HAND PRESS

The Durable Fastener hand press, as shown in figure 10-7, mates the two female portions of the fastener (socket and button) and the two female portions (stud and eyelet). You will use this often as you replace Durable Fasteners on soundproofing, cushions, or other related items where a portable installations tool is required.

KNIVES

A knife, because of its familiarity, can be one of the most abused tools. At its best, a knife has

Figure 10-7.-Hand press.

a well-sharpened blade and a secure handle. DON'T use any knife as a screwdriver, a punch, or a pry to open can lids. Always cut away from you, and keep your hands out of the way of the blade.

To sharpen a knife, use an oilstone and apply the same basic principle as that used for sharpening shears. Do NOT sharpen a knife blade on a grinding wheel because the metal is too thin. Too much heat is generated for the thickness of the metal. To sharpen a knife, clean the oilstone of all gum and dirt accumulation. Put two or three drops of medium-light oil on the stone. Lay the knife on the stone with the back of the knife slightly raised. Draw the knife toward you with a diagonal stroke from heal to toe with the cutting edge advancing. Turn the knife over and move the blade away from you, cutting edge advancing, moving from heel to toe. Repeat these steps several times. The edge is sharp if you feel a decided drag when passing it lightly over a wet thumbnail. No drag indicates the edge is not sharp.

MEASURING DEVICES

The ruler, tape measure, and carpenter's square, as shown in figure 10-8, are used often during the repair of fabric and rubber articles. These may become special tools by adding a special mark to show a commonly used scale or measurement. To comply with technical directive specifications, be sure to exactly measure items

Figure 10-8.-Measuring devices.

such as the patch overlaps, length of lines on life rafts, and every other job you do that requires special measurements.

The 12-inch, plain steel rule is used for laying out and measuring small work. One side of the rule, shown in view A of figure 10-8, has one edge graduated in sixteenths of an inch and the other edge graduated in eighths of an inch. This is indicated on the rule by the numbers 16 and 8, which are stamped into the metal. The opposite

side of the same rule may have one edge graduated in sixty-fourths of an inch and the other edge graduated in thirty-seconds of an inch, as shown in view B of figure 10-8.

The carpenter's square is a steel tool in the form of a right angle. One arm is 24 inches long, and the other is 18 inches long. It is used by the carpenters to lay out the framework of buildings and to square off wood materials. The fabrication and parachute worker uses it for layout work and measuring.

The tape measure is a convenient tool. It is used to measure large objects, yet it is portable and can be carried in a pocket. The tape measure is flexible and allows you to measure curved objects. These measuring devices (ruler, tape measure, and carpenter's square) are used to achieve accurate and professional results.