Hammers Buying Guide

Hammers are a helpful tool for many different projects: hanging picture frames  on walls, fixing broken furniture,  or any number of other activities. For important jobs, or for around the house repairs,  there are a lot of different hammers to choose from. Some are better suited for certain projects than others, so figure out which primary projects you need a hammer for, and choose the best hammer that works for most or all of those projects.

Contents [Hide] 1 Different Kinds of Hammers 2 Related Guides 3 Related Products

 

Different Kinds of Hammers

Nail Hammers  Basic hammer for hammering nails. Also known as a claw hammer.  The claw at the back is used to remove nails from surfaces, not unlike a crowbar. There are two types: a fully metal hammer, and a hammer with a wooden handle.  Both work great. These hammers can be used with many different materials, but are best suited for basic carpentry work.

Framer's Hammer  This hammer is used for woodworking as well, as it is generally suited for home building and heavy lumber work. The head of the hammer is very heavy, while the handle is very long.  This gives it extra force when hammering. The business end of the hammer head has a grid work pattern on it, so that nails will mesh easier. The claw on the back of the head is used for removing nails, but without the severe curve of the nail hammer claw, it is a little more difficult to pry the nails out.

Ball Peen Hammers  These are best suited for metalwork, but will work with most materials. Also known as a ball pane hammer.  The head is heavy, with a rounded back to the head. The rounded back, or the peen, is used in metalwork for a process called peening.

Mallet  A mallet is a hammer with a very large head. A mallet can be made from many different materials, the most popular are rubber, wooden, copper, and rawhide. Mallets can be used for many different activities, such as camping with rubber mallets, or metalwork with rawhide ones. The softer the material, the fewer marks are left from the mallet striking a surface.

Sledgehammer  A sledgehammer is a hammer with a very large head and a very long handle. This can be used when working on housing projects and breaking through barriers.  They're perfect for farm work as well. Sledgehammers are great for breaking or moving large objects, as well as fixing old railroads. Sledgehammers have not changed a lot since the 19th century--they are that timeless.

Tack Hammers  Also called an upholstery hammer.  It is a lightweight tool featuring two thin and elongated heads. This tool is generally used to attach fabric to furniture.

Masonry Hammers  There are quite a few different types of hammers suited for masonry. The most popular hammers for masonry are bricklayers hammers, mason's club hammer, mason's bush hammer, and mason's straight peen hammers. All of these are proven to work well for masonry projects.

Related Guides

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