Claw Hammers

The color of a hammer is simply not important to most women. Blue hammers, brown hammers, pink hammers… who cares? You want a hammer that works, a hammer that will last.

Any hammer will do the job. After all, a hammer is a hammer. Right?

Well, yes, but…

Take a look at the hammer display at any hardware store, and you will see right away that hammers are different. And where are the tools for women? Most of the hammers on the rack are designed for the larger hands of men!

And that is just the beginning. For example, some hammers have…

- Curved claws.

- Straight claws.

- No claws.

- Too big.

- Not big enough.

- Small faces.

- Some are too light.

- Some are too heavy.

- Some are too long.

- Wooden handles that break and splinter.

- Some have an awkward or slippery grip.

So how do you decide which hammer is the right one for you?

Consider These Things When You Buy A Pink Hammer, or Any Pink Tools For Women:

First – Don’t compromise quality.

You want to own good, solid tools for women that do what they are supposed to do. You want hand tools that will last. High-quality pink hammers cost no more than ordinary hammers, and the color helps you find them when you need them.

Second – Recognize what you really need a hammer for.

If you do specialized jobs such as roofing or dry-wall or build cabinets, you need specialized hammers. However, you are probably not doing major construction or major demolition. So you probably don’t have a need for exotic specialty hammers designed for a single purpose.

In fact, you don’t even need a hammer every day, only once in a while. Around your home, you’ll use your pink hammer for basic, simple, occasional light repairs and craft projects.

So what you really need is a basic, all-purpose, get-the-job-done pink hammer. You’ll find that one hammer will handle nearly every hammer-chore in your life, those everyday jobs that come up when you just need a basic, quality hammer.

Third – Get a strong, rugged hammer that is comfortable for you.

Pink hammers for women and other ladies pink hand tools should fit your hand comfortably.

- Comfortable grip means better control of the tool. – Better control of the tool leads to better results. – Better control gives you more confidence. – More confidence helps you do your task more safely.

If You Could Only Have One Pink Hammer In Your Pink Tool Kit…

I recommend you get a basic, middle-weight (about 13-ounce), curved-claw, all-purpose pink hammer ergonomically designed for women. Here’s why…

- It is light enough and small enough to hang pictures and curtain rods.

- It is heavy enough to drive large nails.

- It has a comfortable non-slip handle designed for women’s hands.

- It has a curved claw (instead of a straight claw) that makes it easier to remove nails or pry things.

You may discover you also need a second hammer for other projects. Many women find the 13-ounce pink hammer is the best, all-purpose pink hammer in their pink tool kit, and they will buy a lighter, smaller 8-ounce pink hammer, for the smaller projects that need a lighter touch.

Finally, why choose a pink hammer, when color doesn’t matter?

Pink tools are less likely to be borrowed by men, who tend to forget to return tools they borrow. A pink hammer is therefore more likely to be right there in your pink tool kit for women, right where you left it, ready for you when you need it.

Plus, ladies pink tools are easier to find in a messy junk drawer!

Lisa teaches women about pink tools designed for women at her main site – Pink Tools For Women She sells Tomboy Tools® as an independent demonstrator. These quality pink tools for women are available online and through home tool parties. These parties are fun and profitable, and are an especially good business for WAHMs (work-at-home-moms).

Copyright 2010 – Lisa Lombardo. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all the links active, do not edit the article in any way, give Lisa Lombardo full name credit as author.

People that eat Alaskan seafood know that they are getting a product from cleaner waters, harvested under more ethical rules than would otherwise be the case, and that is knowledge that a customer enjoys having. Hence, the spectacular success of the crabbing and fishing industry in general in the state.

The best crabs to come out of Alaska–at least in terms of popularity–would have to be the gigantic king crab and the smaller but sweeter dungeness crab. The hunting season for the king crab is very short, with the bulk of the catch coming in between October and January. The dungeness crab season, on the other hand, goes from December through June. Though these are the times to get them fresh at the market, they are both sold frozen and canned throughout the year.

