Veneering-Hammer.] In the "bell-faced" hammer, the face is slightly convex, in order that the last blow in driving nails may set the nail-head below the surface.

It is more difficult to strike a square blow with it than with a plain-faced hammer.

For ordinary woodwork the plain-faced, that is, flat-faced claw-hammer, Fig.

158, is best.

It is commonly used in carpenter work.
It is essential that the face of the hammer be kept free from glue in order to avoid its sticking on the nail-head and so bending the nail.
Hammers should be used to hit iron only; for hitting wood, mallets are used.