Hammers and mallets woodworkers need to know about 

I'll bet you didn't know hammers could be so useful! Learn how in this tutorial! ▼EXPAND THIS SECTION FOR MORE RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS VIDEO▼ *Tools used in this video:* -Taylor Tools (Check them out!): lddy.no/134wc -Cross-peen hammer: amzn.to/3B9Orxg -Hardwood mallets: lddy.no/13ves -Lump Hammer (SOLD OUT): lostartpress.com/products/lump-hammer -Dead-blow mallet: lddy.no/13ves -Hard rubber/plastic mallet: lddy.no/13ves -Brass carving mallet: lddy.no/13ves -More videos on our website: stumpynubs.com/ -Subscribe to our e-Magazine: stumpynubs.com/browse-and-subscribe/ -Check out our project plans: stumpynubs.com/product-category/plans/ -Instagram: instagram.com/stumpynubs/ -Twitter: twitter.com/StumpyNubs -Facebook: facebook.com/Stumpy-Nubs-Woodworking-Journal-305639859477973/ ★THIS VIDEO WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY★ Taylor Tools (A great small, family owned woodworking retailor): lddy.no/134wc *Please help support us by using the link above for a quick look around!* (If you use one of these affiliate links, we may receive a small commission) ★SOME OF MY FAVORITE CHEAP TOOLS★ -123 Blocks: lddy.no/vpij -Mechanical Pencils: amzn.to/2PA7bwK -Lumber pencil: amzn.to/2QtwZjv -Pocket Measuring Tape: amzn.to/2kNTlI9 -Irwin Drill Bit Gauge: amzn.to/2AwTkQg -Nut/Bolt/Screw Gauge: amzn.to/2CuvxSK -Self-Centering Punch: amzn.to/2QvbcrC -Self-Centering Bits: amzn.to/2xs71UW -Angle Cube: lddy.no/10nam -Steel Ruler: lddy.no/10mv7 -Utility knife: amzn.to/3nfhIiv -Center-Finding Ruler: lddy.no/10nak -Bit & Blade Cleaner: amzn.to/2TfvEOI -Digital depth gauge: amzn.to/3mwRf2x -Wood Glue: amzn.to/3mqek6M -Spade Bits: amzn.to/3j8XPtD ★SOME OF MY FAVORITE HAND TOOLS★ -Digital Caliper: amzn.to/384H1Or -Marking Gauge: lddy.no/10muz -Marking knife: lddy.no/10mv0 -Narex Chisels: lddy.no/sqm3 -Stanley Sweetheart Chisels: amzn.to/3y5HDOc -Mini Pull Saw: amzn.to/2UEHBz6 -Gent Saw: lddy.no/ss2x -Coping saw: amzn.to/2W7ZiUS -Shinwa Rulers: lddy.no/zl13 ★SOME OF MY FAVORITE POWER TOOLS★ -Miter Saw: amzn.to/3gqIlQ8 -Jointer: amzn.to/3yc3gfZ -Planer: amzn.to/3mn6BGF -Router: amzn.to/3grD22S -Sander: amzn.to/3DdvD0Y -Cordless drill: amzn.to/3D9ZiIm -Brad nailer: amzn.to/3gsRkjH -Mini Compressor: amzn.to/3mvrmQr -Bladerunner: amzn.to/2Wl0TtJ -Jig Saw: amzn.to/3zetTBY -Scroll Saw: amzn.to/3gq9qDc -Multi-Tool: amzn.to/3muZuMi ★SOME OF MY FAVORITE OTHER TOOLS★ -Drill Bits: amzn.to/3B8Ckzh -Forstner Bits: amzn.to/3kk3wEI -Shop Vacuum: amzn.to/2Wkqnbl -Machine Setup Blocks: amzn.to/3gq7kDh -Counter-Sink Bit: amzn.to/37ZukUo -Featherboard: amzn.to/3DeqHsq -ISOtunes Hearing Protection (Save $10): bit.ly/3BHYdH7 (If you use one of the affiliate links above, we may receive a small commission)

"not all pounding has to be gentle" nicely said my friend

Tip: wrap your rubber mallets/deadblows with a bit of masking tape so the rubber doesn't discolor whatever you're hitting. Even the bright orange ones I got from Harbor Freight seem to pick up some black nasty stuff over time that can leave a stain on wood and require sanding to remove. I also really like my urethane-wrapped round mallet for chisel work -- a has a nice slight taper to it, and a surface that won't split like the wood one you showed.

