There are six types of "essential" hammers: the claw hammer, the blacksmith hammer, the ball-peen hammer, the sledgehammer, the mallet and the shoe hammer. Each hammer is ideal for a specific type of work. Although the basic design is the same for all hammers, each one has a differentiating element. The ball-peen hammer, for example, has a round head.
The mallet and sledgehammer are very hard and heavy tools, larger than other hammers. Both are designed to demolish and break things. The sledgehammer is the largest and is used in construction to demolish surfaces. The claw hammer has a curved head and the shoe hammer's head is made of "soft" materials so as not to damage the footwear.