Hold a hammer at the top vs bottom of the handle

[yargd]

Hi all,

When we hold the hammer at the top of the handle, we can swing faster compare to when we hold the hammer at the bottom of the handle.

Let say one holds the bottom of the handle(12 in long) of a 100g hammer vs one holds the middle of the handle(12 in long) of a 200g hammer.

Do they generate the similar force?

 

[Nugatory]

Do they generate the similar force?

The correct but unsatisfying answer is “it depends”, in this case on the momentum of the hammer head at the moment that it strikes the nail. The momentum is the product of the mass and velocity of the hammer head, and the velocity is usually limited not by the weight of the head or the strength of the hammer-wielder but instead by how quickly the wrist, elbow, and shoulder joints can rotate. There’s only so fast we can swing the hammer no matter how strong we are and how light the head is.

100 and 200 grams are both fairly light hammers. A typical American general purpose hammer is 16oz, and professional framing carpenters will routinely use a 32oz hammer to drive nails.

 

[Baluncore]

Welcome to PF.

Do they generate the similar force?

No.

Your hold on the hammer, should be at the widest part, which is at the end of the handle. That makes a fully controlled and flexible joint, between the handle and your hand, without a tight grip. The velocity of the hammer head can then be greater than the hand, in the same way that a sling can throw a rock, further than an arm.

You can hit the nail harder if you hold the handle furthest from the head, because it does not jar your hand. The handle is an impedance transformer. Hitting the nail on the head is different, you then want to allow the hammer to bounce off the nail, so you don't have to lift the hammer back up. That is another reason why your grip on the handle should be flexible and not cramped.

A beginner, starts holding the hammer close to the head, then as they develop better control, they hold it further along the handle. The usual comment to an apprentice is "haven't you paid for that hammer yet?", meaning that, only when they have paid it off in full, will they be permitted to hold it at the end of the handle.

 

[jrmichler]

Your hold on the hammer, should be at the widest part, which is at the end of the handle.

Which is exactly how I held a 22 oz framing hammer when pounding 6 inch nails. Two blows to drive the last three inches. Of course, that was when I was younger and stronger.

A 100 g hammer would be used for lightly tapping very small parts, not for driving nails. A 200 g hammer is a good size for driving 12 to 18 mm long nails.

 

[Baluncore]

Which is exactly how I held a 22 oz framing hammer when pounding 6 inch nails. Two blows to drive the last three inches. Of course, that was when I was younger and stronger.

When all else fails, use bloody big nails.
When I nod my head, you hit it.

 

[Herman Trivilino]

Which is exactly how I held a 22 oz framing hammer when pounding 6 inch nails. Two blows to drive the last three inches.

I knew a few people who could do it in one blow!

When more control, but less force, is needed that is when you would choke up on the handle, holding it closer to the hammer head.

To understand the dynamics of a hammer blow you have to take into account the way the hammer interfaces with your hand and arm.

 

[Baluncore]

I knew a few people who could do it in one blow!

I think it is necessary to specify the softwood that was used.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus_marginata#Uses
"It is a heavy wood, with a specific gravity of 1.1 when green. "
"When fresh, jarrah is quite workable but when seasoned it becomes so hard that conventional wood-working tools are near useless on it."

 

[Herman Trivilino]

I think it is necessary to specify the softwood that was used.

Southern yellow pine or fir.

"When fresh, jarrah is quite workable but when seasoned it becomes so hard that conventional wood-working tools are near useless on it."

Southern yellow pine, when aged for a few decades, becomes so hard that you first have drill a pilot hole before sinking a nail.