was used to splinter more brittle stones, like flint, to make other tools for cutting and killing. Early man would make axes, knives, arrow and spear heads, carving tools for wood and even make jewelry. Somewhere around 30,000 BC man tied this stone tool to a piece of wood or bone with leather, vine, sinew or hair to create a handle. This handle allowed for more power, accuracy and it was probably a little easier on the hands. Years later, around 3,000 BC during the Bronze and Iron ages, blacksmiths used more sophisticated hammers for shaping iron and other metals. Today, man has developed many different hammer heads used for different purposes. I can’t list every type of hammer in this article, but
I do want to talk about the hammer I have in my toolbox. The ball-peen hammer, also known as the machinist’s hammer, is a type of peening hammer used in metal working. It has two heads — one flat, and the other called the peen, which is rounded. The process of peening (surface hardening by impact) has become rarer in metal fabrication but the ball-peen hammer still remains useful for many tasks we perform like striking punches and chisels. The hammer is the first tool that mechanics usually think of when the project they are working on will not co-operate. Right? Get a bigger hammer.
NOT AS OLD BUT STILL
A “DINOSAUR” — PLIERS With the discovery of fire used for cooking and warmth, came the discovery of heat and burned hands. Man had the problem of handling hot coals and other objects, so he used sticks and then wooden tongs. These were replaced around 3000 BC with bronze and then iron tongs. No one inventor can be credited with inventing
pliers, but there are numerous versions of this tool, such as the round-nose, needle-nose, diagonal cutting pliers (used for cutting wire) and adjustable slip-joint pliers. It has grooved jaws and a pivot hole in one member that is elongated so that the member can pivot in either of
ANYONE FOR A SCREWDRIVER? No, it’s not “Happy Hour” — we’re still talking about tools, but we can’t really talk about the tools we use without first talking about what they are used for. Hardware has evolved over the centuries and tools have evolved accordingly. Some type of new fastener was invented, and an installation/removal tool was simultaneously developed with it. Centuries ago, the wooden peg and wooden screws were used for building furniture and homes. In 1770 an English instrument maker named Jesse Ramsden invented the first screw cutting lathe. In 1797, another Englishman named
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several positions in order to grasp objects of different sizes.
In 1921 a Danish blacksmith, William Petersen, thought his job would be made easier if he could combine the convenience of pliers with the holding power of a vise. Petersen came up with the idea of a pliers that could be locked by turning a small knob at its heel, giving the user more leverage and torque. The Vise-Grip pliers were patented in 1924. During WWII aircraft and shipbuilding manufacturers found this tool indispensable for holding plating and sheet-metal in place during welding and riveting. I don’t have any more information on the history of the safety-wire pliers that are a part of every aviation mechanics toolbox. Safety-wire and safety- wire pliers were developed sometime in the early days of aircraft manufacturing. There are many different brands and styles of this tool that has become essential in guaranteeing the security and torque retention of aircraft hardware for years.
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