A claw hammer is a tool used to drive and remove nails from wood. It has a steel head and handle, with variations in weight and design for different uses. Framing hammers have off-center handles and a choice of striking surface, while finishing hammers are lighter and have a greater curvature in the claw. There are also special features such as starter nails and replaceable parts.
A claw hammer, also known as a nail hammer, is a tool used to both drive nails into wood and to remove nails and other fasteners from wood. It’s the type of hammer that most people are familiar with. It has two parts: the head, usually made of steel, and a handle, made of metal, wood, and sometimes rubber-coated to help the user hold the tool. The handle is typically gripped with one hand and swung in the air to drive the nails. To remove nails, the hammer is placed with the nail in the center of the V-shaped claw and pressed against the wood in a levering motion. There are framing claw hammers for heavier work and finishing claw hammers for lighter work, while various weights, materials, and head and handle designs tailor the two basic types for different uses and users.
Most claw hammers have the same design. The claw hammer handle is centered under the head, with the cylindrical striking surface of the head extending to one side and the claw extending to the other side. More recently, a framing hammer design referred to as the “forward weight hammer” has been developed. It has an off-center handle that is much closer to the striking surface, barely extending beyond the handle.
There are two types of claw hammers with respect to hammer claw. The straight claw hammer has a relatively straight claw. The curved claw hammer is probably the most familiar form of claw hammer. The curved nature of the claw is typically better for pulling nails, especially long nails, out of wood.
The claw hammer style of claw hammer is also called a rotary hammer. Compared to a ripping hammer, it usually has a longer handle, heavier head and, often, a flatter claw. The handle of a framing hammer may be made of wood, fiberglass or steel, or alternatively the entire hammer may be made of titanium, with a steel cap on the striking surface.
The striking surface of a framing hammer often comes with a choice of a smooth finish, a milled surface, or a honeycomb face. Both the waffle surface and the milled surface are made for better nail grip. The face of the waffle has a serrated surface, similar to that of a waffle iron, while the milled surface has protruding diamond-shaped points. Unlike the waffle surface and smooth finish, a milled surface can mark the wood. A smooth finish, however, is more likely to slip off the affected nail head.
Framing hammers can have some special features. A starter nail – a recessed magnetic holder to help position a nail correctly – can be built into the head. The head or handle of a wood, fiberglass, or steel handled framing hammer may be replaceable. Titanium hammers, on the other hand, can be designed to allow the owner to change the steel cap that fits over the end of the hammer head, allowing for a switch between a smooth finish, waffle surface, or milled surface. Also, a worn surface could be replaced.
The finishing claw type of hammer is the usual choice for home tasks and when driving small or thin nails. A finishing hammer typically has a wooden handle, smooth face, and lightweight head. In most cases, it has a handle shorter than a framing hammer and a claw with a greater curvature. The standard defining characteristic of a finishing hammer, as opposed to a framing hammer, is that a finishing hammer weighs less than 20 ounces (567 gm) and is less than 16 inches (40.6 cm) long. Variations in finishing hammer designs include the long neck and trumpet-shaped head of the so-called “Japanese finishing hammer” and miniature claw hammers, or unmarred hammers, which can be 7 inches (17.8 cm) or less.
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