This list includes 62 Tools that start with S, from “Saber saw” to “Swiss file”. Many are handheld, power, measuring and finishing tools used in construction, metalwork, woodworking, and maintenance.
Tools that start with S are items you use to shape, join, measure, or finish materials in practical projects. Historically, some names reflect regional craft traditions, like the Swiss file’s association with precise Swiss metalworking.
Below you’ll find the table with Tool, Purpose, Primary materials, and Typical users.
Tool: Names the specific item; you use it to identify exact tools and find synonyms or variant spellings quickly.
Purpose: One-line summary of what the tool does, helping you decide relevance for a task or project at a glance.
Primary materials: Lists typical materials the tool is made from, so you can judge durability, maintenance and suitability for certain job conditions.
Typical users: Shows common user groups, like DIYers, tradespeople or students, so you see who normally selects the tool.
Tools that start with S
| Name | Primary use | Power source / typical material | Typical users / common variants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saw | Cutting wood, metal or plastic | Manual or power, steel blade | Carpenters, DIYers; hand and power saws |
| Saber saw | Cutting shapes in wood or sheet materials | Electric or cordless, reciprocating blade | Carpenters, remodelers; jigsaw/sabre variants |
| Sander | Smoothing or removing material from surfaces | Electric, pneumatic or manual, abrasive discs | Woodworkers, finishers; belt, orbital variants |
| Sanding block | Hand sanding flat surfaces | Manual, foam or wood block | DIYers, painters; curved or ergonomic blocks |
| Scissors | Cutting paper, fabric or thin materials | Manual, steel blades | Home users, tailors, crafters; various sizes |
| Scraper | Removing paint, adhesive, or debris | Manual steel blade, some powered | Painters, carpenters; putty and floor scrapers |
| Scriber | Marking lines on metal or wood | Manual, hardened steel tip | Machinists, metalworkers; center and prism scribers |
| Screwdriver | Driving or removing screws | Manual or powered, steel tips | Electricians, carpenters; flat, Phillips, Torx variants |
| Screw extractor | Removing broken screws or bolts | Manual or powered, hardened steel | Mechanics, technicians; spiral or tapered designs |
| Screw clamp | Clamping workpieces using screw pressure | Manual, steel body | Woodworkers, metalworkers; bench and pipe variants |
| Sealant gun | Dispensing sealant or caulk smoothly | Manual, pneumatic or battery | Painters, plumbers; caulk/sausage variants |
| Sewing awl | Hand stitching heavy materials | Manual, steel needle | Upholsterers, leatherworkers; various needle sizes |
| Shears | Cutting heavy fabric, sheet metal, or vegetation | Manual, steel blades | Gardeners, tailors, tinters; hand and power shears |
| Shovel | Digging, lifting and moving loose material | Manual, steel blade, wooden handle | Gardeners, landscapers; spade and scoop variants |
| Shaper | Shaping wood profiles and mouldings | Electric, cutting bits and spindle | Woodworkers, cabinetmakers; spindle shapers |
| Sharpening stone | Sharpening blades and cutting tools | Manual, natural or synthetic stone | Chefs, woodworkers; oil or water stones |
| Sheath knife | Cutting and general utility | Manual, steel blade | Campers, tradespeople; fixed-blade designs |
| Shelf bracket (tool for layout) | Supporting shelves during assembly | Manual, steel or zinc plated | Carpenters, DIYers; adjustable types |
| Shank extractor (punch) | Removing dowels or pins | Manual steel punch | Mechanics, machinists; roll and taper punches |
| Shop vacuum | Collecting dust and debris in workshops | Electric, wet/dry, steel body | Contractors, woodworkers; 1–3+ motor HP |
| Shoe knife | Cutting leather or materials for shoe repair | Manual, curved blade | Cobbler, leatherworkers; small handheld sizes |
| Siding tool | Installing and snapping siding panels | Manual, PVC/metal material | Roofers, siding installers; join and snap variants |
| Soldering iron | Joining electronic or small metal parts with solder | Electric, 15–60 W tips | Electronics hobbyists, electricians; soldering stations |
