If you're putting together a home workshop, you're going to need a hammer or two. It's helpful to know something about the options that are available.
The largest hammer you're likely to need is the sledgehammer (figure A), which is generally used for outdoor projects. Sledgehammers are also available in smaller hand-held sizes (figure B).
If you're concerned about your hammer marring the surface of your project, you might consider using a dead-blow hammer (figure C). The striking faces of this hammer are made of plastic, and the hammer has sand inside to prevent it from bouncing.
A mason's hammer (figure D) comes in handy when you're working on brick, concrete or mortar. It can be used as a hammer or as a chisel.
The ball-peen hammer (figure E) is typically used for sheet metal.
As the name implies, the tack hammer (figure F) is used to drive tacks. It's very light and has a magnetic end to help you pick up fallen tacks.
The framing hammer (figure G) is usually used by carpenters when framing a house. It has a waffle-faced head so that it doesn't slip off of nails easily, and it's fairly heavy to help drive nails more easily. The back of the hammer is forked to help remove nails.
Regardless of what other hammers you get, you'll need a standard claw hammer ( figure H), which is similar to a framing hammer but is much lighter. When using a claw hammer, grip the back of the handle rather than holding it close to the head. This will give you better control and leverage.
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