Different Types of Hammers & Their Uses – with Pictures

Hammers have been used for thousands of years, with the first hammer thought to date back to 2,400,000 BC!

To say the hammer was the first tool ever made is a strong argument, and the fact they are still in frequent use to this day shows just how useful they are.

As society has evolved, so have hammers. Nowadays we have an incredibly diverse range of hammers with different parts. A number of which you will have never heard of. The following list aims to highlight the incredible diversity and sheer number of hammers on offer today.

1.Claw Hammer

Without a doubt the most commonly owned hammer around the world. When you think of a hammer, you will probably picture a claw hammer. It features a standard metal head with a curved claw typically used to remove nails from material such as wood.

2. Rip Hammer

The claw hammers big brother. Rip hammers are often used by professionals to both rip apart material and dig holes due to their heavier weight. Their claws are straight as opposed to curved.

3. Framing Hammer

Similar to a claw hammer with a few unique differences such as an elongated handle, texturized impact surface, added weight and straight craw. This hammer is crafted to deliver heavier blows and separate material as opposed to extract from them using the straight claw.

4. Electricians Hammer

Again, very similar in design to a claw hammer, as many hammers are, an electrician hammer features a fiberglass handle for more efficient shock absorption. The claw is also angled slightly different and the steelhead is tempered for greater impact force.

5. Sledge Hammer

Sledgehammers feature an extra-long handle and metal head to deliver heavy blows. They are regularly used during demolition jobs to break up bodies of concrete as well as driving stakes deep into the ground.

6. Club Hammer

A club hammer is essentially a smaller version of a sledge hammer that can be used for light demolition-based work.

7. Blacksmith Sledge Hammer

Used to shape metal against an anvil when the metal is white-hot. The head design includes one normal squared head and one marginally rounded head that tapers off.

8. Splitting Maul Hammer

Somewhat resembling a half axe, half sledgehammer design, a splitting maul hammer is characterized by its long handle, sledgehammer, and sharp axe head. If you have some wood that needs splitting, using this hammer is a great idea.

9. Lath Hammer

Intended to trim and shape the thin wood that makes up the foundation of a plaster wall. The axe head features an inbuilt notch which can be used to remove nails, while the hammerhead can strike nails into the wood. The handle is rubberized to minimize the impact on the user.

10. Hatchet Hammer

Half hammer, half hatchet, they feature a regular hammerhead on one side and an axe head on the other. Used for a variety of tasks but most suited to emergency and survival situations.

11. Titanium Hammer

What makes titanium hammers stand out is their efficient energy transfer. Compared to a normal steel hammer, which transfers around 70% of their power to the nail, a titanium hammer delivers a staggering 97%. The result is more efficiently driven nails and reduced recoil which means less stress on your joints. Take a look at our list and buying guide on the top titanium models here.

12. Drywall Hammer

The head of a drywall hammer is manufactured with a serrated face as to hammer nails into drywall without damaging the surrounding area. The rear of the hammer is used to make cuts into drywall and can also be used to pull out nails you may have hammered incorrectly.

13. Ball Peen Hammer

Also referred to as a machinist hammer due to its usefulness when working with metal, the ball-peen hammer features a hardened steelhead and a rounded peen.

14. Cross Pein Hammer

Cross peen hammers feature a standard hammerhead with a wedge-shaped peen. Frequently used by blacksmiths, they are great for drawing out metal side to side as well as reducing the risk of hitting your fingers when working with tacks and pins.

15. Cross Pein Pin Hammer

A lightweight version of the cross peen hammer. Less suited to metalwork and more suited to light woodworking tasks.

16. Straight Pein Hammer

Very similar to a cross peen hammer with the only difference coming from the vertically aligned peen. This is your best option when drawing out metal lengthways.

17. Blocking Hammer

Another hammer used in blacksmithing. The cylindrical head on one side with a flat head on the other making it perfect for shaping metal over an anvil.

18. Raising Hammer

When you need to shape sheet metal into concave objects such as a bowl, this is the hammer you need to use alongside a metal or wooden stake. Both heads have a rectangular face.

19. Forming Hammer

While a raising hammer is used to strike a stake on the outside of a curved object, a forming hammer is used on the inside of the surface to refine its shape.

20. Roofing or Shingle Hammer

As the name suggests, this hammer is used during roofing jobs. They have a square head and a unique small claw on the side of the head used to remove nails.