| Solder sucker | Removing solder from joints | Manual vacuum or spring-loaded | Electronics technicians, hobbyists |
| Sound level meter | Measuring sound pressure level (dB) | Battery-powered, electronic sensor | Acousticians, safety officers; handheld meters |
| Sonic screwdriver (diagnostic tool) | Non-contact testing and diagnostics | Electric/electronic, sensors | Technicians, HVAC; specialized probes |
| Soldering station | Precise soldering with temperature control | Electric, adjustable temperature | Electronics technicians, labs; iron and hot air |
| Socket wrench | Turning sockets to tighten nuts and bolts | Manual ratchet or powered, steel | Mechanics, DIYers; 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″ drives |
| Socket set | Set of sockets and ratchet handles | Steel sockets, manual or case | Mechanics, technicians; metric and SAE sets |
| Solder paste dispenser | Applying solder paste in small amounts | Manual or pneumatic syringe | Electronics assemblers, technicians |
| Spade | Digging and edging in gardening | Manual, flat steel blade | Gardeners, landscapers; border and transplant spades |
| Spanner | Turning nuts and bolts (UK term for wrench) | Manual or adjustable, steel | Plumbers, mechanics; open-end and ring variants |
| Spark plug socket | Removing and installing spark plugs | Manual, rubber-lined socket | Auto mechanics; 5/8″ or 13/16″ sizes |
| Spokeshave | Shaping and smoothing curved wood surfaces | Manual, steel blade | Woodworkers, chairmakers; metal and wooden bodies |
| Spray gun | Applying paint or coatings evenly | Pneumatic or electric, nozzle tip sizes | Painters, automotive; HVLP and airless types |
| Spray bottle | Spraying liquids for cleaning or gardening | Manual pump, plastic or glass | Gardeners, cleaners; adjustable mist/nozzle |
| Sprayer (garden) | Applying liquid treatments over plants | Manual pump or motorized, plastic tank | Gardeners, landscapers; backpack and handheld |
| Spring clamp | Quick clamping with spring action | Manual, steel or plastic jaws | Woodworkers, hobbyists; various jaw sizes |
| Staple gun | Driving staples into materials rapidly | Manual, electric or pneumatic | Upholsterers, carpenters; T50 style common |
| Staple remover | Removing staples from paper or materials | Manual, claw or plier type | Office workers, crafters |
| Stapler | Fastening papers or light materials with staples | Manual or electric | Office workers, schools; desktop and heavy-duty |
| Strop | Honing and polishing razor-sharp edges | Manual, leather with compound | Barbers, woodworkers; leather strops |
| Stud finder | Locating studs or framing behind walls | Electronic or magnetic, handheld | Carpenters, DIYers; magnetic and scanner types |
| Stud sensor | Detecting studs and utilities in walls | Electronic sensor, battery-powered | Plumbers, electricians; multi-mode detectors |
| Stud punch | Creating indentations or removing fasteners | Manual or hydraulic, steel | Machinists, mechanics; center and drive punches |
| Stud welder | Fastening studs to metal surfaces | Electric, welding stud device | Sheet metal workers, auto shops; stud gun |
| Suction cup lifter | Lifting smooth materials using vacuum | Manual rubber cups, aluminum frame | Glaziers, installers; single or multi-cup lifters |
| Swarf rake (chip scraper) | Removing metal chips from machine beds | Manual, steel blade | Machinists, metalworkers; handheld designs |
| Swage block | Forming and shaping metal by hammering | Cast iron or steel block | Blacksmiths, metalworkers; various sized blocks |
| Swiss file | Fine filing in small spaces | Manual, high-carbon steel | Jewelers, machinists; needle and safe-back styles |
| Scribe gauge | Marking consistent lines parallel to an edge | Manual, steel with adjustable stop | Cabinetmakers, metalworkers; fence gauges |
| Sawhorse | Supporting lumber and workpieces during cutting | Manual, wood or metal frames | Carpenters, DIYers; folding or fixed designs |
| Saw set | Setting saw teeth to a given angle | Manual or plier-style, steel | Woodworkers, sawyers; various tooth offsets |
| Scaffold plank lifter | Positioning planks on scaffolding | Manual, hook or clamp style | Construction workers, scaffolders |
