What the Heck ?

[easysuper]

I have seen a lot of modified tools in my 55 years of being in the trades, My Foreman just found this hammer laying out on the job-site. I'm running a project that consist of 4 , four story wood framed apartments so this would be a carpenters hammer, but what the heck for ? BTW about half of the young men can't speak English.
hammer.jpghammer 2.jpg

[Bob Denman]

That almost looks as if it could have been used to "mash-down" rivets in a steel-framed building...

[ofdave]

I wonder if it was modified to use for nailing shingles or felt paper?

[canamjhb]

My guess is for some kind of sheet metal work. (HVAC....?)

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

It looks like the big head is welded onto a regular claw hammer. Maybe modified for someone who could never hit the nail on the head with a regular hammer, kind of like me! The larger head spreads the pressure out over a greater area so it doesn't hurt so much when you hit your thumb instead of the nail! Maybe the bigger head keeps the overly energetic carpenter from denting the wood or sheet rock so much with the last couple of hammer blows!

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

My guess is for some kind of sheet metal work. (HVAC....?)

Sheet metal guys do use a hammer similar to that one.

[JerryB]

Hi easy,

Re: about half of the young men can't speak English.

I think here lies your answer. They probably did not have enough money to buy a proper framing hammer.

Jerry Baumchen

[SteveLaoyster]

It looks like the big head is welded onto a regular claw hammer. Maybe modified for someone who could never hit the nail on the head with a regular hammer, kind of like me!

I like that! That's exactly what I was thinking when I saw it or it could possibly be for nails with really large heads or driving several nails at once in a small area.

[PocoToro]

It is a drywall hammer. Prevents deep divots when nailing drywall. Nowadays they use screws.

Yes it's a drywall hammer, I have my grandfathers tools, I have two.

[ofdave]

if it's for drywall, it may be home made
never saw a drywall hammer with a claw, but I haven't seen old ones-so maybe?
more inclined to think it's a modified framing hammer

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

if it's for drywall, it may be home made
never saw a drywall hammer with a claw, but I haven't seen old ones-so maybe?
more inclined to think it's a modified framing hammer

All the drywall hammers in the image results from a Google search show a hatchet on the other side and serrated head like this one.

09068_mainb.jpg

[2dogs]

It is a drywall hammer. Prevents deep divots when nailing drywall. Nowadays they use screws.

Joel The Biker nailed it!

[Chupaca]

Could be a disgruntled nailer who has missed too many times...

[canamjhb]

OK, I just asked my wife, ( a construction superintendent). One look and she said "a dry wall hammer". Dang, I hate when she knows this stuff.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Hi easy,

Re: about half of the young men can't speak English.

I think here lies your answer. They probably did not have enough money to buy a proper framing hammer.

Jerry Baumchen

No, it's not a money issue. They're just more innovative and resourceful than we are! Go to Big Orange, pick up a wood handled claw hammer for $5, have your welding buddy attach a piece of scrap steel to it, and bingo! You've just saved $25 off of what an Estwing drywall hammer would cost! Besides, what self respecting thief would pick up a piece of junk like that, anyway?