How to choose a carpenter's hammer: weight and handle

For everyday carpentry work, choose a carpenter's hammer of about 450-600 g with a curved claw for pulling nails. Weight makes the difference: above 600 g you hit harder but tire sooner, below 400 g you work faster but need more blows. In the collection the head weight ranges from 100 to 750 g and the handle can be wood, fibreglass, resin or steel.

The types

• Carpenter's hammer with curved head: flat face for striking and curved claw for pulling nails using leverage. It is the most common model, for example the Stanley curved-head hammer.
• French-pattern hammer: a carpentry variant with a head shape different from the classic curved one, designed for formwork. An example is the French-pattern carpenter's hammer.
• Joiner's hammer: generally lighter, with a wooden handle, for finer work, such as the joiner's hammer with wooden handle.
• Anti-vibration hammer: handle designed to reduce the vibration felt in the hand, such as the Stanley Antivibe model.
• Hammers with steel head and handle: models such as Steelmaster or Welded, robust, designed for heavy-duty use.
• XP hammers: DeWalt range with weights of 340 and 454 g, such as the XP high-velocity 340 g.

How to choose by job

The features to check

• Head weight: in the collection it ranges from 100 to 750 g, with many models between 400 and 600 g. A heavy head gives more force to the blow, but tires the arm.
• Total weight: from about 300 g to over 1 kg for the heaviest. This is the weight you carry all day, not just that of the head.
• Handle material: wood (easy to replace and absorbs blows well), fibreglass and glass fibre (resistant to moisture), resin, steel with rubber covering (very robust, but they transmit more vibration unless they are damped).
• Type of claw: curved for pulling nails using leverage; other shapes are designed for formwork or other uses.
• Standard: some hammers declare compliance with ASME B107.400, an American standard for hammers. If you need specific compliance, check the product sheet.
• Pack size: 1, 6 or 12 pieces. The packs of 6 and 12 are for those equipping several workers.

Common mistakes

• Taking the heaviest hammer. A harder blow is not worth an arm that is tired by midday, especially at height.
• Choosing the handle out of habit. For anyone working outdoors, wood withstands moisture less well than fibreglass.
• Pulling nails without support. Levering with the claw marks the surface: put a piece of wood underneath.
• Carrying on with a damaged hammer. With a chipped head or a loose handle there is a risk of the head flying off.
• Gripping near the head. You lose leverage and power: grip towards the end of the handle.

Frequently asked questions

What weight should I choose for a carpenter's hammer?

For general use a 450-600 g head is fine. Go down towards 340 g for work at height or with one hand, go up towards 750 g for heavy carpentry.

Is a wooden or a fibreglass handle better?

Wood is easy to replace and absorbs blows well. Fibreglass withstands moisture and intensive use better. If you work outdoors, the latter is more practical.

What is an anti-vibration hammer for?

It reduces the vibration that reaches the hand during repeated blows. It is useful if you use the hammer many hours a day.

When should I replace the hammer?

When the head is chipped or the handle moves: it must be replaced immediately, because a blow that goes wrong can hurt.

Browse the models in the Carpenter's hammers collection: if you need help choosing the weight or the handle, request a quote or ask the AMES technicians for advice.