A hammer is among the oldest tools, and it has evolved over the years beyond simple constructions to meet the wide range of customer needs. A hammer is an important tool in mechanical operations and general purposes. The tool is used to remove scrap metal or create an impact on an object’s surface.
There is a wide range of hammers that varies in weight, size, and shape. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the various types of hammers before you make a purchase. Some modern hammers are highly specialized, and they can even handle jobs previously performed by axes.
Other types are quite versatile and enable you to perform different tasks. This article shall guide us on the various types of hammers. This information will help you make an informative decision on the type of hammer to buy.
Different Types of Hammers and Their Uses
A mechanic toolbox cannot be complete without a hammer. Hammers come in various structures, sizes, and shapes. The type of hammer you choose will depend on the operation. An average person can have two or three types of hammers in a workshop or garage.
Some of these tools are designed for versatility, while some are for special tasks. Now how do you know the type to buy? Here are the most common types of hammers and their uses:
1. Claw Hammer
A claw hammer is quite common, and it is most likely you have seen one or used one. These hammers are lightweight, and they weigh between 16 to 24 ounces. It is versatile, and you can apply it to a wide variety of tasks in any environment. It features one flat rounded side and a V-like structure on the other side for pulling nails.
The purpose of claw hammers is either removing nails or pushing pins and nails on a surface. It is designed as a lever for removing nails from the wood surface. The tool’s claw connects to the nail’s head, and with a strong wiggle, it helps to loosen and remove it. The flat side is used for hammering mails on an object or surface.
Claw Hammers are ideal for use with woodworks. However, it is not suitable for hard hammering on metal objects or surfaces. The handles of different claw hammer types are made of metal, wood, or fiberglass, sometimes covered with rubber.
2. Cross Pein Hammer
Cross Pein is also known as cross peen hammers. It is one of the auto-body hammer types. The peen in these handles is perpendicular to the handle. These hammers are not the typical types that we find in households. The use of this hammer depends on its weight which influences its head’s strength.
Cross-peen hammers come in different styles, sizes, and weights. The German style is the most common. It features a centered and balanced peen. Its overall shape is functional and minimalistic, making it ideal for a wide range of projects. The other cross-peen styles include the French cross-peen and Swedish cross-peen hammers.
3. SledgeHammer
Just like we said before, Sledgehammers look like club hammers, but they are much larger. Their handles are longer, and they weigh about 15 pounds. Some of the versions have smaller weights, but not like club hammers. Sledgehammers are demolition-specific.
Sledgehammers are of many types. They include dead blow, soft steel hammers, and machinists. Machinist has a downward-angled steelhead making it ideal for striking or splitting objects. Deadblow is a specialized hammer designed for partial demolition. This tool can strike with precision, and provide maximum impact and minimal surface damage thanks to its unique design.
Soft steel hammers are lighter compared to other sledgehammers and weigh around 10 pounds. Their handles are thinner and more extended. Sledgehammers, unlike club hammers, are suitable for commercial works.
4. Ball Peen Hammer
Ball Peen hammers are also called mechanic or engineer hammers. They feature a round and ball-shaped head designed for shaping metal surfaces. Metalworkers use the flat face of this auto-body hammer for impacting metal to harden its density.
Most ball peens weigh between 4 ounces to 2 pounds. Their handles are made of wood or hickory. The modern versions of ball peen hammers are made with vibration-proof handles. You can also use the tool for closing rivets, metal shaping, and rounding the edges of fasteners and pins.
5. Club Hammer
Club hammers are also called lump or drilling hammers. It is the smaller version of the sledgehammer. This hammer features double-sided flat heads, just like a sledgehammer. However, it is lighter and smaller than a sledgehammer, thus easy to use with one hand.
Club hammers can be used together with steel chisels to cut metal and stones. The hammer acts as an impact tool since its head will drive the chisel deep in the metal or stone being cut. It is ideal for driving nails in masonry work and other light demolition works. It is, however, not a great choice for commercial work.
6. Joiner’s Mallet
A joiners mallet is a type of traditional wooden hammer made with a solid wood block. The hammer is useful in inserting dowels, chiseling, project assembly shops, and general-purpose pounding operations. The best thing about this mallet hammer is that it is less damaging to metal or wood compared to traditional metal hammers.
Some Joiner’s Mallet heads are covered with leather making them even safer on metal and wooden surfaces. Its wide head spreads its impact over a wider area, thus minimizing the risk of dings and dents.
