Why does a framing hammer have a milled face?

A framing hammer is essentially the same as a regular claw hammer except: Weight: Extra ounces in the framing hammer’s head give more inertia for driving nails. Milled Face: It may have a ridged, milled hammer face to prevent slipping when the head strikes the nail.

What kind of face does a framing hammer have?

Framing hammers come with two types of faces for striking nailheads—textured or “waffle” faces and smooth faces. Many framers opt for a textured face because the rough surface helps keep the hammerhead from glancing off the nail, which makes for better strike contact.

What is the difference between a framing hammer and a finishing hammer?

Framing hammers, used for framing wooden houses, are heavy duty rip hammers with a straight claw. A hammer with a smooth striking surface is known as a finishing hammer and is used where marring of the wood is to be avoided for cosmetic reasons.

Why is it called a California framing hammer?

Like any tool, the framing hammer has evolved over time: In the1980s, both Hart and Dalluge produced variations with a larger milled face and a longer axe handle, this adaption was referred to as the “California framer” before Vaughan Tool copyrighted the term.

What is hammer face?

The parts of a hammer are the face, head (includes the bell and neck, which are not labeled), eye (where the handle fits into), peen (also spelled pein and pane). The side of a hammer is the cheek and some hammers have straps that extend down the handle for strength.

What is a rip hammer?

Rip hammers have a straight claw instead of a curved claw. Most carpenters will tell you a hammer is for driving nails. The vast majority of carpenters prefer hammers with a straight “rip” claw over “claw” hammers, which have curved claws. That’s because they use the ripping end nearly as much as the pounding end.

What are smooth face hammers used for?

A smooth face is designed for finish work. If the hammer slips from the nail, the wood will be dented but not scratched. A hammer with a smooth face, however, will often slip off the nail head if the carpenter works too fast. Textured faces are designed to grip a nail head even if the hammer doesn’t land squarely.

What is a waffle hammer?

A milled-faced hammer (sometimes called waffle-head) has a little traction, if you will, and is designed to drive in a nail without bending it over. But that final blow is going to leave a waffle shaped mark on the surface.

What is the reason for staggering the nails when you drive nails along the length of a piece of wood?

A way to prevent splitting when several nails are to be spaced fairly close together is to avoid lining the nails up along the same grain line. Stagger them so that they are not in line along the same grain streak or line in the wood grain. This will greatly minimize the likelihood of splitting.

Did the Romans have claw hammers?

By about 200 B.C. , Roman craftsmen used several types of iron-headed hammers for wood working and stone cutting. A Roman claw hammer dating from about 75 A.D. had a striking surface on one side of the head, and a split, curved claw for pulling nails on the other side.

What is the purpose of the eye hole in an hammer?

Cheek: The cheek is the middle portion of the hammer-head. The weight of the hammer is stamped here. This portion of the hammer-head is left soft. Eyehole: The eyehole is meant for fixing the handle.

What is the eye of the hammer?

The eye is the hole at the bottom of the head that slips over the handle. The reason hammers used for wood tend to have necks, while hammers for rock and metal don’t, is that hammers for wood have eyes while hammers for metal and rock don’t.

Do you need a milled face on a hammer?

You bet! A milled face, also called checkered face or waffle face, is a pattern on the striking face of the hammer. Different brands use different patterns, but the idea is to provide a bit of extra gripping surface to catch and sink nails.

Should you buy a waffle-headed hammer or a regular hammer?

It really comes down to what you’ll be using the hammer for. If you’re a framing carpenter, the waffle-headed hammer might give you a bit of an edge if you’re trying to do a lot of toenailing, or your hammering skills suck and you can’t seem to hit the nail dead on.

Can you buy a hammer in pink?

Everyone has an opinion on what features are most important when buying a hammer. Some prefer a 16-oz. model with a short handle; others want a 28-ouncer with a long handle. For a select few, the big question is “Can I get it in pink?” Why yes, you can, if you feel you must…