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Showerthought: I used to think a regular hammer was fine for carpet tack strips
For years I just used my framing hammer on tack strips in my jobs around Springfield. Last week I borrowed a buddy's rubber mallet on a big commercial job and it was a game changer. The mallet seats the strips without bending the nails or cracking the wood like a steel head does. It's quieter too, which matters in occupied spaces. Anyone else switch tools for this part of the job and notice a big difference?
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kelly3857mo ago
A rubber mallet is nice but calling it a game changer seems like a stretch. It's just hitting a strip of wood. I've used the claw end of my hammer for years and never had a problem. If your nails are bending, maybe you're hitting them at a weird angle. The noise thing is the only real point, but how many tacks are you really hammering in an occupied room anyway.
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holly7136mo ago
Switched to a rubber mallet after denting my baseboard like @kelly385 said, and it made a huge difference for me.
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johnp987mo ago
My uncle was a finish carpenter for thirty years and he swore by a rubber mallet for trim work. The claw of a hammer can slip and mar the wood, even if you're careful. It's not just about bending nails, it's about protecting the surface you spent money on. Calling it a game changer might be strong, but it's a legit tool for a reason.
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