Quick Facts About Common Types of Hammers

A hammer is a hand tool used for striking objects or materials. There are different types of hammers that can be used for many different purposes, including: nailing nails into wood, metalworking and demolition applications.
With a variety of shapes, sizes and styles, it can be difficult to choose the right hammer for the job at hand. Read on to learn more about the common types of hammers and how to choose the right hammer for the job.

1. Ball Pein Hammers
A ball peen hammer is also known as a mechanic's hammer. The head of a ball peen hammer is harder than a claw hammer, making it less prone to splintering when impacted. These hammers are widely used in metalworking applications such as: driving punches and chisels, setting rivets, and bending and shaping metal. Spherical hammers are available in a variety of styles: straight hammers, angled hammers, and cross hammers.

2. Brass Hammers
Brass hammers are used where sparking from metal contact is not desired, usually in the oil and gas industry. Because brass hammers are made of a soft metal, they do not damage the material they come in contact with, but only the hammer. Brass hammers can be used for striking bearings and for other similar applications where a steel hammer would cause damage.

3. Dead Blow Hammers
A dead-blow hammer is a specialized hammer designed to minimize damage to the object being struck, as well as to control the force of the blow so that the surface of the object being struck has minimal rebound.
Dead blow hammers usually have a hollow head which is partially filled with steel/lead bullets or sand. This helps to disperse the energy of the blow over a longer period of time.
A dead blow hammer may also have a solid head made of rubber or flexible plastic, which helps to absorb the impact and reduce rebound. Due to the minimal rebound, dead blow hammers are often used in tight spaces to help avoid accidental damage.

4. Carpenter’s Hammers
Carpenter (nail) hammers are used to drive nails, pull nails and pry apart wood. The two most common types of carpenter's hammers are the framing hammer and the claw hammer. A framing hammer has a straight claw and is commonly used for building wooden houses. The heavy head, long handle and polished face of the hammer allow them to quickly drive nails into wood. The claw hammer has a more curved claw than the frame hammer shape. The rounded head and long handle are used to gain leverage to help pull the nails out of the wood.

5. Sledgehammers
Sledge hammers may be classified as hand tools, but these tools are much larger than the average hammer. Because of the size of sledge hammers, they are used for jobs that require more force than a standard hammer. The large head and long handle are designed to apply a large amount of force in a small area. Sledge hammers can be used to drive rebar and stakes, as well as break concrete and other demolition work.
Don’t forget using hammers can be dangerous if the proper safety equipment is not being used, always be sure to have the proper Eye Protection and Work Gloves at all times when using hammers.

SINOTOOLS is a professional manufacturer of hammers and other hand tools with many years of experience. If you would like to learn more about hand tools or guides, you can check out our past articles. Feel free to contact us anytime, our warm team is always happy to help.

Types of Screwdrivers Every DIYer Should Know

Ask any seasoned carpenter or DIYer what tool takes up the most space in his or her toolbox, and the answer is probably "a screwdriver". Since there is no one universal screw for framing, decking or carpentry, it's essential to have a variety of screwdrivers and screwdriver bits to insert or remove any type of screw you come across.
On top of that, chances are you'll find both manual and electric screwdrivers needed for maintenance and carpentry projects around the house. If you're just starting to equip your toolbox, pay close attention to the following types of screwdrivers.

Screwdriver Operation
Screwdrivers have only two purposes: to insert screws and to remove them. While the type of screwdriver is defined by the tip that matches the specific design of a particular screw head, you'll find other variations in the way screwdrivers operate. Understanding these design differences will allow you to choose the best way to handle screws for any given project, with any type of screwdriver.

- The manual screwdriver - the most recognizable variant of the hand tool - consists of a thick handle with a cylindrical steel shank that ends in the working head of the screwdriver (in some cases, it has an interchangeable tip to match some screw head patterns). Because the handle is larger than the tip, only a moderate amount of torque is needed to turn the screw. When using a manual screwdriver, you must lift the screwdriver off the screw head after each turn and reposition it before the next turn.
- A ratcheting screwdriver saves time and reduces the need to lift and reposition the screwdriver head after each turn. An internal ball bearing mechanism allows the user to turn the screw multiple times with a simple back and forth wrist motion. The ratcheting action can be changed from one direction to another by toggling a button on the screwdriver so that the DIYer can both insert the screw (clockwise movement) and remove it (counterclockwise movement).
- With the advent of the electric drill and the ability to replace the drill bit with a screwdriver head, the modified electric drill screwdriver was born. The electric drill/screwdriver dramatically reduced the time it took to insert or remove screws and quickly replaced nails in many construction and remodeling projects because the angled edges of the screws held firmly in place in the wood.

