Hammers are versatile tools designed to deliver force through controlled strikes. They typically consist of a handle and a weighted head, allowing a user to drive objects, shape materials, or break through surfaces with precision. Their design balances strength and control, making them essential in both construction and delicate work.
Some are built for heavy-duty tasks, offering long handles and solid heads to maximize impact. These allow for strong, two-handed swings to break, shape, or move materials efficiently. The weight and length are optimized to reduce fatigue while delivering maximum force.
Others are designed for precision, with lighter heads and shorter handles. They allow careful, accurate strikes without damaging surfaces. This makes them ideal for detailed assembly, delicate finishing work, or tasks requiring control over each hit.
The striking faces vary widely, some being flat and smooth, others rounded or textured. This variation influences how the force is applied and how the surface reacts. It also determines whether the tool is suited for soft materials, metals, or masonry.
Many include specialized features like peens, claws, or soft heads to perform multiple functions. These adaptations can help in removing fasteners, shaping metals, or avoiding marks on fragile surfaces. This makes the tool adaptable to a wide range of tasks.
Types of Hammers
Claw Hammer
This is the most common household hammer. It has a flat striking face for driving nails and a curved claw for pulling them out. Ideal for woodworking, framing, and general repairs.
Ball Peen Hammer
Also known as a machinist’s hammer, it features a flat face on one side and a rounded peen on the other. It’s mainly used for metalworking tasks such as shaping metal, riveting, and striking punches.
Sledgehammer
Large and heavy, this hammer delivers powerful blows. It’s used for breaking concrete, driving stakes, and demolition work. The long handle allows for a strong two-handed swing.
Club Hammer
Also called a lump hammer, it’s a smaller version of a sledgehammer. It’s great for light demolition, masonry work, and driving chisels or stakes with controlled force.
Dead Blow Hammer
This hammer has a hollow head filled with sand or steel shot, reducing rebound when striking. It’s used for precision assembly, automotive work, and metal fitting where surface damage must be avoided.
Rubber Mallet
Made with a soft rubber head, it delivers gentle force without leaving marks. Commonly used in woodworking, tent setup, and tile or furniture installation.
Framing Hammer
A heavier version of the claw hammer with a longer handle and milled face to prevent slipping. It’s used in heavy-duty carpentry, framing houses, and large construction projects.
Tack Hammer
Lightweight and designed for delicate tasks like upholstery. It has a small magnetized face to hold tiny nails or tacks in place for accurate placement.
Cross Peen Hammer
This hammer has a wedge-like peen perpendicular to the handle. It’s used in metalworking and blacksmithing to shape metal and start tacks in tight spots.
Brick Hammer
Used in masonry, this hammer has a flat face for striking and a chisel-like end for cutting or shaping bricks, stones, or concrete blocks.
Roofing Hammer
Designed for roofing work, it has a flat face for driving nails and a hatchet or claw on the other side for cutting shingles or removing old nails.
Drywall Hammer
This hammer has a slightly convex face to drive nails without damaging drywall. The opposite end is hatchet-shaped for cutting panels and scoring materials.
Tack Puller Hammer
This hammer is used specifically for removing small nails or tacks without damaging delicate surfaces, often in upholstery or finishing work.
Upholstery Hammer
A lightweight hammer with a flat face and sometimes magnetic tips, used to secure fabric or leather over furniture frames with tacks or nails.
Upholsterer’s Tack Hammer
Designed for delicate furniture work, it has a dual-purpose head for both inserting and removing tacks cleanly and precisely.
Engineer’s Hammer
A small, heavy hammer with a cross-peen or ball-peen, used for precise metal shaping, riveting, and light construction work.
Scaling Hammer
Used mainly in construction or welding, it has a chisel-like end for removing rust, scale, or concrete splatter.
Planishing Hammer
A rounded-head hammer used in metalworking to smooth sheet metal without leaving marks, often in automotive or decorative metal fabrication.
Sheet Metal Hammer
Similar to planishing hammers but lighter, it’s used to shape, flatten, or curve thin metal sheets with precision.
Blacksmith Hammer
This hammer is designed for forging metal on an anvil. It typically has a flat face and a rounded peen to shape hot metal efficiently. Its weight and balance allow for controlled, repeated strikes without fatigue.
Tack Puller Hammer
Specifically made for removing small nails and tacks from wood or furniture. Its claw is fine and narrow to avoid damaging delicate surfaces. Often used in upholstery and finishing work.
Scaling Hammer
Used in construction and welding, this hammer has a chisel-like head to remove rust, scale, or hardened materials. The flat end can also drive nails or stakes. It’s essential for surface preparation.
Planishing Hammer
Common in metalworking, it has a smooth, rounded face for shaping and smoothing sheet metal. It allows precision work without leaving marks. Frequently used in automotive bodywork.
Sledge Peen Hammer
A smaller, one-handed version of a sledgehammer with a flat face and peen. Used in light demolition and metal shaping tasks. Its compact size allows work in tighter spaces.
