The sledgehammer is a widely used hand tool. However, if earlier it was used very often and in different areas, now it is an instrument of a very small circle of people. It includes truckers, builders, and maybe some other groups. This happened due to the fact that manual labor is becoming a thing of the past due to the development of technology. Externally, the classic sledgehammer is a large hammer and consists of a forged metal head and a wooden handle.
The weight of the sledgehammer can be from 1.5 kg to 16 kg. You can meet other sizes, but smaller sledgehammers are more like a big hammer, and physically heavier people cannot lift, not to mention the fact that a sledgehammer is harder to work with 16 kg.
A sledgehammer is used in cases where a large impact force is needed. Examples include manual dismantling of heavy vehicle wheels, demolition of stone, concrete or brick structures, driving stakes of metal or wood into the ground, and straightening thick flat metal parts and sheets.
Due to the fact that the weight of the sledgehammer is large enough, the handle is long and the blow is applied along a large arc, the blow is very strong, which allows you to create a significant force at the point of impact.
Modern sledgehammers often differ from classic ones in a slightly more diverse material that is used in their production.
The main types of sledgehammers
1. Classic sledgehammer.
As mentioned above, it consists of two parts. Forged metal steel and hardwood wooden handle. The forged part has an oblong hole in the center, into which the handle is inserted. Fastening is carried out with the help of flat metal plates driven into the end of the handle from the side of the metal part. The most common type of sledgehammer, affordable price and availability. A wide variety of weights for this type of tool.
2. A sledgehammer with a rubberized handle.
This version has been released relatively recently. In these types of sledgehammers, the handle is made of durable plastic coated with a rubberized layer. The handle has an ergonomic handle, which is very convenient when working with this tool for a long time. Due to the rubber coating, the blows are additionally softened and are not transferred to the hands. The metal part is fixed by pressing a plastic handle into it, while the end of the handle in the metal part is filled with epoxy resin. The mount turns out to be quite reliable, except for the fact that over time the epoxy bounces off the mount (from the end of the handle). Sledgehammers of this type are usually produced in light weight from 1.5 to 5 kg.
The disadvantage of this type of sledgehammer is that if all the same the metal part comes off the handle, it will not be possible to repair it, except to put the shock part on an ordinary wooden handle.
3. A sledgehammer with a fiberglass handle.
In fact, this is almost the same type of sledgehammer, as with a rubberized handle. But the handle is made of a more durable material and reinforced with plastic tabs. This type of handle is used for modern sledgehammers of both light weight and heavy ones. The handle absorbs shock well. The sledgehammer has excellent durability, since, unlike wood, plastic is practically not subject to aging or the effects of living organisms.
As a rule, fiberglass handles are quite long and quite heavy sledgehammers can be found on sale, because basically this type of tool is designed for strong impacts and a long handle allows you to give the impact part more inertia due to a larger swing arc.
All modern sledgehammers are a fairly reliable tool, and therefore the choice from the whole variety will be quite difficult. Basically, when choosing a sledgehammer, you need to consider its weight. Immediately take into account who will work for her. The second important factor when choosing the weight of a sledgehammer is the type of work that is planned to be carried out. If this is the editing of small metal parts or blanks, it is better to take a lighter sledgehammer, and if you plan to demolish concrete structures with it, then the heavier the better. The main thing is to be able to raise, and more than once.
And finally, the third important factor is the price. As a rule, sledgehammers with plastic handles are much more expensive than classic options. Again, foreign sledgehammers are also much more expensive than domestic ones, except that the Chinese make them cheaper. But in Chinese, the metal part can be made of mild steel, which is not very good for this tool. Given this information, and also that you hopefully do not plan to store the instrument in the rain, in a damp basement, etc., we advise you to choose the classic option. If the sledgehammer is operated correctly, then regardless of the type, it will last for many years. So why overpay?
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