School me on hammers! Which ones does a guy need?

[thedeatons]

Being an avid tool user and enjoyer, i was wonderig today which hammers a guy should have... Situations: general work around the house, building some small stuff out of wood (not complete houses), working on cars, motorcycles, engines, etc...

There are so many weights and styles out there, i have no idea where to start!

I have 3 current hammers (craftsman) a sand filled rubber sledge, standard small sledge with wooden handle, and a basic looking hammer...

What about framing hammers, ball peens, etc?

Thoughts?

 

[Ritter4.0]

Some good well balanced ball peen hammers are good to have. I have a 24(unknown but has a rough "M" in it), 16(USA Plumb), and 8(Bonney) oz at work, 2 are easily as old or older than me (20) the other is kinda new but bought used. A deadblow is good to have. I have a cheap one, its chunking a lot and I plan to get a better one before this one explodes.

I use mine mostly for crushing rivets and bending aluminum.

A decent claw hammer is good to have too, and a drilling hammer.

Hammers are not all created equal either.

 

[High Octane]

The one I use the most is my 2 lb maul for suspension or anything I wanna have force behind

 

[Plombob]

Buy as many sizes as you can find at swap meets and garage sales. Someday you'll need a certain size. When it comes to claw or framing hammers, go for the fiberglass handle. Those are easier on your arm if you nail all day long.

 

[Scout Driver]

A few good ball peens are mandatory. A stout drillers hammer too.

I've have a Stanley Anti-vibe claw hammer and its been a good all-around hammer for what I need it to do. A little, light weight claw hammer is nice for hanging pictures or working with trim.

In some of my Grandfather's tools that I inherited, there was a steel hammer with replaceable hammer head faces. One is plastic and the other is rubber. Its more forceful than a rubber mallet and has a different feel than a deadblow hammer too. The more I use it, the handier I find it.

Scott

 

[gt eunuch]

I definitely use my 24oz Vaughn ball peen more than anything. I also have a 16oz ball peen and a double face rubber mallet.

If you are going to wail on some suspension bits, nothing beats a well balanced ball peen with some mass behind it.

 

[thedeatons]

So, why a ball peen over a sledge?

Why the different weights?

 

[canuckian]

Handiest hammer I have is a 3 lb Eastwing small sledge. Dead blow mallets, ball peens, drilling hammer, and a decent claw hammer are all you'd need for most jobs I'd figure.

 

[houdni]

also a good copper hammer like the thor for stuff you need hammering without damage...

 

[2oolhound]

I keep a variety of ball peens from large to pretty small. Sometimes the real small ones are indispensable around fragile parts. Also some non marring faced mallets for tapping on polished aluminum or nicely finished parts.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

My most used hammer for general automotive work--->

Dead Blow Ball Peen

Hits hard, head is solid, great grip. I highly recommend, if you got the money.

 

[Outlawmws]

So, why a ball peen over a sledge?

Why the different weights?

You need different weights as the mass is the real driver for the hammer. When it hits, it rebounds, (exception for Dead Blow hammers). Trying to "force" a light weight hammer to do the job of a heavy hammer is difficult, and you lose some control of the hammer trying.

The converse is also true trying to do light work with a heavy hammer make control difficult.

To answer the original question of "what hammers do I need?" the answer is obvious: All of them!

Seriously you want a selection of small to large ball peens, (just as you appear to have a selection of claw hammers?) a single jack, (heavier than the usual "heavy" ball peen) A sheet metal hammer, and if you do any metal forming beyond the normally flat sheet metal work different body or planishing hammers.

You will also want some specialty hammers, dead blow, brass/copper, plastic face, rawhide, wooden, possibly a magnetic tack hammer, and of course, hammer "accessories, Dollies, at least a small or medium sized anvil (for the ordinary non-blacksmith Joe, at least 15-25 lbs); A segment of railroad track can substitute for this, but all the smiths will cringe at me for saying so (sacrilege!!!)

As mentioned, hammers and hammer heads (Often premium grade) can be had used for a pittance. When you buy replace handles, pay close attention to the grain of the wood of the handle. It should be in line with the striking direction for maximum strength.

 

[G_P]

I have a really old hammer my father gave me that is made out of babbit from old bearings and weights about 2lbs. I use it all the time as it hits harder than a rubber mallet but is still soft enough not to damage parts. I guess its kind of an early version of a dead blow.

 

[BajaBound]

Love me a good ball peen hammer.

