Hammers: specifications, types

— Locksmith. One of the most popular varieties of hammers; most often, locksmith models are bought for domestic use, although such tools have a clear scope among professionals. The head of such a hammer usually has a square section, the striker is made slightly convex — which, in particular, is convenient when hitting a chisel, punch and other similar tools. The rear part has the form of a wedge, which can be used, in particular, for breaking and splitting various materials. Locksmith hammers are available in a wide variety of weights — from 100 g to 2 kg.

— Carpenter. This category includes hammers for working with wooden parts — both carpentry and carpentry, designed for rougher work and greater effort. By design, these varieties are similar: the impact part has a flat surface, a round section and a characteristic refined "neck", and the toe can be made bifurcated, for use as a nail puller. However, there are also differences. Firstly, carpentry hammers are somewhat larger — from 300 g, while carpentry hammers start from 100 g. Secondly, carpentry tools can have a toe not only in the form of a dovetail, but also in the form of a wedge. Thirdly, the knurled head and nail fixing devices (see below for both) are found mainly in carpenter's hammers.

— Sledgehammer. The largest and most massive type of hammers, which is sometimes even distinguished as a separ...ate class of tools. Sledgehammers have a striker weight of 800 g (in the most massive models it can be 12 kg or even more), most often they involve holding with two hands and are used for the most rough and hard work that requires exceptional impact power. The head of such a tool most often has a square section and a symmetrical layout, with strikers on both sides; however, there are other options — in particular, sledgehammers with a toe in the form of a wedge, as in the carpentry hammers described above.

— Kiyanka. A specialized type of hammer equipped with hardwood or rubber heads. Such heads usually have rather large dimensions and a characteristic shape (rectangular or barrel-shaped), with flat heads on both sides. One of the most popular ways to use mallets is to work with chisels and chisels: due to the relatively soft material, the striker does not damage the handle of such a tool upon impact. In addition, this type of hammer is used when laying ceramic tiles — for similar reasons — as well as when processing sheet metal and roofing materials, in particular for straightening and folding.

— Leveling. Hammers designed primarily for straightening and leveling sheet metal and other similar materials. The design of such tools may be different. One of the most popular options is a double-sided cylindrical head; at the same time, strikers can be made from different materials — elastic (for example, polyurethane) and hard (such as nylon) — and allow replacement when worn (see "Replaceable striker"). In metal tools, a flat round head can be supplemented with a second head with a notch, a hemispherical toe or a spike for punching holes.

— Inertialess. Hammers of a special design, almost no rebound on impact. This is achieved due to the fact that the head is made hollow and inside there is a special hardware (most often metal shot), which dampens inertia. The need for such a tool is quite rare, but for some jobs it can be a real salvation. The shape of the head in inertialess hammers can be different, but most often it is barrel-shaped (cylindrical), with double-sided strikers.

— Roofer's hammer. Hammers designed for roofing. The classic roofer's hammer has a square-shaped head (often with notches for the convenience of driving roofing nails), and on the back of the head there is a specific design that resembles a broken carpenter's nail puller: two teeth, one of which is approximately half as long as the other. This design is used, in particular, for punching holes in roofing material and bending edges. In addition, nail fixation is often used in such tools (see below): it allows you to work with one hand, while the other holds on to a ladder or insurance. Also note that sometimes the so-called roofing is also referred to. slate nail hammers: they resemble carpentry hammers, but have a larger head, usually square, and differ in the design of the nail puller.

— Mason's hammer. Hammers designed for working with stone, brick and other similar materials. A distinctive feature of such models is the toe in the form of a rather thin and flat wedge, which works like a pickaxe and is capable of splitting stones, knocking down plaster and performing other similar functions. The striker is usually made flat and has a rectangular cross section. Also, hammers of a bricklayer are sometimes referred to as "buchards" — tools for applying a notch, with characteristic teeth on the striker.

— Tiler 's hammer. Specialized hammers used when laying ceramic tiles. In such work, it is not so much strength that is required as the accuracy of impact, which is taken into account in the design of such hammers. They are relatively small in size and weight, and the head is usually made elongated; on one side of it is the actual striker, on the other — a flat blade for chipping tiles. Note that the hammers of tilers are quite similar to the hammers of masons; often the difference between these two varieties is only in the name. However, masons' hammers have their own specifics — see above for details.

