Hammers

There are several types of hammers – claw hammer, framing hammer, ball peen hammer, mallets (rubber head).

The most commonly used hammer for woodworking or around the home is a Claw Hammer. The flat face of the hammer is used for driving nails and the two-pronged curved claw is useful for pulling out nails.

The hammer head is made of steel, carbon steel or titanium.

The handle is made of wood, fiberglass or steel. Some hammers are forged as one single piece.

What are the types of hammer heads?

The flat face of the hammer head is either smooth or milled (checkered or waffle).

Smooth Face hammer is used for fine carpentry work (furniture, cabinet, flooring etc.) as it does not leave markings on the wood.

Milled Face provides extra traction and grip to drive nails. It is mostly used on construction sites where rough carpentry is used.

What weight hammer to choose?

Standard Claw Hammers weigh between 8 and 16 oz.

Framing Hammers are typically heavier and used on construction site. It is primarily used for driving larger nails in the wall studs.

Framing hammers weigh between 20 and 32 oz. These construction site hammers have heavier heads and longer handles to provide more powerful blows.

A 16 to 20 oz Claw Hammer with 16-inch handle can perform a wide range of tasks for homeowners or do-it-yourself woodworking projects.