does anybody use a hammer to install instead of a mallet????

i've been using a titanium hammer for pre finish for the last 6 years and sometimes a lixie for unfinish . seems with a mallet you hit too many times to get the planks in .

I use both but you don't want to hit the gun with a regular hammer so I'm not going to keep switching tools. I use the hammer if the board is really fighting me. The mallet gets used for about 95% of the install.

hitting the bostitch with a hammer doesn't hurt it , hitting it for years , never broke from that. 60 oz mallet has more force. but don't hit the new primatech's , the rubber is very thin on the head.

I was always told you could bend the shaft using a regular hammer.

Most of the guys around here still use manual nailers and the recoil from the rubber mallets and being able to use it to your advantage is what separates the guys who are good and not so good. It doesnt take a lot of force through the entire swing, just at the hit or just before accelerating your wrist at the right time does all the work. Its the one inch punch if your into bruce lee. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx9iPFMriz0

Kevin are you kidding me? I had an old powernail 45, that thing would kill my arm lol. Must be young kids installing over there. Us older gentlemen use the newer pneumatic ones.

I'll use a hammer to tap boards together sometimes. But I do not use a hammer on my floor nailers.