How to use a tack hammer (4 step guide)

Content

Step 1: How to grab a pen
Step 2: Light tapping on the head of the nail
Step 3: Release the nail from the comb
Step 4: Nail Removal

Are you trying to use a hammer to attach upholstery to furniture and don't know how to use it properly?

As an experienced carpenter, I regularly use hammers to drive nails into various types of furniture. Knowing how to properly use jackhammers will help you avoid damaging your furniture or yourself. Jackhammers are versatile tools that can be used to drive nails into furniture and perform other upholstery tasks. Most nail hammers are magnetized so you can pull nails out of a toolbox without hurting your fingers.

To drive nails into various surfaces with a hammer:

Grasp the hammer handle near the end - away from the head.
Place the nail on the surface of your material
Insert your fingernail into the bristles of your hairbrush to avoid hurting your fingers.
Hit it with light blows on the head of the nail
Use the clawed side of the hammer head to remove misaligned nails.

I'll go into more detail below.

Step 1: How to grab a pen

To use the staple hammer, do not grasp the head of the staple hammer. Instead, take a hammer near the end of the handle. This is how you avoid accidents.

By holding the hammer at the end of the handle, you increase the force in direct proportion to the perpendicular linear distance to the object you are trying to strike.

Then, with your other free hand, hold the nail on the surface where you want to drive it. I recommend using a comb to grab the nail. Using a comb to hold the nail reduces the chance of hitting the fingers when hitting the nail with a staple hammer.

A staple hammer is used to drive small nails; therefore, the probability of missing a mail header is high. Thus, it is safer to secure your nails inside the bristles of the comb.

Step 2: Light tapping on the head of the nail

After placing the nail on the material, lightly tap the head of the nail - don't press too hard.

While hammering, hold the handle steady and firmly. Otherwise, the hammer may slip and cause damage.

Step 3: Release the nail from the comb

The nail will quickly settle to the surface after a few quick blows to the head. Remove the comb from the nail, noticing that the nail sticks out on the surface without support.

Apply force to press the nail into the material so that it does not fall out when struck again.

Then hit the head with the nail again. Make the secondary strikes slightly stronger than the previous strikes. Be consistent and stable when hitting the nail; stronger impacts can destroy the material in question.

In addition, materials that use small nails/nails are usually brittle and can be damaged.

Step 4: Nail Removal

Hammering a nail is not always possible. The nail may be bent or appear clumsy on the surface. Use the claw side of the hammer head to pry the nail out of the surface.

You can construct a lever out of a small piece of wood or fabric to make the process easier. Tuck the lever under the handle, next to the hammer head, and press the hammer against it to lift the nail. In most cases, the nail lifts easily.

After successfully removing the misaligned nail, repeat steps one through four to drive the nail into the surface. Replace the nail if it is severely damaged or bent.

Note: You can use an oven mitt magnet (usually on top of a hammer) to get nails out of a tool box and do other upholstery tasks. Thus, you will prevent the possibility of injury to your nails. They are tiny and you can accidentally poke your nails while looking at the toolbox. (1)

Do not use a jackhammer with a loose handle for this task. And if the hammer has numerous dents, chips or cracks, replace it immediately.

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