Most home toolboxes should have a hammer or two for pounding fasteners into wood . But before you start drop money , it ’s important that you take the time to familiarize yourself with the manytypes of hammersavailable .
What Is a Hammer?
A hammer is a simple tool design to manually push nails , brad , and other fasteners into softer materials , such as wood or wallboard . A hammer has a head and a handgrip , or shaft . The components of the forefront count on the type and economic consumption of the power hammer , but most have a face that strikes the fastener behind the bell and neck , which holds the grip .
The paired final stage of the top dog may have a furcate nail - puller ( called a chela pounding ) or a peen ( small face for force back PIN or sheet ) . Most construction and house hammers are claw power hammer with heads count 7 , 10 , 13 , 16 , or 20 ounces .
Types of Hammers
hammer do n’t enjoy as much mixture as screwdrivers , but there are still a variety of hammer type design to befit very specific jobs . These long-wearing prick do indeed total in a variety show of size , and are made out of all sorts of stuff , reckon on the job .
From the received chela hammer to more specialized brick hammer , there really is a lot of kind in this infinite . Below , we ’ll take a brief look at the most common hammer type available today .
Claw Hammer
Claw hammers are as uncouth astoolscome . Named after the two - pronged claw dominating one side of the hammer head , claw hammer ( also known as framing hammers ) , are just as good at drive nail into wood as it is at pulling nail open .
Most are made of forged steel , and double as pry bars for pluck out nail and break away down wooden crate and boxes .
Ball Peen Hammer
Often called a shop mechanic ’s mallet , ball peen hammer have two distinct hammer heads , both contrive for striking . The first is a traditional matt expression , while the other is rounded .
The ball peen hammer is used to peen alloy , which is when a metalworker repeatedly expunge a surgical incision of welded metallic element to improve the strength of the joint . you could also employ a ball peen hammer to round off the edges of metallic element surfaces [ source : Abasco putz ] .
Cross Peen Hammer
A cross peen hammer is another construction site staple , except this one features a " blade " instead of a rounded head .
The horizontal steel , or cross peen , can be needlelike or rounded , and is used in all sort of practical program program include woodworking , Freemasonry , and metalworking .
Tack Hammer
weather sheet hammers are for jobs that demand diplomacy and precision . Often call a Swiss style miniskirt hammer , the tack hammer features a small , flat head and a narrow-minded pointed end .
These small tools are most often used in the fields of cabinetry and upholstery , which expend small nails and tacks , and require much less force .
Sledge Hammer
A sledge mallet is gruelling to hide out . They are well the largest and heaviest of the total hammer family . Designed to maximise the amount of force , sledge hammers have a threatening double - sided steel head that ’s attached to a handgrip that can get as foresightful as 3 feet in distance .
Club Hammer
Club hammers are essentially just smaller sledge hammers . Most of them are made up of wooden handles and heavy , double - sided steel mallet head designed to destroy objects or repulse in big stakes or cold chisels . They are much easier to handle than their larger sidekick , but are better suited for modest scale projects .
Dead Blow Hammer
if you ’ve ever drop any time around an self-propelled garage then you ’ve likely encounter dead C hammers , which is really just a type of golosh mallet [ informant : Hearst Autos Gear Team ] .
These golosh mallets are predominantly used to set up hubcaps , complete body work , and dislodge tough - to - sack parts .
Drywall Hammer
You ’ve in all probability never encountered a drywall hammer , unless of course you ’ve spent a lot of clip installing and tearing down drywall .
These specialised cock include a specialised pounding head for nail , and a tomahawk - like face for pass water rough cuts to pieces of dry wall .
Brick Hammer
Brick hammers , often called mason ’s hammers , feature a two - sided head with a traditional flat face on one side and a chisel on the other .
These precision masonry tools are used shape stone and cut brick without the need for a outdoor stage alone chisel . geologist also use a brick pound to gather tilt andmineral samples .
How to Safely Use a Hammer
To safely use a claw power hammer , pick out the weightiness appropriate to the fastening to be strike . A 7- , 10- , or 13 - ounce hammer is enough for tacks , brads , and small ending nail ; 16- and 20 - oz. hammers are used for framing and roofing with 8 - d ( eight cent ) nails or larger [ root : Center for Protection of Worker ’s Rights ] .
Firmly grasp the lower one-half of the handle , slowly swing the head side , and advert the fastener head squarely to determine trajectory . Make certain your hand will not be strike by the pound promontory or handle . Then swing the hammering with more force to motor the head into the woods . Continue strike the fastener head squarely to drive it into the fabric .
How to Maintain a Hammer
No maintenance is required for hammer . The head of a woods - handled pound can be replaced ; replacement grip and installment wedge are available at larger hardware stores .
Tools Related to the Hammer
Other utilitarian dick for attaching fasteners let in pneumatic nailers , staple shooter , andscrewdrivers .
