Essential hammers for your toolbox
Simple tools to save you time and money.
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Sometimes, our DIY instinct is to use whatever is on hand to solve a problem. But not everyone can use paper clips, chewing gum, or paperweights to pick locks—or hang pictures. Save yourself a trip to the hardware store when you’re putting up shelves, assembling a new bed frame, or extracting random nails from the wall left by a previous homeowner. These four hammers help you get the job done right the first time.
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If you dabble in small home improvement projects, this inexpensive standard hammer will not let you down. It weighs just a pound and has a 13-inch handle that’s natural to grip. The steel head has a claw on the back to rip out nails or tacks if you need to undo a misfire or are repurposing the wood from an old piece of furniture.
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You might just be using this hammer to replace the steps on your porch, but you could use it on a construction site. The steel head and 13-inch handle are drop-forged in one piece and the leather grip is easy to hold over repeated use. The grip also greatly reduces vibration impact, to keep your hands from bearing the brunt of all that force you’re exerting. The powerful rip claw is also a useful companion in demolition work.
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When you’re hammering metal to take out dents, setting rivets, or driving a chisel, a ball peen hammer is the way to go. The two heads of this hammer (a flat head and a round head, known as the pein or peen) are stronger than a claw hammer to withstand and shape metal surfaces. This one is made in the United States and features a hickory handle.
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This 8-ounce hammer is light and short, with a grippy handle designed to keep you comfortable over the course of a tedious job. It’s the perfect solution when you’re working in tight corners where a longer hammer won’t fit. Perhaps the best feature of this hammer is the magnetic nail holder built into the head. Avoid dropping your nail a dozen times while standing on a ladder—the magnet helps keep your nail straight and steady while you get started.