Civil Engineering Chapter 5 Homework Saw Rest The Lumber Sawhorses Flat

21

Exercise 5

Tool Operation and

Construction Techniques

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this exercise is to review proper exca-

vation tool operation and basic piping and carpentry

techniques.

Serious injury or death could result from

improper use of construction equipment. Read

and follow manufacturer’s instructions with

TEXTBOOK REFERENCE

Information related to this activity can be found in the

Landscape Construction textbook in Chapter 7, Basic

Construction Techniques and Equipment Operation.

INTRODUCTION

Landscape construction requires that the contractor

basic construction techniques are outlined in this

exercise.

Steps for Excavating with a Shovel

• Select the proper shovel.

• Position the shovel with the blade perpendicular

to the ground. When trenching, turn the blade at a

45 degree angle to the side of the trench.

Steps for Excavating with a

Breaker Bar

• Lift and thrust breaker bar downward onto hard

soil (Figure 5–2).

• Break apart large sections of earth, then excavate

using a shovel or posthole excavator.

Steps for Posthole Excavation Using

an Auger

• Position the auger over the hole location and turn

it until the auger is full (Figure 5–3).

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22 Exercise 5 Tool Operation and Construction Techniques

Steps for Posthole Excavation Using

a Clamshell

• Hold the handles together and drive the blades

into the ground at the hole location by dropping or

thrusting the tool downward with the arms. Avoid

pinching fingers between the handles.

Steps for Excavating with a Power

Auger

• Ensure that two people are present to operate the

power auger.

• Clear the area around the hole of all unnecessary

objects.

periodically. Avoid pulling the auger completely

out of the hole.

Steps for Compacting Materials

with a Vibratory Plate Compactor

• With assistance, set the compactor on the site.

Pivot

Excavating

Instep

Pivot rather than twist to

empty a load to the side

Lift up and

thrust down

to loosen soil

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Exercise 5 Tool Operation and Construction Techniques 23

Clamshell operation

Auger operation

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• Start the compactor. It moves forward without

pushing.

• Steer using the handle. To turn sharp corners lift

the handle vertically and spin the compactor.

• When work is complete, shut off compactor and

lift off site.

Steps for Cutting and Joining

Poly Pipe

• Use a cutter or saw to make a square cut at the

desired location (Figure 5–5).

• Slide a clamp over the end and down the

pipe a short distance. Fully insert a fitting

into the open pipe and slide the clamp back down

the pipe until it rests over the fitting (Figure 5–6).

• Tighten the clamp securely (Figure 5–7).

24 Exercise 5 Tool Operation and Construction Techniques

Accelerate and lower auger into hole

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Exercise 5 Tool Operation and Construction Techniques 25

Figure 5–6 Joining poly pipe with a plastic fitting.

Figure 5–8 Cutting PVC pipe with a hacksaw.

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• While holding square firmly against edge of

material, draw a line that passes through the cut

mark.

Steps for Cutting with a Hand Saw

• Rest the lumber on sawhorses or on a flat surface,

with the trim portion extending beyond the edge

of the support (the trim is the shortest dimension

left after the cut).

against the flat side surface of the saw. Begin with

a short stroke until a groove that will hold the saw

blade in position is cut along the mark.

• When cut is approximately 1 inch deep, withdraw

the thumb and position the hand to hold the

board. Extend the stroke to the full length of the

blade. Downward pressure on the saw is not

required to cut.

Steps for Cutting with a Circular Saw

• Rest the lumber on a sawhorse or a flat, solid

surface, with the portion to be trimmed extending

beyond the edge of the surface. Support the

trimmed portion as described in hand sawing. Set

the direction of the saw cut so the weight of the

circular saw motor rests on the supported portion

of the lumber. The sole plate of the saw should rest

flat on the lumber being cut.

• Position the body so that both the mark and the

and/or possible kickback.

• When cutting thick materials such as 4 × 4s, it

may be necessary to mark on both the top and

bottom of the lumber, cut the top, and turn the

lumber over to make a second cut aligned with

the first.

Steps for Cutting with a

Reciprocating Saw

• Rest the lumber on a flat, solid surface with the

26 Exercise 5 Tool Operation and Construction Techniques

Figure 5–10 Joining PVC pipe after applying glue. Use a twisting

motion to push pipe completely into fitting.

