Record actions taken using carpenters' equipment (4,8)
I believe the answer is:
tape measures
'using carpenters' equipment' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'record actions' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'record' could be 'tape' (taping is a kind of recording) and 'tape' is present in the answer.
'actions' could be 'measures' (measure is a kind of action) and 'measures' is present in the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'taken' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for tape measures that I've seen is " They enable one to determine length and width".)