 

[matthew]

In my opinion, the first hammer everyone needs is a 16oz. claw hammer for general use around the house. But the second hammer people need is a little more overlooked... a 3lb. blacksmith hammer (aka cross-pein). Loads of things need a little heft for alignment, and much easier to do with a bit heavier hammer. Also has the advantage of two striking surfaces - the flat end and the pointed one. So if you need to strike something in a certain spot, or form something in a vise, you have the ability to apply force where needed.

Beyond that, collect whatever you find useful, or whatever you like...

 

[Outlawmws]

I have a really old hammer my father gave me that is made out of babbit from old bearings and weights about 2lbs. I use it all the time as it hits harder than a rubber mallet but is still soft enough not to damage parts. I guess its kind of an early version of a dead blow.

Is it Babbitt, or lead? Lead hammers used to be fairly common.

 

[blacK20]

I have 16 and 32oz ball peen, 3lb drilling hammer, 4lb sledge. Between the four, it covers pretty much everything in an automotive environment.

 

[Brucegbombara]

What is a good hammer for interior plastic panels in a car. I use my hand alot lol but a hammer would be alot more helpful. But something that won't damage the cheap plastic car interiors are made out of today.

 

[98TJ]

What is a good hammer for interior plastic panels in a car. I use my hand alot lol but a hammer would be alot more helpful. But something that won't damage the cheap plastic car interiors are made out of today.

Your hand is the best bet for putting panels back in place.

Bojo tools are nice for removal.

 

[VinDSL]

also a good copper hammer like the thor for stuff you need hammering without damage...

I have a 16 and 32oz ball peen [...]

There ya go -- that's what I use!

• Good copper hammer
• 16 and 32oz ball peen

Truth be told, most of the time, I just use my Lineman's plier as a hammer... or my hand. LoL!

 

[blacK20]

Ya your hands are the best for interior work. You need to feel when clips etc engage in the right spot. Hammer = lots of broken and scratched plastic.

 

[ajchien]

The hammers that get the most use from me are:
24 oz ball peen, for most wood/nail projects
3lb cross peen, for smacking my hand impact driver and mostly deforming metal or destroying things
8oz stubby claw for putting paint can lids back on
8oz ball peen, for marking with a nail punch
2lb dead blow, for knocking things around without marring the surface much

 

[ZRX61]

I have 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24oz & larger ballpeins. Posted pics of all mine in the snap-on hammer resto thread. Not even sure how many hammers I have, must be 30 or so...

Here's some of em:

There are 2 more drawers full, that odd colored big one in the middle is Bronze There's 3 Proto, 2 Fairmonts, 1 Demon, 1 Channelock & a couple of *no names* in there. Demon is 2nd from the top, now my new fav hammer

 

[VinDSL]

3lb cross peen, for smacking my hand impact driver and mostly deforming metal or destroying things [...]

Well said!

Heh! Sounds shockingly funny, but...

Occasionally we gotta bust things up, yes?

 

[VinDSL]

Is it Babbitt, or lead? Lead hammers used to be fairly common.

I still use a lead hammer, from time-to-time (we pour our own). They're too soft -- start mushing out the first time you use 'em. I highly doubt a lead hammer would have lasted this long. We're lucky to get a year out of one. It's *probably* babbit.

I use a brass hammer from time-to-time too. IMO, they're too hard. Don't *feel* very good in your hands either.

I really, really, really, prefer a Thor copper hammer. Example:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017SYUGY/?tag=atomicindus08-20 (picked at random)

Not too soft, not too hard, feel great, and they last a L-O-N-G time...

Only good thing they make, in the U.K... that and pickled onions!

 

[Danglerb]

We used to have, actually still do have, a small maybe you'd call it a tack hammer in the kitchen tool drawer. This was my first type of tool where I was amazed to find I needed a tool box drawer full of instead of one or two. Nothing too fancy in my drawer yet, 3 lb drill, Nupla about 2 lb deadblow with one metal face, Nupla no handle handi hammer (just a deadblow head, very handy), set of 5 HF ball peen, most of the HF orange deadblow sizes, PB Swiss soft face, and a cheap rubber mallet.

 

[GRX]

What hammer do you need? Like someone said above, all of them. In my opinion, having a good set of hammers of many types is often over-looked. It is a matter of having the right tool for the job. Here is a sample (not all) of mine. 20-lb sledge to the small brass hammer with the red handle. Every one has it's purpose. Including the brass & aluminum stakes.

