The two hammers used most frequently in carpentry are the claw hammer (bottom) and the cross pein (top). The first is useful for levering out old nails and lifting floorboards while the second is more suited to finer nailing work. If you are starting a tool kit, opt for a 450g claw hammer and a 280g cross-pein. Later, you can add a l00 g 'pin' cross-pein (top right) for light, accurate nailing and pinning.

[edit] Using a Hammer

Using a hammer properly requires a little bit of practice. Take a firm grip right at the end of the handle and form your arm into a right-angle, looking straight down on the work as you do so. Start the nail by tapping it lightly, keeping your wrist controlled but flexible and letting the hammer head do the work. Increase the power of your stroke slightly as the nail goes in but at no time let your arm waver— if you do, you will either miss, or bend, the nail.

On well-finished work, remember not to drive nails right in, leave a bit protruding for the hammer and nail punch to finish off.

Start light nails or tacks with the cross-pein by tapping gently with the wedge end of the hammer head. Drive them home with the hammer face using a number of fairly gentle taps rather than trying to knock them in with one blow, which will probably bend the nail.

Very short nails can be held with a pair of thin-nosed pliers until driven in far enough to stand on their own.