Stage Production

Tools and Equipment Part One: Miscellaneous Construction Claw Hammer Named for the curved shape of its claw Used for pulling out nails, fasteners, etc. Identified by weight (16 oz. hammer = weight of head) Rip Hammer

Named for straight shape of claw Used for prying things apart Like the claw hammer, it is identified by weight ’s Knife Also called a matte knife or a box cutter Uses a razor blade which fits into a knife handle (unscrew handle to replace blade) Used most frequently for cutting muslin and paper products, sometimes lauan Must keep blade sharp Cut away from self Combination Pliers Multi- function pliers Flat jaws- 1 smooth, 1 rough Grip by amount of teeth Pinches at bottom, making an imprecise cutting vice Crescent Wrench Also known as an adjustable wrench Can fit a variety of nuts/bolts Small wheel on the wrench turns to make jaws larger or smaller Size of the wrench is measured by the length of the handle

Made of rubber or plastic Used for knocking bolts out of w/o damaging wood or bolt threads Can also be used to tap joints together Tack Hammer Has a long, narrow head with a small, flat striking surface in each end. Used for precise driving of small nails and tacks. C-  Size of clamp is adjustable  Allows lumber to be clamped down for cutting purposes  Clamps 2 surfaces together while glue dries  In theatre, commonly used to hang lighting instruments from metal poles Gun Spring-loaded, like a household stapler Most commonly used in theatre for securing cloth to wood Can handle a variety of staple sizes 1/4”, 3/8”, etc. indicate length of staple More to come tomorrow… Wood Cutting Tools Cross Cut Many small teeth allows cuts through dense lumbers Smooth, clean cut Designed to cut against the grain of the lumber Rip Saw Fewer, larger teeth Rough cut, just at the wood Best used for cutting with the grains of the lumber Electric Compound 10” blade Pull arm in downward motion to cut Can make , miter, and compound cuts Has safety switch for thumb- saw will not operate unless safety is pushed Portable More commonly called a skil saw 7 1/4” blade Can adjust depth and angle of blade Has safety guard around blade  Has safety switch for thumb- saw will not operate unless safety button is depressed Reciprocating blade -less blade change Variable speed Used for more detailed cuts Can manually rotate the blade 360 degrees for curved cuts Will not operate unless safety key is removed 12” blade Requires one person to feed and one to catch Use adjustable for straight accurate cut Table Saw (Cont’d)  Can adjust height of blade

 Also used for some angles cuts  Must wear face Don’t force lumber mask More tools to come tomorrow… Boring Tools

More exciting than you realized… Phillips Head Screwdriver/Bit

• Screwdriver with a point that forms a cross • Named for the cross threads on the top of the screw head • Most frequent type of driver/bit used in scenery construction Flat Head Screwdriver/Bit

• Straight edge driver/bit • Fits into a slotted screw Corded • The chuck of the drill holds appropriate bit in place • Keyless chuck- changes bits manually • Keyed chuck- needs a chuck key to change bits •Size of drill is determined by the size of the chuck (3/8” chuck=3/8” drill) Cordless Drill •Higher voltage gives greater strength •12 v, 14v, 18 v are common •Particularly useful for overhead work or other situations in which a cord could prove cumbersome •Battery operated •Adjustable torque •Not always as much power •As a corded drill •Greater expense Twist Bit • Used to drill holes into lumber or metal • Frequently used for pilot holes before driving in a screw or bolt • Large variety of sizes and types Spade Bit

• larger holes • Generally need to drill a small pilot holes first • Not perfectly accurate or easy to control • Relatively inexpensive Hole Saw

• Tiny, circular saw that can fit in the chuck of a drill • Drills a perfectly round hole in a piece of lumber • More costly than the typical drill bit Measuring Tools •Sold in a variety of lengths •Usually contains a steel tape •Good for measuring distances along a straight line Carpenter’s

• Also known as a square • Checks for 90 degree angles (or square) • Most commonly 18” x 24” • Used to check corners, that platform legs are perpendicular, etc.

• Compact • Has a small lip to help in marking and checking for 90 degree angles • Can check 90 or 45 degree angles • Can mark other angles which are written on the sides (30, 15 degrees, etc.

•Similar to carpenter’s square with an additional sliding plastic piece •Checks 90 and 45 degree angles •Has a small, built-in bubble level

•Checks for true vertical and horizontal surfaces •Contains a small bubble that tells you when a surface is level Snap Line

•Also known as a •Used for marking a straight line between two points •Contains a reel of string and is filled with chalk for use Spline Curve

• Used for marking curved lines • A rubberized plastic that is bendable • Has ruler markings along the side Hardware and Lumber Screws

•Size is determined by length of the screw

•Easy to remove and allow lumber to be recycled •Variety of types Screw Types

• Wood Screw • Decking • Gold • Coated in plastic- • Lesser Expense usually beige • Drill pilot hole for • More expensive longer screws • No pilot holes Bolts Threaded like a screw- but no point at end! •Carriage bolt- wood construction •Hex bolt- Steel construction and casters Eye Bolt •Often used to rig flying scenery •Has an “eye” that allows you to pass rope or wire through LUMBER

• Plywood: Made from thin layers of wood called veneers. It is very strong. In each layer the grain is at right angles to the next layer. Lauan

• A form of plywood • Most often used to skin doors • We use it to build studio flats (walls) Framing Lumber

• 2 X 4 • 1 x 4 • Really 1 ½” x 3 ½” • Really ¾” x 3 ½”

Stage Production

Tools and Equipment Part One: Miscellaneous Wood Construction Tools Claw Hammer Rip Hammer Carpenter’s Knife Combination Pliers Crescent Wrench Mallet Tack Hammer C-Clamp Staple Gun More to come tomorrow… Wood Cutting Tools Cross Cut Saw Phillips Head Screwdriver/Bit Flat Head Screwdriver/Bit Corded Drill Cordless Drill Twist Bit Spade Bit Hole Saw Measuring Tools Tape Measure •Sold in a variety of lengths •Usually contains a steel tape •Good for measuring distances along a straight line Carpenter’s Square

• Also known as a framing square • Checks for 90 degree angles (or square) • Most commonly 18” x 24” • Used to check corners, that platform legs are perpendicular, etc. Speed Square

• Compact • Has a small lip to help in marking and checking for 90 degree angles • Can check 90 or 45 degree angles • Can mark other angles which are written on the sides (30, 15 degrees, etc. Combination Square

•Similar to carpenter’s square with an additional sliding plastic piece •Checks 90 and 45 degree angles •Has a small, built-in bubble level Spirit Level

•Checks for true vertical and horizontal surfaces •Contains a small bubble that tells you when a surface is level Snap Line

•Also known as a chalk line •Used for marking a straight line between two points •Contains a reel of string and is filled with chalk for use Spline Curve

• Used for marking curved lines • A rubberized plastic that is bendable • Has ruler markings along the side Screwdrivers

Flathead

Phillips Head

• Plywood: Made from thin layers of wood called veneers. It is very strong. In each layer the grain is at right angles to the next layer. ChipBoard: Made from chips of wood which are mixed with glue and pressed together. Medium Density Fibreboard: Made from medium particles of wood dust, mixed with a resin glue and pressed into she Box Nails