Buying Guide for Claw Hammers
When most people think of hammers, they think of a claw hammer. On one side, it has a rounded, flat head that is suited for driving nails. The other side has a claw-like curving end that can be utilized for a variety of things. Framing hammers and rip hammers are similar in appearance, but they feature a straight claw rather than the curled claw of a claw hammer.
Benefits of Claw Hammers
Hammering and Removing Nails
A claw hammer's most basic use is to drive nails into materials. This could be as basic as hammering a nail into a stud to hang a picture or as complex as putting in studs to frame off a room. You can drive nails neatly with the flat, rounded side. If you need to take nails out of a board, wall, or other material, the claw side gives you the leverage you need. This is useful if you drive the nail in the wrong area or if you're removing something from the wall that you don't want to keep.
Minor Demolition for Projects
If you're entirely gutting and redesigning your bathroom, you'll almost certainly need a variety of demolition tools. A hammer, on the other hand, can assist you with some aspects of a minor demolition project. It's great for prying off trim or dismantling other materials. You can also bash through materials with the flat, rounded part, however a sledgehammer will be far more efficient for larger operations.
Splitting Small Pieces of Wood
The hammer's solid metal claw is powerful enough to hack through small chunks of wood. Consider it a miniature form of an axe. Use the claw to split a block of wood for a project if you don't have a suitable cutting tool. It's not ideal for large-scale wood splitting jobs, but it'll do the job in a pinch.
Digging Small Holes
In a pinch, you can dig a shallow hole with the claw end of the hammer. The claw end is extremely powerful, allowing it to dig deep into dirt, even if it is extremely hard or frozen. Use the claw end to pry a difficult boulder out of the ground when working on a landscaping job, or use it to dig little divots in the ground for the legs of an extension ladder. If you need to break up a larger stone, use your hammer in conjunction with a chisel.
Factors consider before buying Claw Hammers
Weight
When and how you use the hammer will be determined by the weight of the head. For regular home repairs, a 16-20 oz. hammer is ideal. Demolition and sled hammers may break apart resistant materials with a force of up to 12 pounds. When choosing the proper instrument, strike a balance between the weight and handle length.
Construction of the handle
Wood, fiberglass, and steel are the three most popular types of handles. Due to their modest weight, fiberglass models are a little easier to manage. Wooden choices absorb more vibration, resulting in less user fatigue. Steel handles, on the other hand, are strong and long-lasting, but due to their extra weight, they're only ideal for framing and rip claw hammers.
Smooth vs textured faces
When hammering into and towards a substance or surface that you don't want to rough up, smooth-face hammers are excellent. Waffle or diamond faces are preferable for driving larger nails because they make a more steady contact with the nail head, but they can leave visible indentations on your work. Before painting using these variants, make careful to sand or fix any defects.
Handle length
The handle length, regardless of the type, is critical in your task. Each blow can be made with more force if the handle is longer. A length of roughly 13 inches will offer enough force for most ordinary hammers. Stubby models allow you to operate in tighter spaces, allowing you to do more detailed work.
Conclusion
Various hammers are a must-have for any decent tool collection, whether you're sweating bullets on a project or just trying to hang the latest family portrait. However, the hammer you use to hang a curtain rod isn't the same tool you'll need to remove that old drywall. To know your buying choices, head over to our featured section. We review and recommend leading products based on quality, sturdiness, and price.