What are basic hand tools?
A hand tool is any tool that is powered by hand rather than a motor. Categories of hand tools include wrenches, pliers, cutters, files, striking tools, struck or hammered tools, screwdrivers, vises, clamps, snips, saws, drills, and knives.
Why are they called spud wrenches?
The name “spud” comes from the Irish. They used a short dagger or knife they called a spud to dig up potatoes. Because the end of the wrench looked similar to the knife, the name spud caught on.
Can you just bull float concrete?
Pulling the flat surface of the bull float over the concrete surface embeds large aggregate, smoothes the surface and removes high and low spots. According to the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, keeping the bull float as flat as possible prevents premature sealing of the cement surface.
What can I use instead of a bull float?
Fresnos are used for troweling slabs that do not require a hard trowel surface. A Fresnos will speed up the troweling process. Fresnos should not be used as bull floats. Troweling can also be accomplished by machine.
What’s the difference between a float and a trowel?
A float has a thicker base than a trowel and is usually made of plastic, sponge, rubber, wood or magnesium – a lightweight pale grey metal. It’s used to even up the surface on plaster or concrete, make it firmer and give whatever texture is required. The finish will depend on the float chosen.
How many times do you float concrete?
Push the bull float in one direction only across the concrete, keeping its front edge slightly above the surface by raising or lowering the handle. Two or three times is enough. Don’t overwork the concrete or you’ll weaken it by drawing too much sand and cement to the surface.
Why is it a monkey wrench?
Hall sent a clip from World Wide Words, an etymology website, which suggested that the wrench got its animalistic moniker because it was similar to a “key wrench,” but was different enough to be called a “non-key” wrench. That awkward phrasing was then corrupted to “monkey wrench.”
What is a monkey wrench slang?
Sabotage or frustrate a project or plans, as in The boss threw a monkey wrench into our plans when he said we’d have to work Saturday. This transfer of industrial sabotage—that is, throwing a tool inside machinery—to other subjects dates from the early 1900s.
What is a spud ratchet?
A spud wrench is a wrench with an adjustable or standard box wrench on one end and a tapered spike on the other. The spike can be used to line up bolt holes when installing pipe fittings, doing automotive work or—in the case of iron workers—for lining up bolt holes in girders and beams.
