What are hammers?
A hammer is used for multiple purposes such as beating, straightening a metal, riveting, chipping, as well as forging. Hammer is a must in workshops. It also helps in household work. The classification of hammers can be done using several criteria’s. We will discuss about the types of hammers. Let’s discuss one by one.
3D Model of hammer
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Types of Hammers
Hammers are classified into the following types using several conditions:
- Standard Hammers
- Hand hammer
- Sledgehammer
- Ball Peen hammer
- Tack hammer
- Club hammer
- Dead blow hammer
- Claw hammer
- Rubber mallet
- Framing hammer
- Special Hammers
- Blacksmith hammer
- Brass hammer
- Brick hammer
- Blocking hammer
- Bushing hammer
- Chasing hammer
- Cross peen hammer
- Cross peen pin hammer
- Drywall hammer
- Double peen hammer
- Electrician hammer
- Engineers hammer
- Hatchet hammer
- Mechanic hammer
- Planishing hammer
- Power hammer
- Rip hammer
- Rock hammer
- Scaling hammer
- Soft-faced hammer
- Straight peen hammer
- Trim hammer
- Welding hammer
Standard Hammers
1. Hand hammer
These hammers are typically crafted from cast or carbon steel, featuring hardened and tempered faces and pans, with a soft middle body. The handle is fixed in the oval-shaped hole using a wedge. Hammer length corresponds to its weight; heavy hammers have longer handles, while lightweight ones have shorter handles.
Handles for marking purposes typically weigh 0.11 to 0.33 kg according to I.S. 841-1957 standards. In workshops, fitters commonly use hammers weighing 0.33 to 0.45 kg, while heavy hammers weigh 0.91 kg.
2. Sledge hammer
They are primarily used by blacksmiths to make metal shapes straight such as round rods, iron bars and angle iron. They resemble double-face hammers and are intended for heavy-duty tasks, with weights ranging from 4 kg to 10 kg, as depicted in the figure.
3. Ball Peen hammer
These are mainly used in workshops. One end of the ball peen hammer features a plain face, while the other end has a 3/4 round ball-shaped peen. They help in rivet setting and delivers controlled blows to metal sheets. This helps to achieve a specific depth. This type of hammer is illustrated in the figure and typically weighs between 0.11 to 0.91 kg.
4. Tack hammer
This hammer has two extended claw-like heads. One of the head is magnetized. Often referred to as an upholstery hammer, it serves the purpose of securing a tack in place with its magnetic end and then adjusting the tack’s position using the non-magnetized end.
5. Club hammer
Compared to a drilling hammer or lump hammer, the club hammer has a compact, double-faced head akin to a sledgehammer. It is used for crafting steel chisels and masonry heads.
6. Dead blow hammer
Dead blow hammers are engineered to minimize recoil and deliver gentle blows. They typically feature a solid rubber or plastic head, or a semi-hollow head filled with sand or lead pellets. They are used in woodworking, dent removal, and joining wood without surface damage.
7. Claw hammer
They have a round face at one end and a pane inclined towards the handle at the other end. To easily extract the nails there is a slot in the center. Carpenters in the carpentry trade commonly use this type of hammer.
8. Rubber mallet
This common type of hammer features a rubber head, enabling gentle impacts. Thy are mostly used for sheet metal work, woodworking, and finishing. A rubber mallet is gentle enough to apply force without causing damage, making it suitable for working with plasterboard.
9. Framing hammer
The framing hammer closely resembles a claw hammer, featuring a straight claw and a tapered head. Its main purpose is to construct house frames, hence the name “framing hammer.”
Special Hammers
These hammers are rare. They are not stocked in general hardware stores. Some of them may resemble more common hammers. They differ in terms of weight, size, or shape to suit their specialized tasks.
1. Blacksmith hammer
The blacksmith’s hammer is a variant of the sledgehammer, with one head being broader and rounder. It is employed for shaping red-hot steel against an anvil in blacksmithing.
2. Brass hammer
A brass hammer has a slender which is a cylindrical double-head. Its work is to hammer steel pins without damaging the surface. It is commonly found in both automotive and woodworking shops.
3. Brick hammer
This is also known as a masonry hammer. It has a claw that act as a chisel for scoring. It also has a narrow head that is designed to split bricks. This makes it perfect for brick-making and masonry.
4. Blocking hammer
There is a flat square head on one side and cylindrical on the other end. This makes it a popular tool for blacksmiths. It is employed for shaping metal on a block or an anvil.
