Sledge Hammers: What To Know Before You Buy

If you plan on installing fences or doing serious renovation work, you'll definitely need a good sledge hammer. Here's what you need to know.

What Is a Sledge Hammer?
Sledgehammers are large, long-handled striking tools designed to deliver as much force as possible to an area or object. Sledgehammers are much larger and heavier than the hammers used to drive nails, and are most often used for demolition, or for striking thicker and heavier objects.
Sledge hammers usually have straight handles and can be swung with either hand. The hammer head of a sledgehammer is almost always made of steel and is usually flat on the striking surface, designed to deliver as much blunt force as possible to the target area.



Sledge Hammer Uses
Sledgehammers are a very simple tool, but they are surprisingly versatile. Whether used commercially or at home, the sledgehammer works and is an important basic tool. Here are some of the most common uses for sledge hammers:
-Demolition of drywall, concrete, wood, etc.;
-Driving steel wedges for splitting firewood or building stone;
-Dislodging firmly stuck items;
-Driving fence posts into the ground;
-Straightening bent metal objects.

Types of Sledge Hammers
The standard sledge hammer. From removing unwanted walls during home renovations to installing fences in the yard, standard sledgehammers are popular tools for DIY enthusiasts. They come in different lengths and handle weights, depending on the intended use. The longest and heaviest sledgehammers will typically exceed three feet and weigh up to 20 pounds. A standard sledgehammer has a cylindrical head with flat, or slightly curved, striking surfaces on both sides. Wood and fiberglass are both common handle materials.
Engineer's Hammer. Engineer hammers are similar in appearance to standard sledge hammers, but they are smaller in size, usually between 12-18 inches. They are also lighter in weight and can be operated with one hand. Engineer hammers are lightweight and compact, making them ideal for light demolition work. Or it can be used to drive small to medium sized nails into wood, and to strike stone or wood with a steel chisel.
Post maul: Similar in appearance to large, long-handled standard sledge hammers, post maul sledge hammers are designed to drive fence posts and stakes deeply into the soil. Their cylindrical heads are usually larger in diameter than standard sledge hammers, with perfectly flat, circular faces designed to make striking accurately as easy as possible.

How to Choose a Sledge Hammer
To choose the right sledgehammer, you first need to specify the type and characteristics of the job. For example, is there a large and heavy job that requires a lot of striking power? Heavy jobs such as demolishing concrete walls are suitable for a standard sledgehammer with a long handle, and smaller, easier jobs require a shorter, lighter hammer.
Another factor to consider is the upper body strength of the user. Sledge hammers have long, heavy handles, and solid steel heads. Swinging them requires a lot of chest, shoulder and upper back strength. To prevent injury, proper swinging technique also requires the use of the legs. Any sledgehammer that does not match the strength of the user will not work.
By the same token, don't choose a hammer that is too light for the work you want to do. In fact, it's hard to guess the correct length and weight of a hammer without trying it out. That's why it makes sense to borrow one from a friend, neighbor or family member before you buy. If possible, try some lengths and weights and then make an informed decision.

Sledge Hammer Maintenance
There are many new models of sledgehammers with carbon fiber handles on the market today, which have a long enough life of their own and require little maintenance. Wooden handled sledgehammers, on the other hand, may require quarterly oiling of the handle to prevent decay or damage.

Buying Best Brushes For Painting Walls

 Are you planning to do some DIY wall painting but can't decide which brushes you'll need?

When it comes to painting, you're only as good as your brush. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned professional, the brush you're using to paint your wall usually determines the end result. This is why it's a good idea to look for the best brushes for the job at hand. 

BEST BRUSHES FOR PAINTING WALLS: WHAT TO LOOK FOR 

Selecting the right brush for the right job can be hard, especially for first-time DIY painters. There are four categories to consider when choosing the best wall painting brushes for you. 

These categories are material, shape, size, and quality. 

1. MATERIAL 

The first thing you have to consider when choosing the best brush for painting walls is the material the bristles are made of. 

Brushes can be made of various materials but the three main ones are natural, synthetic, or foam. 

Natural brushes often called "China brushes", are made of natural animal hair like boar, horse, or badger. This material absorbs oil-based paint quickly and leaves a smooth finish, depending on its quality. Natural brushes can be cleaned and reused many times.

Synthetic brushes are made of nylon or polyester or a combination of both. This material loads up and releases water-based (latex) paint very well and leaves a smooth even finish. Similar to natural brushes, synthetic brushes can also be cleaned and reused many times.

