Dead Blow Hammer - What's It For?

[rbattelle]

Stupid question, I know. I see these things in catalogs all the time, and for the life of me I can't decide what they're for.



I've never had need for one... or have I and didn't know it?



If I need a non-marring hammer I use a rubber mallet or a brass-face hammer. So they can't be just because they're non-marring.



Ryan

 

[AMink]

Dead blow hammer

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Dead blow hammer

Other Names Dead blow mallet

Classification Hammer

Related Rubber mallet

A dead blow hammer is a specialized mallet helpful in minimizing damage to the struck surface and in controlling striking force with minimal rebound from the striking surface.



Commonly constructed of polyurethane, they regularly appear in solid orange and black. Composite heads and fiberglass handle models are also available. Options include shock absorbent rubber grips, head cavities filled with shot and replaceable faces with metal screws for quick replacement.



Dead blow hammers have many uses. For example, in auto repair they are used for chassis work, dislodging stuck parts and hubcap installation and removal (e. g. knock-off hubs).

I use one for softer parts that may be stuck. Start with the dead blow, then move up to bigger, heavier, harder! I also use it to "encourage" wrenches to turn tough nuts. All the energy transfers to the wrench without the bounce back of a metal faced hammer.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

AHHhhhhh - the wonders of Internet searches - I use that feature all the time, to avoid looking as stupid as I am... :-laf:-laf



Too bad more fellas don't get better acquainted with search utilities - it opens up a whole new world of helpful info...

 

[rbattelle]

I like McMaster-Carr's explanation:

You don't need a big swing to produce a powerful striking force—dead blow hammers and sledges have heads loaded with metal shot or sand to add weight for controlled impact with minimal rebound. The shot also ensures that the striking force is transmitted solidly, reducing worker fatigue and injuries. Dead blow hammers and sledges (except for ball peen) are nonmarring.

Guess I should've looked there before showing how stupid and lazy I am.

Ryan

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I like McMaster-Carr's explanation:







Guess I should've looked there before showing how stupid and lazy I am.



Ryan

I'm constantly amazed at the sheer volume and depth provided by Internet search engines (as well as the one provided on this board!) - FAR better than a library - if you can provide the proper word or phrase, you will receive more pages of reference material than you'll ever go thru. My wife wanted the words to a song she had long forgotten the name of, or words to - but did remember just a FEW words from a verse. I plugged them into Google - and had the whole song in seconds.



Wish I'd had a computer in my school years - my grades would have been FAR better! :-laf

 

[Grunt]

Guess that's why encyclopedia's are passe now days

 

[AMink]

I knew what I use it for, just needed to check and make sure it was the right thing! Like many other tools, it seems to have "ancillary" uses that might not show up in the directions. Kind of like, if you hold a wrench just right, it can be used as a bottle opener!:-laf I suppose a hammer can open a bottle too...



Another amazingly handy hammer that I have is a bronze "knockoff" hammer. It came from a 64 MGB I used to have, and wish I still did. Used to whack the center knockoffs to get the wire wheels off. It's a great way to deliver a sharp blow to all kinds of things under the truck that seem to have grown stuck. It is softer than steel, so it deforms a little instead of buggering up threads, stuck shock absorbers, control arm bolts, etc.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I have a 15 lb or so, brass handled copper headed hammer I use for "delicate" work, like smacking a lawnmower crankshaft end to loosen the flywheel - comes in handy for lots of "persuasion" of parts you really don't want to damage... :-laf

 

[GHarman]

From a laymans point of view. Dead blow hammers dont bounce therefore transmitting all of the kinetic energy from your swing into the object. They are generally non marring. GregH

 

[Dl5treez]

They're fantastic for blowing your thumb nail clean off from the smash factor when trying to drive shafts, too... .

 

[catdsl]

ou are all wrong they are used for talking to people that realy need to get the point

 

[JCasper]

I am a Plastic injection moldmaker and I use them all the time for installing inserts in to pockets on moldbases.



They work great, better then a brass hammer most of the time as they don't leave little chips of brass everywhere and don't leave marks on soft steel.

 

[rbattelle]

Thanks, guys. That's what I was looking for - user experiences with these hammers.

Ryan

 

[steved]

I use mine for installing self-stick tile... you can use them to "adjust" the tiles and get them to fit tight together by sticking a glancing blow in the direction you want the tile to move...



After using a deadblow hammer, you won't want to use your rubber mallet.

 

[Grizzly]

I use a dead blow hammer for striking the cap on a flooring pneumatic nailer when installing hardwood floors.

 

[MMiller]

Get a dead blow hammer and you may very well throw your bouncy rubber mallet away. You will find yourself using it A LOT!! I'm actually on my second one. The first one was an early model, and one cold day I pulled it out of my service truck and hit something and all the plastic shattered and flew off the hammer head. My new hammer has been cold alot more times, much colder and have had no failures. They changed the recipe for the plastic.



Michael

 

[Diesel Gunner]

Ditto on the MMiller experience.



Dead Blow Hammer can be used also for making unwanted garage guests, well, d---!.



Sorry, just popped into my mind.

 

[p-Bar]

Use it when we do lumber glue ups beats the wood down and doesn't dent it. Greatest thing since Hillary Clinton:-laf

 

[JLEONARD]

dead blow

A formal name for some of the "less usefull" people I have had to work with.

 

[grasmo]

The really expensive Snap-On ones make great chew toys for dogs ... Just leave one laying around.