A hammer is a popular tool that’s always handy around the house and shop. It’s used to build pieces of wood together, pound nails into something, shape metal, and even break things apart. Although most everyone knows how to swing one, knowing its components will allow you to use it more effectiveley. This article describes components of a hammer and will give you an idea as to how they operates. The diagram shows where all these parts is located.
At the top of the handle, you see that heavy metal part, that’s the head. The head need weight to hit hard, so it is typicaly made of steel. The head is important, because it takes the shock of impact and delivers energy to the nail. Check the head often for chips or cracks. If a head break, it can come off the handle and injure someone.
Parts of a Hammer
Face
At the front of the head, there’s a flat surface we call the face. The face makes contact with whatever you’re striking, either the nail head or the material being struck. If the face is smooth, it spreads the force out, keeps the nail from bending and prevents wood from splitting. Over time, the face may become rough or dented. To maintain precision and control, file the face smooth.
Cheek
Cheek; Side of the head running from the face to the heel. This supports the head and distributes the force of collisions in the head. To assist with the swing, there is frequently additional weight on this cheek. If you’re doing light work, you’ll probably hit the chisel using the heel. Avoiding having a dirty cheek prevents slippage.
Handle
This is a bit of a fancy term for the thin piece of metal between the handle and the rest of the body. This is where you grip it and where it transition into the heavy striking portion of the tool. How does this affect the balance of the hammer in your hands? That’s what the neck does. A well designed neck centers the weight, allowing you to use it longer without getting tired.
Claw
Back at the head is a curved fork called the claw. With this, you can pull nails from wood without damaging the surrounding wood. Because it’s curved, you can use leverage against the grain of the wood. When using the claw, always stand firmly as the force will cause the hammer to jump.
Toe
Toe. This refers to the top tip of the claw. This is what touches the wood initially as you pull a nail out. When starting, the toe will slip underneath the head of the nail and not damage the wood. How far the toe will slide underneath the nail depend on its curve. Examine the toe for wear to ensure it functions well.
Heel
Opposite the face of the hammer is the back edge of the head called the heel. On most hammers, the heel balances out the face. However, some hammers is shaped with a heel specifically for striking tools like chisels. The heel is often slightly rounded to prevent injury if the hammer rotate during a missed strike.
Head
The handle is the long shaft extending from the head. This allows you to swing the tool. Steel, fiberglass or wood handles all absorbs vibration in different ways. Generally speaking, a longer handle means you can strike harder. Be certain the handle is snugly inserted into the head; otherwise it’ll fly right off.
Handle The handle is what you hold on to. Most handles will be covered with leather or rubber, which makes them comfortabley and keeps your hand from sliding down the handle. A quality grip helps slow down some of the shock that reaches your arm and allows for better control over rapid swings and stops. Look for cracks on grips; slippery grips can cause injuries and bad hits.
Eye
For the head part, the hole in the middle of the head is called the eye. This is what keeps everything together. So the shaft fits into it snugly with the metal. There is usually a ferrule or wedge at the eye to keep the handle locked on. If the head comes loose, it can be dangerous and should of been fixed.
All these pieces make up a hammer that will help you do your job. And when the hammer isn’t quite right, look first around where the head connects to the handle. A solid fit and a good looking face let you work safely and well.
