Types of Hammers: Framing, Dead Blow, Ball Peen and Mallet

The main types of hammer are the claw hammer for general nailing, the framing hammer for framing lumber, the finishing hammer for trim, the ball peen hammer for metalwork, the dead blow hammer for striking without rebound, the rubber or wooden mallet for blows that don’t mark, the sledgehammer for demolition, and the drywall hammer. If you buy only one, buy a 16 oz curved-claw hammer.

Types of hammers compared

Hammer	Typical head weight	Face	Used for
Curved claw hammer	13 to 20 oz	Smooth	General nailing; the curved claw pulls nails with leverage
Framing (rip claw) hammer	20 to 32 oz (steel), 12 to 16 oz (titanium)	Milled (waffle) or smooth	Framing lumber; the straight claw splits and pries boards
Finishing hammer	10 to 16 oz	Smooth	Trim and small nails without marking
Ball peen hammer	4 to 32 oz	Flat face + rounded peen	Metalwork: shaping, setting rivets, striking punches and chisels
Dead blow hammer	1 to 3 lb	Polyurethane, shot-filled head	Striking without rebound or marks: car parts, joints, machinery
Rubber mallet	16 to 32 oz	Rubber	Pavers, tiles, furniture assembly
Wooden or rawhide mallet	Varies	Wood or rawhide	Chisels, woodworking joints
Sledgehammer	2 to 20 lb	Large flat faces	Demolition, stakes, breaking concrete
Drywall hammer	About 12 to 14 oz	Milled, convex	Hanging drywall; the hatchet end cuts and pries

Framing hammer vs claw hammer

A framing hammer is a heavier, longer claw hammer with a straight (rip) claw and often a milled face. The extra weight and length drive 3 in and longer framing nails in fewer blows. The milled face grips the nail but leaves a waffle pattern, so it isn’t used on finished surfaces. Titanium framing hammers hit like a heavier steel hammer while weighing less, and send less shock to the arm, but they cost much more.

For driving lots of framing nails, a nailer is faster; can you use 21 degree nails in a 22 degree nailer explains how framing nails and nailer angles match.

Dead blow hammer vs rubber mallet

Both strike without marking. A rubber mallet bounces, which wastes energy and makes it hard to tap precisely. A dead blow hammer’s head is partly filled with steel shot or sand: when it lands, the shot hits a moment later and cancels the rebound. That delivers more of the blow into the work, which is why mechanics and machinists prefer it.

Ball peen hammer

The ball peen hammer has a flat face for striking punches and chisels, and a rounded “peen” for shaping metal and rounding over rivets. It’s the hammer to use with cold chisels and center punches. A claw hammer’s face is softer and can chip when it strikes hardened steel.

Choosing and using a hammer

• Handle: fiberglass and steel handles last longer than wood; wood absorbs shock well and can be replaced.
• Grip low on the handle for power and higher for control.
• Hit squarely: a glancing blow bends nails and can chip the face.
• Wear eye protection, especially when striking chisels, punches or other hardened steel.

Cutting jobs usually follow nailing ones: for the right hand saw for each cut, see types of hand saws with uses.