Here are a few hints on how to use a hammer. Don’t get nailed!

• Don’t buy a hammer with a visible casting seam. It could fly apart as you work with it. Good hammer heads are all one smooth piece and won’t shatter.
• If the handle on your wooden hammer comes loose, soak the entire tool in linseed oil for several hours to encourage the wood to swell—and tighten the head.
• Just like when you hold a tennis racket, the closer to the end of the handle you grip, the more power you will wield.
• Wear goggles when you hammer, especially if you are working with masonry or hardened nails or tackling a project above your head or at eye level.