21. Slaters Hammer

Formed by one piece of crucible cast steel, a slater’s hammer stands out with its elongated claw used for removing nails and sharply pointed head designed to pierce holes into slate.

22. Brick Hammer

Used by stonemasons, a brick hammer its capable of both shaping and splitting stone and of course brick.

23. Scutch Hammer

Commonly used in the construction industry to chisel bricks and remove (scutch) old motor from paving. One of their hammerheads feature either one or two groves which allow for the addition of a targeted cutting attachment.

24. Bushing Hammer

Bushing hammers are characterized by the grid of points on the face of their hammerhead. They are used to add texture to concrete and stone.

25. Rock Hammer

Sometimes referred to as a pick hammer, a rock hammer is used in excavation to break apart small rocks. The chisel end is also great for digging holes.

26. Prospectors Hammer

Very familiar to geologists, this hammer provides a flat head and chisel-shaped claw which proves very useful during intricate groundwork.

27. Welders Hammer

A welder or chipping hammer features a wide flat chisel-shaped head and a pointed head, both of which can be used to remove the waste or ‘slag’ left behind from a welding job.

28. Tinner’s Hammer

Tin hammers were designed to creating rolled edges and seams in tin and other thin metals. The square head avoids marring the metal while riveting and the cross peen end is used to ‘peen’ down a rivet when it can’t be used.

29. Planishing Hammer

Planishing refers to the flattening and shaping of sheet metal. The convex faces of a planishing hammer make it the ideal tool for the job.

30. Scaling Hammer

Used to remove scale and rust from a hard surface such as from the surface of a boiler. Pneumatic versions are also available if you need more power.

31. Toolmakers Hammer

The standout feature of a toolmakers hammer is the inbuilt magnifying class. Positioned dead center, right between the hammering face and ball peen, the magnifying glass makes it so the user never has to look away or fumble for a dedicated magnifying glass.

32. Upholstery Hammer

A lightweight hammer used for securing upholstery with specialist upholstery tacks and small nails. One of the hammerheads is usually magnetized to help this process, while the other has a standard small impact area for delicate hammering.

33. Chasing Hammer

A unique looking hammer, chasing hammers are built with a thin handle at the hammer end which thickens as it moves down to improve balance during use. The hammering face is large for flattening metal and the ball peen side provides the ability to rivet, making these hammers ideal when working with metal, especially when shaping jewelry.

34. Body Mechanic Hammer

Used by car body mechanics alongside a curved anvil known as a dolly to remove the dents from car panels.

35. Copper Hide Hammer

A copper hide hammer features two distinct hammerheads. One of which is the copper side which can deliver high impact blows, while the hidden face produces a blow that avoids marring the surface of your work material. They are especially useful when working with car panels.

36. Trim Hammer

Smaller than your typical hammer, a trim hammer features a straight claw and is used for more delicate hammering jobs for when you want to avoid any damage to the surrounding area.

37. Rubber Mallet

The rubber head produces softer blows, ideal for jobs where you need to avoid breakage such as when tapping ceramic tiles into place during tile installation.

38. Joiners Mallet

Brilliant for heavy chisel work, a joiner’s mallet features a large head with two angled faces.

39. Dead Blow Hammer

Dead blow hammers aim to minimize both the impact force from the strike and potential damage to the surrounding area. They typically have a solid rubber or part hollowed out head filled with sand.

40. Soft Face Hammer

Soft face hammers are made to bend materials such as wood, metal and plastic without damaging the surface or breaking the material.

41. Lineman’s Hammer

A shock-absorbing rubber grip and two rounded hammerheads make this hammer well suited at driving in large screws and bolts.

42. Railroad Spike Maul Hammer

The clue is in the name. This hammer is used to drive spikes into the ground responsible for holding train track rails into place.

43. Brass Hammer

A cylindrical brass headed hammer made for driving steel pins into a variety of materials without damaging them in the process. Mostly used in the automotive industry.

44. Rock Climbing Hammer

A specialty hammer popular in rock climbing due to their ability to remove and place the metal spikes (pitons) used to anchor climbers. Many versions can be found with removable heads to allow for more climbing options.

45. Reflex Hammer

Found in doctors’ surgery’s all over the world, these medical instruments are used to test your body’s natural tendon reflexes to check the health of your nervous system. The most well-known test being the patellar reflex exam.

46. Gavel

Do I still have your attention? If so well done, that was a lot of hammers!

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We’re always looking to improve this list, so if we must one off let us know in the comments below!