A - Glossary of Woodworking Terms

 Acrylic Glass: Also known as Plexiglass or Perspex. Acrylic glass is a multi-purpose material, suitable for use as a cheaper and safer alternative to glass.

 Abrasive: An abrasive is a rough material (e.g. sandpaper) used to sand wood, removing small amounts of it to smooth or shape the surface. Find abrasives here.

 Adhesive: Also known as glue. A substance that is applied to one or both surfaces of two seperate items, and then binds them together. Find wood adhesives here.

 Adze: Traditional hand tool used primarily for shaping and carving wood, with a design that dates back to the Stone Age. It resembles an axe but has a cutting edge set perpendicular to the handle, making it ideal for smoothing surfaces or hollowing out wood. Find adzes here.

 Allen Key: Also known as a Hex key, a simple hand tool used to drive bolts and screws with hexagonal (six-sided) sockets in their heads. Find allen keys here.

 Angle Clamp: A clamp designed to hold two pieces of material together at a fixed angle, most commonly 90 degrees. Especially useful in woodworking when building picture frames, cabinets and boxes. Find angle clamps here.

 Arbor: A spindle onto which a variety of slotting, slitting and grooving cutters can be mounted along with various spacers and a locking nut. A ball bearing may also slide on the spindle to act as a guide as an alternative to a side fence. Find arbors here.

 Architrave: A moulded framework surround for doors, windows, archways etc, covering the joint between the frame and plaster. Architraves can be machined with a router or spindle moulder.

 Assembling Mallet: A type of mallet specifically designed for joining or fitting parts together in woodworking, furniture making, etc without damaging the surfaces being worked on. It is useful for tasks where a hammer would be too harsh or imprecise. Find assembling mallets here.

 Awl: An awl is a small, pointed hand tool used for making or starting small holes and marking spots in wood before inserting nails or screws. Find awls here.