Abstract: A hand held tool for locating a tack strip proximate a wall includes a metal plate shaped to provide a head having an extending handle for manually gripping the tool. The head has a narrow edge surface which is slotted and sharpened for receiving and holding a tack strip in transverse relation to the head. The head has a spacing gage adjustably mounted thereon which projects frontally for abuttment with the wall. One embodiment of the spacing gage has a projecting end shaped to serve as an awl for locating and starting anchor nails in the tack strip.