Hammers and other striking tools are possibly the most widely used and perhaps the most often abused of all hand tools. Here are some rules for the safe use of striking tools:
- Use only for the purpose intended. Never use as a substitute for a crow bar, or lever.
- When striking another tool, the hammer face should be proportionately larger than the struck tool, i.e., a 1/2″ chisel would require at least a 1″ hammer face.
- Never use one hammer to strike another hammer.
- Never use a striking tool with a loose or damaged handle.
- Discard or repair any striking tool if the face shows excessive wear, dents, chips, mushrooming or serious other flaws.
- Never strike another tool with the side or cheek of a hammer or other striking tool.
- Always wear safety goggles to protect your eyes while using striking tools.
Also frequently ignored or abused are the struck tools everyone uses. These can include chisels, punches, drift pins, wedges, etc. Some rules for safe handling of struck tools would include:
- Never use cold chisels for cutting or splitting stone or concrete.
- Never use dull chisels or those with “mushroom” shaped heads.
- Discard or properly repair any chisel, punch, etc., with a chipped, battered or mushroomed head.
- Always use for the purpose intended. Never use a chisel as a drift pin, etc.
- Always use safety goggles to protect your eyes when using struck tools.
Finally, here are some suggestions for regrinding tools:
- The tool must be returned to its original shape.
- All cracks or spalls must be removed.
- Keep the grinding temperature as low as possible.
- Use a fine or medium grit grinding wheel.
- Do not use a high speed dry grinding wheel which may alter the temper of the tool material