— Welder's hammer. A tool used in welding — mainly to remove scale and slag ("charge") formed in the process, and sometimes also to check the quality of the weld. In professional jargon, such a hammer is called a "cleaver" or "slag breaker". It usually has a double-sided head, one of the heads is made in the form of a chisel, and the second can have a different design: a second chisel perpendicular or parallel to the first, a pointed sting for cleaning hard-to-reach places, or even a curved Z-shaped cutting edge. Also note that some slag hammers are equipped with handles in the form of a twisted spring: such a spring dampens the recoil from the blow, and also dissipates heat if the hammer is used directly during the welding process or shortly after.

The weight of the striker in this case means the weight of the entire head — the working part of the hammer, put on the handle. The overall weight of the tool is also affected by the handle (sometimes quite significantly), but the performance is almost entirely determined by the weight of the head. Therefore, it is this indicator that is usually indicated in the characteristics and it is he who is meant when talking about the weight of the hammer as a whole.

Each type of hammer (see "Type") has its own weight range: for example, carpentry hammers are available in the weight category from 100 g to 1 kg, metalwork — up to 2 kg, and the weight of sledgehammers starts at about 1 kg and often exceeds 10 kg. In special sources, you can find detailed recommendations on the choice of weight depending on the type and planned features of the application. Here we note that, all other things being equal, a larger weight has a positive effect on the impact force, a smaller one contributes to accuracy and accuracy.

The total length of the hammer. This parameter is selected by the manufacturer based on the type (see above) and the “weight category” of the tool, however, models that are similar in characteristics may have different lengths. In such cases, it is worth taking into account that longer hammers are more "sweeping", they provide more impact force; shorter ones, in turn, are better suited for precision work, and also weigh less. Detailed recommendations on choosing the optimal length for each specific case can be found in special sources.

The size of the striker is actually the shock part of the head. For round strikers, the diameter is usually indicated, for square strikers, the length of the side of the square; there are also rectangular strikers (in particular, in mallets — see "Type") — for them the size is given in length and width.

The size of the striker is usually chosen in accordance with the type and weight of the tool, so most often this parameter is more of a reference than of practical significance. However, in some situations it is also worth paying attention to — for example, if we are talking about a straightening hammer or mallet used for the same purposes. In this application, a larger striker allows you to quickly deal with a large area, a smaller one provides better accuracy and accuracy.

The material from which the head of the hammer is made is the impact part of the head, which is in direct contact with the material during operation. It can be metal, plastic, rubber, wood, copper, brass. The rest of the head can be made from the same or from another material.

Note that in most hammers the striker is made of high hardness tool steel. Therefore, in our catalog, this parameter is indicated only for those models in which this element is made of other materials. Options in such cases may be as follows:

— Rubber. A variant found mainly in mallets and individual models of straightening hammers (see "Type"). Due to its elasticity and relative softness, this material provides a fairly gentle impact, which is critical in some jobs. Also note that different colours of rubber can be used in hammers: black is harder and more resistant to chemicals, while relatively soft white provides a more economical impact and does not leave marks. In some tools, both types of rubber can be provided at once, on different sides of the head.

— Wood. Historically the first material used in mallets (see "Type"). Wooden strikers, even from hardwood, are noticeably softer than steel; at the same time, compared to another material popular in mallets — rubber — the tre...e is less elastic and almost does not rebound. On the other hand, due to the fibrous structure, the wood tends to accumulate moisture, and irregularities and chips easily appear on the surface of the striker. Therefore, nowadays, this material is gradually being replaced by rubber and other more modern options.

— Plastic. A material widely used in straightening hammers (see "Type") and almost never found in other varieties. At the same time, the striker is often made double-sided and different types of plastic are used for it: on the one hand, it is more elastic, like polyurethane, on the other, it is harder, for example, nylon. Thus, the capabilities of the tool are expanded, the user can choose the striker depending on the specifics of the situation.

— Copper. Copper combines great weight and relative softness. Therefore, this material is used in some metalwork hammers, designed for a powerful and at the same time delicate impact. In particular, it is convenient to correct steel parts in a vice on the tool table of the machine with a copper striker: dents and scratches in this case, if they occur, then only on a hammer.