When it comes to cooking crabs, there are plenty of dungeness crab recipes for you to choose from, but be sure to use plenty of boiling water or a large steam pot. Under cooked crab can always be put back in for a second longer, but over cooked crab isn’t salvageable at all, so don’t forget that you’ve got them in there. A rough time measure of ten minutes per pound is generally a good amount, though with experience you’ll be able to handle variations in sizes well, and not under cook the large ones or over cook the small ones.

Though many people enjoy the process of opening up the crab themselves at the table (a true crab feast), for a tidier dinner remove the carapace yourself and rinse out the meat and remaining part of the shell. Remove gills and jaws and serve up what remains, possibly split in half to accommodate for space. Serve with small hammers for the legs, or nut-crackers, as well as a small poking utensil to extract the meat (the point of a claw works well in this function).

Generally, both are served fresh from the pot, with some butter and lemon juice as a minimal accompaniment to the already strongly-flavored crab meat. However, both of these crustaceans are given to greater elaboration, and dungeness crab recipes are especially diverse given the incredible, incomparable sweetness of the flesh. Whichever one of the many dungeness crab recipes you choose, your guests are sure to love the result.

Interested in learning more about fishing in Alaska? You’ll find great bios of some of the state’s most famous fishermen at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute.

Will you be remodeling an old bathroom in an old school looking home? Then there is a high chance that you will find cast iron bathtubs inside it. So before you get your hands into the total renovation, then you must consider to explore all your possible options first.

The bathtub can really be a special part of any bathroom but if they look really old and dirty, then they can be a great eyesore as well. The older type of tubs can really endure long despite heavy usage but they eventually show their true colors that can be unpleasant.

The cast iron bathtubs can really weigh a lot, around 200 to 300 pounds. They are also not so easy to dislodge since they are attached to various studs and some are even framed hard. Some already sledge hammers just to tear them to pieces and start the renovation.

This is also the perfect time to think whether you would also replace the existing tiles. Most likely, when you hate the old, worn out look of the cast tub, you would want to already replace everything in its entirety. And besides, it would be hard not to damage the tiles in the process of you taking off the tub.

The cast iron bathtubs can really be a good match to a home that carries a theme of an old-charm, country look. So it would be a bit difficult to find the right replacement for your old tub that would still be a match to the old theme of your home.

There are cast iron replica tubs which can be very costly nowadays when you research over the net. Hence, it is equally important that you consider also your allotted budget for this particular change in your home before you even move on the next step.

So, if you are the one who is running on a strict budget, which is understandable these days, you can just consider refinishing your cast iron bathtubs instead of buying a new one. Majority of these old tubs can really be helped with some brand new look with the help of some acrylic urethane resin coat.

It is recommended that you get the aid of a professional in doing this so that it would work out properly. The bright, new finish of your tub can last for a decade or two but most of the refinishing companies only offer five-year warranties.

Above is all I want to share with you about cast iron bathtubs. But for more information, I would strongly recommend you to go to http://www.bathroomreports.com.

If there is ever a moment that you need to physically defend yourself, I say don’t hesitate. Fight back. It could save your life. Many physical attacks have been averted because the victim fought back. Statistics indicate that the woman who fights has a greater chance of survival and getting away then a woman who does not resist. If a man is out to attack you, he is out to do you harm anyway. Fighting him will surprise him and because he wants to get away with the least amount of resistance in many cases he will let go of you to escape himself. An attacker doesn’t like a lot of noise, so make a lot of it. Yell as long and hard as you can. Say things that will attract attention.

“HELP HE’S ATTACKING ME!” – “I DON’T KNOW HIM!! HE’S TRYING TO KIDNAP ME! SOMEBODY HELP ME” – “CALL THE POLICE HE’S HURTING ME!” “HELP ME THIS MAN IS FOLLOWING ME!”