Same as the glue video. Leave it to James to take a topic that sound simple (and boring) on the surface, and deliver excellent, informative, and amazing content. Thank for another great video

This video really hit the nail on the head. Totally crushed it. Smashing success.

Deadblows are a personal favorite. Useful in so many situations around the house.

Taylor Tools is one of my favorite tool sources for quality and reasonable prices.

Ol Stumps really hit this one on the head. Yeah he nailed it.

"Not all pounding has to be gentle though" quote of the year

You are one of my three go to woodworking channels. Straightforward and honest. And you quite rightly show the small differences in tools that make a big difference in outcomes. Thank you from the UK.

I'm 67 and still using a lot of my old Dad's tools - many of which came to him from his Uncle Peter. They don't make 'em like they used to!

Excellent video. My dad was a joiner and for all the years I knew him he was with the CWS Shopfitting works in Salford GB. I served 4 of a 5 year apprenticeship there before changing to architecture. He had many different tools which are rarely seen but with regard to hammers/mallets he had one which I haven’t come across anywhere else. I think it may have been a panel beater's tool. It had a wood shaft and a barrel shaped, iron head which had a coil of very tightly wound, thick leather in one side and solid copper in the other. My mentor was a highly skilled craftsman, not very far from retirement. He was the only one given the task of making glass display cabinets where two of the corner joints were very intricate. These formed the top two front corners of the cabinet which had to be glazed - top, front and end. A 1/16” chisel was used in this. One bead dove-tailed into another then the third tenoned into them. Once glued it was a solid joint. We sometimes had to use extra small panel pins which couldn’t be held in the fingers. An adapted pair of tweezers was used which had a groove filed into the grip parts so that the pin was held firmly.

I bought the lump hammer on a whim, shocked at how much I love it

You really nailed it on this one James!

Ayyyy im from Warrington and a wood worker. Never thought I’d hear my town on your channel!

Thank for the video! I do have them all and i have them in different sizes too! At least three of each! Until you dont have them you dont need them, but once you have them you cant live without them!

If i didn't know already you weren't a framer/rough in carpenter; your suggestions for a claw hammer definitely got the point across 😂🤣😂

I use a Thor 712R hammer from the Thor Hammer Company for most of my chisel work. It has 2 replaceable faces one soft and one hard, so it also gets used for lots of other jobs too. They have a massive range of hammers with all sorts of replaceable faces and weights. I got mine after a recommendation from Paul Sellers.

My former boss, Al Kovall is the best carpenter I've known in 40 years. He used to run base and case by hand, and THE way to do this was with a small gouge to curl up a sliver of trim and use the extinct 7 oz Stanley claw hammer and nail set in the groove, then glue it back died and usually tape it.

That's funny. I made a joiners mallet because I wasn't confident turning a mallet. Made it from some hard wood scrap & liked it so much I made a 2nd even fancier.

I feel like a broken record sometimes when I comment on your videos as they are consistently so darned informative, complete and easy to watch. You are one of my favs when when I review newly released videos. Thanks again for all you do for our great community of woodworking!! Cheers Mate!!

Dude I've learned so much from you in a few short "lessons". I hope you monetize good, as I find this type and quality of content true value of youtube. All sorts of educators should look at your videos to see how to parse and condense information in an easy to understand and concise form.

Thanks for sharing with us James . Liked the information you gave about the different uses. Fred.

My 8oz and 16oz deadblows are my two favorite thwacking tools. The smaller one lives in my apron.

I have all but a couple of them. Gotta definitely get a "lump hammer". Always learn something in your post. There’s also the “framing hammer" that I like more than the traditional claw hammer.

No Eastwing ? I can’t believe you don’t own one :) Most of us in Europe know that Eastwing is the holy grail of hammers :)

Great lesson on different types of hammers.

You know, someone should write a song about the hammer. It could start out like, if I had a hammer...😁 Good stuff, always learn something new.

Its so nice that you have taken the time to explain the purpose of these various hammers. I'm an older guy who had the fortune of having a Father who taught me the intricacies of many of these tools. Some people have not been so fortunate.

I have cross pean hammer from my late uncle. It has his name carved in to the side of the head and “1959” written on the handle. I have a lot of expensive tools, but it’s the pride of my shop.

Love how simply and clearly you explain tools and their uses. I always learn something.

