UHO: Punches

 

So...I knew the basics of what a punch is, but seeing these made me want to go and research more about them.  I had no idea that there were so many different punches with different purposes.  A nail punch is used to drive a nail in so that it will sit flush with (or below) the surface.  A center punch is used to mark the center of a point, usually when drilling.  Those are the two main types, but there are also others: a doming punch is used to shape material (often in conjunction with a doming block), and decorative stamps, including letters, numbers, and other designs, are used to create an image in a malleable surface. 

UHO: Eye Turnbuckle

This piece of hardware is called an eye turnbuckle. Turnbuckles come in many varieties with different ends, but all have a long sleeve with internal screw threads.  They allow you to adjust the tension or length of ropes or cables.  They can be made of galvanized or stainless steel.  Turnbuckles are often used in marine rigging, but can also be used for many other purposes.  After researching turnbuckles, I realized that I use them all the time at my summer job where I teach sailing and do boat maintenance, although the ones I use look very different, are much more expensive, and go by a different name.  A marine turnbuckle, like the one below, would be used to adjust the tension of the wires that hold up the mast, and allows us to change the wires when they begin to fray (worst job ever).

Katherine Meeks

UHO: S Hook

This piece of hardware is named after its shape and therefore called an "s hook."  The form provides a hook on either end making it easy to attach and remove when needed.  It can be hooked onto a chain, around a rope, or even at the end of a bungee cord.  The shape does well at distributing weight therefore it is most commonly used for suspension and tension purposes.  An example would be in order to suspend a swinging chair you might use this hook to connect chains from the chair to the ceiling.  The ends of the hook can be clamped down by using pliers in order to ensure it will not detach from what it is hooked to.  It can be found in a variation of forms as well as many different sizes.

UHO: Hard Cut Masonry Nails

You may recognize the above hardware as a just a simple nail. No big deal. But these particular nails are hardened steel and have a particular purpose that some consider outdated. These nails serve the purpose of fastening mortar and securing masonry. Tougher than most other nails, they can effectively dig into harder materials, and have a reputation for their strong hold and minimal cracking. Using a different type of nail would cause wood to splinter or the nail itself to break under pressure. The primary use of hard cut masonry nails is to fasten, penetrate, secure, and protect the integrity of all things masonry.