All About Hammers

Hammers are probably the most used tool in construction, carpentry, and diy projects. On this page we will cover the history of the hammer and how to properly use a hammer.Once done with article you will be ready to grab your tool belt and hammer and get to work!

Please leave any questions or ideas in the comment section found at the bottom of the page.

Using a hammer can be a very simple task. However, sometimes it is not as easy if you are in a tight sport or have a small object that must be nailed. We will cover some basics on how to use a hammer more efficiently. When using a hammer the first idea to always consider is your safety. You will want to put on a pair of safety glasses and maybe even some thick gloves that will help protect you against any blows to your hands. Now that you are ready to hammer you will want to determine what type of hammer you should use for your project. There are different hammers for different professions, for instance there is claw, framing, upholstery, and construction hammers to name a few. However, if you are just doing some work around the house you will use a general claw hammer. Within the claw hammer family there are also hammers of varying size and weight. Most hammers will do the easy DIY jobs you are trying to accomplish. Now that you have your hammer you are going to do the actual hammering.

Before you begin to hammer a nail into a piece of wood or your wall you want to make a starter hole. You will simply take your nail and push it into the wall with your hand. This will create a small hole that your nail will be able to rest in when you are ready to hammer. Once the small starter hole is made place your nail in it, and you will be able to begin hammering. With the starter hole there may not be a need to hold the nail as you hammer, thus preventing you from hitting your hand. However, if you are not able to make a starter hole or you need to hold the nail to ensure a straight entry here are some tips. When holding the nail one of the most important things you can do is to protect your hand. I suggest that you get a piece of clothing and wrap your hand in it. While this will not entirely protect you from a blow to your hand it will help ease the pain. Next we will cover how to remove a nail.

Removing a nail is usually an extremely simple task, however if the nail has corroded or hard to get to it can prove much trickier. If you are able to see the nail head you can simply remove the nail by taking a claw part of your nail and sliding it under the nail. You will then apply pressure to the handle and the nail will pop out. If the nail head is not popping out you will need to pry up the nail before you can remove the nail. The first thing you can try is to place the sharp edge of the claw under the nail head and try to pry it up. If this does not work you may need to get a chisel to pry it up. The goal is to get something underneath the nail head so you can lift it enough to get you hammer claw under it. When done with your project always remember to place you hammer safely into your tool belt.