If you are in a public place and you are aware that someone is following you or trailing you. Look fully at his face. Make sure that he knows you see him. Say in a very loud voice “I SEE YOU. LEAVE ME ALONE NOW.” “POLICE!! POLICE!!” He will think twice about jumping you. Also if you are alone and you feel someone is following you don’t get yourself cornered. Get into an open place, a public place, near people or a person. If you can ask someone to walk you to your car or train take the company and assistance. Again it could mean the difference between being vulnerable alone or avoiding attack with the company of someone else.

These are some of the suggestions to avoid attack. They may sound obvious but they are for your reference. Avoid going to dark places by yourself if you can. Go with someone when you can. If there is a lit place or a light, stand under it. Move away from someone who is trying to corner you or crowd you, but don’t move to a place that could be more dangerous for you. For instance don’t move closer to the tracks of a train, if you don’t know what this person is capable of doing. Be aware of who is around you and how many are there. Be aware of people and how they are dressed. Be aware of erratic behavior such as drunkenness, hostility, or confrontational behavior. Be aware of alliances, even if a man is not near someone doesn’t mean that they are not a part of a team. There will be signs of connection if you observe long enough. You will see interaction that they are trying to disguise; you will see signals to each other or looks. But if something starts to go down, they will make their alliance known. They will come after you together. Also don’t assume that just because you see a woman with a man that they cannot be a threat to you. Many times women can be the lure, and when you drop your guard, and then for many reasons, mostly to please the man that they are with, will let the man attack you or they will attack you together. There are lots of Bonnie and Clyde types out there. Just be aware of alliances.

Other suggestions: Don’t open your purse in public; prepare your money or keys before you leave a place. Carry a key firmly between your two fingers and your thumb with the pointed end exposed. If you are being cornered don’t blindly run. Before you go in any direction know if there is an exit or a dead end. When you walk, be aware of the environment. Doorways that someone can hide in, aisle ways, hidden entrances, and natural landmasses that could deter you or is a potential hiding place for someone. Also be aware of places that have people that can help you. Are there corner stores that stay open late, restaurants, Fire stations, Police Stations. Be aware of call boxes and really observe if they are working or not. If you need to make a cell phone call, be aware of landmarks to give some good directions. If you carry a purse, it is better for you if your purse has compartments, and you always keep your things in the purse in the same place. Then when you need your wallet, your cell phone, keys or lipstick you can retrieve it with a momentary glance down or without looking down at all. An organized person is less of a mark or target than a disorganized person. A person who is focused and aware is also less likely to be a victim or a target than a woman who is spacey and distracted. Walk with purpose and direction, not like you don’t know where you are going. Have routes plotted out to your home, and school or store etc. But also have alternative safe routes, be prepared to change direction in a moment if need be. The point is if you know a few ways to get somewhere you can take decisive action and not run blindly.

If you are attacked be prepared to fight until you have no more strength left in your body or until he is unconscious. There are three main areas that a man is particular vulnerable his groin, his eyes and his knees. If someone is attacking you, punch, kick, knee, grab, hit, squeeze, strike, claw him or even bite him in his private parts until you can get free. If he drops to his knees from the blow, strike him in the eyes, or grab the back of his head and knee him in the face, or make fists with both hands and drop them on his head as hard as you can until he falls down. Kick him or punch him repeatedly in the groin area. If you go after his eyes, try to claw them out, or squeeze your hands and fingers together like a bird beak and jab your hands and fingers hard into his eyes. Be prepared that he will lash out at you with his fists or available hand.