5. Bushing hammer
The bushing hammer resembles a meat tenderizer with an elongated metal head. It is used to impart a rough texture to stone surfaces, either to enhance their natural texture or to reduce slipperiness in pathways.
6. Chasing hammer
The chasing hammer is a specialized type of hammer characterized by its bulbous-ended handle, round head, and short, round peen. It is primarily employed for shaping jewelry metal.
7. Cross peen hammer
These hammers are made with face pan at one end. This pan is made at the right angle of the handle. It is in the taper. This hammer is used to make “V” grooves. This makes the inside corners of the job. It also helps in expanding metal sheets. Its weight is between 0.22 kg to 0.91 kg.
8. Cross peen pin hammer
These are mild versions of cross peen hammers, but they are not well-suited for metalwork. Instead, they find application in cabinetry, light joinery, and other woodworking tasks.
9. Drywall hammer
These hammers have a distinctive end that closely resembles a hatchet, complete with a bottom notch. The notch is used to secure nails in place without damaging the drywall paper, and the pein blades are employed to cleanly trim excess bits of drywall.
10. Double peen hammer
These hammers are used by blacksmith. Similar pane faces are made on both the ends.
11. Electrician hammer
These type of claw hammer leads to extension of the neck on the head. It helps the electrician to target hard-embedded nails.
12. Engineers hammer
The engineer’s hammer, historically utilized for locomotive repair, features a round head with a cross peen. This term is commonly linked with heavy ball peen hammers and hammers that have a round head.
13. Hatchet hammer
This hammer is also known as the Half-Hatchet. It has a blade instead of a peen. It is versatile for various tasks. Due to its adaptability, this hammer is a valuable addition to both household and emergency toolkits.
14. Mechanic hammer
This hammer features a flat head, a long peen, and a conical die, typically used in conjunction with a curved anvil to remove dents in car panels. It is commonly referred to as a body mechanic’s hammer.
15. Planishing hammer
Planishing hammers comprise a somewhat convex head, a pein, and a cylindrical die. They are employed to smooth and shape metal over a planking stake, allowing the metal to conform to the stake’s shape.
16. Power hammer
In blacksmithing, power hammers are utilized for heavy tasks like forging and bending. These are not conventional hammers but rather substantial machines, as depicted in the figure. Power hammers can be electric or pneumatic, requiring minimal effort and significantly speeding up the work process.
17. Rip hammer
A rip hammer features a straight claw, is relatively heavy, and is employed for tearing apart materials during construction and demolition tasks. It is also used in framing and by contractors for tasks like digging holes and measuring outlet boxes.
18. Rock hammer
This small hammer has a flat head and chisel or picks on the back, making it suitable for geological work and historical excavations, especially for breaking small rocks. The chisels are versatile and can be used for tasks such as splitting soft rock, clearing vegetation, and creating small holes. It is also commonly referred to as a pick hammer.
19. Scaling hammer
These hammers feature a standard head along with a vertical chisel and picks, and they are used for the removal of scale, rust, and various hardened coatings from surfaces, particularly in the maintenance of boilers and other industrial equipment.
20. Soft-faced hammer
In situations where hammer blows might cause damage or leave marks, soft hammers are employed. They are made from wood, bakelite, plastic, brass, copper, or aluminum. A wooden hammer is commonly referred to as a mallet. Some plastic or nylon hammers are designed with an internal iron core and plastic or nylon caps at both ends; these are known as “hide hammers.” Hide hammers can also be manufactured with substantial weight.
21. Straight peen hammer
This hammer closely resembles a cross peen hammer, but its pan is aligned straight with the handle. It can also be used like a cross peen hammer for creating channels, “V” grooves, and expanding metal sheets. These hammers are lightweight, typically weighing between 0.11 kg to 0.91 kg, as depicted in the figure.
22. Trim hammer
A trim hammer features a straight claw and is shorter than claw hammers. It is designed with a smooth face to drive trim nails without damaging the surface. This type of hammer is also commonly referred to as a finish hammer.
23. Welding hammer
A welding hammer, also known as a chipping hammer, is equipped with a round chisel at one end and an upright peen at the other. The handle of this hammer features a spiral design resembling a spring, which aids in heat dispersion. The hammer is used to remove slag from welding spots after the weld bead has had a chance to cool.
Conclusion
I hope you are clear about the types of hammers and their uses. Feel free to ask in comments if you have any questions.
