Hardware and Construction Guides Page 2: 93 technical guides for choosing Hardware and Construction products: selection criteria, standards, common mistakes and frequently asked questions.
What Are Vices and Clamps? Types and Selection Criteria — A clamp is a portable tool that holds parts temporarily between a fixed and a movable jaw; a vice is a fixed clamping device mounted on a bench. What Is a Screwdriver? Tip Types and Selection Criteria — A screwdriver is a handled hand tool whose tip profile seats in the screw head recess to tighten and loosen screws; slotted, Phillips (PH), Pozidriv and Torx types exist. What Is an Energy Analysis Instrument? Power Meters, Wattmeters and Selection — An energy analysis instrument is a portable or benchtop instrument that measures the voltage, current, power, power factor and energy consumption of a device or installation. What Are Circlip Pliers? Types and Selection Criteria — Circlip pliers use their tip pins to flex a retaining ring so it can be fitted into, or removed from, its groove on a shaft or inside a bore. What Is an Electrical Installation Tester? Types and Selection Criteria — An electrical installation tester verifies an installation's protection by measuring RCD tripping time, loop impedance, insulation resistance and socket wiring. What Is a Digital Thermometer? Types and Selection Criteria — A digital thermometer is a portable electronic instrument that measures the temperature of the point touched by a probe or thermocouple tip and shows it on a numeric display. What Is a USB Tester? Types and Selection Criteria — A USB tester is a pocket-sized meter plugged between a charger and a device that shows the voltage, current and transferred capacity on the USB line. What Are Cable Testers and Tracers? Types and Selection Criteria — A cable tester checks the wire order and continuity of a data cable; a cable tracer follows the signal a transmitter puts on the line with a receiver to find the right cable. What Is an LCR Meter? Types and Selection Criteria — An LCR meter is a measuring instrument that measures the inductance (L), capacitance (C) and resistance (R) of coils, capacitors and resistors at a chosen test frequency. What Are Adjustable Pliers? Types and Selection Criteria — Adjustable pliers (locking pliers) set their jaw opening with a screw at the end of the handle and lock when squeezed, so they keep holding the part when let go. What Is Heat Transfer Paste? Types and Selection Criteria — Heat transfer paste (thermal paste) is an interface material that improves heat flow by filling the microscopic air gaps between a heating electronic component and its heatsink. What Is an Insulating Mat? Classes and Selection Criteria — An insulating mat is a floor covering that insulates a person working in front of a panel or cell from the floor, making it harder for current to pass through the body to ground. What Is a Socket Set? Types and Selection Criteria — A socket set is a hand tool set of sockets and bits in different sizes that enclose nuts and bolt heads and fit a square drive ratchet. What Are Sheet Metal Snips? Types and Selection Criteria — Sheet metal snips are hand shears that cut thin sheet steel, aluminium and tin plate without removing chips, using the shearing action of two hardened steel jaws. What Is an Allen Key? Types and Selection Criteria — An Allen key is a hexagonal, usually L-shaped hand wrench used to tighten and loosen bolts and set screws that have a hexagon socket in the head. What Is a Micro-Ohmmeter? Types and Selection Criteria — A micro-ohmmeter measures very low resistances in the micro-ohm and milli-ohm range with the four-wire (Kelvin) method to check joints, contacts and windings. What Is an Adjustable Wrench? Sizes and Selection Criteria — An adjustable wrench is a hand wrench whose movable jaw is set by a worm screw to fit hex nuts and bolt heads of different sizes. What Is a Cable Tie Tool? Types and Selection Criteria — A cable tie tool is a hand tool that tensions a plastic or stainless steel cable tie and cuts off the excess tail; it is also known as a cable tie gun. Automotive Hand Tools: Choosing Lug Wrenches and Oil Filter Wrenches — Automotive hand tools are wrenches and removal tools, such as lug wrenches and oil filter wrenches, shaped for vehicle jobs like tyre changes and oil service. What Is a Test Pen? Types and Selection Criteria — A test pen is a screwdriver-shaped test tool whose handle lamp shows whether voltage is present when the tip touches a conductor; it does not measure the voltage. What Is a Cell and Battery Tester? Types and Selection Criteria — A cell and battery tester is a measuring instrument that quickly shows the health of a cell or battery by measuring its terminal voltage and internal resistance. What Is a Gas Measuring Instrument? Types and Selection Criteria — A gas measuring instrument is a portable device that measures the concentration of a specific gas such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen or flammable gas, or locates a leak. What Is a Battery Jumper Clamp? Types and Selection Criteria — A battery jumper clamp is a removable alligator-type clip on the end of a jumper or charging cable that grips the battery terminal post with spring-loaded jaws. What Is a Button Cell Battery? Types, Codes and Selection Criteria — A button cell is a single-cell battery with a flat, coin-shaped metal case, used in small low-current devices such as watches, car keys and motherboards.