Miscellaneous Carpentry Related Tools

Sealant/caulk gun

Caulk guns are tool used for the application and use of standard tubed sealants and mastics. Sealants such as silicone, construction adhesive, and decorators caulk are all sold in standardised sealant tubes. These tubes are made from lined cardboard or plastic and can be inserted in a caulk gun to apply the sealant. Caulk guns come in a variety of styles, with basic models being very affordable from almost all hardware retailers. Whilst the traditional style that we’re all familiar with is hand actuated through a large lever attached to the handle, more modern technology has seen the creation of battery powered mechanical guns. This style can be pricey, but for those that frequently use caulk guns such as decorators or silicone specialists, they help to reduce hand fatigue over the course of an operation. The basic premise of a caulk gun sees a central rod that is housed within a larger frame, actuated forward mechanically through the pull of the lever by the handle. As the rod is advanced within the gun, the flat disk on the end of it pushes the inner disc of a sealant tube, squeezing the material out of the nozzle at the end of the tube. This system as a whole was developed as a more accurate, cleaner, and faster alternative to the less convenient, messier, and slower application of materials by hand from containers using hand tools. In carpentry, there are many instances where these guns are used, such as applying chemical resin for structural applications, or adhesive to skirting and architrave during internal procedures.

Filling knives

Filling knives are tools that are used for applying filler to surfaces. They come in a variety of different widths in order to cover wide surfaces or fit in small areas. The blade of the knife is not sharp and is constructed from a flexible steel. This allows even pressure to be distributed across the surface of the area being filled. Aside from their intended purpose.

Plugging chisels

Plugging chisels are a type of masonry chisel that are used for creating holes in masonry in order to receive a mechanical plug. When used in conjunction with a hammer, they can be driven into a mortar joint in order to effectively remove material to accommodate a timber propeller wedge or plug. With the instruction of modern mechanical fixings and hammer drills, the necessity for this tool has diminished. That being said, they were extremely prevalent in the past before the widespread usage of modern mechanical fixings and masonry drilling power tools.

Trowels and jointers

Brick trowels are masonry related tools that are used for applying mortar during the creation of masonry components. In design, a trowel is a short, handheld scoop that is used for moving and manipulating wet mortar or concrete. When creating masonry walls, a bricklayer will use a trowel to scoop up mortar from a bucket or spot board and place it carefully on the wall. When “buttering” each brick or block, the trowel is used to press the mortar into the surface of the material. As each brick is laid and tapped into the mortar bed, excess mortar is squeezed out sideways. This excess mortar is carefully scraped away with the edge of the trowel and reused in the continuing construction. Smaller trowels are used for holding small amounts of mortar whilst the joints between masonry components are pointed. Some styles of trowel feature a flat end that is able to scrape out the bottom of a bucket. “Pointing” trowels with thin blades are used for pointing the open gaps between masonry when laying face brickwork. Jointers are used to dress the wet mortar to the desired aesthetic finish once the bricks or blocks have been laid.  

In terms of plastering, a trowel refers to a handheld metal float that is used for applying the plaster to a surface. These trowels come in many different widths for reaching into different sized areas. The edges of a proper plastering trowel are burnished with a slightly sharp edge - this leaves the smoothest result for the finished plaster. Tilers use a tool similar to this to apply tile adhesive to a substrate during the tiling process. Specific depth and width notches in the side of the trowel help to create even lines of adhesive before the tiles are set. A selection of these tools is used for most other wet trades, with concrete finishing and screeding relying primarily on some variety of trowel. In these instances, plastic floats, corner trowels, edging trowels, and gauging trowels are a few of the other common varieties.

Nail punch

Nail punches are a form of small metal punch that are intended for punching the heads of nails below the surface of materials. Punches can be purchased with varying tip widths, with many manufacturers offering kits with a selection of different sizes. The end of the punch that is placed on the head of the nail can be flat, pointed, or concave in appearance. Flat tips are used for punching nails with wider heads, with the pointed tips being used for punching nails deeper under the surface without creating a larger hole in the workpiece. The concave tips are practical for receiving over the rounded heads of lost head or oval head nails, a feature which allows the nails to be successfully punched without the tip of the punch slipping. The other end of the punch is intended to be struck with a hammer and is typically wider with a striking face. Traditional punches are made entirely of steel, though these can be uncomfortable in the hand during use due to the vibration. Modern varieties are designed with rubber or plastic sheaths around the shank of the punch that reduces vibration.

Staple guns

Staple guns are used for the quick and efficient application of staples into components. Staples are used in construction in a few applications, namely to tack felt or temporary weathering components. They are also used to temporarily pin beads and trims in place whilst adhesive sets. Using staples to pin materials like felt at regular intervals helps to keep the material flat to the substrate, as well as helping to fight the inevitable wind that picks up when trying to install it. Staple guns come in a few different patterns, namely the hand actuated gun variety which allows for accurate placement of staples, or the less accurate but faster hammer tacker. Both varieties take strips of staples within their internal mechanisms, with the staples coming in a variety of length and widths. The standard hand actuated stapler can be used to great effect in internal applications, with the base of the stapler being placed flat against the surface of the material. As the handle is pressed down, a staple is pushed into the surface. The hammer tacker works in the same principle, with the difference being it is activated by hitting the substrate with the end of the tacker. As the mechanism compresses, a staple is fired out of the tacker and into the surface.