Claw hammer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A claw hammer is a tool primarily used for pounding nails into, or extracating nails from, some other object. Generally, a hammer is associated with woodworking but is not limited to use with wood products.
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[edit] Description
A claw hammer can be said to look roughly like the letter "T" with the handle being the long part, and the head being the line across the top. In actuality, the head of the hammer does not form a straight line, yet curves down into the claw of the hammer. One side of the head is flat with either a smooth or textured surface and is used for impacting another surface. The other side of the head curves down and splits in the middle forming a "V" shape. This part is the claw of the hammer and is most commonly used for extracting nails from wood. The rounded end of the claw, in conjunction with the handle, is used to gain leverage when extracting a nail.
[edit] Types of Claw Hammers
Claw hammers can be constructed many ways but generally come in one of two ways. The first, and most popular, type of hammer is the two piece hammer. This hammer is constructed from a metal hammer head with a hole in the middle and a wooden handle. The wooden handle has one end made to fit perfectly into hole in the hammer head. Once the handle has been inserted, a steel wedge is driven into the wood in the head of the hammer. This forces the wood to expand and secures the hammer head to the handle. Another type of claw hammer is a single piece claw hammer. These hammers are usually cast out of some sort of metal. These hammers often have rubber grips to add to their ergonomics and decrease vibrations when the hammer is used. Another type of claw hammer is the framing hammer. This hammer is an oversized claw hammer used in framing carpentry. The larger and heavier head can increase the user accuracy while decreasing the number of blows required to fully insert the nail.
[edit] Primary Users
Industrially, the claw hammer is used by carpenters, woodworkers, framers, construction workers, and many other trades. Often, certain types of pants, specified as "carpenters pants," incorporate a loop on the side of the leg with the purpose of keeping a hammer within the users reach at all times. Aside from the industrial sector, the claw hammer is probably one of the most commonly found household tools. These hammers are generally smaller and of less quality than an industrial quality hammer due to household usage.
[edit] Hammer Safety
A hammer can be an extremely dangerous tool, just like any time somebody is swinging a chunk of metal on the end of a stick. When using a hammer, the user should always wear proper safety equipment such as safety glasses and gloves. These can protect the user in the case that a nail ricochets when hit with a glancing blow, or when the user misses the nail and hits their hand or fingers instead. Also, before using a hammer, the user should always inspect the hammer for possible damage. These include loose or wobbeling head, cracked head, a cracked handle, or any other situation that may appear dangerous. If the hammer is used with a damaged or loose head, serious injury could occur. When the hammer is swung in either direction, if there is enough force to dislocate the head from the handle, the head can become a flying projectile and cause serious injury to anyone directly in line with what one is hammering.
