PUNCH, CHISEL, CHIP AND SPLIT SAFELY

Some of the most underrated time and work-savers in the average workshop are the many hammered, or struck tools, available to the home handyman.

Struck tools, which include chisels, punches, star drills and wedges can do a wide range of jobs around the home including cutting brick, chiseling wood, chipping mortar, punching holes, splitting wood, drilling masonry holes or shearing rivets and bolts.

However, the Hand Tools Institute (HTI) a trade association of American manufacturers of quality hand tools, points out that each struck tool is designed for a specific job and, for safety as well as performance, each tool should be used for that job alone.

For example, cold chisels are used for cutting and chipping metal but should never be used on stone or concrete. Brick chisels are designed for scoring and cutting brick and block. They should be stuck with a light sledge or a hand drilling hammer -- never with a bricklayers hammer which is used only for striking and cutting masonry.

Another salient safety rule, according to HTI, is that the proper hammer be used for each type of struck tool. A common nail hammer should never be used. The light sledge mentioned above or a heavy ball pein hammer can be used with most struck tools. But size is important. The face of the hammer should be at least 3/8" larger than the diameter of the surface being struck.

One of the most important safety rules of all in striking a struck tool is--to wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields. That goes for all types of hammering, explains the Institute.

Another safety reminder from HTI is to keep struck tools in top condition. Careful attention should be given to both the struck and working end. Cutting edges should be kept sharp by the use of an oil stone or file. High speed grinding can cause overheating, which may cause the tool to lose strength and durability. If the struck head of the tool shows chips, dents, cracks, or excessive wear, such as mushrooming, the tool should be discarded. A close inspection of each tool is recommended before each use.

Once you have checked your tools and selected the right one for the job, then your next consideration should be the proper use of the tool. HTI recommends that you strike the tool squarely--avoiding glancing blows or under and over strikes. A tapping stroke is advised while striking many struck tools to avoid having the hammer bounce off. Finally, before beginning your job make sure that the workpiece is securely braced or clamped.

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