Brace yourself for any strikes or hits that he may throw at you. But don’t stop, your life is on the line! If he is attempting to hit you in the head or face with something like a hammer or a stick or hard object, cover your head with your arms and your hands. Keep your arms moving over your head to prevent damage to your head and face. It is better to receive hits on the arm than to your face or head. Kick him with your feet or knee him in the groin while he is attacking you. If you can’t reach his groin kick his knee hard with your heel. Keep kicking him until he releases you. If he knocks you down, curl your legs up to your body and keep your arms and fists by your face to protect your head and face. Look at your target and then really kick out your feet into one of his knees as hard as you can or if you can reach his groin. Forget about trying to reach his head or face, he may grab your legs or feet if you kick out at his face. Land solid blows or strikes to his knees, groin, and his eyes. If you bring him down, also don’t stop now, go on the offensive. Go after him moving with your feet first. Close in on his head or his groin and use your feet like hammers or an ax and chop downward with your heel into his head or his groin repeatedly wherever he is exposed. Jab your hands into his eyes. Don’t think that just because he is down that he will not get up again. Don’t think that just because you kicked him in the groin once that he will not be able to get up again. He may be so enraged that he throws off the pain to come after you. So keep on the offensive until he stops, or he is unconscious, or that you can break away and get help.

Even though you are unarmed you are not defenseless. Think of everything that you are holding as a potential tool or weapon. You can catch him by surprise. Even a rolled up newspaper or magazine, can become something of substance if used right. The end of a rolled up magazine or newspaper can be jabbed into his groin area. Your purse can also be slammed into his groin. A wooden umbrella handle can cause some pain if jabbed into his groin. A broach pin can be jabbed into his eye. A pen or a key can be jabbed into his groin or his eye. If you are wearing high heels, or a shoe with a strong heel, stomp on the instep of his foot. Slam a book or a briefcase into his groin. If he picks you up off the ground, from behind, elbow him repeatedly into his ribs, kick your heel back into his knees or kick up into his groin. Bite him on his hands. Use your hands like fist and slam your fist down and backwards into his groin area, or up and back into his nose. Use your hands like claws and make your hand firm in that claw and throw the hand back and down into his groin as hard as you can. Be aware of everything that you might be able to use. If you get a hold of an object that is hard like a rock don’t throw it at him, because you may miss and not have another chance with it. Instead hold it firmly in your hand and when he comes at you smash it against his nose, or smash it into his groin. Hold onto the rock because after the first blow, he may not become unconscious, and he may try to use it on you. Don’t give him any advantage. You be ready to use your tool or weapon again until he stops, or the tool becomes a hindrance rather than a help to you.

Even if he manages to get you down on the ground the situation is not lost. Keep your wits about you and your focus. He will expect you to fight and when you are down on the ground, you can pretend that you are cooperating, and then when he is sees that you are not resisting, he begins to ease up, then you twist your body out of his grab, roll onto your stomach, get your legs free, turn, look at your target and kick him either in his knee or his groin. If he is sitting on top of your chest towards your head, swing your legs up on either side of him and grab him across the chest with your legs and pull him backwards with your legs. When he falls backwards, release him with your legs, and once again go on the offensive with your feet, chopping him in the groin, or smash your feet down on his head or nose, since he is now on the ground, he will be lower and more easy to reach. If he takes you down do your best to avoid getting your hands tied or handcuffed, but if that occurs you still have your legs available. Choose your moment, and then fight with all you got. Tell him that you have AIDS or HERPES. Anything to make him think twice. Remember if he is coming after you, it’s his life or yours. His intention is bodily harm. Your intention is to escape or defend yourself, your friend or daughter. When push comes to shove this calls for no-holds bar.

