Wrapping a hammer handle is not that complex. But it follows some tricks for making the work smooth. Doing the act consistently is better understanding how to wrap a hammer. You never know about discovering your easy techniques.
The tool itself is a heavy object, and dealing with it roughly can become dangerous. In this article, you will find a convenient way of wrapping a hammer handle and its advantages. Proper placement of your index finger is the actual hack of this whole process.
Besides, you will also learn about a few best materials that are exceptionally best as a wrapper. So, read this article carefully for the best tactics and proper hammer handling.
8 Simple And Easy Steps To Wrap Or Cover A Hammer
Im-proper way or technique of wrapping a hammer makes the work stressful. But with a perfect grip over the handle, one can easily perform the task. This section deals with the basics and convenient steps of covering the handle of a hammer.
Step 1: Gather All The Necessary Tools
To start any project, one needs to gather all the required materials. The Hammerhead and the handle itself count as the material. Alongside those, there are a few tools that will help in carving the hammer handle.
A sharp short knife, scissors, and a water bowl are handy tools for this project. Scissor is necessary for marking the edge of the wrapping region. Then, to dig deep, use the knife. Finally, soak the wrapper only in case of the rope in the water bowl before wrapping.
Step 2: Choose A Wrapper With Proper Measurement
Not the full handle of a hammer will be covered with a wrapper. There is a specific measurement of a wrapping area. Hold the hammer handle so that your index finger occupies an inch above the center of it.
That position is the top edge of the handle where a wrapper will end. Mark the bottom edge at 2 inches from downwards. Measure the whole region within the edges and cut the wrapper accordingly. Keep extra inches of it to make the cover thicker at the bottom.
Step 3: Select A Starting Point
Choosing an initial position is the first work for wrapping up the handle. Start placing your wrapper from the bottom edge of the carved position. You need to go from down in the upward direction.
Step 4: Mark Both The Sides Of The Wrapping Region
Label both the top and bottom edges of the wrapping region. It will work as a borderline. Moreover, you will get an acknowledgment of the exact measurements of the wrapper while twisting them.
Step 5: Lower The Level For Proper Placement Of The Wrapper
It is not a good idea if you are covering material losses down to the bottom of the handle. All your hard work will go at a loss. Besides, it won’t help to place the index finger properly.
To keep the wrapper tight and stable, slightly lower the level of the wrapping area by cutting wood with the knife. Make an inclination wall on both the edges. It will keep the cover in a balanced position.
Step 6: Rub The Area With Oil Before Wrapping
The wrapper that includes leather needs a slippery surface for replacing it with the new one. In most cases, shoe polish is given to keep the leather cover fresh and shiny. So, rub the whole handle gently with oil to make it slippery.
Step 7:Wrap In Decrement Technique
When the bottom edge gets thicker than the top one, it is much easier to hold the hammer properly. Double twist the wrapper as you start wrapping from the downside of the handle.
Travel up, making a pattern of declining surface till it reaches the edge. Since the index finger needs a suitable placement, keep the top layer as thin as possible. It must make both the wrap and the average area of the handle at an equal level.
Step 8:Tie Or Tape The End Region Of The Wrapper
After twisting the wrapper, it reaches the top edge, attach the end with a strong tie or paste it with duct tape. Otherwise, it won’t hold the entire cover of the hammer handle.
Best Materials To Wrap A Hammer: Safe And Secure Option
This section will tell about the 4 best materials to stay safe dealing with the wrapped, slippery, and stable hammer for better performance. The grip of a hammer handle should be solid1. A slippery wrapper gives a better hand management system.
- Leather:
Leather is good at holding the handle without any slip. Wrapping with leather provides a better grip on the palm of your hand. Besides, one doesn’t need wrapping leather every time except for the first start.
It is safe because the chances of losing the handle of the hammer are meager. Moreover, you do not need to sew the leather by pulling it out each time you repair it. As a result of the presence of rubbing oil, the leather can be inserted and removed more easily.
- Thin Ham Cord:
Thin ham cords are one type of rope with a dimension of 4 mm. A handle needs a smooth and thin cover over its body. Rolling the string gives a plain surface throughout the whole area.
Moreover, one can suitably place their index finger over a plain surface on this type of cover. It will be more comfortable to soak the rope and dry it out before wrapping it over the carved area.
- Overgrip:
Among all the materials, the best way to cover the handle of a hammer is sing an overgrip. Many overgrip companies provide a good hold and a hand slip for working without any pressure.
Besides, an overgrip absorbs the sweat of your hand palm. It prevents the sweaty slippery of the handle while hammering. Some good overgrip companies are Wilson Pro, Tourna Grip, Gamma Supreme Power, etc.
- Rubber Band:
Whenever one starts hammering, there is a probability that the surrounding working space might face minor damage. The head of the hammer covers a wide space whenever hit over a surface. Placing and wrapping the hammer head with a rubber band also prevents scattering away from the handle.
