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The Different Types of Hammers
Although the hammer is one of the simplest
tools—consisting of a handle and a head—there is nonetheless
a great variety of sizes, styles, and functionalities. For
basic home repairs, which ones should you have handy? Read
on to find out!
Knock these off the list
In general, there are some tools that fall into the “hammer”
category that are only used for more specialized tasks. These
include: mallets and mauls, which are woodworking tools; ball-peen
hammers, used for metalwork; and more heavy duty options such
as the roofers’ hammer or sledgehammer. Assuming you are just
looking for something that drives nails and occasionally breaks
things apart, we’ll disregard the options below and discuss
the more common varieties.
What’s it made of?
Hammer heads, which have the striking surface, are typically
made of metal.
The handle allows a good grip, extends the arc of your swing
thereby increasing speed and velocity of the strike, and—in
modern times—serves as a shock absorber. The most common and
inexpensive handles are made of wood, just as they have been
since the hammer was first invented. Although wood handles
have okay shock absorption, keep in mind that they will probably
need to be replaced at some point. Another problem unique to
wooden handles is that over-striking and hitting the handle
against the piece you’re working on will cause a wooden handle
more damage than it would to a metal or fiberglass one.
Also around for hundreds of years, metal hammer handles are
extremely durable and resist damage from over-striking. The
weakness of a metal hammer is its lack of shock absorption.
To combat this, most metal hammers also have a well-cushioned
grip.
Finally, the new kid on the block in hammer handle materials
is fiberglass. Fiberglass handles have the best of both worlds—they
absorb shock as well as or better than a wooden handle (with
the addition of a rubbery grip), and they are nearly as rigid
or durable as metal handles. Fiberglass hammers can also be
used by electricians.
Weigh your options
The most popular hammer weights are between 455 and 680g (16
to 24 oz). The state hammer weight consists of the weight of
the head only—not the handle. A 12-oz hammer is known as a
tack hammer and can be used for driving small nails, brads,
and tacks. While 20 oz hammers drive larger nails efficiently,
the middle size of 16 oz hammers is the most popular and versatile.
Choose a head, any head
Most general work hammers have a flat striking face on one
end and a peen on the other, with the balance in the head.
Peens vary in design; the most common hammer is the claw hammer,
in which the peen is shaped like a two-prong, curved fork.
This claw design is most useful for pulling nails. Similarly,
a rip hammer has a two-prong, straight fork. The rip hammer
is designed to pry apart two joined pieces of wood.
The deciding factor
Although the purpose of the hammer is the most important factor
in your decision, you should also consider how an individual
hammer feels to you. When you have narrowed down your choices
based on weight, type of materials, and style, pick up your
finalists and swing them. If possible and safe, hit something
with it. Consider how the hammer feels in your hand, whether
the shock level is acceptable, and if you have a good grip
and a good amount of swinging power for the project at hand.
Handle your hammer like a pro
Now that you’ve bought your hammer, learn what to do with
it! A few basic hammer use pointers are addressed below.
To make a job easier and avoid damage to either your tools
or the project, always choose the appropriate hammer for each
individual job.
If you notice a hammer slipping off nails, use medium sand
paper to roughen the face.
Never use the side of a hammer head to make contact, because
the metal at this point is not hardened like the striking face
and could incur damage.
Check on a regular basis to ensure the steel wedges holding
the hammer handle in the hammer head are tight. Wood can shrink
in dry conditions. If a wood handle does become loose, submerse
the head in water overnight. This will rehydrate the wood,
causing it to expand and tighten up again.
A piece of scrap wood inserted between the work piece and
hammer will prevent damage to the work piece when crafting
delicate projects.
Another way to prevent damage to the work piece is to use
a nail punch to sink nails into the timber. # # # # #
SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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