Bricklayer’s Hammer
Designed for masonry, it has a flat face for striking and a chisel edge for scoring or splitting bricks. Its dual function speeds up brick cutting and placement.
Roofing Hatchet
This hammer has a flat face for nails and a hatchet blade for cutting shingles. The design improves efficiency for roofing tasks. Often includes a magnetized face to hold nails.
Soft-Face Hammer
Constructed with a head of plastic, rubber, or rawhide. It prevents surface damage while applying force. Commonly used for assembling furniture or machinery without marring finishes.
Riveting Hammer
Used in metalwork for shaping and spreading rivets. The peen can be flat, cross, or ball-shaped depending on the application. It allows precise manipulation of rivet heads.
Tack Hammer
Lightweight and often magnetized, it’s used for driving small nails or tacks accurately. Ideal for upholstery, picture framing, and delicate woodworking projects.
Joiner’s Hammer
A woodworking hammer with a straight claw, used for precise carpentry work. It provides controlled nail driving and easy removal in furniture or cabinetry.
Farrier’s Hammer
Used in horseshoeing, it has a flat face for driving nails into horseshoes and a slightly curved peen for shaping metal. Designed to work efficiently in tight, angled positions.
Tack Puller Hammer
This hammer is designed to remove tacks and small nails efficiently without damaging surfaces. Its narrow claw allows access to tight spots. Commonly used in furniture upholstery and delicate woodworking.
Scaling and Chipping Hammer
Used in construction and metalwork, it has a flat face for striking and a chisel or pointed end for removing scale, rust, or concrete residue. Essential for surface preparation before painting or welding.
Upholstery Hammer
Lightweight and designed for securing fabric or leather over furniture frames. Often magnetized to hold small tacks in place. Perfect for detailed finishing work without damaging materials.
Drywall Hammer
Has a slightly convex face to drive nails into drywall without tearing the paper. The hatchet-shaped end allows scoring or cutting panels. Speeds up drywall installation while reducing surface damage.
Engineer’s Hammer
Small and precise, used for metal shaping and light construction. It often features a cross-peen or ball-peen design. Suitable for tasks requiring controlled, repeated strikes.
Planishing Hammer
Used in metalworking to smooth and shape sheet metal. The polished rounded face prevents marring. Often seen in automotive or decorative metal fabrication.
Blacksmith’s Sledge
Heavier than a normal hammer, it delivers powerful blows for forging large metal pieces. Balanced for repeated use on an anvil. Essential for shaping hot iron and steel efficiently.
Sheet Metal Hammer
Lighter than a planishing hammer, used to shape thin metal sheets with precision. Its rounded or slightly curved face allows controlled deformation. Common in HVAC and automotive work.
Cross Peen Hammer
Features a wedge-shaped peen perpendicular to the handle. Used in blacksmithing and metal shaping to draw out metal in a particular direction. Offers precision in forming and riveting.
Framing Hammer
Heavier than a standard claw hammer, with a milled face to prevent slipping. Designed for construction framing work. Its longer handle provides leverage for driving large nails quickly.
Rubber Mallet
A soft-faced hammer made from rubber to prevent surface damage. Used for assembling furniture, laying tiles, or adjusting parts without leaving marks. Ideal for gentle but firm strikes.
Club Hammer
Also called a lump hammer, it’s smaller than a sledgehammer but delivers controlled, heavy blows. Used for light demolition, masonry, and driving chisels or stakes. Its short handle makes it convenient for precision work.
Dead Blow Hammer
This hammer has a hollow head filled with sand or shot to reduce rebound. It provides controlled strikes and prevents surface damage. Often used in automotive, metal fitting, and assembly work.
Ball Peen Hammer
Features a flat face and a rounded peen. Primarily used in metalworking for shaping, riveting, and striking punches. Its durable head is essential for machinists and metal fabrication.
Brick Hammer
Designed for masonry, with a flat face for striking and a chisel end for cutting or shaping bricks and stones. Speeds up bricklaying and allows precise scoring or splitting.
Roofing Hammer
Combines a flat striking face for nails with a hatchet or claw for cutting shingles. Improves efficiency for roofing tasks and often includes a magnetized nail holder.
Tack Hammer
Lightweight with a small, often magnetized face. Ideal for driving small tacks and nails accurately in upholstery or delicate woodworking. Allows precision without surface damage.
Joiner’s Hammer
Used in fine carpentry, furniture, and cabinetry. Has a straight claw for controlled nail removal and a smooth face for driving nails. Perfect for detailed joinery work.
Farrier’s Hammer
Used in horseshoeing, with a flat face for driving nails into horseshoes and a curved peen for shaping metal. Designed to work efficiently in tight or angled positions.
Riveting Hammer
Specialized for metalwork, used to form and spread rivets. Can have a flat, ball, or cross peen depending on the task. Allows precise manipulation of rivet heads.
Soft-Face Hammer
Has a head made of rubber, plastic, or rawhide to prevent marring surfaces. Ideal for furniture assembly, machinery adjustments, and delicate installation tasks requiring controlled strikes.