Everybody has tried to hang a painting or DIY those wooden shelves when doing home decor. No matter be it a home project or being in the field of carpentry and construction, everyone has held a hammer once in their lifetime. This versatile tool was rumoured to be discovered as early as 30,000 BCE without handles. The cavemen then used to attach stones covered in animal skin to a wooden stick and use this hammer for hunting for food or cutting down trees and stones. Since then, hammers have been in every toolbox and have been used in various jobs.
A hammer has different weights and sizes, depending on the kind of task people will use it for. One must use suitable hammers when using for carpentry, mechanical jobs, blacksmithing or other jobs. One needs to be careful while choosing the correct hammer, as misuse of them or using the wrong one can cause serious injury and damage to your work. So, if you are in a job line where you require using hammers daily, it’s better to be aware of all the different types and their application for future use. Here is a curated list of all the most used types of hammers for your guidance.
See also: Drill machine types and why you need them
6 types of hammers and their applications
Every hammer is made for a specific use, be it a DIY home project or construction. Users need to understand their types and usage. It will not only make working with the hammers easy but will easily help you finish your job without any damage or injury. The most used hammers are:
01. Ball peen hammer
A ball peen hammer, also called a machinist’s hammer, was discovered to help a worker peen the surface or give shape to a metal object by using a hammer. One end of the hammer is round in form, which helps in peening, and the other end is flat, which helps drive through the surface.
The hammer’s regular use is in metalwork, but it can also be used to round off edges in a surface like rivets and punch metal objects.
Source: Pinterest
02. Brick hammer
A brick hammer is also known as a stonemason’s hammering tool. The hammer has a flat end on one side; the other side has a long chisel-shaped blade to pierce surfaces. The hammer can easily break bricks, stones or concrete into tiny pieces due to the sharpness of its edge. They are made with high-quality and top-graded steel that comprises their head. The handle is made of hardwood or fibreglass, which are both strong and durable.
A brick hammer is often used in mining, construction work or in wielding.
Source: Pinterest
03. Claw hammers
A claw or a framing hammer is the most commonly used type of hammer among workers and DIY enthusiasts. They are used to swiftly remove nails from surfaces, tear down drywall or wood, and perform other small tasks that occur daily. The main identity of a claw hammer is its claw-like end on one side and a flat head on the other. In contrast, a framing hammer has a straight end instead of a claw. The claw head is made up of steel alloys or high-grade fibreglass. With an insulated handle and rubber grip, the claw hammer turns into an electrician’s hammer, which makes it safe for electrical work.
The hammers cannot be used for heavy hammer work or surfaces that are hard, like concrete. But they work very efficiently when used for woodwork, framing, splitting or tiny demolition work.
Source: Pinterest
04. Sledgehammer
Larger in size than other hammers, this kind of hammer has a mallet-styled metal head. The hammers have a long handle that makes it easy to swing with hands-on surfaces and thus easy to demolish objects. The length of the handles goes up to 3 feet, and the metal head can weigh as much as 20 pounds. The handle can be made up of wood or strong fibreglass.
Sledgehammers are mostly used for heavy demolition purposes or breaking stones.
Source: Pinterest
05. Mallet hammers
A mallet is a block of a flat head attached to a handle usually made of leather, rubber or lightweight wood. A rubber mallet has a head made of rubber for a softer impact. The main objective of this hammer is to impact the surface with a heavy force due to its weight. They only have one main head, unlike hammers.
Mallets can help give shape to the metal as they don’t dent the surface or are used to fit in wooden parts and in nudging plasterboard.
Source: Pinterest
06. Tack/Upholstery hammers
As mentioned in the heading, this kind of hammer is mainly used in upholstery work. Tack hammers are lightweight, with one split end being magnetic to help place tacks, and without using your hands. Other tack hammers have a split claw that helps remove nails easily. The handles are made of wood and go up to 10 inches in length. The main head weighs around 226 grams.
Tack or upholstery hammers are used in kitchens to install shelves, cabinetwork, and trim surfaces or in upholstery to embed nails in textiles.
Some important points to remember before buying a hammer
Price of the tool
If this is your first time channelling your inner construction worker and buying a hammer, then you can easily spend way more than you intend to. Be careful of the price of the hammers you buy. Cheaply priced hammers may not be made of good quality metal or wood, and hence can break down midway and cause injury. Also, be aware of duplicate hammers. Do not be selfish when spending money as well. Hammers made of grade A wood or fibreglass will be of a higher price. These good quality hammers will last long without any replacement and be safe to use by anyone.
Material of the hammers
Who wants to buy a cheap hammer only for it to break midway? To save yourself the effort of repeatedly buying a new hammer, be sure of the material of the hammer you purchase. Purchase hammers made of dependable materials such as titanium, fibreglass and high-carbon steel. They are durable and long lasting as they can handle forceful blows with ease. Do not purchase hammers made of weak wood or steel heads with a high iron percentage, as they tend to weaken with time.
Brand of the hammer
Everyone knows the positive features of buying any product from reputed brands. The products will always be made of genuine materials and will work smoothly for a long time. Some well-known hammer brands in India are – Visko Hammers, Mr Pen Claw Hammer, Tata Agrico Hammers and Hammers found in Amazon Basics. These brands also offer great deals when purchased in bulk and come with a good warranty.
FAQs
How can one store their hammers properly?
To make sure your hammers remain cost-effective and last a long time, store them in a dry toolbox or use a silica gel pack that absorbs moisture to keep them rust-free.
Which type of hammer is the strongest?
A steel hammer is known to be the strongest and also weighs the most among all kinds of hammers. They are great when used in demolition work.
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