You’ll find claw hammers weighing as little as 8 ounces and monsters weighing as much as 32 ounces, but for the average DIYer, a tool that’s between 16 and 20 ounces is best. Go toward the bottom of that range if you’ll mostly use the hammer for hanging pictures and similar light tasks, and toward the upper end of the range if you’ll be doing framing or similar construction activities.

There are different hammers out there, each with a specific purpose, although there can be overlaps among them. Here are some of the most common types of hammers: But that's not the only benefit of this hammer; it also has a face that's significantly larger than most other similar hammers, meaning you are far less likely to have a swing-and-miss, and thus less likely to strike your thumb instead of the nail, or damage the wall with a misplaced blow. And since it's made from a single length of forged steel, it's a tool that should last you for many decades of dependable use. Ball Peen: The head of this hammer has a flat face on one side and a round, somewhat ball-shaped face on the other. There is no claw. Ball peen hammers are mostly used for metalwork. Rubber Mallet: Shaped much like a club hammer, but with a rubber head instead of metal, mallets are not used to drive nails but to add some force when driving stakes or chisels, building furniture, working with upholstery, or similar tasks where you need more power than your hands provide alone, yet you don’t want to damage the surface upon which you are working.Ascetically speaking, the AV’s are pretty damn nice looking hammers. That may not appeal to everyone, but for those of you who care about how your hammer looks, these are the “new Corvette” of ball pein hammers. Wood is the classic hammer handle and is still preferred by many. It’s fairly lightweight, doesn’t transmit a lot of vibration to your hand and wrist, and with enough use, wooden handles tend to “form” a little bit to your hand over time. Still, wooden handles are the likeliest to break, and they can be slippery. They’ll also rot or warp if left out in rough conditions or exposed to moisture. However, you can generally replace a wooden hammer handle if it breaks. If you don't expect to use your hammer for professional or heavy-duty DIY jobs, then there's no reason to spend money on a professional-level tool. Not when you can buy this sturdy 16-ounce framing hammer with a steel head, fiberglass handle, and very slightly curved rip claw for pulling apart nailed boards. Unlike many framing hammers, this one has a smooth face, which is slightly more forgiving, should you mis-swing and hit the wall instead of the nail. Rip hammers, more properly called framing hammers, have a fairly straight claw, which can be used to rip apart nailed boards. Rip hammers are often heavier than claw hammers, but they come in a wide range of weights and sizes.

Claw: This is the most common type of hammer. The head has a slightly curved, forked claw that’s useful for pulling nails out of wood and other materials. Most have a smooth face that won’t mar the wall as you drive the nail home. Smooth-faced claw hammers are sometimes called "finishing hammers."This is an ideal all-purpose hammer for just about any handyperson or DIYer, as well as people who like to have a collection of quality tools on hand whenever they're needed. Tinner's: These hammers have a square face and a sharp claw without a fork. They are mostly used for metalwork, including hammering sheet metal and automotive repairs. A hammer that weighs too much will tire you out. However, go too light, and you sacrifice strike power. Note that a hammer’s weight refers to just the steel head, not the entire tool. Longer isn’t always better. While a longer hammer lets you build up more momentum for a more powerful blow, such a tool weighs more than its shorter counterparts and is generally not necessary for the average DIYer.

A well-made hammer feels good in your hands, and there's a reason Estwing has been a favorite manufacturer of hammers for decades; they know how to build a hammer just right. The E3-16C is a curved claw, 16-ounce hammer forged from one piece of polished solid steel. The handle is wrapped in a cushion of nonslip-grip material that minimizes vibration and helps you hold on even if your hands get sweaty. And it's perfectly balanced for a smooth, easy swing that drives your nail home without excessive effort.Club: Also called "drilling hammers," these short tools with two flat faces are basically smaller sledgehammers. Club hammers are great for light demolition, as well as driving chisels and wedges.