How many beers deep do you get before you start missing the nails?

Those marks usually have nothing to do with how many beers someone had and everythign to do with a tight fit or a new tool. If you’re seeing deep waffle patterns right next to the nails, it’s almost a gaurantee that the guy was using his hammer as a **persuader** rather than a driver. When a stud is cut an eighth of an inch too long or a header is tight, you aren't aiming for a nail; you’re trying to blast that lumber into place so it sits flush on the line.

A fresh **milled face** is aggressive. If you’re swinging a 21-ounce steel head or even a lighter titanium rig, those teeth are designed to bite into the nail head so it doesn't slip. When you miss or use the face to shift a board sideways, it’s going to chew up the wood fibers instantly. It’s a common rookie move to keep swinging when a board is obviously binding, but even seasoned guys do it when they’re in a rush and don't want to pull the board back to the saw.

There's also the adjustment period that comes with switching tools. I remember when I first switched to a Stiletto; the balance is so diffrent from a traditional heavy steel Estwing that I was leaving tracks for the first two days. You think you know where that head is landing, but the swing speed is faster because of the weight distribution. It takes a minute to recalibrate your aim. And honestly, half the time those nails were prolly shot in with a pneumatic gun. If the gun didn't sink the nail all the way or the stud moved during the blast, you grab the hammer to finish the job or knock the stud back to your layout mark. If the wood is stubborn, you end up with those marks. It’s ugly, but as long as the crown is right and the wall is plumb, the drywall covers alot of sins.

That explanation about the "persuader" move makes so much sense. I honestly thougt my buddy was just a klutz. Since I'm just starting out, shold I avoid those milled face hammers? I've seen some guys at the store swear by smooth faces to keep the lumber clean, but I'm worried about the head slipping off the nail and hitting my thumb. Is it better to have the grip of a waffle head even if it leaves those tracks, or is a smooth face better until I get my swing down?

Stick with the milled face for framing. If you’re worried about your thumbs, you’re prolly holding the nail too close to the head. Hold it near the bottom and let the hammer do the work.

If you do decide to go with a smooth face to keep the lumber clean, rub the head on some concrete or hit it with coarse sandpaper first. It scuffs the polish off and gives you just enugh grip so the hammer doesn't skip off the nail head. Once you get your swing down, those tracks will disappear anyway.