"Mike Hammer" debuted on TV this day in 1984. The show featured a gritty streetwise detective. Taken from the pages of Mickey Spillane novels, Mike Hammer was a heavy hitter who always supported the little guy. Ever try to drive a nail into a springy board? That's right, you can't, unless you've got solid support behind it. Sort of like Mike Hammer. In this case we recommend using a sledgehammer. Next time you nail fence pickets to a cross rail or tack thin boards onto a flimsy trellis, hold the head of a sledgehammer up against the back side, then nail through the wood on top. The sledgehammer will support the boards, absorb the blows and prevent movement -- allowing you to drive your nails without bouncing. Why call in an expensive detective like Mike Hammer when you've got "sledgehammer helper" for backup? Did we drive home our point? And that's the On The House tip for today.