A cross peen Hammer is a specialized metalworking tool that replaces the ball peen with one side of the head tapering into a narrow horizontal edge. It is used to shape metal with a concentrated force that spreads quickly to make metal fuller, especially used with heat in blacksmithing applications. A cross peen hammer is also used for stone and masonry demolition work.
A soft-face hammer, also called a nylon-head hammer, has dual heads made out of soft materials such as plastic, brass, copper, aluminum, wood, rubber, or even rawhide. The soft materials help to drive nails or flatten and shape materials without damaging, marking up, or scratching surfaces. Some models come with different replaceable heads with varying degrees of hardness. Use soft-face hammers for working on wires or delicate metals. Many jewelry makers use soft-faced hammers to shape metal pieces, for example.
A dead blow hammer is like a mallet but it is designed to prevent the hammer from bouncing as it strikes the surface. The typically circular head is filled with sand or steel shot which absorbs the blow without losing the striking force. This powerful hammer helps pound a nail in a tight location where force is essential, taking out small dents in wood and metal, forming metal, or breaking up small areas of concrete, asphalt, or glass.
A tack hammer has a 10-inch long wooden handle and a small, lightweight head used for tapping small tacks and nails into cabinetry, trim, and upholstery. The heads may have various designs. One side of the head may have a magnetic face for holding or gathering small nails and tacks to make it easier for picking them up while the other side is plain to drive them in flush. Or one side could have a claw to remove nails and tacks.
A finish hammer has a smooth face and is lightweight, around 10 to 16 ounces. The hammer is used to drive small finish nails into trim or smaller wood projects. It's designed so that the wall or surface is not marked when driving the nails.
Whether you are tackling a demolition project around the home, breaking up concrete , or driving stakes into the ground outside, a sledgehammer is a heavy-duty tool that is useful to have around. These tools are much larger than a standard hammer, with handles that range from 2 to 3 feet in length and heavy heads that weigh 10 to 20 pounds. To get the full benefit of a sledgehammer, users need to let the weight of the head do most of the work, otherwise, you may tire yourself out in a hurry.
A mallet is a type of hammer that is used for shaping metal, driving chisels, or fitting wooden dowels without damaging the surface of the wood. These hammers can have wooden or metal heads for more heavy-duty jobs, like metalworking, but a mallet may also have a rubber head that is excellent for striking soft objects, like wood, without leaving marks or indents behind.
Similar to a sledgehammer, but smaller, club hammers are also known as drilling hammers because they are used to drive chisels and punches. Club hammers usually have a flat face on one side and a wedge peen on the opposite side and they can also be used for rounding rivets, shaping metalworking projects, or even during the metal forging process.
While club hammers can be used for rounding off the edges of rivets, a better option is a ball peen hammer, which is also known as a machinist's hammer. These hammers have a flat face that is ideal for striking punches and driving chisels. They also have a rounded face that is very useful for metalworking projects. It can also be used to remove bricks without causing damage.
Similar to a claw hammer, a framing hammer features the same convex face and claw as a claw hammer, but it is about twice as heavy. The reason for this oversized design is that framing hammers are used for driving long, thick framing nails into tough studs and beams and can even be used for concrete . The weight allows the user to strike with greater force than if they were using a standard claw hammer.
One of the most recognizable tools is the standard claw hammer. It has a slightly convex striking face and a split claw for pulling nails. Most homes will have a claw hammer buried somewhere in a toolbox, workshop, or garage, but if you don't, it's recommended to pick up one of these essential tools for common household tasks, like hanging picture frames.
How to Choose a Hammer
Ask yourself what the hammer will be used for. Demolition requires a sledgehammer or even a club hammer but when working with sheet metal, a ball peen hammer or mallet is the way to go. However, if you need to build the framework to finish a room in the home, then a framing hammer can drive nails with more force than a standard claw hammer.
Is There a More Suitable Tool?
Sometimes it's tempting to just grab whatever you have on hand to get the job done, but if there is a tool that is better suited to the task, then it's recommended to use the more appropriate tool. For instance, a standard claw hammer can be used to pry wood boards, but a pry bar is designed for this purpose, so it's better to go with the pry bar than take more time and effort with a claw hammer.
Keep in mind the frequency with which the tool will be used. Standard claw hammers, framing hammers, and even sledgehammers tend to have a lot of uses around the home but this may not be the case with a ball peen hammer or mallet. Consider whether you will use the hammer frequently enough that investing in a new hammer makes sense, or if you have a suitable alternative on hand that can fill in when necessary.
Buying Considerations for Hammers
Before deciding on a hammer to add to your toolbox, it's important to understand what features to look for and the product factors that should be considered.
Face
The face of a hammer is the part used for striking an object, like a nail or a piece of metal. Hammer faces differ based on the type of hammer, but they can also have special features like a patterned or textured surface that helps to prevent glancing blows. The textured face grips the head of the nail as the hammer strikes, preventing the face of the hammer from sliding off the head of the nail.
Convex hammer faces are common on claw hammers for finishing work, while a ball peen hammer has one completely flat face, and a significantly rounded face for shaping metal. You can also find hammers with broad faces that are intended for hammering chisels or demolition work.
Handle
One of the most important parts of a hammer is the handle. The user needs to grip the handle with either one or both hands to apply force through the head of the hammer and into the target object. Handles come in three common materials, including wood, fiberglass, and steel.
Weight and Length
Swinging a hammer is relatively easy, but after a significant number of strikes, the weight of a hammer can quickly tire you out. Consider the weight of the hammer head and the length of the handle. Some hammer heads can weigh as little as 8 ounces, but other hammers may have heads that weigh up to 20 pounds.
When a user swings the head of the hammer on an arc, the head reaches the top of the arc, and the weight of the head pulls the hammer down, increasing the force of the strike. This force is further increased by lengthening the handle to create a larger parabolic arc and a faster head swing. Just keep in mind that as the length of the hammer and the weight of the hammer increases, the amount of control required to swing the hammer also increases.
To get the best results for your project, choose a hammer with a balanced weight and length that can provide enough momentum to generate a significant amount of force without requiring too much effort to control the swing.
Cost
When it comes to the cost of a hammer, you won't need to worry about spending thousands of dollars on a new addition to the toolbox. Hammers can cost as little as $10 or range to as much as $300 for large, heavy-duty sledgehammers. Prices can fluctuate based on the type of hammer, handle material, weight, length, grip, and even more specialized features like a textured face can impact the price.
Keep in mind that while you can find hammers at a very low price, this price often reflects the quality of the tool, so if the price seems too good to be true, then it's likely that the tool was made with cheap material or it may be shoddily constructed. Hammers aren't expensive. Spend the extra $20 or $50 to ensure you get a high-quality product.
FAQ
Why do the nails keep bending when hammering?
If the nail is getting bent every time you swing the hammer, it's an indication that the hammer isn't hitting the nail straight on. Instead, the curve of your swing is causing the hammer to hit the nail at a slight angle. Go slow and make minor adjustments until you find the right angle, then drive the nail in.
What is a hammer used for?
Hammers have many different purposes, including general carpentry, framing, nail pulling, furniture assembly, metal shaping, and demolition. However, not every type of hammer is suited to every purpose, so make sure to choose the right hammer for the task.
Do hammers wear out?
While a hammer is a strong, durable tool that can last for many years if it is properly stored and maintained, these tools do wear out over time. Signs that you need a new hammer include chips or dents in the head, a warped hammer neck, and a torn, cracked, or otherwise damaged handle.