The Most Useful Tool

Over the years, no, over the centuries, there have been long, hard passionate debates about that Eternal question - “What is the Engineers Most Useful Tool”.

After a huge amount of research, countless interviews, practical demonstrations and dialogue, (not really , but it makes for a better start to the article) I can say without fear of contradiction that -

The Engineers Most Useful Tool Is the………..wait for it ……drum roll…… ………..HAMMER

After making such a bold statement, there is now a need to justify this claim For the majority of engineers across all disciplines there will not be a need for justification because they will immediately jump to the same conclusion.

However there will inevitably be a small percentage of Doubting Thomas’s, so please read on

Ever since the first stone age cave man picked up a rock to use as a knocking implement, we have been addicted.

The early hand held rocks where superseded by the mark 2 model which employed a handle strapped to the rock with vines (or a similar material). For all intents and purposes, the basic concept, shape and mode of operation of the manual hammer has not changed. Along the way we have developed various forms of power operated hammers, but the design of the hand held hammer has proven to be so good that it could not be improved on.

The manually operated hammer, has been a basic tool used by all civilisations throughout history.

We are still able to enjoy and admire much of what the hammer has produced.

For example, the skill of the stonemasons, those craftsmen who used the hammer and chisel to sculpt such intricate decoration for their buildings

Then there was the medieval blacksmith, who shaped the lifestyle of his time with a skilful pounding of hammer against anvil to manufacture everything from horse shoes for the farmer to chain mail armour for the knights. Many fine examples of the Smithy’s art can still be seen today

Then the industrial revolution brought us power driven hammers which where used to shape and form steel on a scale never before envisaged

Not only has the hammer proven to be such an invaluable tool, the hammer has been brought into mainstream usage probably more than any other engineering implement.

Trini Lopez was renowned for hammering all day long. XX was nicknamed “The Hammer of the Scots”

We love to bring the hammer into our vocabulary in numerous ways. Getting very drunk is often referred to as getting “hammered”. In sport, we will “hammer” the opposition and hope that they don’t “hammer” us