Learn to check, hold, swing and use a claw hammer safely, and pull a nail cleanly, before using it on real work.
CH-01Check the head is secure on the handleA claw hammer has a heavy metal head fixed onto a handle (wood or fibreglass shaft). Grip the head and try to twist or pull it away from the handle. It should not move or rattle at all. If it wobbles even slightly, do not use it - a head can fly off mid-swing and that is genuinely dangerous.
CH-02Hold the handle near the end, not up by the headGrip the handle near its far end, away from the metal head. The beginner mistake is 'choking up' - gripping close to the head, which feels safer but gives you far less power and worse aim. A longer grip lets the hammer swing in a smooth arc and do the work for you.
CH-03Practise the swing before you use a nailRest a scrap piece of wood on a workbench or the floor, away from your other hand. Swing the hammer from your elbow and wrist, not your shoulder, letting the weight of the head do the hitting. It should feel like a relaxed pendulum, not a punch - if your arm feels tense and tired after a few swings, you are gripping too hard or muscling the swing.
CH-04Start the nail with light tapsHold the nail upright between finger and thumb, well away from where the hammer will land. Tap it gently a few times just to set it into the wood so it stands up on its own. The classic beginner mistake is swinging full force straight away - this bends the nail sideways or catches your fingers.
5 each · Nails (for practice) CH-05Drive the nail home with firm, even strokesOnce the nail stands up by itself, take your fingers well clear. Strike it squarely on the head, following through with the swing rather than stopping short. Keep your eye on the nail head, not on the hammer, and use several firm taps rather than one wild swing.
CH-06Pull a nail using the clawThe claw is the V-shaped fork at the back of the hammer head. Slide the notch under the nail head, then pull the handle back towards you, using the hammer head as a lever against the wood. If the nail is stubborn, slip a thin scrap of wood under the hammer head first - this stops the head denting the surface and gives you more leverage.
CH-07Check you've done it rightA well-driven nail sits flush with the surface, or just slightly below it, with no bent shaft and no ring of dents around it from mis-hits. When pulling a nail, the wood surface underneath should be undamaged, not gouged. Give the hammer head another twist-check after use - hard use can loosen a marginal head over time.
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