Secrets to Hammering for Remodeling Contractors

Hammer Sizes

Hammer Selection and Sizing
Remodeling and Building Contractors
The Keys to Choosing the Right Hammer


What Size Hammer Should a Remodel Contractor Swing?
Have the answers for the carpenters on your job-site!

Claw Hammers
Claw hammers are used for what tasks? In short
- Claw hammers are used to drive nails and strike a nail set.

Ball-Peen Hammers
A Ball-Peen hammer is not commonly used by remodeling contractors - Ball peen hammers are used for driving hardened nails and striking a center punch or a a cold chisel.

What Size Hammer Should You Use?
16 Ounce hammers are used for most remodeling purposes.
12 Ounce hammer is used for small nails in fine woodworking.
20 Ounce hammer is used for driving nails in sheathing and framing.
28 Ounce hammer is used for spikes and nails 4" or longer.

Hammer Inspection
Inspecting a hammer before use is very important! If you are not experienced in the home building or remodeling industry and do not understand why go to OHSA's website and read a few of the hammer head striking horror stories.

If the hammer has a loose head or the hammer is cracked, chipped badly, or damaged replace it. Too many remodeling carpenters have been severely injured because of simple misunderstandings of the Danger involved with using a broken hammer when remodeling or building a home.

Hammer Cleaning
Cleaning your hammer properly is also equally important.

Grease Removal
A soft cloth with mild household detergent will remove greasy material. Be sure to dry the hammer completely.

Gum, Glue and Tar Removal
Wear Rubber Gloves. Use a soft cloth with mineral spirits or W.D. 40 and a small scraper inside of the cloth to remove the tar and grit that is sure to accumulate on your hammer when remodeling.

Rust Removal
Keeping Rust off a hammer by using a fine steel wool pad wearing work gloves to prevent hand injury and slivers.

This part you can skim read... or read while practicing with a hammer.


Hammer Swinging Success For Remodeling and Building Contractors

Your Key to Hammering success is FOCUS.
Keep your eye focusing on the nails head.

Such a simple tip - a remodeling and home building carpenter told me one day after 4 years of swinging a hammer and missing the nail often and the focus part - works! For me anyway - You are still Reading! Awesome! Makes my hard work of creating these articles in my spare time all worth while! You are making my day!

Starting a Nail
Starting a Nail works best with a half swing. Place the hammer's face directly onto the nails head, then pull the hammer back to a point in front of you bending your arm at the elbow. Then Swing smoothly in an arched motion until the nail is started. In tight quarters you will gain more control over your hammer placing your thumb onto the back of the hammer when hammering.

Hammering Full Swings
After the nail is started you move on to hammering full swings.

Grip the hammer firmly near the base. Step back slightly and place the hammers face on the nails head. Pull the hammer straight back behind your ear, rolling your shoulder and bending your arm at the elbow. (Mistake is cocking your wrist)
Swing smoothly striking the nail sharply onto the face. Repeat until the nail is driven, increasing your momentum and the striking force applied.

Remodeling Success and Understanding Home Building Forum hopes you have found this article useful. In the future we will also plan to illustrate this article with pictures. For now you may view videos and links below for detailed hammer swinging tips.

If you find our website useful - remember to save it to your favorites as we do not have an easy name to remember like remodeling.com or building.com. Thank You for reading!

Hammer Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFKPylk2gQo

http://www.hammernet.com/hammers.htm

http://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Hammer-Safely

Hammer Safety
http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d001601-d001700/d001698/d001698.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammer

http://www.hammersource.com/

http://www.accuratebuilding.com/publications/recipes/tools/how_to_hammer.pdf

http://www.ehow.com/how_12133_hammer-safely.html

http://homerepair.about.com/od/toolsmaterialsyouneed/Tools_and_Materials_Required_Equipment_for_Home_Repair.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_2085896_use-bricklayers-hammer.html

Yahoo answers on hammering
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070511091711AAw4kLA

http://www.toolsnob.com/archives/2007/03/how_to_use_a_hammer.php

http://www.expertvillage.com/video/19733_tools-hammer.htm

Drywall Check Lists
http://www.brandsconstruction.com/Blogb2/blog4.php/drywall-check-list
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_a_hammer_and_chisel_used_for

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http://www.brandsconstruction.com/Blogb2/index.php/RemodelSuccess/#item_31

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http://www.brandsconstruction.com/Blogb2/index.php/welcome/#item_32

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Hammer Sizes

Hammer Selection and Sizing
Choosing the Right Hammer

Secrets to Hammering for Remodeling Contractors