Use a Hammer Safely

A hammer is such an ordinary working tool found at home. It is frequently used to do minute home repairs and craft simple furniture. However, not too many people know how to use such a common thing safely and effectively. The hammer is not just a mere nail driver; it can potentially wound your fingers. In fact, thousands of people go to the hospital each year to have their injured hands treated after wrong use of the hammer. Thus, to save yourself from hammer-related harm, you need to know how to use the tool properly.

When holding the hammer, grip it firmly by the handle and keep your wrist straight. Use your whole forearm to lift or drop the tool. Allow the hammer to do most of the job by letting its weight drive the nail or tack. Angle the nails against the grain of wood for better holding ability. Drill a pilot hole and stagger the nails to avoid splitting the wood. Place a pegboard over the nail before hammering to protect finished surfaces. Lubricate the nail with beeswax when nailing hard materials. Place a scrap wood under the claw to pull out nails easily. Wear eye protection and hand gloves, as well as ear plugs when hammering. To be utmost safe, always use a working condition hammer. You may insert the hammer inside an "X" cut of a tennis ball to soften its head, allowing you to safely and effectively hammer furniture without marring its surface.

Now that you know how to properly use a hammer, you can now resume working on that home improvement project you have been planning.