
7.7 The sum of the parts is greater than the whole
The venerable claw hammer has been a part of the carpenter’s trade for about
as long as we have had nails. Used for both driving nails and pulling them, it
combines two utility functions on a single wooden handle. Some claw ham
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mers may have improved handles or tempered steel claws, but the basic idea is
still the same. The idea has stood the test of time.
Or has it?
Most professional carpenters still use claw hammers today, but the ham
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mer’s turf is being challenged by new technologies. The hammer is no longer
the best tool for the job, only a convenient substitute. For instance, nail guns
have outpaced ...