Foam brush heads are made of foam or other sponge-like material. They generally absorb, hold, and release paint very well regardless of what type of paint it is. Although foam brushes can be cleaned and re-used (with a little bit more effort), they're usually one-use only.

So, which brush material is best for painting walls?

While natural and foam brushes can still be used, synthetic brushes are generally better for painting walls. They load just enough paint, leave a smooth finish without leaving behind stray fibers (unlike natural brushes), and can be washed and reused many times (unlike foam brushes). 

2. SHAPE 

A brush's shape should help you paint surfaces better and quicker. 

For painting walls, you have two main options. These are flat brushes and angled brushes. 

Flat brushes have an even squared edge tip which lets you use them flat against the wall. They can load up a lot of paint and are best used if you want to cover as much of your wall in as little time. 

Angled brushes have an angled tip. This type of brush makes it easier to apply paint close to another surface (such as window trim) or when painting anything with grooved walls. 

So which brush shape is better? 

Unfortunately, this question ends in a draw. The best brush shape will depend on what part of your wall you're trying to paint. 

3. SIZE 

Brushes can come in a variety of sizes and will depend on which part of your wall you're painting. 

Smaller 2-2.5 inch brushes are great for cutting into corners. 

Bigger 5-6 inch brushes can help you cover surfaces quicker. 

Choosing the right sized brush(es) will depend on the size of your wall's surface and the level of accuracy you need to paint it, such as when you're painting next to a ceiling or other section of wall with a different color. 

4. QUALITY 

When shopping for brushes, it's often tempting to simply get the cheapest ones and save a few bucks in the process. Leave the pricier brushes for the professionals, right?

The thing is:

When painting anything, the quality of your brushes can determine how good your results are going to be. 

While it's true that better brushes usually come with bigger price tags, they also make your work easier, leave better results, and can last several years with proper care after use – just ask anyone who's had quality brushes for years.

Introducing Hand Tools Inspection Procedures

As hand tools become more widely used today, more and more retailers and manufacturers are paying more attention to the quality control of their products. Likewise, consumers are demanding a higher quality of hand tool goods, as no one wants to fail or get hurt by using inferior products.
As a leading manufacturer of hand tools in China, SINOTOOLS has been dedicated to introducing hand tool related product knowledge to our corporate customers and everyone. In this article, we will focus on quality control in hand tool manufacturing process. Read on to learn more.

Hand Tools Inspection Processes
Every manufacturer knows the importance of providing quality products to their customers. In order to always get a quality product, it is very important to perform different tests and inspection processes to ensure the reliability, safety and ease of use of the product.
The following are a few standard quality inspection procedures that are common to most hand tools:
1. Pre-Production Inspection
The purpose of this inspection process is to verify that all equipment or machinery required for hand tool production is free from any damage, defects or any deterioration to ensure competent and consistent production at the start of the operation. Any equipment that shows any defects should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible to avoid the risk of producing defective products.
2. Raw Materials Inspection
The purpose of this inspection process is to thoroughly check and verify that all required materials used for molding, hardening, cooling and assembly are complete and in good condition to ensure that all materials to be used are free of any damage or defects prior to starting the production process.
3. Assembly Inspection
The purpose of this inspection process is to verify that all specifications of all assemblable parts in the product meet the job or quality requirements so that it can be considered in the next production queue.
4. Coating Inspection
The purpose of this inspection process is to verify that all hand tool surfaces that require metal coating are evenly and completely coated. The coating is closely related to the performance and longevity of the metal, and therefore affects the quality of the hand tool. Each hand tool that has been missed during the coating process will be recoated to save production time.
5. Visual Inspection
The purpose of this inspection process is to thoroughly inspect all hand tools for any visible damage, dents, cracks, nicks or any known production anomalies to ensure that all hand tools in the queue are ready for the next set of inspection processes.
6. Weight And Measurement Inspection
The purpose of this inspection process is to accurately measure different hand tools under the same category to ensure that all tools are uniform and meet design requirements in terms of height, weight, size and diameter.
7. Hands On/Quality Control Inspection
This inspection process is actually an in-use test to check how each hand tool product performs in use to determine if they meet the quality standards required for the job. For example, whether the hand tools can provide sufficient force or speed, withstand the wear and tear of the job, etc., are the focus of hands on inspection.

Above, are the quality control tests that will be applied in the production of hand tools nowadays. Manufacturers should be familiar with and strictly follow these processes to ensure the production of quality hand tools. Retailers should also be aware of them so that they can better manage their supply chains.
Of course, all hand tool products from SINOTOOLS are subjected to strict quality control and meet international standards. We always welcome bulk orders from all over the world. Feel free to contact us to learn more.