67 Examples of Tools

John Spacey, April 13, 2021

A tool is an item that helps people to complete work. The ability to invent and use tools is considered an inherent human characteristic. Throughout history, humans have survived and thrived by building things with tools. Modern tools include hand tools that rely on human power and power tools that use electricity or another power source. Tools are commonly used to craft products, construct things, transform landscapes, garden, farm and to create or maintain other tools and machines. The following are common examples of tools.

Arbor Press	Awl
Axe	Backsaw
Blower	Bolt Cutters
Brace	Caulking Gun
Chisel	Clamp
Crimper	Drill
Drill Press	Files
Flashlight	Glue Gun
Grinder	Hammer
Hoe	Impact Driver
Jointer	Ladder
Lathe	Level
Machete	Mallet
Measuring Tape	Milling Machine
Miter Saw	Needle Nose Pliers
Nut Drivers	Pipe Cutters
Pitchforks	Plane
Plate Joiner	Pliers
Plunger	Polishers & Buffers
Pry Bar	Putty Knife
Rake	Ratchet
Rivet Tool	Router
Ruler	Sander
Sanding Block	Saw
Scissors	Screwdriver
Shears	Shovel
Sledgehammer	Sockets
Soldering Iron	Spade
Staple Gun	Table Saw
Trowel	Tweezer
Utility Knife	Vacuum
Wedge	Wheelbarrow
Wire Cutters	Wire Stripper
Wrench

An arbor press is a hand operated press that uses leverage to exert downward force of 1-5 tones.

An awl is a small pointed tool used for piercing holes in materials such as leather.

A backsaw has a stiffening rib on the edge opposite the cutting edge to allow for greater precision and control.

A crimper is a hand tool for joining two or more pieces of metal together by deforming them slightly.

An impact driver is a hand tool that provides rotational force in response to an impact such as a hammer strike. This is used to loosen fasteners that are stuck.

A jointer is a tool for preparing a wooden edge for fixing or joining to another.

A lathe is a machine tool that rotates a workpiece for performing various tasks such as shaping, cutting or sanding.

A milling machine is a machine tool that uses rotary cutters to remove material from a workpiece.

A miter saw is used to make accurate crosscuts at various angles and depths. This is often used to make joints known as miters.

A plane is a tool for flattening, smoothing and reduce the thickness of wood.

A plate joiner, also known as a biscuit joiner, is a woodworking tool for joining wood.

A ratchet is a device that applies rotary force in one direction while preventing force from being applied in the opposite direction. Most commonly used as a ratchet wrench that allows you to turn a fastener without having to continually reattach the wrench.

A router is a woodworking power tool that has a flat surface with a spindle in the middle that can be used to remove material from wood. Often used to create shaped edges and joints.

A socket is an attachment for a wrench such as a ratchet wrench that fits a particular type of fastener.

A soldering iron heats metal known as solder to join workpieces.

A trowel is a small hand tool for digging. Essentially a small shovel.

A wedge is a triangular tool that can be used to create leverage. One of the simple machines of antiquity. Often used to split things, detach things or lift things up.