7. Hatchet Hammer
This is an unusual hammer since it is a combination of a hammer and an ax. One side of the hammer is a flat head, while the other one is an ax-shaped edge. The ax-shaped edge is used for cutting. This hammer can be used in a variety of industries which include mountaineering, carpentry, and construction.
The head is ratchet hammers made with steel and carbon alloy. The hammer weighs approximately 22 ounces. The handle is, in most cases, made of hickory and is 18 inches long.
8. Electrician Hammer
The electrician hammer is a variation of a claw hammer. This hammer type is heavier compared to the normal ones. It is beneficial in driving wire staples in areas that are tight and hard to reach. One side of the electrician hammer resembles the claw, while the other side has an extended head.
The extended head of the electrician hammer helps in impacting force. Its handle is made of hard fiberglass, which absorbs shock and helps in withstanding multiple impacts. The handles are covered with rubber to insulate electricity and prevent you from electric shock.
9. Chasing Hammer
Chasing hammers are different from normal hammers. The head of the hammer has two sides. One of the sides has a rounded peen, while the other features a flat impact head. The ball side is beneficial in smoothing or peening out dents.
The flat impact head is useful in indenting or chasing the metal. These specific hammer types are mostly used in making jewelry. Its head weighs around 3 ounces, while its handle is 2 to 3 inches long.
10. Mechanics Hammer
Mechanics hammers are one tool that should not miss in a mechanic hammer set. They are used for removing dents from panels and vehicles. The hammer features a long peen with a conical die and a flat head. Mechanics use it together with a dolly to get rid of dents on a car panel.
11. Welding Hammer
The welding hammer is also known as the chipping hammer. The hammer features a vertical pein on one side and a round chisel on the other. Its handle is a unique spiral design that resembles a spring. The spiral design assists in dissipating heat while the hammer removes leftover slag from welding points.
12. Geologist Pick Hammer
This hammer is also called a geological or a rock pick hammer. One side of the geologist pick hammer is a square head, while the other side resembles the pick or a chisel. The purpose of this hammer is to break apart or split rocks. The chisel is useful in soft rock splitting, forming small holes, and removing the vegetation.
The tool is used by field geologists whose main task is to determine rocks’ composition, nature, orientation, strength, and mineralogy. Geologists also use this type of hammer for uncovering fossilized remains. It is beneficial for scaling in impromptu measurements.
13. Shingle Hammer
It is also called a roofing hammer. One side of the shingle hammer’s head is a square head, while the other is a spike head. The spiked head features a claw at the end of the spike, which helps pull out nails.
The spike in this shingle hammer also helps put nail holes in shingles and slates, which are too fragile to put in nails without an existing hole. The spikes prevent the slates and shingles from breaking and shattering.
14. Tinners Hammer
Tinners hammers feature a pointed cross pen and a square head. They are beneficial in establishing a rolled edge and meeting seams in metalworking. You will mostly find this hammer in the metal roofing industry. The flat head is perfect for hammering rivets, while the rounded edge helps to sink them into the ceiling.
15. Lineman’s Hammer
Another hammer in the types of hammer pdf is the lineman’s hammer. It is perfect for driving larger screws and bolts in materials like electric poles. The lineman’s hammer is made to swing slower than the traditional claw or ball-peen hammer. This allows the hammerhead weight to do its job perfectly.
Lineman’s hammer features two rounded, solid hammerheads. Its handle has a rubber grip and absorbs shock. This tool is, however, not ideal for precise and repetitive work. It is mostly used for working on telephone poles.
16. Bushing Hammer
Bushing hammer is beneficial in providing texture to concrete and stones. This missionary tool exists in several forms, from manual to machine-powered. The bushing hammer features pyramids and small cones on the hammerhead, leaving an imprint on concrete or stones.
This hammer is ideal for creating rough texture to concrete or stones to make them less slippery or improve their appearance. The tool also increases the bonding effect when you apply new concrete on a concrete surface.
17. Brass Hammer
A brass hammer features a thin cylindrical brass head ideal for hitting steel pins in various materials without causing damage. This hammer can be used in various areas, but you can mostly find them in the woodworking industry and automotive shops. Brass hammers have less reverberation compared to steel hammers. This feature helps in the prevention of unwanted movements.
18. Tack Hammer