 

[Outlawmws]

I still use a lead hammer, from time-to-time (we pour our own). They're too soft -- start mushing out the first time you use 'em. I highly doubt a lead hammer would have lasted this long. We're lucky to get a year out of one. It's *probably* babbit. SNIP

If you added old style wheel weights, that would harden it up considerably. I was asking as Babbitt is a lot harder to come by since they stopped using it in car engines. They still make/sell it, but not in stores generally...

 

[thedeatons]

There is a rebabbitting shop here in Nampa, Idaho! They do a lot of work on old engines....

Perhaps I am phrasing my question incorrectly. I see that you guys have lots of hammers, which is awesome. But, how do you know which hammer to grab when you open the drawer containing 20 hammers?

James

 

[DrkMtnDew]

Perhaps I am phrasing my question incorrectly. I see that you guys have lots of hammers, which is awesome. But, how do you know which hammer to grab when you open the drawer containing 20 hammers?

James

you just have to make a judgement call on the size of job you're doing. if you're hanging a picture frame you're probably not going to grab a post maul. likewise if you're doing suspention work you don't want a tack hammer. after you work with your tools a bit you'll start to pick favorites. they are the ones that you'll use 80% of the time. then for special applications you'll use the others. if you are working on something delicate but still need to give it a good smack you'll use a deadblow, rubber tip, or brass hammer. if you are unsure which hammer to use take several and try them out. there will be one that has a better feel, and better control for the job you're doing.

 

[ajchien]

There is a rebabbitting shop here in Nampa, Idaho! They do a lot of work on old engines....

Perhaps I am phrasing my question incorrectly. I see that you guys have lots of hammers, which is awesome. But, how do you know which hammer to grab when you open the drawer containing 20 hammers?

James

If I need to choose between 2 sizes, I've always been happier when I grab the bigger hammer first.

 

[ZRX61]

Hit the outdoor swapmeet today, some other A-hole had evidently got there before me & bought every decent hammer in the place. Loads of no name ****, but I did see a 24oz Craftsman ballpein with half a handle attached. Couldn't remember who made hammers for Craftsman (anyone?) so didn't buy it.

 

[Brad54]

I have a surprising number of hammers, and I use every one of them.

If you're going to work on ANY sheetmetal, you need a dedicated autobody hammer. The large-diameter head keeps the surface of the metal nice after dining out little dents.
And of course, the more times you use it, the more you'll be comfortable working sheetmetal, which means the more specialized body hammers you'll need. I think I have 7 or 8 right now, and there are two or three more I'd like to get. That should do it for me.

Then I have five different sizes of ball-peen hammers, from 8oz to 2 pound. Different hammers for different chores... bending flat-stock in the vise, working with different sized cold chisels, generally beating on stuff.

When the biggest of them doesn't work, I have a 3 and a 5-pound sledge (drilling hammer). Those work well for driving spikes in yard projects too.

When the smallest of them doesn't work, I have a very tiny ball-peen, which is actually the most used tool I have. It's just enough wen you need to apply more force than your finger tips can deliver. Or more. The last time I used it was to separate the transmission from the back of the block in my '01 Dodge Dakota... it was just enough persuasion with a small chisel acting as a wedge. My buddy was shocked.

I found one just like it on GJ, and talked him into buying it, and now he uses it all the time too.

I've got a mallet with a plastic head on one side, and rubber on the other that I just used tonight. (Craftsman) and use it a hell of a lot.

I have a rubber mallet that I don't use all that often... couple times a year maybe, but when you need it, it's perfect.

Don't have a lead hammer yet, but I have the mold. Looking for the right handle, and a hand grip.

And of course, I have a basic fiberglass-handled claw hammer (Craftsman), and an ancient wood-handled claw hammer (also Craftsman).

All told, I have about 20 hammers (counting the one in my road trip box, and the one in the wife's Corvair trunk box).

And darn if I don't use them all.

-Brad

 

[illmatyk]

At the moment I have a 16oz ballpeen no name brand, a 32oz Gearwrench ballpeen, and a no name rubber mallet.

The 16oz I have had for 5+years and have used it for various auto related repairs etc.

The 32oz I just picked up recently( on here ) to replace my SO hammer that was stolen. I've used it a little so far, and its pretty ok.

The rubber mallet I've had for roughly 5 years or so and mainly use it when wheels are stuck and need to be broken loose.