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Types of Hammers Chart

Most buyers only need four or five hammer types, but catalogues list dozens. This chart groups the thirteen categories we manufacture by what they actually do: striking metal, driving nails, dressing stone, splitting wood, or hitting something that must not be marked. Head weight and handle length follow from the job.

Thirteen hammer types at a glance

TypeHead weight Handle lengthMain use
Machinist hammer0.1 - 0.8 kg260 - 330 mmMetalwork, assembly, riveting
Ball pein hammer0.1 - 0.8 kg260 - 330 mmEngineering, peening, metal shaping
Claw hammer0.45 - 0.6 kg330 mmCarpentry, nail driving and pulling
Roofing hammer0.6 - 0.8 kg330 mmRoofing, cladding, slate work
Mason's hammer0.6 kg330 - 370 mmBrick, block and stone dressing
Stoning hammer0.8 - 2 kg260 - 900 mmStone dressing, heavy chipping
Sledge hammer4 - 10 kg600 - 900 mmDemolition, stake driving, breaking
Axe0.6 - 1.25 kg360 - 900 mmFelling, firewood
Splitting axesee category600 - 900 mmSplitting rounds along the grain
Pick axesee category600 - 900 mmBreaking ground, trenching
Chisel0.6 kg330 mmCold chiselling, masonry cutting
Rubber malletstandard rangestandard rangeTiling, assembly, non-marring work
Wrecking barn/asee categoryPrying, demolition, nail removal

Ranges are the standard production range for each category; custom weights and handle lengths at MOQ 500 pcs per model.

Striking metal: machinist and ball pein

These two look similar and are often confused. The machinist hammer has a flat face and a cross pein; the ball pein has a rounded ball for peening rivets and shaping sheet metal. Both sit in the 0.1 to 0.8 kg range, with 300 g and 500 g the most common export sizes.

If a workshop buys one hammer, it is usually a 500 g ball pein. If it buys two, the second is a 300 g machinist hammer for lighter assembly work.

Driving nails: claw and roofing

A claw hammer is defined by its curved claw, which pulls nails without a separate pry bar. Roofing hammers add a hatchet edge or a slate spike, which is why they are not interchangeable with a claw hammer even at the same weight.

Handle length matters here: 330 mm is the standard, and going shorter trades reach for control.

Stone and demolition: stoning and sledge

Stoning hammers run 0.8 to 2 kg and are used to dress stone by hand; the head is often double-faced. Sledge hammers start at 4 kg and go to 10 kg, with long handles so the arc does the work rather than the arms.

Above 4 kg, head weight alone stops being the deciding factor: handle length and the user's height matter more for delivered force.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common types of hammers?

Claw, machinist, ball pein, sledge and rubber mallet cover most trade work. Roofing, masonry and stoning hammers are specialist categories bought by specific trades.

What is the difference between a machinist hammer and a ball pein hammer?

The machinist hammer has a flat striking face and a cross pein; the ball pein has a rounded ball used for peening and shaping metal. Both are metalworking hammers in the 0.1 to 0.8 kg range.

How many types of hammers are there?

Catalogues list dozens, but thirteen categories cover almost all trade use: machinist, ball pein, claw, roofing, mason's, stoning, sledge, axe, splitting axe, pick axe, chisel, rubber mallet and wrecking bar.

Which hammer type is best for general use?

A 500 g ball pein for metalwork or a 450 to 600 g claw hammer for carpentry. There is no single general-purpose hammer across trades.

Do you manufacture all thirteen types?

Yes, with OEM branding and Russian or English packaging. MOQ is 500 pcs per model for custom marking.

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Related pages: Hammer head weight chart · Hammer handle length chart · Sledge hammer weight chart