There is a great self-defense course that I strongly recommend to all women. You can learn about a lot or all of the techniques that I have just described. In NYC it is called Prepare Inc, and in Boston it is called Impact Model Mugging. In NYC the phone number is 212 255- 0505.It’s website is http://www.prepareinc.com. The Boston phone number is 617 232-7900. It’s website is http://www.impactboston.com. It is a course that is designed for women to fight with everything that they have, and it simulates real attacks, from men that are heavily padded and highly trained so that they can receive your blows and strikes with full force. It simulates all sorts of scenarios such as; grabs, takedowns, one person or multiple attackers, rapes, intimidation, robbery, and even the trash talk that the attacker might say. They teach you in a safe environment with a coaching system. You are with a coach the whole way who talks you through it, and if you can’t handle the simulation, it is halted for you. They teach you how to use your body, feet, legs and voice with power, from a standing position or after you have been pulled to the ground. After the course, you know exactly how to react and what to do, and more importantly how to fight if you need to. It’s an intense 25 hour course and at this time it cost about $500.00 to $600. But you lose your fear and indecisiveness; and develop your confidence. When you finish you know that you can handle anything. It was the best course that I have ever taken and when you are old enough I would certainly enroll you. I have recommended it to my friends and sisters and students. So keep alert and remember keep this article as a reference. It could save your life. You can reach Katheryn Hoban at katscoolcorner@yahoo.com

Yoga Kat–aka Katheryn Hoban is a yoga teacher and Reiki Master Teacher with twelve years experience. She teaches children’s yoga ages 3-6, and Adults privately in NJ. She is the author of the book -Masters of Consciousness—A Guide Book for the Cosmic Traveler. She has created a children’s affirmation CD (ages 3-6) and an affirmation CD for adults. Yoga Kat is available for speaking or writing and can be reached at or 201 970-9340 http://www.thecircleofpeace.com and sign up for our newsletter and See me reading from my book on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDd_JyIActw

Hammers are one of the simplest hand tools that you need in your workshop. A basic lever, hammers can make any job easier. They seem very straightforward, and yet there are actually many different kinds of hammer, good for different purposes. Hammers come in a wide range of sizes, ready to be wielded for various objectives and projects. A great collection of hammers is essential for any workshop.

Hammers are made up of two parts – the handle and the head. Additionally, most basic hammers have peens on the end made for ripping out nails. This design makes up the claw hammer, which is the one usually seen in pictures. The peen has two metal prongs that function perfectly for taking out nails. Some hammers only have one prong on their peens, and this prong functions much like a chisel for separating pieces of wood.

When choosing a hammer, start with the handle. Handles should be sturdy and feel good in your hand. Does the handle have a good grip? Try striking it. Does you hand vibrate or feel uncomfortable? You want a handle that can absorb the shock and vibrations of a few good hits. Wooden handles have always been prolific, but they are not the best at absorbing shock. They can also break after many repeat uses. Eventually, they will probably have to be replaced. Today there are other kinds of handle to choose from besides the standard wooden one. Some hammer handles are made out of metal. These sturdy handles will last forever, but they can also vibrate in your hand. Rubber grips or coatings usually make up for this deficit. Another kind of synthetic handle is the fiberglass handle. This handle combines shock absorbency and hardiness, and is one of the most popular hammer handles on the market.

The hammer head is the next thing to consider when shopping for a hammer. Notice how wide the flat striking face of the head is. How big do you want it to be? If you are going to be working on smaller projects with small nails or tacks, then you risk destroying your project, not to mention your fingers, by purchasing a head that is too big and heavy. Feel the weight of the head. It is usually between 16 and 24 ounces. That weight does not include the handle’s weight. Some hammers are much smaller, in the realm of 12 ounces. These are called tack hammers and they are quite literally used for driving in tacks or small nails. If you are a hobbyist or prefer to work on a small scale, then you might prefer one of these smaller models. They are also nicely suited for little jobs around the house. Big hammers will always make bigger jobs easier however.

Next, hold the hammer in your hand and try it out. Does the grip feel right? Can you gather enough force and velocity on the downward motion when you swing it? Is the hammer too heavy, too light, or just right?

Vince Paxton writes predominantly for http://www.insidewoodworking.com , an online site on the topic of antique tools , discount tools and various other areas. You can have a look at his observations on hand tools and antique tools at insidewoodworking.com