The 接続助詞（せつぞくじょし） (conjunction particle)
て, or the 格助詞（かくじょし）
で are often used to highlight when something is being ‘used’. The thing being used does not necessarily need to indicate a tool, but can also indicate a circumstance/situation. In these cases, ‘(A)
で (B)’ translates as ‘with/by means of (A), (B)’.
-
寝坊（ねぼう）をしたので慌（あわ）てて準備（じゅんび）をした。
Since I overslept, I got ready in a flurry.
-
毎日（まいにち）泳（およ）いでトレーニングをしています。
I train by swimming every day.
-
父（ちち）は車（くるま）で仕事（しごと）に行（い）く。
My father goes to work by car.
-
私（わたし）はハサミで野菜（やさい）を切（き）ります。
I cut my vegetables using scissors.
With て (and で), the nuance is quite often that ‘(A) allowed/led to (B)’. This may be a simple sequence of events, or may be through the direct use of a tool/situation. The nuance that is being highlighted will always depend on the (B) phrase. Due to this, it is important to always read the (B) clause, before deciding what the speaker is trying to convey.