Hammers & Mallets

Hammers are amongst the most commonly used tools within the construction industry, with many different shapes and sizes available for a variety of applications. Almost every trade utilises some form of hammer or mallet, with the necessity of hitting components having been an integral part of construction since the dawn of time. Hammers and mallets have been used by carpenters for thousands of years, with tasks such as chiselling and striking pegs, in addition to the relatively new concept of mass manufactured nails being used for a large portion of fixing tasks. Hammers and their uses have changed and adapted over time with advancements in construction, leaving us with a plethora of choices in modernity. 

Wooden mallets are used in modern carpentry and joinery for striking chisels and tapping components together. These traditional style mallets have been used for centuries to great effect and have changed little over their lifetime. Modern variations of these mallets exist, including styles made from modern composite materials, as well as soft metals like brass. Synthetic rubber faced mallets are used by bricklayers to tap heavy blocks down into their mortar beds. Similar to wooden mallets, metal headed hammers placed on wooden handles have existed in some form for thousands of years.  

Early claw hammers featured a very rounded claw with a relatively short handle and were fit for purpose in their light duty applications. As time moved forward over the last few hundred years, the shape of hammers developed in response to the increased use of nails in construction. Their basic design adapted from an outwards conical striking face to a more rounded face with a less curved claw. As the construction industry boomed in the early 20th century, especially in the US, framing hammers began to evolve in their ergonomic design. Longer handles and heavier heads allowed for extended reach and increased swinging momentum, especially when striking below the waist. In current construction we see these same designs reproduced by most of the tool manufacturing companies. Further advancements in technology sees the most common of these traditional designs recreated with durable modern materials. Alloy metals and composite synthetics form a plethora of hammer styles that are incredibly resistant to the stresses of construction. Even still, wooden handled framing hammers are among the most comfortable, ergonomic, and least stress inducing.  

Handles of both hammers and mallets can be made from fibreglass, wood, metal, and even plastic. Some of these can be very uncomfortable for extended use due to the vibration through the handle. For many DIY and light duty applications, any of these hammers are suitable. The rounded claw of the traditional style is more suited for pulling nails, useful in a home renovation setting. In terms of framing and production, the straight claw is still capable of pulling nails, though the design is more intended for chopping and reaching, with the weight of the head also being further forward. The handles come in many lengths and the heads come in a variety of different weights.  

Aside from the classic styles of claw hammers, there are a selection of other stylized hammers available on the market. Here are a few of the most common.

Ball peen hammer

The ball peen hammer is a general-purpose hammer that finds many applications in blacksmithing and custom workshop scenarios. The primary striking face of the hammer is slightly convex - typical of the hammer design that we’re accustomed to. The rear end of the hammer features a rounded “ball peen”. This face is used for shaping sheet metal and rounding over metal pins and rivets. Whilst this hammer is capable of driving nails, the lack of claw makes it unable to remove them. The handles are commonly a straight, wooden design, with many overall sizes and weights available for use in different scenarios.  

Cross peen hammer

The cross-peen hammer is another workshop tool that is intended for blacksmithing and workshop activities. The larger varieties of these hammers are used for creating grooves and notches in metal during smithing procedures. In the workshop, smaller styles of this hammer can be used to drive small nails and pins. When holding small pins between our fingers, using a normal hammer face is difficult without injuring ourselves. The wide flat face of the cross-peen hammer allows us to reach into the gap between our fingers to start smaller nails and pins. The smaller versions of these styles are amongst the smallest and most lightweight of the common hammers on the market. This makes them useful for general purpose lightweight hammering. They are also commonly used in woodworking to adjust wooden planes.

Slate hammers

Slate hammers are a specialty hammer that are used for installing natural slates as part of a roof covering system. The primary striking face is capable of driving nails into the holes in the slates, as well as nailing the roofing battens to the roof structure. The other side of the hammer comes to a point that is used for punching nail holes into the slates where required. The shaft of the hammer is long, thin, and made of metal. This is used in combination with a slate support to cut the slates to shape. Some models feature a hole or nail puller that allows for pulling nails.  

Lump hammer

Lump hammers, also known as club hammer, are large headed but small handled hammers intended for use with other masonry tools, or for demolition. The heads are often forged steel and are rectangular in their shape. The weight of the heads is much heavier than regular nail driving hammers - typically around 1kg/2lb. The mass of the head is perfect for lightweight demolition tasks, as well as carrying out positive strikes on tools such as bolsters. The handles of lump hammers are traditionally made from wood, and are still available in this configuration, though fibreglass handles are more commonly used in modern times to stand up to the test of rough construction. 

Sledgehammer

Sledgehammers see much use in construction during the demolition phase of projects, as well as a few other niche scenarios. The heads of sledgehammers are much the same as lump hammers, though they come in a larger variety of weights, all the way from around 1kg/2lbs to 7kg/16 lbs. The handles also come in a variety of standardised lengths, anywhere from 600mm/2’ up to 900mm/3’. It goes without saying that the longer the handle and the heavier the head, the more unwieldy the hammer becomes, with a point being reached at which the additional force that could be delivered by the blow is mitigated by the ineffective use of the tool. A comfortable weight for the head of a sledgehammer for lightweight demolition is around 3-4 kg. A 2kg head on the end of a 2’ handle makes a perfect tool for tapping tongue and groove chipboard flooring together. Even if demolition isn’t within the scope of one's job activities, carrying a lightweight sledgehammer can make all the difference in certain scenarios.