DOUBLE FACED BLACKSMITH SLEDGES AND DRILLING HAMMERS

Always wear safety goggles.

Strike squarely - avoid glancing blows.

Never strike with side of hammer.

Never strike one hammer with another.

Never use hammer with loose or damaged handle.

Select proper hammer - use hammer of suitable size and weight for job.

When striking chisels, punches, wedges, etc., hammer face should be larger than head of struck tool.

WOODCHOPPER MAULS

Always wear safety goggles.

Never drive one maul by striking with another maul, sledge or other striking tool.

Never use this tool in striking concrete.

Never use a maul with loose or damaged handle.

Mauls are designed for splitting wood. Do not use mauls for any other purposes.

Also they are used in conjunction with wood splitting wedges by first making a notch with the splitting edge and then driving the wedge with the maul's striking face.

WOOD SPLITTING WEDGES

Always wear safety goggles.

These wedges are designed for splitting logs, firewood, staves, and other wood products.  Do not use wedges for any other purpose. Always use woodchoppers' maul or axe to make a starting notch.  Wedges should be struck with a sledge or woodchoppers' maul having a larger face than the wedge.

AXES

Always wear safety goggles.

Never strike against metal, stone, or concrete.

Never strike chisels, punches, rock drills or other hardened metal tools.
Never use an axe as a wedge or a maul.

Never strike with sides of the axe.

Never use an axe with loose or damaged handle.

The double bit axe is usually used to fell, trim or prune trees and to split and cut wood. It is also used for notching and shaping logs and timbers.  The single bit axe, in addition to the above uses, is used to drive wood stakes with the face. Do not use axes for any other purposes.

Consult the Hand Tools Institute for additional important information.