Framing hammer

22-ounce wooden-handled framing hammer with milled head

Framing hammers are larger claw hammers used for framing houses in North America. The hammer heads typically weigh from 20 to 32 ounces (567 to 907 grams). Heavy heads, longer handles and milled faces allow for driving large nails quickly into 2x material.

The milled face consists of a waffle-like grid of small four sided pyramids. Nails typically used for framing have a grid of intersecting raised metal lines on the head of the nail. The raised marks on the head of the hammer grip this grid, which helps to prevent the hammer from sliding off the nail head when striking a nail. Since the frame typically will not be seen on the finished house, the inevitable marring of wood surfaces by the milled hammer face is not an issue.

Typically the head will be made of steel and the handle of wood, but all-steel versions are also available. Also, fiberglass is becoming a common handle material. Steel shafts are the most durable of the three, but typically do not absorb the shock of the hammer blows well. Fiberglass handles have some shock and vibration absorbing capability. Steel and fiberglass hammer generally have rubber or rubber-like grips for increased comfort and better grip. Wooden hammers have no grip, which can allow the hammer to slide in the hand. Some carpenters and other users prefer this, as they can begin a stroke by gripping the hammer towards the center of the handle, and allow the handle to slide through their hand as they swing. This allows greater control during the beginning of the srroke, but increased leverage and more power when the hammer actually strikes the nail.

Framing hammers have increasingly been replaced by nail guns.