Turning Tools
Shop Information is its own 10-question CAT-ASVAB subtest, separate from Auto Information. The two are reported together as a single AS (Auto & Shop) score, so doing well on both subtests matters for that combined score.
Wrenches
Wrenches grip onto fasteners on two or more sides to apply turning force. Different styles of wrench are specialized for specific kinds of grip, torque, and access.
| Tool | Used for |
|---|---|
| Open-end wrench | Tightening and loosening bolts on plumbing fittings, drain pipes, and automotive components. It grips two sides of a fastener, making it ideal for tight spaces where a full rotation is not possible. |
| Box-end wrench | Machine assembly and applications where the entire bolt head is accessible. It fully surrounds the fastener, providing greater grip and torque. |
| Adjustable wrench | General-purpose repairs and situations where multiple bolt sizes are encountered. It has an adjustable jaw that fits a variety of fastener sizes, reducing the number of tools needed. |
| Combination wrench | Automotive repair, machinery maintenance, and general mechanical work. It has one open end and a box end, combining versatility with increased torque. |
Sockets
Sockets are used to tighten or loosen bolts on flat or recessed fasteners where a standard wrench cannot easily reach. Wrenches, and sockets turned with a ratchet, are hand tools powered by your own force, while a pneumatic impact wrench is a power tool driven by compressed air.
| Tool | Used for |
|---|---|
| 6-point socket | Tightening and loosening stubborn or high-torque bolts while reducing the chance of rounding the fastener. It is a six-sided socket that provides maximum contact with the fastener. |
| 12-point socket | Working in tight spaces and speeding up fastener installation or removal where frequent repositioning is needed. It is a twelve-sided socket that allows the tool to engage the fastener from more positions. |
| Ratchet (socket wrench) | Turning a socket without lifting it off the fastener between strokes. A one-way mechanism in the handle lets it swing back and reset for the next turn while staying engaged with the bolt. |
| Torque wrench | Tightening a fastener to a specified torque value so it is neither too loose nor overtightened. |
| Pneumatic air impact wrench | Removing and installing large bolts on heavy equipment, aircraft, ships, and industrial machinery. It is a power tool that uses compressed air to rapidly tighten or loosen fasteners with high torque. |
Screwdrivers
A screwdriver turns a screw by twisting. The more points of contact between the tip and the screw head, the less likely the tip is to slip or strip the head, so you can apply more torque with less pressure pushing down on the handle.
When a screwdriver slips out of the head of a screw, it is called cam-out. Cam-out is not the same as stripping or rounding, which name damage to the fastener: a stripped screw has a chewed-up recess, and a rounded bolt head has worn-down corners.
| Tool | Used for |
|---|---|
| Flat-tip screwdriver | Driving and removing standard flat-head screws in general-purpose applications. The flat blade is designed for slotted screw heads. |
| Phillips screwdriver | Driving and removing Phillips-head screws commonly found in electronics, appliances, and construction. The cross-shaped tip provides greater grip and torque than a flat-tip screwdriver. |
| Torx (star) screwdriver | Driving Torx screws where high torque and minimal cam-out are required, such as in automotive and machinery applications. Its six-point star-shaped tip provides maximum contact with the matching recess in the screw head. It is often called a star screwdriver: Torx is the trade name for the six-point star drive, so the two names mean the same tool on the exam. |
| Robertson screwdriver | Driving Robertson screws with reduced cam-out and improved control. The square-tip resists slipping and holds screws securely during installation. |
Nuts & bolts
A nut secures a bolt in place. A bolt is externally threaded, while a nut is internally threaded. The dimensions must match so that they lock properly.
| Fastener | Used for |
|---|---|
| Hex nut | General fastening applications in construction, machinery, and everyday assembly. This is the standard six-sided nut used with threaded bolts and fasteners. |
| Wingnut | Applications that require frequent adjustment or removal without applying excessive force. The two wing-like tabs can be tightened or loosened by hand without tools. |
| Castellated nut | Automotive suspensions, wheel hubs, steering components, and other safety-critical assemblies. The slotted design allows the nut to be secured with a cotter pin, preventing it from loosening under vibration. |
| Locknut | Motors, machinery, and other equipment exposed to constant vibration. A nylon-insert locknut is one common type; its nylon insert resists loosening caused by vibration. |
| Cap nut | Protecting exposed bolt ends, improving appearance, and preventing accidental contact with sharp threads. The closed end covers the exposed threads of a bolt. |
| Hex bolt | Holding heavy materials together. Similar to a screw, but a bolt passes through pre-drilled holes in the parts it joins and is secured with a nut, rather than threading into the material itself. Wood screws and self-tapping screws have sharp points that cut their own threads as they’re driven, while machine screws have blunt ends like bolts and thread into a nut or into a hole that is already drilled and tapped. |