Comments on: Toolmanship Basics: How to Handle a Hammer

By: Jerry Mullins

Jerry Mullins — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:25:24 +0000

I’d add also to wear either your regular glasses or a pair of non-geek looking safety glasses. You’d be surprised at how bits and pieces of either the nail or whatever you’re nailing it to come flying off.

By: Brendan O'Brien

Brendan O'Brien — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:36:31 +0000

I don’t see any mention of dead blow hammers. Another special class but the only way to get some jobs done.

By: acai

acai — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:32:32 +0000

Good post. Its very informative and useful post. I learned a lot how to hammer.
I just wanted to say good job. I really enjoy reading your posts.

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:02:22 +0000

My father-in-law is a journeyman carpenter and he taught me a trick for holding nails. When starting the nail, hold it between your first two fingers with your palm up. It’s easier to hold and if you miss the nail and hit your fingers you won’t smash your fingernail. This works really well, especially when you have a lot of nails to hammer.

By: Ivasya

Ivasya — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:47:14 +0000

Good sites!

By: oznick

oznick — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:35:35 +0000

I can identify 4 types of nails that would cover almost all building applications, 2inch & 3 inch BULLET HEADS (framing, formwork & most rough carpentry) BRADS (small thin nails used for intricate fixout, trims, mouldings architrave, think inside after drywall, almost always gun fired & near impossible to hand nail due to their wire thin gauge) CLOUTS (used in roofing, to hang drywall, fence pailings, fascia etc) HARDENED CONCRETE (used to fix things to concrete, steel and any other super hard material usually gun fired with an explosive charge also nearly impossible to remove without ruining your hammer cause they are specially hardened. All nails are available galvanised and to a less extent stainless for external work to prevent corrosion.

By: Greg W

Greg W — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:54:10 +0000

This is great.
Now how about doing a post on nails (unless you already have and I missed it); what kind to use in what application, what are the sizes of nails, etc.
There is nothing more embarrassing than to go to the hardware store and not know what kind of nails you need. It’s like owning a gun and not knowing what ammo to use.
It seems like a small thing, but I noticed in one of the above posts a reference to a 16p nail. It should be 16d nail. I was always taught by my Grandpa that you use the right tool and you call it by the right name.
Also, part of the reason a lot of men don’t know how to swing a hammer is because of the nail gun. Power tools are great, but sometimes you have to use a hammer.

By: Carl Muthman

Carl Muthman — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:24:41 +0000

I think the job that gave me the most hammer expereince was reroofing a building at the fairgrounds. I was in still in high school and our FFA group took on the job. The roofing material was corrogated tin and we had to drive nails in without predrilled holes. Holding that nail in place until it pierced the tin and then driving it intil it just seated was quite a trick. Vise grip pliers soon became a commodity on the job LOL along with thumb size bandaids. Holding that nail and hitting it perpendicular were a must!
When I was learning to use a hammer I was told that the unused part of the handle would be cut off if I didn’t start holding the handle at the end LOL.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 05:52:07 +0000

Great article…. I suggest an article shovels next.

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:40:58 +0000

In your diagram, you label the back of the hammer as the claw. This is accurate for the hammer pictured, but it’s called a _____ peen for may others, and in many cases, such as the ball peen, the hammer name indicates the name of the peen. Overall, good article though.

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/tools/img/fig001.jpg

Check out this article for full details.
http://www.hnsa.org/doc/tools/index.htm