Both drive nails, and both pull them. The difference is how much force you need per blow and how the claw is shaped. A framing hammer is built for speed and reach on structural timber; a claw hammer is the general-purpose tool for finishing and site work.
| Feature | Framing hammer | Claw hammer |
|---|---|---|
| Head weight | 600-800 g (often 20-22 oz) | 450-600 g |
| Handle length | 400-500 mm | 330 mm |
| Claw | Straight, thin, for speed | Curved, for leverage |
| Face | Milled or smooth, larger face | Smooth, smaller face |
| Best for | Structural framing, decking, formwork | General carpentry, finishing, site repairs |
| Fatigue | Higher, fewer blows needed | Lower, more control |
Weights and lengths are typical ranges, not fixed specifications.
A heavier head with a longer handle delivers more energy per swing, which is why framers drive 90 mm nails in two blows. The cost is fatigue: a 700 g head on a 450 mm handle is not a tool for all-day finishing work.
A 450-600 g claw hammer with a 330 mm handle gives control and reach in tight spots, and its curved claw gives leverage for pulling nails.
A straight claw slips under a nail head quickly and is what framers use for rough work; a curved claw bites deeper and gives more leverage, which suits finishing and repair work where nails are buried.
Some catalogues call the straight-claw version a rip hammer. Same idea: straight claw, framing weight.
Our range covers claw hammers 450-600 g, machinist and ball pein hammers 100-800 g, plus roofing, masonry, stoning and sledge hammers. If you need a framing hammer pattern, tell us the head weight and handle length and we will quote it as an OEM item.
A framing hammer is heavier (600-800 g) with a longer handle and a straight claw; a claw hammer is 450-600 g with a 330 mm handle and a curved claw for leverage.
You can, but it takes more blows and the shorter handle reduces reach. For structural timber a framing hammer is faster.
A rip hammer has a straight claw like a framing hammer; the term is often used interchangeably in the US.
450 to 600 g (16 to 21 oz). 500 g and 16 oz are the volume sizes.
Our standard range is claw, machinist, ball pein, roofing, masonry, stoning, sledge, axes, chisels and bars. Framing hammer patterns can be quoted as OEM.