To keep the surface wall clean and unaffected, tie a rubber band over the head of the hammer. It will prevent the back side of the hammer head from being unnecessarily hit over the rest of the surfaces.
4 Advantages of wrapping a hammer and hammer handle
A study2 was conducted about a hammer’s result focusing on its handle. Hammer handle with a 10-degree bend in the carve region allows extra advantages and wrapping. Other merits are as follows:
1.Good Placement Of The Index Finger
The primary advantage of a wrapped hammer handle is the proper placement of the index finger. For hammering without stress, one needs to keep the index finger stable. It is very tough to manage a hammer without any grip or wrapper.
When a cover is placed over the handle, the carved area’s top edge is thinner. This technique is only for placing the index finger in the right position. It prevents the finger from getting stressed.
2.Smooth Rotation While Hammering
Hitting a pin with a hammer needs a good starting torque to accelerate the motion. Handle without grip makes your hand feel heavy and generates a sense in the muscle to hit harder. This undoubtedly gives a lot of stress.
Gripping over a hammer handle makes the carved region thicker and fits your hand palm perfectly. It automatically generates a strong starting torque that gives quite a gentle rotation. So, there is no excess stress.
3.Uniform Dispensation Of Pressure
The only purpose of hammering is to apply equal pressure over the surface area with the hammerhead. While hammering, sometimes the hit might not place in the same spot. It ruins the uniform dispersion of the pin on the surface.
A problem like this occurs in a hammer handle without a thick cover. Placing overgrip or any other wrapper keeps the hammer in control of your hand. With a wrapper, a uniform pressure falls over the surface area, resulting in a good pin penetration.
4.It Prevents Damage To The Surroundings
Wrapper over the hammerhead is a worthy technique for preventing outside damage to the repair surface. A rubber band over the head makes the hammer constantly hit the targeted surface.
Moreover, due to the band, the rest area of the wall bounces back the hammer instead of getting hit. This makes the work easier and keeps the surrounding surface neat and clean. It also provides a good balance while hammering.
Related Questions:
How Do You Wrap A Sledgehammer?
The overall structure of a Sledgehammer handle is downhill from the bottom to the top edge of the hammerhead. One can wrap it with a sticky grip placed over a tennis racquet.
Overgrip acts as a good handler over any heavy tools or objects. While wrapping the handle, keep the bottom side thicker than the top. The level of thickness will decrease as it goes upward till it reaches the upper carve edge.
Is It A Good Idea To Wrap A Hammer With Leather?
It is better to wrap a hammer with leather through sewing. Handle that carries a leather cover, provides both grip and slip. It takes less stress while hammering the pin over a hard surface.
Moreover, one can re-polish the leather by pulling it out from the handle and placing it again through rotational push. The hammer handle is rubbed with oil before placing a leather wrapper over it.
What Happens If You Wrap A Hammer With A Paracord?
Paracord ropes are the ones that everyone prefers due to survival instinct and safety precautions. Wrapping a hammer handle with this type of rope prevents oneself from finger damage.
One can catch a good grip with a paracord wrapper. Moreover, it helps apply more force to the surface without hand stress. The consistent wrapping provides a good design pattern and carries excess para code if necessary.
Can You Restore A Hammer By Wrapping It Completely?
Restoring a hammer through wrapping is not possible without changing the handle completely. Restoration is done when the hammer handle breaks down and detaches from the head.
The work of a wrapper is to provide a constant grip for holding the hammer perfectly. It helps to place the index finger comfortably, which allows hammering without pressure. A wrapper has nothing to deal with the restoration of a hammer.
Is Wrapping A Hammer With A Rubber Grip Long-Lasting?
A rubber grip is the handiest way to hold the hammer handle, which is also long-lasting. The cord rope doesn’t even hold for a long time compared to a rubber grip.
Most of the rubber grips are slippery and thicker in size. Managing the hammer handle becomes more accessible with a rubber grip wrapper. Elastic is its specialty. So, wrapping a hammer with a rubber grip is long-lasting.
Final Touch:
Handling the hammer with proper techniques prevents excess stress in your hand muscle. Performing activities with this type of heavy tool requires lots of energy unless you know how to wrap a hammer. Choosing the best material for wrapping a hammer handle depends on you. Better make sure that grip is slightly slippery.
Moreover, keep the bottom edge of the carved region thick. Until now, you should have enough tricks and knowledge of wrapping a hammer handle. I hope this article is convincing about the importance of covering a hammer handle for safety and security.
References
(3)Crim, J. (n.d.). Best Tennis Overgrips | Full Guide + How to With Photos. Tennis Companion. Retrieved August 16, 2022, from https://tenniscompanion.org/tennis-overgrips/
(2) Krohn, Konz, R. S. (n.d.). Bent Hammer Handles. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 26(10), 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/154193128202600504
(1) Lipinski, E. R. (2000, August 27). INSIDE/OUT; Hammer and Nails: The Advanced Course (Published 2000). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/27/nyregion/inside-out-hammer-and-nails-the-advanced-course.html?searchResultPosition=4
