Driving nails with a hammer can be either a satisfying or frustrating experience. One frustration I’ve learned to avoid is the predicament that occurs when space is tight and the nails are small — like nailing inside the corner of a box. It’s easy to hit your fingers or the box, and very difficult to drive the nail straight.
In this situation, I’ve learned to reach for a strip of cardboard. I push the nail through its edge, right near the end, and use the cardboard to hold the nail over the target. Once the nail is set, I can pull the cardboard free and load up the next nail.
Steve Mott, San Diego, CA
Edited and Illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #70
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Where's the illustration?