Chisel, hammer, file and abrasive paper

Carpentry hammers are used to assemble wooden parts and to cut with chisels. Their faces are square or round, and some have a rear end shaped to pull nails. The face must be flat and smooth; a domed or crushed face crushes the wood and spoils its flatness. When pressing parts together, a backing board of hard wood is placed on them so the surface is not crushed. A nail is driven square to the surface and watched so it does not bend and crush the wood; the nail head is not hammered flush directly but a nail punch is placed on it. In chiselling, a wooden mallet is used instead of a hammer so the handle is not crushed: its face is large and flat. When striking, the eye is on the point of impact; with a chisel the eye must be on the blade, not the handle. To save fingers, hold the nail with small pliers or a strip of thick paper.