Why is it better to hold the hammer with the handle down rather than with the head down?
2007-09-13 11:27:50 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
When you slam the base of the handle against the workbench, the handle stops suddenly, but the inertia of the hammerhead carries it a little further, wedging it on the handle.
If the handle is protruding through the hammerhead, which is not uncommon, the protruding end will strike the bench first, and the hammerhead will continue, actually loosening the grip. If the handle does not protrude, but is recessed, striking the hammerhead again the table leaves only the inertia of the lighter handle to tighten the connection.
2007-09-13 11:35:07 · answer #1 · answered by anobium625 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because when you move the hammer down the hammer is in motion and has kinetic energy. When the handle hits it stops, the head tries to keep moving and the energy forces the head down on the hammer. To keep the head tight, get a metal shim from a hardware store to hammer into the end of the handle where the head fits on. They can show you how to do it at the store.
2007-09-13 12:30:55 · answer #2 · answered by Info_Please 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The head of the hammer weighs, maybe, 14 oz. When you bang the hammer down handle first and it abruptly stops on the top of the workbench,the 14 oz. of loose hammer head keeps moving (inertia) until the friction of the wooden hammer handle is high enough to stop the downward movement of the head. Same concept as turning your shampoo upside down and hitting it against your hand to stop the shampoo container, but the loose shampoo falls by inertia to the bottom.
2016-03-18 05:26:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
At the top of the hammer head, insert or nail a sliver of metal or maybe hardwood in the top of the handle, to spread it. That will tighten the hammer to the handle.
2007-09-13 11:34:38 · answer #4 · answered by ed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The head of the hammer is heavier than the handle of the hammer, so it will press on farther.
Put a wedge in there, it will help keep the head on.
2007-09-13 11:33:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
head hammer loose tighten banging top workbench
2016-02-02 09:36:49 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if it's an old style hammer with a wedge in the wood at the top of the head. The wedge will drive deeper into the handle, making it swell a little more, and thus making it tighter in the head.
2007-09-13 11:33:46 · answer #7 · answered by dancingcrow350 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You want to jam the head down onto the handle as far as you can. This is best done by tapping the end of the handle against a more-or-less immovable object, causing the head to be forced down tighter onto the handle.
2007-09-13 11:33:04 · answer #8 · answered by aviophage 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because the momentum of the head moving down will do more to push the head on than the momentum of the handle moving down.
2007-09-13 11:31:13 · answer #9 · answered by Madadivad 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