| Scan tool | Diagnosing vehicle systems via OBD | Electronic, handheld or Bluetooth | Auto technicians, DIY mechanics; OBD-II scanners |
| Score cutter | Cutting grooves or scoring materials | Manual, carbide or steel wheel | Tile setters, glass workers; glass cutters |
| Side cutters | Cutting wire and small pins | Manual, hardened steel jaws | Electricians, hobbyists; diagonal and end nippers |
| Siphon pump | Transferring liquids between containers | Manual, hand or bulb pump | Mechanics, gardeners; small barrel pumps |
| Skew chisel | Fine paring and shaping of wood | Manual, high-carbon steel blade | Woodturners, carvers; various blade angles |
| Skid plate (installation tool) | Protecting surfaces during assembly | Metal or polymer plate | Mechanics, fabricators; protective accessory |
| Skinning knife | Removing hide or trimming meat | Manual, curved blade | Butchers, hunters; fixed-blade designs |
| Socket extension | Extending reach of a socket wrench | Steel, various lengths | Mechanics, technicians; 50–200 mm lengths |
Descriptions
Saw
Broad category of cutting tools; includes hand saws and power variants. Blades vary by tooth count and material, sizes in mm/in. Useful for rip, crosscut, and specialty cuts.
Saber saw
Handheld power saw for curved or plunge cuts. Uses narrow blades for detailed cutting in wood, plastic, and thin metal.
Sander
Tool that abrades surfaces using sandpaper or discs. Common types remove paint or shape wood; grit sizes range widely for finish.
Sanding block
Simple handheld block to hold abrasive paper for controlled manual sanding. Useful for finishing, corners, and small surfaces.
Scissors
Basic two-blade cutting tool for trimming and cutting light materials; sizes vary from small craft to large shears.
Scraper
Flat blade used to scrape surfaces clean. Blades range 25–150 mm; can be rigid or flexible for different tasks.
Scriber
Sharp-pointed tool for scribing accurate layout lines on workpieces before cutting or drilling.
Screwdriver
Hand or powered driver with shaped tip to engage screw heads. Sizes correspond to screw head types for torque and fit.
Screw extractor
Tool to grip and remove broken fasteners. Often used with drill sizes; reverse threads bite into broken screw for extraction.
Screw clamp
Clamp tightened by screw mechanism to hold pieces together during gluing or assembly. Provides strong, adjustable pressure.
Sealant gun
Holds sealant cartridges for controlled bead application. Used for sealing joints and gaps; common in construction and repair.
Sewing awl
Hand tool for stitching leather or canvas; punches holes and guides thread for strong seams.
Shears
Large scissors designed for tougher materials; metal shears cut thin sheet metal, garden shears trim hedges.
Shovel
Common digging tool for soil, gravel, snow. Blade shapes vary for digging or scooping; sizes in cm/in for blade width.
Shaper
Shop machine that profiles wood edges using rotating cutters. Used for mouldings, joints; requires fences and cutters.
Sharpening stone
Flat abrasive stone to hone edges of knives, chisels and tools. Grit ranges from coarse to fine for sharpening stages.
Sheath knife
Handheld fixed-blade knife used for cutting, carving, and utility tasks; usually carried in a protective sheath.
Shelf bracket (tool for layout)
Metal bracket used to support shelving; useful during installation to position and secure shelves.
Shank extractor (punch)
Tool to drive out pins or dowels by applying targeted force, sizes match pin diameters.
Shop vacuum
Powerful vacuum for workshop cleanup; wet/dry models handle liquids and debris, often used with dust collection.
Shoe knife
Small, sharp knife used in shoemaking and leatherwork for trimming and shaping materials accurately.
Siding tool
Hand tools designed to lock or cut siding panels into place during exterior cladding installation.
Soldering iron
Heated tip melts solder to join wires and components. Tip sizes and wattage vary with electronics or plumbing use.
Solder sucker
Hand pump that removes molten solder from joints for rework and component removal on circuit boards.
Sound level meter
Portable meter measures decibels to assess noise exposure and compliance with standards in dB(A) or dB(C).
