Head weight decides what a hammer is good at, and handle length decides how it delivers that weight. The table below lists the production range for every Tommer category, so you can match a tool to the job before you ask for a quotation.
| Category | Head weight | Handle length | Typical work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axe | 600-1250 g | 360-900 mm | Felling, firewood, kindling |
| Splitting axe | see category | 600-900 mm | Splitting rounds along the grain |
| Ball pein hammer | 100-800 g | 260-330 mm | Engineering, riveting, metalwork |
| Machinist hammer | 100-800 g | 260-330 mm | Bench work, assembly, general striking |
| Claw hammer | 450-600 g | 330 mm | Carpentry, nail driving and extraction |
| Roofing hammer | 600-800 g | 330 mm | Roofing, cladding, slate work |
| Mason's hammer | 600 g | 330-370 mm | Brick, block and stone dressing |
| Stoning hammer | 800-2000 g | 260-900 mm | Stone dressing, heavy chipping |
| Sledge hammer | 4-10 kg | 600-900 mm | Demolition, stake driving, breaking |
| Chisel | 600 g | 330 mm | Cold chiselling, masonry cutting |
| Rubber mallet | see category | see category | Tiling, assembly, non-marring work |
| Pick axe | see category | see category | Breaking ground, trenching |
| Wrecking bar | n/a | see category | Prying, demolition, nail removal |
Ranges are the standard production range for each category. Custom head weights and handle lengths are available at MOQ 500 pcs per model.
Precision and finishing: instrument work, small rivets, upholstery, model making. Easy to control, little fatigue over a shift.
The working range for most trades: carpentry, roofing, general assembly, light masonry. The best-selling band for export distributors.
Heavy striking and stone work: stoning hammers, cold chisels, masonry dressing, demolition of small structures.
Sledge work: stake driving, breaking concrete, quarry and railway maintenance. Requires a long handle and both hands.
A short handle gives control and reach in tight spaces; a long handle multiplies head speed and reduces the effort needed per blow. Machinist and finishing hammers sit around 260 to 330 mm, claw and roofing hammers at 330 to 370 mm, and axes and sledges from 600 to 900 mm. If the handle is too short for the head, the tool punishes the wrist; if it is too long for the user, accuracy drops.
For general workshop and site work, 500 to 800 g covers most jobs: a 500 g ball pein for light striking and riveting, a 600 to 800 g claw hammer for carpentry. Below 400 g is finishing and precision work; above 1 kg is heavy striking or demolition.
Yes, but force also depends on swing speed. A 600 g head swung fast delivers more useful energy than a 1 kg head swung slowly, which is why head weight should follow the job and the user, not the other way round. Long-handled sledges rely on the arc rather than the arms.
Divide grams by 454. A 450 g head is about 1 lb, 900 g is about 2 lb and 1.8 kg is about 4 lb. Sledge hammers are usually quoted in pounds or kilograms, while hand hammers in Europe are quoted in grams.
As a rule, the handle should reach from your palm to your shoulder when the head rests on the ground. Practically: 260 to 330 mm for machinist and finishing hammers, 330 to 370 mm for claw and roofing hammers, 600 to 900 mm for axes and sledge hammers.
Hickory absorbs vibration and is the traditional choice, but it is affected by moisture. Fibreglass handles are more stable and resist overstrike damage, which suits rental fleets and export markets with high humidity. Steel handles are the most durable but transmit more shock.