Mark desired

measurement

with a Mark line

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described in hand sawing. Posts or vertical pieces

may not require support.

• To reduce the heavy vibration caused with the

reciprocating saw, hold the blade guide firmly

against the piece being cut (Figure 5–12C).

• Position the body so that both the mark and the

blade at the point of the cut can be observed while

sawing. Verify that the power cord is not near the

saw blade.

• Align the blade or directional mark on the guide

with the mark on the lumber.

Steps for Installing Screws

with a Power Drill

• Install the appropriate bit for the drill. Tighten and

secure the bit using the chuck key.

• Place the fastener on the drill bit and, while

holding the fastener, position the tip at the

location where the fastener is to be installed.

• Hold the drill and fastener at the angle desired for

driving the fastener.

• Lightly hold the top portion of the fastener shank

Exercise 5 Tool Operation and Construction Techniques 27

Hold hand

Use short strokes

until cut is started

A. Hand saw

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• Deep or wide holes may require that the bit be

pulled out of the hole every 2–3 seconds to clear

the wood shavings from the hole.

Steps for Drilling and Driving Spikes

for Wood Retaining Walls

• Drill a pilot hole at the location where the spike is

to be driven. Follow the steps for drilling holes as

outlined previously. Most timbers will require the

use of a long bit, which should be lifted from the

Steps for Hand Nailing

• Position the nail at the location where it is to be

installed, holding the nail lightly between the

thumb and index finger and at a right angle to the

face of the wood.

PREREQUISITE EXERCISES

None.

MATERIALS REQUIRED

• Proper clothing and safety equipment, including:

safety glasses, work gloves, hard hat, dust mask,

ear protection device, and work boots

• Carpenter’s square

28 Exercise 5 Tool Operation and Construction Techniques

Figure 5–13 Proper cutting technique for a circular saw.

fastener head.

• When removing fasteners, reverse the drill

direction and place the bit on the fastener

head. Maintain downward pressure on the drill

while removing the fastener. The friction of

removal may make fasteners hot for a few minutes.

Steps for Drilling with a Power Drill

• Place a block of wood under the piece being

drilled if the bit will penetrate through the

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• Power drill and 1/2 inch, 3/4 inch, and 1 inch

wood bits (regular and spade type), 3/8 inch bit

with long shank, and screwdriver bits

• Claw hammer

• 5 pound sledgehammer

• Two sawhorses

• Auger-type posthole excavation tool

• Vibratory plate compactor with fuel

• Power auger with fuel

• Base material for compaction

• Supply of 1/2 inch plywood—1 inch, 2 inch, and

4 inch dimensioned stock

Exercise 5 Tool Operation and Construction Techniques 29

B.

Drilling

hole

a) Locate and mark spot to be drilled.

A.

Inserting

screw

a) Place screw on mark or pilot hole. Hold

Light

downward

pressure

with hand

Position bit

over hole

position

Spike

Figure 5–14 Drilling and fastening with a power drill.

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• Box of deck screws

• Pipe cutter or hacksaw

• Supply of poly pipe

• Supply of poly pipe barbed fittings

• Supply of poly pipe clamps

• Supply of 1/2 inch PVC piping

• Supply of 1/2 inch PVC fittings

• Supply of PVC primer and glue

EXERCISE DESCRIPTION

To complete this exercise perform the required number of

repetitions or length of operation for each of the activities

on the following list.

• Measure and mark dimensions: 10 repetitions

• Mark square cuts: 10 repetitions

• Hand saw 1 inch and 2 inch stock dimensioned

lumber: 5 repetitions each

1 inch, 2 inch, and 4 inch stock dimensioned

lumber: 10 repetitions each

• Drill 3/8 inch pilot hole and drive 12 inch spike

into landscape timber: 5 repetitions

• Drive and remove deck screws into/through

1 inch and 2 inch stock dimensioned lumber:

10 repetitions each

• Excavate a 2 foot wide × 2 foot deep × 2 foot long

hole: 1 repetition

30 Exercise 5 Tool Operation and Construction Techniques

End nailing

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