Microsoft Word - Woodshop 101 Part 1 of 3

Items You’ll Need

Safety Glasses

Hammer (10-12oz for smaller
kids 16oz for bigger kids)
Nail set
Roofing Nails foryounger kids
and first timers,finish nails for
older kids and seasoned veterans

Scrap Wood (2” x 4”)

Note to Parents

There’s something about a new

hammer in a child’s hand that

brings a grin from ear to ear. But

before we start swinging, some

safety tips are in order. Never use

a hammer without safety glasses.

Chips of wood or a missed hit nail

can go flying faster than anyone

can react. Now is a good time to

instill in your child the importance

of safety in the woodshop.

Leverage-The

increased force

resulting from the use

of a lever (or the

handleof the hammer

in our case).

Momentum-The

force of a moving

object.

Lesson 3

It’s Hammer Time!

Ahammerisasimpletool. It’susedtostrikethingssuchasnails,nail

sets, and a chisel etc, and pulls those occasional misplaced or bent nails

back out again. But as with all tools there is a correct way to use a

hammer so you’ll get the most out of it. Before we get started keep in

mind when using a hammer always put on your safety glasses first.

Using the hammer

At first, most people want to choke-up on the handle,

(move your hand closer to the head of the hammer),

to get more control. However, by doing this you give

up most of yourmomentum, which is the force that

drives the nail into the wood. Another way to look at

it is that the arc that you swing the hammer in is

much smaller if you hold the hammer towards the

head, which takes away your power. If you hold the

hammer’s handle towards the end you increase your arc and

thereby increase your momentum. By doing this you combine

the weight of the hammer, with the swinging of your arm and

wrist to pound the nail home.

The second operation of your hammer is to pull nails out. At the

oppositeendofthefaceofthehammeristheclaw. Theclawisforked

and tapers down, as it gets closer to the head. This is to wedge the nail

head in tight so it doesn’t slip out. When pulling a nail out place a block

of wood under the head of the hammer to gainleverageand to

keep from damaging your work surface. With the hammer

upside down and the nail wedged between the claw pull

back on the handle towards your chest.