For the first-time woodworker, using a hammer can be a challenge. Even experienced craftsman sometimes cannot help accidentally splitting wood. To avoid this, it is important to know your hammer and how to use it. It is also recommended that you know what kind of hammer your particular job requires. If you are assembling a desk, for example, do not use a sledge hammer! That is a silly example, but there are sillier ones that I could point to. Improper use of a hammer can not only lead to embarrassment, but serious pain and injury. That is why it is important to know how to use a hammer.
To use a hammer, first you must correctly set up the nail in the wood. Place the nail where you want to drive it into the wood and hold it between your thumb and forefinger on your nondominant hand. (If you are right-handed, this means you hold the nail with your left hand, and vice versa.) Hold the hammer exactly as if you were shaking hands with someone. When beginning to hammer the nail, hold the hammer closer to the head, preferably immediately below the head. After the nail is partially into the wood, you can start to hammer using the lower portion of the handle. When you do this, be sure to take your hand away from the nail so you do not injure it with the force of your hammering.
To keep from splitting the wood, create a pilot hole for the nail to go in to. It is advisable not to make the pilot hole in the grain of the wood, because this will cause it to split. Blunting the nail can help avoid splitting the wood. To do this, simply tap the sharp point of the nail with your hammer. This will ensure the force from the hammer striking the nail will be spread out into the wood and not concentrated in a discrete point, thus ensuring that the wood will stay intact.
That's all there is to it. An extra tip I could offer is swing from the elbow for maximum power and swing from the wrist if you want better control over the hammer. Another obvious tip is do not use inferior wood. Make sure your wood is the best quality you can get for your price. If you are the adventurous type, try finishing your own furniture. Unfinished oak furniture or unfinished pine furniture can be great fun to work with. Remember, always seek the help of a professional if you have any questions about your wood or your technique. It is not a bad thing to make a mistake, if you learn from it. Happy woodworking.
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