Stage Production

Tools and Equipment

Part One:

Miscellaneous Wood Construction Tools

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

Carpenter’s Knife�Also called a matte knife or a box cutter�Uses a razor blade which fits into a knife handle (unscrew handle to replaceblade)

�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 turnsto make jaws larger or smaller

�Size of the wrenchis measured bythe length of the handle

Mallet

�Made of rubber or plastic

�Used for knocking bolts out of lumber w/o damaging wood or bolt threads

�Can also be used to tap joints together

Tack Hammer�Has a long, narrowhead with a small, flatstriking surface ineach end.

�Used for precisedriving of small nailsand tacks.

C-Clamp� 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

Staple Gun�Spring-loaded, like a householdstapler

�Most commonly used in theatre for securing cloth to wood

�Can handle a variety of staple sizes�1/4”, 3/8”, etc. indicate length ofstaple

More to come tomorrow…

Wood Cutting Tools

Cross Cut Saw�Many small teeth allows cuts through dense lumbers

�Smooth, clean cut�Designed to cutagainst the grain of the lumber

Rip Saw�Fewer, larger teeth�Rough cut, justchisels at the wood

�Best used for cutting with thegrains of thelumber

Electric Compound Miter Saw

�10” blade�Pull arm in downward motion to cut

�Can make bevel,miter, andcompound cuts

�Has safety switch for thumb- saw willnot operate unless safety is pushed

Portable Circular Saw�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 safetybutton is depressed

Jigsaw�Reciprocating blade�Tool-less bladechange

�Variable speed�Used for moredetailed cuts

�Can manually rotate the blade 360degrees for curved cuts

Table Saw�Will not operate unless safety key is removed

�12” blade�Requires one person to feed and one to catch

�Use adjustable fence for straight accurate cut

Table Saw (Cont’d)� Can adjust height of blade

� Also used for some angles cuts

� Must wear face mask

�Don’t force lumber

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 Drill

• 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 workor other situations inwhich a cord could provecumbersome

•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

• Drills 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

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

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

• Gold

• Lesser Expense

• Drill pilot hole for

longer screws

• Decking

• Coated in plastic-

usually beige

• More expensive

• No pilot holes

BoltsThreaded 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

• 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

• Really 1 ½” x 3 ½”

• 1 x 4

• 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