In baseball, it's three strikes and you're out. With tools that strike, who knows how many strikes before the end? This goes for log-splitting wedges, cold chisels or any of the struck tools often found in homeowner tool boxes. These tools can be dangerous if they are not maintained properly. Here's why: as they are struck repeatedly, the surface of the metal head "mushrooms" out and spreads -- forming a lip or ridge around the edge. After more strikes and more spreading, this metal lip thins, splits and curls Eventually one good strike will break it off and send it flying like a piece of shrapnel. But the preventive fix is easy. As the metal head spreads and thins, grind off the edges on a regular basis and the projectile hazard will no longer exist. And that's the On The House tip for today.