You really hammered it home! I’ve got a few that are on your workbench, but I got a couple that you don’t, and use them frequently

I had a decent collection of hammers (aka persuaders), but when I inherited my late grandads' those are now my go-to choice and the newer ones are neglected. Seems like they're not dissimilar to cast iron pans, the older they are the better.

Excellent! Always a joy to watch…Thanks!

Thanks for the great info. Always worth the time to watch your videos. I will be adding versatility to my shop.

I made my first one piece carving mallet with a hatchet, a saw, a Shinto rasp, and a spoke shave. I'm glad I did it, but I really wish I had a lathe. XD

Great discussion James. Thanks.

Wonderful video on hammers , I have 30ish of all shapes and sizes, excellent advice and description

My grandfather gave me a 16 oz. finish hammer for my 12th birthday. I'm 65 now and still have it in my tool belt... that he also gave me.

Very interesting! I always used Lump Hammers for knocking out old mortar and concrete with a bolster- didn't know they were useful for woodworking too!

Good video on a often overlooked subject. I really appreciate learning about the use of some less than common tools.

My favorite tool is what's likely in that red cup.

Thanks James.

One hammer that was not mentioned is the antique tack hammer used in making furniture and doing upholstery.

I also like using a framing hammer because the claws are less curved and work great for spreading material and pulling nails

I've always found hammers a facinating topic. Thanks for this.

Bought a jarrah caulking hammer and the whole set of caulking irons in Australia for 25 dollars. The auction called them a wooden hammer and chisels. Not only are they worth about $2500, but being jarrah, an Australian hardwood it's very very rare. I have a lot of unique and rare tools which I know what they are for but most everybody else doesn't. Avoid letting people into my shed as they can't stop picking up tools and asking, "What's this thing."

Great video stumpy, if I may just one small bit of advise from some who's been swinging hammers for over 60+ yrs always try to get or use hammers with wooded handles they transfer far less vibration to your arm and shoulder, steel handled hammers should be used in demo work only, when possible even the newer fiberglass are better than steel.

I have lived in Warrington for 35yrs and had never heard of the Warrington hammer (always a joiner's hammer). Warrington was well-known for forging but more so for wire drawing, which is why the town's rugby team was named the Warrington Wire (nowadays called Warrington Wolves).

My Dad was a carpenter, granddad was a millwright. I was taught that ball peen was soft steel so it was safe to strike steel; claw hammer has a hardened face, it may spall if used on steel objects other than nails, which are soft steel.

I gotta say, I went to TAYLOR TOOLWORKS website, I didn't do an extensive search, but from what I saw their prices seem very reasonable and they have a great selection. I also like to deal with the smaller "mom and pop " type stores, so I will definitely be putting an order in with them.

Video really hits home

come on Stumpy...in this community, we are all pros when it comes to getting hammered... because as you know, we deserve it!

You nailed it with this video.

Outstanding tutorial as usual. Thanks.

2-3 lbs dead blow is my go to ESPECIALLY for assembly

Thank you for another informative video.

Thank you stubby

I use a dead blow hammer in my kitchen. My son gave it to me after he saw me struggling to cut a winter squash. Having a plastic shell, it cleans like a breeze.

I asked for your opinion on if I should leave my high paying job for a small wood shop that would train me. Needless to say it was well worth it. I’ve learned more in 1 week then the past 3 months. The craft is beautiful and getting to see all the pieces come together in the end is super satisfying.

Never heard of a lump hammer. You always have very informative and interesting videos! Thanks.

Great video - you really.....NAILED IT.

Thanks for the great video James 👍 I always learn a lot from your channel.

All but a couple of my hammers originally belonged to a Grandfather or Great Grandfather. Thanks for letting me know what my cross peen hammer is!

Thanks for this. My shop hammer belonged to my gramps who was a trim carpenter in the 1920s through the 40s Its claws have sharper radius for better extraction and pull the tiniest of Brad's out. Plus it has the earliest ball bearings for holding nails (that I've seen anyway) for that long reach nailing. I kept it in a drawer for ages and then thought "I'm not a museum" so now use all my antique tools wherever I can. Appreciate your vids.

Well done SN! You sure hammered that subject home! 🔨🔨👍👍👏👏

One type of hammer to add is a slide hammer with a dented face to hold the nail.

Great video. you give an excellent and clear rundown on hammers used in woodworking. and I love your shoutout supporting small business! There are several more options of shape and size "peen" hammers than even you have shown. Just like your cross peen with the flat running horizontal, there is a diagonal peen (self explanitory), and a straight peen with the flat running vertically. They were all primarily used and developed by blacksmiths and metal workers as a peen is away to make metal move in a controlled direction. The next level of control would be to use fullers and swages.

