Specialist Tools and Equipment for Papers, Boards and Timbers

This lesson covers the specialist tools and equipment used when working with papers, boards and timbers, as required by AQA GCSE Design and Technology (8552), Section 3.2.8. You need to know the names of tools, what they are used for, and how to select the appropriate tool for a given task.

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Tools for Working with Papers and Boards

Papers and boards are widely used in packaging, graphic products and modelling. The tools used must allow precise cutting, scoring and folding.

Cutting Tools

Tool	Use	Key Feature
Craft knife (scalpel)	Cutting paper, card and thin board with precision	Used with a safety rule and cutting mat
Rotary cutter	Cutting fabric and paper in straight lines	Rolling blade — faster than a craft knife for long cuts
Guillotine	Cutting multiple sheets of paper to the same size	Clamping bar holds paper; blade cuts cleanly
Laser cutter	Cutting intricate shapes in card, MDF, acrylic	CAD-driven, extremely precise (± 0.1 mm)
Die cutter	Cutting and creasing card for packaging nets	Uses a metal die (blade) pressed into the material

Scoring and Folding Tools

• Bone folder — a smooth, flat tool used to create crisp folds in paper and card without cracking the surface.
• Scoring tool — a blunt blade or empty ballpoint pen used with a ruler to create a fold line in card. Scoring weakens the fibres so the card folds cleanly along the line.

Printing and Marking Tools

• Registration marks — printed crosses used to align multiple colours during printing.
• Crop marks — lines showing where the paper should be trimmed after printing.

AQA Exam Tip: When describing tools for papers and boards, always mention safety precautions. For example, a craft knife should be used with a safety rule (with a ridge to protect fingers) and a self-healing cutting mat.

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Tools for Working with Timbers

Timbers are one of the most commonly used materials in D&T. The tools range from traditional hand tools to modern power tools and CNC machines.

Marking Out Tools

Tool	Use
Try square	Marking and checking 90° angles
Marking gauge	Scribing a line parallel to an edge at a set distance
Mortise gauge	Scribing two parallel lines for mortise and tenon joints
Sliding bevel	Marking and checking angles other than 90°
Pencil and steel rule	General marking out

Cutting and Shaping Tools — Hand Tools

Tool	Use	Example Product
Tenon saw	Cutting straight lines in timber (joints)	Cutting tenons for a picture frame
Coping saw	Cutting curves in thin timber and board	Cutting decorative profiles in plywood
Chisel (bevel-edged)	Paring and chopping joints (mortises, housings)	Chopping a mortise for a table leg
Hand plane (smoothing)	Smoothing and flattening timber surfaces	Preparing timber before finishing
Spokeshave	Shaping curved surfaces	Shaping a chair leg or tool handle
Rasp and file	Rough and fine shaping of timber	Rounding edges on a chopping board

Cutting and Shaping Tools — Power and Machine Tools

Tool	Use	Key Advantage
Pillar drill	Drilling accurate holes in timber	Adjustable speed, depth stop for consistency
Band saw	Cutting curves and straight lines in thick timber	Can cut material up to 150 mm thick
Scroll saw	Cutting intricate curves in thin material	Very fine blade allows tight radii
Belt/disc sander	Sanding timber to shape and smooth surfaces	Fast material removal and finishing
Wood lathe	Turning cylindrical shapes (bowls, legs, pens)	Creates symmetrical round profiles
Planer-thicknesser	Producing flat, parallel faces on timber	Ensures consistent thickness
CNC router	Cutting complex 2D and 3D shapes from CAD files	Highly accurate, repeatable, suitable for batch production

AQA Exam Tip: Questions often ask you to choose and justify a tool for a specific task. Always name the tool, state what it does, and explain WHY it is the best choice (e.g. accuracy, speed, safety, suitability for the material thickness).

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graph TD
    A[Specialist tools] --> PB[Papers and Boards]
    A --> TM[Timbers]
    PB --> PB1["Cutting<br/>craft knife / rotary cutter /<br/>guillotine / laser / die cutter"]
    PB --> PB2["Scoring + folding<br/>bone folder / scoring tool"]
    PB --> PB3["Marking<br/>registration + crop marks"]
    TM --> TM1["Marking out<br/>try square / marking gauge /<br/>mortise gauge / sliding bevel"]
    TM --> TM2["Hand cutting + shaping<br/>tenon saw / coping saw /<br/>chisel / plane / spokeshave"]
    TM --> TM3["Power + machine<br/>pillar drill / band saw /<br/>scroll saw / lathe / CNC router"]
    TM --> TM4["Joining<br/>sash clamps / G-clamps /<br/>PVA / biscuit jointer / dowelling jig"]

Joining Tools and Equipment

Tool/Equipment	Use
Sash clamps	Holding glued timber joints under pressure while adhesive sets
G-clamps	Clamping small workpieces to a bench or holding joints
PVA glue	General-purpose wood adhesive for indoor timber products
Biscuit jointer	Cutting slots for biscuit joints — fast, strong, invisible
Dowelling jig	Guiding a drill to create aligned holes for dowel joints

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Health and Safety with Timber Tools

Risk	Control Measure
Dust inhalation	Use dust extraction, wear a dust mask (FFP2 minimum)
Eye injury from flying debris	Wear safety goggles
Cuts from saws and chisels	Use guards, cut away from body, keep tools sharp
Entanglement in rotating machinery	Tie back hair, remove loose clothing, no gloves near lathes
Noise damage	Wear ear defenders when using power tools

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Summary

Selecting the right tool depends on the material, the operation (cutting, shaping, joining, finishing), the required accuracy and the scale of production. Papers and boards require precise cutting and scoring tools. Timbers use a wide range of hand and power tools depending on the complexity of the shape and the production volume.

AQA Exam Tip: In a 2-mark question, name the tool and state its use. In a 4-mark question, also explain why it is suitable and mention a safety precaution.

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Worked example — scale-of-production decision for a wooden clock