1 Hand tools. - Hand tools: care and maintenance. - Measuring tools: linear and angular. - Steel rule, angle plate and scriber, etc. - Bench vice, hand vice, G-clamp, chuck, etc. - Cold chisels, hacksaw, files, taps and dies. - Engineers’ hammers, mallets. - Screwdrivers, spanners, drifts, etc. 3.2 Benchwork - Filing, chiselling, threading and sawing. 3.3 Care and maintenance of tools - Need for maintenance.

Hand tools are the basic equipment metalworkers use to shape, cut and join metal pieces. Tools like files, chisels, hacksaws and spanners must be properly cared for to work effectively and last long. Maintenance simply means keeping your tools in good condition through regular cleaning, proper storage and careful handling.

Think of it like maintaining your phone—you protect it from damage, keep it clean and store it safely. Similarly, after using a file at the metalwork bench, you must clean metal shavings from its teeth, store it separately from other tools to prevent damage, and keep it dry to prevent rust. In Nigerian workshops, many apprentices lose valuable tools to rust and breakage because they ignore basic maintenance practices.

Proper care extends tool life, improves work quality and ensures your safety during practical work. Store tools in dry places, handle them gently and use each tool only for its intended purpose.

Taking care of your metalwork tools is just like maintaining your mobile phone – neglect it and it stops working properly. Hand tools need regular cleaning, oiling, and greasing to prevent rust and keep them functioning well. When you finish using a steel rule or file, wipe away metal dust and moisture immediately. Apply light machine oil to prevent rust, especially in Nigeria's humid climate where tools corrode quickly. For moving parts like the bench vice or G-clamp, use grease to keep them smooth and functional. Store tools in a dry place, never leave them wet, and keep them away from damp corners of the workshop. A metalworker in Lagos who cleans and oils his chisels after each job finds they last years longer than tools left dirty and exposed to moisture.