HAMMERS

hammer

• Most common home-use hammers are nail, rip, finishing, ball peen, tack, hand drilling, sledge and soft face. Quality features include:
• o Forged steel heads for strength and dura-
• bility;
• o Heat-treated heads for strength, toughness
• and wear resistance—should be heat-treat- ed differently on face (striking area), at eye (where handle is inserted) and on claws.
• o Finish-ground face with a crowned surface that is canted slightly toward the handle to center handle blows.
• o The chamfer or bevel on the striking face should be approximately 10 percent of the diameter of the poll to reduce chipping.
• o Double-beveled nail slot to resist chip-out when pulling large nails.
• o Claw slot that narrows close to head to grip and pull small nails.
• o Well-formed claw points capable of get- ting under embedded nail heads.
• o Hickory, solid or tubular steel, fiberglass, graphite or steel I-beam handle firmly attached to head.
• o Handle should be ergonomically shaped and cushioned for secure grip and com- fort.
• o Fiberglass, graphite and steel I-beam hammers should have a jacket of materials such as polycarbonate to provide overstrike protection.
• o Warning and use message affixed to the hammer.