For example, if the head of the hammer is loose, it can fly off when swinging it. If you can, use a screwdriver to tighten the nails. If not, you may have to replace the hammer. If the wood is splintered, the hammer can break upon impact.

Avoid using water, as this can cause the hammer to rust.

If you daydream while working, you could wind up hitting your fingers instead of the nails.

For instance, look behind you to ensure there are no wires hanging from above that your hammer could catch. Without peeking behind you, you may accidentally hit someone while getting ready to swing the hammer.

Positioning your thumb on top helps you control the amount of force used to drive your item.

For example, hold the nail up to the wall and bring the tip of the hammer over top of the head of the nail.

After the nail sets, you can move your hand out of the way so it doesn’t get whacked. This way, you can avoid injuring your fingers or using too much force.

For instance, do this if you are breaking down drywall or working on a car part.

The claw section of the hammer is the back, pronged part. If you need to remove a nail, hold the hammer upside down, align the claw with the nail, and pull up with moderate pressure. As you do this, be mindful of flying objects. [12] X Research source Claw hammers come in many different shapes, sizes, and weights. Some also come in solid metal varieties.

The larger the mallet, the greater the swinging power. For example, use a small rubber mallet to hammer in tent stakes while camping. If you need to strike a hard object like a wrench or hammer, use a rubber or wooden mallet to do this. If you use another metal item to strike a metal object, it can result in injury.

This hammer is commonly used by metalworkers. For example, if you are trying to reinforce a deck and can’t fit your claw hammer into the crevice, try using a ball peen hammer instead. It has a smaller profile, making it great for hard-to-reach areas.

Sledgehammers are some of the heaviest hammer types, weighing about 11 lbs (5 kg), so use extra caution when swinging these varieties.

This hammer type is only used for auto work. Do not use this hammer to drive a nail, or you could injure yourself.