military increasingly issued them to their servicemen. The U.S. folding utility knife, Swiss Army knife, and other multi tools with knife blades have become common choices. With the development of a stronger locking mechanism their utility, when being used for heavy-duty tasks such as preparing game or cutting through thick or hard materials, has been greatly increased.
Today’s Utility Knives
Both the fixed and the folding blade utility knife are popular knife styles today, both for outdoor use (camping, hunting, fishing, gardening, etc.) and indoor use (primarily in the workplace or for construction projects). One of the most popular types of workplace utility knife is the retractable or folding utility knife. Some of the more commonly known utility knives are Stanley knives, box cutters and X-Acto knives. These and similar types are designed as multi-purpose cutting tools for use in numerous trades and crafts. Designed to be lightweight and easy to carry, utility knives are commonly used where and when a tool is needed to trim plastic, wood materials, sheetrock, carpet and linoleum, to cut tape, cord, strapping or cardboard.
Design
Utility knives are available in a variety of styles. There are fixed, retractable or folding blade styled knives, designed in many sizes and lengths for the many different types of tasks they are to perform. Each style will hold either a fixed or replaceable blade, which also come in a variety of styles suitable for different projects. Therefore, an outdoor utility knife suited for camping or hunting will often use a broad three to five-inch fixed blade, while those designed for a construction or warehouse worker might feature a replaceable razor blade for cutting shingles, marking cut lines, cutting open boxes or scraping paint.
*This information includes some material gathered from Google, Wikipedia and other sites I found during my research.
The History of Saws
Posted by cjs727 on Aug 21st, 2011 | 14 comments
Stone Age man used stone saws to skin animals and cut meat in preparation for cooking. These first saws were made from one piece of stone pounded until a sharp edge was formed. The stone saw was heavy, difficult to use and would chip and brake often. Once man learned to forge blades of bronze or hardened copper, handsaws were made to have sharper, more dependable edges. One such saw, which dates from 1450 B.C., was excavated from an Egyptian tomb in 1853 and is now housed in the British Museum.
Roman Improvements
Early saws had a tendency to bind and jam in the wood as they were being used. The early Romans discovered that if the slot cut by the saw (known as a kerf) was wider than the blade there would be less likelihood of it binding in the cut. The Romans achieved widening the cut by angling the top half of the teeth outward from the blade to the right and left. This process was called “set.”
Saws of the Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, saw blades were very thin and crumpled easily. The saw blade was set into a rectangular frame to avoid this and keep it stiff, hence the name “frame saw.” Double-bladed frame saws were used to cut boards using a pit-sawing technique. This process had one man positioned above the log to be cut and one in a pit below. The saws were “raked”, meaning the teeth of the saws were angled to one side, so that the saw cut when pulled downward by the pitman.
Handsaw Handles
Sawyers of the 19th century tended to prefer a thicker-bladed handsaw over the thinner frame saw and its successor, the bow saw. The handsaws of this era were improved by using harder tempered steel and had elaborately adorned, hand carved handles. The handsaw had a stiffer blade, with a turned-open handle or a closed handle which completely surrounded the holding hand. In the 1920s and ‘30s plastic handles were introduced and became popular. However, in the ‘50s most manufacturers went back to wooden handles.
Today power saws have largely replaced handsaws, but many still prefer the grip and feel of sawing by hand. There are many types of hand and power saws available to handle a myriad of tasks. I will discuss them in more detail at a later time.
*This information includes some material gathered from Google, Wikipedia and other sites I found during my research.
The History of Screws and Screwdrivers
Posted by cjs727 on Aug 14th, 2011 | 12 comments
Early Screws
Screws are used to hold two objects together. A screw is a shafted fastener with a head to tighten it into place, although there are some that have no head. The shaft has a threaded, corkscrew-shaped groove on its surface to hold the objects firmly together.
Sometime around the first century, screw shaped tools became common; however, we do not know who the inventors were. The first screws were made from wood and used in wine presses and olive oil presses. Metal screws and nuts used to fasten two objects together were introduced in the fifteenth century.