— Brass. The brass striker provides the hammer with softness of impact; such a tool is often used when assembling components and mechanisms made of steel. Brass has a lower hardness than steel, for this reason the striker will not leave significant damage on the critical surfaces of the steel structure. Such a hammer can be trusted to press the bearings onto the shaft. Additionally, brass-faced hammers do not spark when hitting harder materials.

The grade of steel from which the hammer head is made.

Most grades used in hammers are tool steels and have similar properties. So this parameter is more of a reference than practically significant. Manufacturers indicate it mainly for advertising purposes in order to focus on the quality of the tool, and the buyer should pay attention to the hardness of the steel (see below) rather than to its specific brand.

The hardness of the steel from which the hammer head is made.

Hardness is given in Rockwell units in HRC units; the higher the value, the harder the steel is. The minimum value found in modern hammers is about 35 HRC, the maximum is 58 HRC. At the same time, different types of hammers have their own requirements for hardness; some of them are even spelled out in GOSTs — for example, for metalwork hammers (see "Type"), a range from 50 to 58 HRC is allowed. Actually, in most other varieties, hardness is within these limits, the only exceptions are individual models of metalwork hammers and sledgehammers. In the first case, reduced hardness is usually a consequence of the technological features of production. In sledgehammers, relatively soft steel allows you to "put in place" certain parts without damaging them — dents and scratches remain on the sledgehammer itself, where they are not critical.

— Tree. "Classic of the genre", not losing popularity in our days. At a low cost, the tree sits securely in the hand; its strength is noticeably lower than that of metal, but this can be compensated for by the thickness of the handle — especially since the weight of this material is relatively small and allows this. So in most cases, strength is enough; and even if the handle is broken, it can be replaced with another one, all wooden handles are technically removable (except in mallets it can be easier to buy a new tool than to repair a broken one).

— Metal. Metal handles are usually made of tool steel — the same as used in strikers (although the striker itself is not necessarily steel). The main advantage of this material is high strength and reliability: it is very difficult to break a metal handle, even if you specifically set yourself such a goal. On the other hand, metal costs a little more than wood, and therefore is less common. Also note that the steel surface itself tends to slip in the hand; therefore, all steel handles must be made rubberized (see below).

— Fibreglass. Usually, in this case, not pure fibreglass is meant, but fibreglass (fibreglass) — a material made of thin glass filaments and a binding plastic. This combination allows you to achieve very high strength (in some grades — comparable to steel) with low weight and affordable cost. Due...to this, fibreglass handles are very widely used in modern hammers, only slightly inferior in popularity to wooden ones. And they are significantly superior to classic plastic ones.

— Rubber. A rather specific option, found mainly in models with a monolithic design (see below). If the design is not monolithic, then this option means a rubberized handle (also see below), which is covered with rubber along the entire length, up to the very head. Anyway, the rubber itself is too soft to be used as a standalone material. Therefore, it is used as an outer coating for a rigid (usually metallic) substrate. The advantages of such handles are similar to rubber ones — first of all, it is the convenience and reliability of holding in the hand.

— Graphite. This option usually means a handle made of durable plastic (polycarbonate), inside which a graphite rod is installed. The composition of graphite is selected in such a way that such a combination provides very high strength — comparable to steel, with greater convenience and less weight. The plastic surface is not very secure to hold, so the handle is usually rubberized (see below).

— Plastic. The plastic handle makes the hammer lighter. The main advantage of plastic is resistance to moisture. Such hammers will not wear, and therefore the strength of the impact tool will not decrease. A special grade of plastic is used for the manufacture, which makes the handle more durable than natural wood. The vast majority of hammers with a plastic handle are equipped with a rubberized surface in the grip area. The presence of an additional coating prevents the tool from slipping out of the hands during operation.

The presence of a relief notch on the hammer head. Most models with this feature are roofers' and masons' hammers (see "Type"). In such tools, the grooved surface of the striker is provided in order to reduce the likelihood of slipping when hitting uneven objects — such as a roofing nail with a round head or a stone ledge. For the same purpose, a notch may be provided in some other types of hammers — in particular, carpentry. And straightening hammers can be equipped with two strikers at once — smooth and corrugated; this allows you to choose a striker for the characteristics of the surface to be treated.