Finally, whether you prefer to use a hand screwdriver or a power drill, the most important factor is matching the screwdriver head to the screw head.

SCREWDRIVER TYPE: Flat/Slotted
While flat-head screws are no longer widely used in residential construction, you can still find them in furniture construction, small cabinetmaking projects and some electrical applications - which makes flat-head screwdrivers useful for more than just prying off the lid of a paint can. You'll need them to install plate covers on outlets and switches, and in other situations where it's important not to overtighten the screws.
Flathead screwdriver bits can be used for ratcheting and drilling, but it's a good idea to keep a flat-head hand screwdriver in your tool bag. When matching a screwdriver to a flat-head screw, pick one that matches the width and depth of the slot in the head of the screw in question.

SCREWDRIVER TYPE: Phillips
Phillips screws are identified by a flared "+" on the head and are widely used in construction and woodworking. Screwdrivers and bits suitable for Phillips screws are marked with a "Ph", but sometimes the size of the screwdriver does not match the size of the Phillips screw marked. You must physically match the screwdriver head to the specific screw. Manual or ratcheting screwdrivers work well when you only have one or two screws to install, but construction projects often use a large number of screws. Choose a drill with an interchangeable Phillips head for more efficient construction.

SCREWDRIVER TYPE: Hex Key
Hexagonal screws are usually very small and are commonly found in door handles, towel bars, and faucet handles. Hexagonal screwdrivers, also called Allen wrenches, are very useful in auto repair.

After reading this full guide on screwdrivers, hopefully your work will go better. SINOTOOLS offers a wide range of screwdrivers, feel free to contact us if interested.

Six Must-Have Agriculture Tools To Buy

You know that as a farmer, spring is a great time to start working and purchasing new tools. With so many options and a limited budget, trying to figure out what you need to buy can be difficult.
Check out this list of farm tools you can use to manage your crops more efficiently. Hopefully, some of the following tools will end up on your shopping list.

1.Sickle
A sickle is a hand tool with a sharp, curved blade used for harvesting. It is used to cut succulent grasses for livestock fodder. Sickles are commonly used to cut green grass and grains. The history of the sickle dates back centuries and is a popular and useful tool in agriculture/farming. Originally, forged iron was used to make sickles. However, steel is now also used.
There are two types of sickles. They are serrated sickles and smooth sickles. Serrated sickles have an advantage over smooth sickles, which can cut harvested grain on a large scale compared to smooth sickles. Modern kitchen knives are designed with serrated edges and follow the same design principles.

2.Shovel
A shovel is a hand tool used by construction workers or farmers. This handy tool is used to move bulk materials such as snow, sand, gravel, soul, ore or coal. In construction it is used to mix sand, cement and gravel to make concrete mixtures. The shovels are the perfect agricultural tool for lifting and transporting soil. The two main components of a shovel are the long handle and the shovel head.

3.Spade
The spade is used for digging and also for cutting turf. Spades have a long handle and a narrow, straight blade with a sharp metal tip. They are made in various designs depending on the kind of work. The spade is primarily a digging tool, but it can also be used for plowing.

4.Hoe
The hoe is an old, popular and versatile agricultural hand tool used for shaping soil, removing weeds, cleaning soil and harvesting root crops. Shaping soil involves piling soil around the base of plants and shaping furrows and shallow ditches for planting seeds. Weed control with a hoe can be accomplished by stirring the soil surface and chopping off the foliage at the roots as well as removing crop and soil residues. Hoes are used for harvesting root crops, such as potatoes and carrots, and for digging and moving soil.

5.Rake
A rake is a very common tool on any type of farm. There are several types of rakes to choose from. The main function of this tined rod is to loosen and level the ground. Traditional rakes have been developed from tractors that have been fixed by hand or pulled by livestock.

6.Machete
This tool, consisting of a handle and a long, sharp steel blade, is hard to forget. Its practicality allows it to be carried everywhere. It is almost irreplaceable. It can be used to mow, cut or trim plants, or to work in the bush.