Article: A claw hammer is the most traditional hammer type. It features a metal head, and it typically has a wooden handle. One side of the hammer is used to drive nails into wood, and the claw end of the hammer is used to remove nails. Use this to attach planks, hang artwork, or do other craftsman jobs. The claw section of the hammer is the back, pronged part. If you need to remove a nail, hold the hammer upside down, align the claw with the nail, and pull up with moderate pressure. As you do this, be mindful of flying objects. Claw hammers come in many different shapes, sizes, and weights. Some also come in solid metal varieties. Mallets are a good option if you are working with lightweight items you don't want to damage with excessive force. Choose from wood mallets or rubber mallets. Wooden mallets are used to chisel wood or work on the fine detail of woodworking projects. Rubber mallets work well to deliver a strong blow without much bounce-back, which makes it great for working on furniture. The larger the mallet, the greater the swinging power. For example, use a small rubber mallet to hammer in tent stakes while camping. If you need to strike a hard object like a wrench or hammer, use a rubber or wooden mallet to do this. If you use another metal item to strike a metal object, it can result in injury. The ball peen hammer is typically made from solid metal, and it has a rounded top great for pounding metals. Use these to shape metals such as rivets or to reach into small spaces. This hammer is commonly used by metalworkers. For example, if you are trying to reinforce a deck and can't fit your claw hammer into the crevice, try using a ball peen hammer instead. It has a smaller profile, making it great for hard-to-reach areas. Sledgehammers are commonly used for knocking over assemblies or tearing down drywall. They often have a long, wooden handle and a heavy metal head. The head of the sledgehammer is cylindrical and even on both sides. Sledgehammers are some of the heaviest hammer types, weighing about 11 lbs (5 kg), so use extra caution when swinging these varieties. This hammer has a small, curved anvil often called the "dolly," which is made of metal and attached to a wooden handle. Use this hammer type to remove dents from car panels, for example. This hammer type is only used for auto work. Do not use this hammer to drive a nail, or you could injure yourself.

What is a summary?
Use a claw hammer to pound in nails. Go for a mallet if doing handwork or assembling furniture parts. Select a ball peen hammer for driving a chisel or punch. Try using a sledgehammer if you are working on a demolition site. Opt for a body mechanic's hammer if working on automobiles.