Nailed it Nubby🎯

You're right james I didn't know the info you shared about Hammers! Thank you for taking the time as you always do!

This is a cool video, I really learned something and that can't be a bad thing. I have a vintage claw hammer that I really cherish. I found it in the mud when I was a kid a long time ago. It was all rusted and the handle was weathered. Against all odds I decided to take it home and restore it. It is still in good shape now I love how I got to own it.

Love Taylor Toolworks! Just received a pair of spokeshaves from them today. Worth getting their emails and keeping an eye on sales.

Nice tumbler! 😎

For a claw hammer my favorite is estwing, they are really nicely finished and last forever

I have my father’s hammer encased in a shadow box to honor him every time I work in my shop. He used that hammer to build his first house in Winnipeg back in 1952. He and my grandfather and Uncle Hank built that house without power tools. I also have his complete brace and bit set. I will never sell them.

We used to have lead headed hammers at work. They will give the weight like a lump hammer with the soft head of a deadblow hammer. More for working on machinery. When they get flattened enough you just remelt and cast a new head. Easy to make in different sizes.

Love my wooden mallets I've made, good video blue

Really excellent info, James! Thanks a lot! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

The lump hammer is basically a drilling hammer with a fancy polished head.

I think older is better for the claw hammers. I got almost ten, different claw angles and weights help. Its also nice when you do a project with a tool you used as a kid working with your grandfather or father.

Thanks that help a lot.

This is such a great channel!

The milled or waffle faced hammer is also very handy, especially when removing nails. When used properly you can 'put English' on the stroke to help guide the nail and keep it from bending. It takes practice and a fine touch, but when done properly it make removing nails much easier. (The smell of a good rubber mallet, reminds me of my grandfather's garage).

Roy Underhill had a show on making a joiners mallet from ash. Easy to make design, even i could (and did) make one.

An excellent overview of the different types of hammers & mallets, it is good to learn something new every day. Narex by the way is owned by Tool Technique Systems in Germany and they also own Festool, Sawstop and Shaper Origin. All quality products.

Great video! I have one of each in my shop. For some reason, at 3:45, my wife started laughing hysterically. Not sure why. When I asked her she just mumbled, "That's what she said" as she wondered off, still laughing. Yep, she is a weird one!

My daily driver is a "Wood is Good" MA18 with a tweak. The MA14 looks the same, but MA18 is factory bored and has a metal weighted core that's plugged in with a top cap. I've blown these caps and weights out and they did replace it under warranty but here's a tip: I drill an off of center pilot through one side of urethane head and graze the side of the weight but not out the other side of urethane (maybe into it). Then tap a 1/4"×20 thread down the hole and run a long brass screw to bottom. I'll mark the screw and back it out a tad then hacksaw it to undermine it and then run it back in until it breaks of just below surface of mallet face.

I have nothing to say really, but I appreciate your content, and wish to help with the yt-algorithms.

Nailed it!

Wow, you must have almost two dozen tools in your shop.

Well done

If you need a dead blow hammer in a pinch to assemble press fit stuff like wire grid shelves with plastic corners, take an old vitamin bottle and fill with water and any small metal objects you have around. washers or nuts may be ideal.

Good information. Good video. Kudos, and thanks.

As always James, another fact based, informative video. I believe I own (and use) eleven of the "hammers" you featured in the video. After 50 plus years of woodworking, I added another hammer about a year or so ago. It is an 8 ounce stubby claw hammer, from Harbor Freight. I find it to be extremely useful in the day to day work in my shop. With it's short length it fits nicely in my canvas apron, so it is always at my fingertips when needed! Bump a fence over, start a nail to center a jig, (and then pull it out) or striking awls, chisels etc. it's always on the job. Thank you again for your insightful content.

Make sure to get one of those waffle-faced framing hammers for finish work on your fine furniture pieces. It'll help you get much better at sanding.

I have a drawer of knockometers I inherited from my grandfather. Thanks to your tutorial I will be going through them to see what's what.

Great info. Thanks

You should market your own "Stumpy Numbs Lump Hammer." Tagline: "It has a nice ring to it." I used a lump hammer yesterday, but didn't know the name of it. Thanks Mr. H. !

Very interesting, can’t wait until the screwdriver video.

Very informative, know I know what the tapered end on my antique jointers hammer is for! Thanks