The ability to replace the "native" hammer head — most often only the head itself, without replacing the entire head.

This feature is found in tools that use a working part made of rubber or plastic (see "Striker Material"). Due to the softness of such materials, the strikers wear out as they work and, with intensive use, can quickly become unusable; in such cases, it is cheaper to replace the working part of the head than to buy a new hammer.

The presence in the hammer of a special retainer for the nail.

Such a latch most often has the form of a characteristic figured slot on the head. A nail is inserted into this slot with a hat, it is usually held with a magnet. In this case, the tip of the nail turns out to be directed in the same direction as the head of the hammer, and the cap rests against the edge of the slot. Thus, if a strong enough blow is applied, the nail will partially enter the material and be fixed in it. Thanks to this, at the “initial stage” of hammering, you do not need to hold the nail with your fingers, which means there is no risk of hitting them with a hammer. On the other hand, when using a latch, it is extremely difficult to hit a nail strictly at a certain point — a deviation of at least a few millimetres, or even centimeters, inevitably occurs. So the clamps are found mainly in hammers for carpentry (carpentry) and roofing (see "Type") — such work in many cases does not require high precision and allows the mentioned deviations when driving nails.

Hammers designed to minimize the possibility of sparks during operation. These tools are indispensable when working in environments with increased risk of explosion or fire — for example, at a gas station, oil refinery or mine. The heads of spark -proof hammers are made of special alloys — most often certain types of bronze, which also have anti-magnetic properties (which is also relevant in some situations).

The presence of additional protection in the handle of the hammer.

Protection is found in models with handles made of wood or fibreglass (see "Handle Material"). It looks like a kind of "collar" — an additional metal sleeve at the junction of the handle with the head. The main function of such a device is to protect the handle from damage during misses and other flaws in the work, when the main blow falls not on the striker, but on the handle. In addition, it is at the junction of the handle and the head that the likelihood of cracks and breaks is highest, while the protection further strengthens this place.

Availability in a hammer of system of dampening of vibrations.

Such a system usually has the form of a characteristic insert at the head or closer to the middle of the handle. The insert is made of elastic material and absorbs vibrations transmitted to the part of the handle that the user is holding. This reduces fatigue, reduces the harmful effects of vibrations on bones and joints, and improves overall comfort. In general, if the hammer is used occasionally, this function can be dispensed with; however, for those who constantly work with the tool, anti-vibration can be a real lifesaver.

The presence of a rubber coating on the handle of the hammer.

Such a coating can be combined with any handle material (see above), and for metal and fibreglass it is almost mandatory. The main function of rubber is to provide a secure hold: this material itself is not prone to slip, and for additional security, its surface can be made corrugated. In addition, soft and resilient rubber absorbs vibrations to a certain extent even if the hammer does not have a special anti-vibration system (see above).

The monolithic design means that the entire base of the hammer is made in the form of a single piece, its head and handle are one piece (without lining). This increases strength and reliability - one of the weakest points is just the junction, and in principle it is absent in such tools.

Among the monolithic models, two varieties can be distinguished. The first is all-steel hammers, mainly carpentry, roofing and masons, as well as some light sledgehammers (see "Type"). The second - mallets and straightening hammers, completely covered with a rubber sheath; the rigid “filling” of the base in them is not necessarily monolithic, but this is not important in this case.

The DIN standard to which the hammer conforms. Various DIN standards are developed by the German Institute for Standardization, one of the world's most authoritative organizations in this field; formally they operate only in Germany, but in fact many other countries are guided by them.

Without going into unnecessary details, the meaning of this parameter can be described as follows: if the hammer complies with the DIN standard, this means that it has a set of characteristics that is classic for its type, weight and specialization. Simply put, if there is a DIN marking, the hammer will be standard, if not, it may turn out to be non-standard, for example, too long for its weight or with too soft steel (although not every hammer without certification has such deviations). These deviations are not always disadvantages, but in most cases the user still needs a more or less classic tool.

Note that the number of the DIN standard mentioned in the specifications usually corresponds to the general type of hammer, so you can not pay much attention to this number — the very fact of correspondence is important.