Vocab - A

Air Dried

Wood that has been cured by natural air-drying

All-Purpose Blade

Circular saw blade with a tooth configuration designed to perform both crosscutting and ripping operations; also called a combination blade

Allen Wrench

A six-sided bar, usually L- shaped, used to turn screws with recessed hexagonal heads; sometimes called an Allen key

Alternate Top Bevel

A type of saw blade where the teeth alternate between left and right-hand bevel

Ampere/Amp

Measurement of electronic current, usually used in reference to power of an electric motor or circuit

Annual Growth Rings

Rings visible in wood end grain separating early wood from latewood; also called growth rings

Anti Kickback Pawl

A table-saw attachment that allows cutting stock to move freely forward but whose teeth dig into the material to prevent it from ejecting backward toward the operator; also called antikickback spur

Apron

Rails around the base of a table to which the top and legs are joined

Arbor

A motor’s axis or rotating shaft to which a tool is attached, such as a table-saw blade or a router bit.

Architect’s Ruler

Usually a three-sided ruler marked with different measuring scales

Auger

A wood-boring device or bit

Awl

A sharp-pointed tool for piercing small holes in wood or other material