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For jobs that require a hammer with more heft and hardness than the usual claw hammer, try a ball peen hammer. Sometimes called an "engineer's hammer" or a "machinist's hammer", it's often the best hammer to use for metal. Use it to drive cold chisels, setting rivets, and shaping metal. The steel head of a ball peen hammer is harder than the head of a claw hammer, so it's less likely to chip on contact.

This project initially began as a basement refinishing project and has grown into a project for a growing family. The front porch of the Melrose home was in need of repair. This involved not just the decking but the structure underneath, which had suffered rot and insect damage. The finished wood deck features Ipe, a renewable tropical wood from Everlasting Hardwoods. This wood is one of the best decking products available but does not nail easily. To get around this, Tiger Claw hidden deck fastening system is used to keep the wood in place without any obvious face nailing. Don Martel of Tiger Claw explains how the product is installed. The version being used is designed for extremely dense materials, like the Ipe decking used here. The fastener attaches to the edge of the board. A screw is then drilled through the fastener into the joist. The fastener holds the board and the screw holds the fastener in place. The fastener is coated in black oxide so it is not visible between the seams of the deck. Every Tiger Claw kit comes with a installation tool. The fastener is insterted into the tool, placed against the board, and hammered into place. Using a hammer board, the next board is put into place with one tap. The fastener from the previous board grips it tight as it is tapped in. The Ipe decking is not only strong but naturally insect-resistent without the use of any chemicals.