Sonic screwdriver (diagnostic tool)
Electronic inspection or diagnostic tool for non-invasive testing. (Note: not the fictional device.)
Soldering station
Bench system combining iron with temperature control and sometimes hot-air for SMD work and reliable soldering.
Socket wrench
Ratchet handle used with detachable sockets to apply torque. Drive sizes match socket sets for automotive and machinery work.
Socket set
Collection of interchangeable sockets with drive handles and accessories for turning fasteners of many sizes.
Solder paste dispenser
Tool to dispense controlled amounts of solder paste for PCB assembly or repair; improves consistency in hand application.
Spade
Flat-bladed digging tool for slicing turf, edging, and transplanting. Blade dimensions vary for specific tasks.
Spanner
Tool for gripping and turning fasteners. Many types like adjustable, combination, and flare-nut spanners.
Spark plug socket
Deep socket with rubber insert to grip spark plugs without damaging porcelain during removal or installation.
Spokeshave
Hand plane for fine shaping of spokes, chair legs, and curved profiles. Blades adjustable for fine cuts.
Spray gun
Sprays paint or finish using compressed air or turbine. Nozzle size affects flow and finish quality.
Spray bottle
Simple hand sprayer for water, cleaners, or pesticides. Useful for spot spraying and light tasks.
Sprayer (garden)
Tool to apply fertilizers, herbicides, or water over larger garden areas; different capacities for scale.
Spring clamp
Lightweight clamp for holding components temporarily during gluing or assembly; easy one-handed operation.
Staple gun
Hand tool that shoots staples for upholstery, insulation, and fastening lightweight materials. Power variants for speed.
Staple remover
Small tool for prying out staples without tearing material; useful in office and craft work.
Stapler
Tool for binding papers quickly using metal staples; heavy-duty models handle thicker stacks.
Strop
Leather strap used to polish and align a blade’s edge after sharpening for a keen, burr-free finish.
Stud finder
Detects studs, wiring or pipes behind drywall to avoid damage during drilling and to secure fixtures safely.
Stud sensor
Handheld device that locates studs, metal, and live wires to guide safe drilling and fixture mounting.
Stud punch
Tool to mark centers for drilling or to drive pins and rivets; used for accurate hole starts.
Stud welder
Tool that welds studs onto metal surfaces to create attachment points; common in automotive and fabrication.
Suction cup lifter
Tool that uses suction to lift glass, tile, or sheet materials safely without clamps or straps.
Swarf rake (chip scraper)
Handheld tool to clear swarf and chips from lathes and milling machines for safe, clean operation.
Swage block
Heavy block with shaped depressions used as an anvil to form metal by hammering and bending.
Swiss file
Small, precise files for delicate shaping and finishing in tight areas; often sold in sets with varied profiles.
Scribe gauge
Tool for scribing a line at a set distance from an edge, useful in layout and joinery.
Sawhorse
Portable support that holds materials at working height for cutting or assembly; pairs commonly used.
Saw set
Tool used to bend saw teeth slightly outward on alternate teeth so the blade cuts a kerf wider than itself.
Scaffold plank lifter
Hand tool that helps place and secure planks onto scaffold frames safely with leverage and control.
Scan tool
Diagnostic device that reads vehicle trouble codes and live data to troubleshoot engine, transmission, and emissions systems.
Score cutter
Tool with a hardened wheel or blade to score surfaces like tile or glass before snapping along the scored line.
Side cutters
Pliers-style tool that shears wire close to joints; useful for trimming component leads and cutting cable ties.
Siphon pump
Simple pump which uses suction to move liquids like fuel, water, or coolant between containers without spilling.
Skew chisel
Woodturning tool with a slanted cutting edge for smooth finishing cuts on spindles and bowls.
Skid plate (installation tool)
Plate or cover used temporarily to shield parts during installation or to slide components into position without damage.
Skinning knife
Sharp, narrow-bladed knife used for skinning and fine trimming; blade shapes optimize control and minimal meat damage.
Socket extension
Bar that fits between ratchet and socket to reach recessed fasteners, available in fixed or universal joint versions.