Hand Tools - Laser & Electronics - Tool Storage 2014

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THE PRO’S ADVICE

JOHN DAVIES CARPET FITTER

MAKE YOUR HAMMERS WORK HARDER

GRIP AND STANCE

FINISHED TRIM OR BENCH WORK

Take care not to damage the surface by over hitting the nail. Use a Stanley Nail Set to drive pointed head panel pins flush or even below the surface. The countersunk pin can then be filled for a perfect, invis- ible fixing.

Hold the handle near to the end of the grip so that your little finger rests up against the ‘hook’ shape at the extremity of the handle; this will enable you to maintain a secure grip without having to use all the strength in your hand to hold on. For best performance a right-handed user should place the left foot forward and the right foot set back a little and at right angles to the left. Move the position of your feet to adjust the height of your shoulders; ideally you need to be striking the head of the nail horizontally. If your right hand is too low you will tend to bend the nail away from you and if too high it will bend towards you.

SMALL PANEL PINS

Small panel pins are hard to hold in place when starting. To make it easier press the pin through a piece of cardboard, hold it in position with your fingers a safe distance away and then tap the pin in place removing the card at the last minute. There are many other devices both commercial and improvised that will serve the same purpose.

HOLD THE NAIL UNTIL FIRMLY SET

Position the nail and while still holding it in place tap it a few times to set it firmly into the wood, at least 12mm for a 75mm nail, then raise the hammer a little higher and strike more firmly until the nail is flush.

WITHDRAWING A NAIL

SAFETY

This can be done with a claw hammer in two ways; either by hooking the nail head into the claw of the hammer or by making the claws bite into the shank of the nail. If you are pulling a long nail it is best to engage the nail as near to the point where it enters the wood, place a piece of waste material under the front curve of the head to avoid damaging the wood, then lever toward you gently, avoid jerking on the handle. As the nail emerges either reposition the claw lower down the shaft or insert a thicker piece of scrap to ensure that you continue to pull the nail vertically.

• Never strike anything with the cheeks of the hammer head, because they are not hardened • For hardened masonry nails use a club hammer and never a normal nail hammer • Only use a club hammer for striking cold chisels and always wear safety goggles and gloves • When striking cold chisels or punches the hammer head should be at least 10mm larger than the area to be struck • With a new hammer it’s a good idea to remove the protective lacquer on the striking face with medium grit glass paper in order to reduce the risk of the hammer slipping off the nail head

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