Art Webb wrote on 07/19/15 at 07:43:40:using a claw hammer to beat on hard metal tools or parts, like you do a ball peen, can lead to chipping of the hammer's striking surface, which is potentially dangerous
i had shrapnel in the knuckle of my right ring finger for about 20 years from hitting two hammers together trying to pull nails as a kid. never caused problems, just an obvious knot that i finally decided to get cut out before it did do something as i got older.