Making Nailing Easier: Tips for Carpentry

By Sarah Borroum

Unless you’ve had some experience with hammer and nail, you probably don’t know the tips and tricks that make the job safer, easier and less time consuming. A little practice with these slight changes will help you come away from the project with fewer injuries and less stress.

Don’t hold the hammer in a death grip. If you loosen up your grip just a little, the hammer can do more of the work for you.

When you start a nail, turn your fingers around so that your fingernails are touching the board. Place the nail between your first and second fingers and start hammering. If you miss the nail, you’ll hit the fleshy side of your fingers.

If you’re using an extremely-short nail (i.e. there’s a very real risk of hitting your fingers), use a fine-toothed comb to hold the nail. As long as you get the comb out of the way before the nail is driven completely into the wood, you’ll get good results.

Hammer lightly until the nail is at least one-third of the way in. This way, you’re less likely to send the nail flying right into your face. You can hit the nail harder as it goes deeper in, of course.

Use a canvas nail apron to hold your supply. These aprons are inexpensive but very convenient. When tied around your waist, they put the pouches of nails right in front of you: simply reach down, retrieve a nail and continue working on your project.

Avoid putting nails through (or even near) the knotty parts of the wood. These parts – usually round and darker than the rest of the board – are tough. Move the nail to the “regular” section of the board for easier driving. You’re also less likely to split the wood.

When you want to put a nail near the end of a board, dull the nail a little bit first. Just tap the point a few times with the hammer: when you drive the nail, your wood is less likely to split or crack.

If driving the nail is tough, pull out the nail and rub it with a bar of soap. This should make the going a little easier.

If that doesn’t work, drill a pilot hole. Use a drill bit that’s slightly smaller in diameter than the nail you’re trying to drive: that way, the nail will still fit snugly in its new place.

Sometimes hammer heads leave marks - often shaped like half moons - in the wood around your nails. This isn’t a good thing to have happen when the wood really needs to stay in good shape. Lay down a piece of cardboard or thin plywood before you begin hammering. If your hammer head slips off the nail, you’ll hit the “junk wood” instead.

When you have to pull out a nail, place a small block of wood beside the nail. Use this wood to raise the level of your hammer’s claw: that way, you’ll have more leverage and pulling the nail will be easier.

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