The hammer is one of the oldest tools known to man. The "stone in hand" method was thought to be used all the way back in the 4th century B.C., before man decided to put the stone on a handle and create our first hammer. Needless to say, both humans and hammers have come a long way since then, and the former stone-age tool is becoming safer and more efficient all the time. But before hammering in the first nail of spring, there are some striking hammer facts
offered to you by Vaughan & Bushnell Manufacturing, the world's largest manufacturer of hammers and toolmakers since 1869, that any do-it-yourselfer should know and any professional should review.
Striking Hammer Facts Did you know that most people grip a hammer the wrong way?
The advice from experts - don't hold the hammer too tightly, instead grasp it lightly but firmly as if you were to shake someone's hand. Quality hammers provide two handle positions. Experts recommend that you grip the bell end of the handle for heavy hitting and the slight flair
mid-handle for lighter blows.
Quality hammers never die - they improve with age. According to the experts at Vaughan, a quality hammer with a forged steel head and a precisely heat-tempered face, can get better with proper use because pounding keeps the temper in the striking face.
The 16-ounce common claw hammer which is used for most around-the-home jobs, comes in other weights - 10 and 13-ounce "finishing hammers" for lighter, finer work and heftier models up to 32 ounces for framing and heavy carpentry.
You can keep wood from splitting when hammering into it by blunting the point of the nail with a hammer before hammering. With the nail tip blunted, the nail will crush the wood fibers rather than shear through them, and the wood won't split.
Safety in Hammering
Although hammers appear to be the most basic of tools, they can be very dangerous if not used properly and with care. A quality hammer is a safe hammer, but all hammers should be treated with care and respect.
Innovations by Vaughan & Bushnell are making hammering even safer with a new hammer that actually holds the nail for you. Vaughan's new Blue Max California Framer hammer has a magnetic nail-holding notch that allows you to start a nail without putting your thumb in harm's way.
It also gives users further reach in starting and setting nails. The hammer's efficiency results in fewer bashed thumbs and the freedom to hammer with one hand.
Besides avoiding bashed thumbs, there are other safety rules to follow while hammering:
1. The number one rule for all hammering jobs is to wear safety glasses.
2. Make sure the handle of the hammer fits tightly on the head.
3. Do not strike a hard steel surface with a steel hammer. This may cause small pieces of steel to fly off and injure someone.
4. Do not use the hammer handle for striking, and never use it as a pry bar. This may cause the handle to split, which could result in a cut or pinch to the user.
5. Always strike the surface squarely - avoid glancing blows.
6. Never strike any hammer with or against another hammer.
7. Discard a hammer with a chipped or mushroomed face.
8. Do not use steel hammers on concrete, stone, or hard metal objects.
9. Replace loose or cracked handles.
10. Discard hammers with cracked claws or eye sections.
For more information on hammers, old and new, visit Vaughan's Web site at www.hammernet.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content, www.aracontent.com, e-mail: info@aracontent.com
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Image 1: Hammer innovations - like Vaughan's nail-holding hammer - are making hammering safer and more efficient.
