Hammer Buying Guide

Claw hammers are versatile, with a powerful striking head and a V-shaped claw to remove nails. They come in various types, including curved claw or ripping claw. Both of these types look very similar, but a rip-claw (also known as a framing hammer) has a straighter claw and is often heavier. You’ll find claw hammers are particularly valuable for carpentry, framing, and woodworking projects. 

Claw hammers are versatile, able to be used in both nail driving and removal tasks. They are also widely used and readily available, so you’ll always find a claw hammer within your budget. Precision sets claw hammers above the rest – the claw provides excellent leverage for removing nails without causing damage to the material. 

Claw hammers may not be ideal for heavy-duty demolition tasks because they’re relatively lightweight. Additionally, the design of each claw hammer is very similar – so there is limited variety for specialised needs. When it comes to substantial demolition or jobs that need more power, specialised hammers like sledgehammers may be more effective.

Sledgehammers have flat heads on both sides, designed for heavy-duty tasks like demolition and masonry work such as breaking up concrete or brick. Their powerful striking force makes them indispensable for tasks that need a lot of power.

Sledgehammers are built to withstand heavy-duty work, and have durable handles and reinforced heads to break through whatever is in your way. Sledgehammers come in various sizes and weights, so you can not only select the right one for the specific job at hand, but also for your personal preferences.

Despite their power, sledgehammers lack precision, so they’re unsuitable for tasks requiring delicate control. Their size and weight can make them more difficult to handle, especially in tight spaces. After a while, using a sledgehammer can be tiring and uncomfortable due to their weight and the vibrations that can be felt in the handle. Work gloves can increase comfort on long, tiring jobs. 

Mallets are specialised hammers designed to deliver controlled, non-marking blows – meaning they’re not designed for demolition. They come in various materials such as rubber, wood, and plastic, each suited for different materials, surfaces and tasks. Mallets are commonly used in woodworking, where they help drive chisels and assemble delicate pieces without damaging the wood.

Mallets have several advantages, namely that they’re specially designed to not damage the material, allowing for controlled blows without leaving marks. You’ll find mallets with a range of different head materials, so there’ll always be something for your specific project. Mallets, while they look like small sledgehammers, are perfect for precise work.

However, mallets have a limited striking force, so they’re less suited for heavy-duty tasks that need a lot of force. They are designed for tasks that need precision, limiting their range of applications. Choosing the right mallet material is crucial, as using a hard mallet on a delicate surface could lead to unintended damage.

Club hammers have short handles and flat heads, designed for one-handed use in tasks that need precision, control and power. They’re used for light demolition work and driving nails and other fixings into masonry.  

Club hammers offer specific advantages, namely maintaining control and precision when being used one-handed due to their compact size. Their head size also means they can drive heavy-duty fixings and can still be used in confined spaces where larger hammers may struggle.

However, club hammers have less striking force compared to larger hammers like sledgehammers. They are best suited for tasks like light demolition and cold chiselling, rather than general-purpose hammering or heavy-duty demolition. 

Ball pein hammers, also known as machinist or ball peen hammers, are commonly used in metalworking and have one flat and one rounded face. The round face of the hammer concentrates the force to increase precision and power when shaping metal, while the flat face is ideal for chiselling. 

You’ll find ball pein hammers are versatile tools with a wide range of applications in metalworking, engineering and blacksmithing. They are the best hammer type for use on metal and are also designed to be harder and more resilient than other hammers.

However, ball pein hammers are not designed for driving or removing nails, so they’re not suited for every striking task. They are specialised tools for metalworking and may not be suitable for general woodworking or hammering. Ball pein hammers are also not intended for demolition projects like breaking through masonry.

Brick hammers are designed for bricklaying and masonry work and have one flat side and one chisel-shaped side for splitting bricks, chipping stone, and scraping cement. They come in a range of weights and have strong, hardwearing steel or heat-treated carbon steel heads – the latter being slightly stronger because of the added carbon.

Brick hammers offer many advantages, such as their specialised design for cleanly and efficiently splitting bricks and chipping stone. They’re precise when working with stone, brick and aggregate surfaces. Additionally, brick hammers are built to withstand heavy use in demanding masonry applications.

However, brick hammers have limited versatility and are mainly designed for masonry work. They may not be suitable for tasks beyond these specialised applications. Brick hammers are not designed for driving nails into surfaces, which limits them when it comes to use in woodworking or construction projects.