StageCraft Tools and Hardware Glossary

Vocabulary flashcards covering safety gear, hand saws, power tools, measuring devices, fasteners, and rigging hardware used in StageCraft (THET114).

Safety Goggles

PPE used to prevent dust and particles from entering the eyes.

Dust Mask

PPE used to prevent particles from entering the lungs.

Gloves

Protective equipment used to prevent abrasion and contact with fingers.

Ear Plugs

Safety equipment used to prevent particles and loud noises from entering the ear canal.

Rip Saw

A wood-cutting hand saw used to cut one piece of material into two or more pieces.

Keyhole Saw

A narrow hand saw used to cut one piece of material into two or more pieces.

Coping Saw

A hand saw used to cut one piece of material into two or more pieces.

Hack Saw

A saw used to cut one piece of metal material into two or more pieces.

Dozuki Saw

A Japanese pull saw used to cut one piece of material to level the surface or edge of a larger piece.

Pry Bar

A leverage tool used to pry one piece of material from another.

Crow Bar

A heavy prying tool used to pry one piece of material from another.

Nail Puller

A tool used to pry nails or screws from a surface.

Circular Saw

A circular-bladed power saw used to cut one piece of material into two or more pieces.

Saber Saw

A handheld power saw used to cut one piece of material into two or more pieces.

Matte Knife

A utility knife used to cut one piece of material into two or more pieces.

Framing Square

An L-shaped measuring tool used to measure along the edge of material.

Tri-Square

A fixed 90-degree measuring tool used to measure along the edge of material.

Combination Square

An adjustable measuring tool used to measure along the edge or corner of material.

Bevel Gauge

An adjustable tool used to copy the measure of an angle or distance along the edge of material.

Steel Tape Measure

A flexible retractable tool (typically 12' or 25') used to measure the length of material or dimension.

Chalk Line

A marking tool used to mark a straight line over a long distance using chalked string.

Trammel Points

A very large compass setup used to create arcs or circles over a large area.

Levels

Tools containing spirit bubbles used to measure an object's levelness or plumb.

Compass

A drafting tool used to mark arcs or circles over a medium area.

Claw Hammer

A hammer used to fasten two pieces of wood together using nails.

Ball-Peen Hammer

A hammer with a rounded peen used to reshape pieces of metal.

Tack Hammer

A small hammer used to fasten upholstery fabric to furniture.

Mallet

A heavy wooden or rubber tool used to shift wooden scenic pieces together or aside.

Standard Screwdriver

A flat-bladed hand tool used to insert or remove slotted screws from a surface.

Phillips Screwdriver

A crosspoint hand tool used to insert or remove cross-slot screws from a surface.

Socket Driver

A driver tool used to connect or remove a nut from a bolt set.

Socket Wrench

A ratcheting tool used to connect or remove a nut from a bolt set.

Allen Wrench

An L-shaped hex key used to tighten or loosen allen-type screws in a tool.

Staple Gun

A hand-operated tool used to fasten material to a surface using staples.

Crescent Wrench

An adjustable wrench used to fasten or loosen a nut to a bolt set.

Utility Pliers

Slipjoint pliers used to fasten or loosen a nut to a bolt set.

Vise Grips

Locking pliers used to fasten or loosen a nut to a bolt set or clamp one piece to another.

Channel Pliers

Tongue-and-groove pliers (Locks) used to fasten or loosen a nut to a bolt set or hold one piece to another.

Needlenose Pliers

Pliers with narrow jaws used to fasten or loosen a small nut to a small bolt set.

Linesmans Pliers / Dykes

Diagonal cutting pliers used to cut wire or wire insulation.

C-Clamp

A C-shaped clamping device used to clamp two pieces of material together.

Spring Clamp

A spring-loaded clamping tool used to clamp two pieces of material together.

Jorgensen Wood Clamp

A wooden handscrew clamp used to clamp two pieces of material together.

Pipe Clamp / Bar Clamp

A long bar or pipe clamping tool used to clamp two pieces of material together.

Ratchet Strap

A strap and ratchet assembly used to hold two or more pieces of material together.

Loose-pin Hinge

A hinge with a removable pin used to join two pieces of material together temporarily.

Strap Hinge

A hinge with long flat straps used to join two pieces of material together temporarily.

Stage Screw

A heavy threaded anchor fastener used to anchor a stage jack to the stage floor.

Corrugated Fasteners

Ridged metal fasteners used to join two pieces of material together.

Flathead Wood Screws

Threaded fasteners used to join two pieces of material together.

Machine Screw

A threaded fastener used with a nut or tapped hole to join two pieces of material together.

Lag Screw

A heavy-duty hex-head wood fastener used to join two pieces of material together.

Stove Bolts Set

Hardware with a circular head, not threaded all the way through, used to join two pieces of material together.

Bolt Set

A four-piece hardware assembly (hexagonal head bolt, nut, and two washers) used to join two pieces of material together.

Hex Nuts

Six-sided threaded nuts used to join two pieces of material together with a bolt.

Washer

A flat circular plate used to join two pieces of material together by spreading out the force of a bolt and nut.

Wing Nuts

Threaded nuts with wing extensions used to join two pieces of material together and easily turned with fingers.

Screwgun / Power Drill

A motorized power tool used to insert or remove screws from a surface.

Router

A rotary power tool used to smooth edges of material and cut contours of shapes.

Porta-Band

A portable band saw used to cut pieces of metal into two or more pieces.

Sawz-All

A reciprocating power saw used to cut pieces of wood into two or more pieces.

Grinder

A power tool used to smooth rough metal edges, such as screw points.

Belt Sander / Palm Sander

An electric sander used to smooth rough wooden surfaces and edges.

Turnbuckle

Rigging hardware used to minutely adjust distance between two pieces and aid in levelling flats.

Straight Hanger Iron

Rigging hardware attached to scenic units to enable the unit to fly.

Foot Iron

Rigging hardware mounted near the base of a scenic unit to enable the unit to fly.

Plate and D-Ring

Rigging hardware used to enable a unit to fly and as an anchor for cabling.

Keeper / Guide Plate / Cleat

A flat plate without a D-ring used in rigging to hold cable close to a surface.

Screwpin Shackle

A U-shaped rigging connector with a removable pin used to serve as an anchor when hanging material.

Thimble

A metal cable fitting used to prevent pinching the end of a cable run.

Cable Clip

A four-part rigging assembly (2 hex nuts, 1 saddle, and 1 stirrup) used to end a cable run.

Snap Hook / Carabiner

A gated connector link used to connect to rope or cable.

Quick Link

A threaded oval connector link used to connect to rope or cable.

Cheseborough / Cheese Burger

Rigging hardware used to create a right-angle junction between two pipes.

Rotalock / Veggie Burger

Rigging hardware used to create an angled junction between two pipes.

Eye Bolt

A bolt with a looped head used to serve as an anchor in a surface.

Coffin Lock

A specialized latch mechanism used to attach two flats together.

Casters

Wheels (swivel or in-line) attached to scenic units to enable units to travel across the surface.