Mass Production
In 1770, Jesse Ramsden, an English instrument maker, invented the first successful screw-cutting lathe. He inspired other inventors to further his achievements and expand on his design. One notable is another Englishmen, Henry Maudslay, who designed an even larger and more accurate screw-cutting lathe that made it possible to mass-produce various sized screws.
Robertson Screw
In 1908, square-drive screws were invented by Canadian P. L. Robertson. The Robertson screw is considered the first recess-drive type fastener. Its design became a North American standard, as published in the sixth edition of Industrial Fasteners Institute Metric and Inch Standards. The Model T car made by the Ford Motor Company (one of Robertson’s first customers) used over seven hundred Robertson screws.
Phillips Head Screw
In the early 1930s, twenty eight years after P. L. Robertson’s prototype was released, Henry Phillips patented his Phillips head screws, which are also square-drive screws. Automobile manufacturers needed screws that could withstand greater torque and could provide a stronger hold. The Phillips head screw was compatible with the automated screwdrivers used in their assembly lines.
Screwdriver
A screwdriver is a tool used for driving (turning) screws and are designed with a tip that fits into the head of a screw.
In 1744, a flat-bladed bit for the carpenter’s brace was invented; this was the precursor to the first simple screwdriver. The first handheld screwdrivers appeared after 1800.
*This information includes some material gathered from Google, Wikipedia and other sites I found during my research.
Man’s First Tool – A Practical Solution to an Age Old Problem
Posted by cjs727 on Aug 7th, 2011 | 47 comments
When we research back in time, we see that man’s first tool was a simple stone held in his hand. It took centuries and many smashed fingers before a caveman thought to put a handle on the stone. Finally, the first hammer was invented. Hence, a practical solution was found to the age old problem of pain caused by smashed fingers.
This was about the 4th century BC. The handle was wood, which was the handle of choice through the ages and continues to be so to the present day. At first handles were simply tied to the hammer head with vines or strips of hide. Later a hole or “eye” was bored into the head for a stronger and secure fit. Since its beginning the hammer head has evolved. Through the Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age and the Industrial Age improvements and the introduction of different materials have been added, like steel and metal alloys.
When our forefathers shopped for a hammer they would go to the village blacksmith. He would beat the hammer heads from red hot iron on an anvil to create the right shape and size. The blacksmith was one of the first metallurgists. To provide the right combination of temper, hardness and durability required a lot of experimentation at first.
When steel was introduced blacksmiths would use a process to add carbon. This give the steel the proper hardness needed. The hammer head was placed in a charcoal fire until it reached the desired heat. Then while red hot it was doused in water to set.
Today’s manufacturing methods computerize the process to carefully control the carbon and alloy content. Top quality manufacturers use a hot forging process with exact tempering of the steel to produce a durable, high-performance product. Less expensively produced hammers are made of cast steel. These are not as durable and are more likely to chip or mushroom during their use over time.
In the beginning hammer handles were made of wood, but today they also come in steel and fiberglass. Many wood working professionals still prefer the wooden handle over other handle types as they are more shock absorbent, lighter in weight and provide better balance. Steel hammers, a favorite with construction workers, can vibrate during use which can cause handle “sting.” However, modern manufacturers have improved on this, with a wood and/or rubber implant in the hammer head reducing the vibration and making the feel of these steel hammers to be almost like wood.
Due to our forefathers “do-it-yourself” practice, meaning doing everything, they had to have a hammer for every trade or task – coopers hammers for making barrels, veneer hammers for trimming lumber, wooden mallets for carpentry, furrier hammers for horse-shoes, bricklaying hammers, ice hammers and shoemaker’s hammers, to name just a few. Again, most of these were designed by the village blacksmith.
Today we have an even larger variety available. As an example, one major U.S. manufacturer produces more than 250 different types and sizes for every conceivable use.
*This information includes some material gathered from Google, Wikipedia and other sites I found during my research.
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