HAMMERS AND NAILS

      Ball peen hammer. The face of this hammer is rounded, with beveled edges. The other end is a ball-shaped peen for metal working.

Sledge hammer. It is a large heavy hammer so it is proper to use for heavy work on concrete, or for wood splitting in conjunction with a wedge.

Nailset. This device, used with a hammer, is for pushing the nail below the surface of the wood when you do not want it to show.

Nails. They are a slim, pointed piece of metal, often with a head, hammered into wood or other material as a fastener. Nails range from the smallest, thinnest brads to large, weighty spikes. Just be sure you are using the correct nail for the job at hand.

TIPS ON HAMMERING

1.	To withdraw a long nail, place a block of wood under the hammerhead for extra leverage and to avoid marring the wood.
2.	Use safety goggles when hammering metals. Too often chips fly from steel chisels, or nail heads break off.
3.	Whenever possible, drive the nail through the thinner piece of wood into the thicker one. Use a nail that is at least twice in length the thickness of the thinner piece of wood.
4.	Pre-drilling a pilot hole, slightly smaller than the nail thickness you will be using, prevents splitting the wood and is recommended for hardwoods (oak, maple, etc.) or near the ends of boards.
5.	Blunting the point of the nail with your hammer before driving it also prevents splitting. Do this by tapping the end of the nail while the head rests on a solid surface.