Framing hammer

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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 wafflelike grid of small four sided pyramids. This helps prevent glancing blows, which equal wasted effort and time. 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.

Framing hammers have increasingly been replaced by nail guns.