USE/CARE OF HANDTOOLS & MEASURING TOOLS - OD1621 - LESSON 2/TASK 1
(d) Slight prying may be done with the mattock; however, this must
be done cautiously to prevent breaking the wood handle.
CAUTION
Do not swing a mattock until you are sure that no one
will be endangered by the swing, by a possible loose
head, or by a possible glancing of the tool.
d. Care of Bars and Mattocks.
(1) Bars.
(a) Storage.
Bars are sturdy tools which require little
maintenance, but they should be thoroughly cleaned after use and covered
with a light film or oil before placing them on a rack.
For long term
storage, they should be covered with a rust preventive compound and stored
in a dry place.
(b) Shaping. When misused or used extensively, bars may lose the
shape of their ends and must be reshaped. Normally, the chisel end or pinch
point can be filed and kept sharp so that it can properly engage the nails
or spikes that are to be pulled.
(2) Mattock.
(a) Storage.
Store the mattock so that the head will not be
struck against metal or other hard surfaces. The mattock should be placed
against a wall on its head, or hung on a rack. For long term storage, coat
the head with a rust preventive compound and store in a dry place in a rack
or box with the cutting edges protected. Thoroughly clean the mattock after
use and before short or long term storage.
(b) Sharpening. The point of the mattock can be sharpened with a
file or on a grindstone. If the point becomes too dull to be sharpened with
a file or grindstone, it should be heated in a charcoal fire and hammered to
shape on an anvil, after which it must be tempered. If properly forged, the
point should not require grinding. The head must be removed from its handle
before tempering and before the blade can be sharpened on
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