Tool in Focus: Hammers

It’s a staple of any self-respecting tradie’s toolkit. It’s probably the oldest tool around, and the concept of the hammer remains unchanged all these years later.

In this Article:

• Choosing a hammer
• History of the hammer
• Electrician’s hammer
• Hammer time

The hammer is a hand tool that consists of a weighted head attached to a long shaft, or forged as one piece. It is swung to apply force to a small area, such as driving in a nail or smashing stuff. A so-called ‘electrician’s hammer’ tends to have a smaller head to fit into tiny spaces, and it may well be made of fibreglass making it easier to wield. When buying a hammer, your main considerations should be size, weight and grip. If you’re doing a lot of hammering, good ergonomic design is important to absorb the shock and stop your teeth chattering.

History of the hammer

Think your hammer’s old? Try this one. In 2015, archaeologists discovered a hammer in northern Kenya that was 3.3 million years old. And they didn’t find just the one, either. Oh no, they found 149 of the bad boys. 

Back in the day (waaaaaay back), the hammer stone was used to split other, more brittle bones, into tools for cutting and killing.  Over the years that followed, the hammer evolved – bones and wood were used as handles, while leather or other material was used to bind the hammer stone to the handle, improving the range of motion and increasing the force with which the hammer stone could apply. 

During the bronze age, hammers were made from – you guessed it – and during the iron age… yep, top marks again. 

Since then, trades of all kinds have adapted and evolved the hammer for their own specific purposes. 

“Today, from sledgehammer to gavel, there are more than 55 varieties of hammer to choose from.”

Hammer throw 

Part of the men’s Olympic line up since 1900, the hammer throw is the third throwing event – after the shot put and discus. The hammer weighs 7.26 kg (a neat 16 pounds in old money) and the object of the event is simple. Launch it as far as you possibly can. The men’s world record is held by Sergey Litvinov, who threw it 82.29m in 1988. Women weren’t allowed to throw the hammer in the Olympics until the competition was held here in 2000. Throwing a 4kg hammer, the women’s world record of 84.80m is held by Anita Wlodarczyk in 2016. (This information is correct prior to the Tokyo 2021 Olympics!)

Warhammer 

No, not the one that literally splits skulls – this Warhammer is a game that has been played since first gaining popularity in the late 1980s. Essentially a miniature figure war game, Warhammer is the most popular game of this type in the world (although to be fair, we’re not sure just how much competition it has.) Hostile aliens, supernatural creatures and futuristic weapons all feature, and it’s spawned all manner of spin-offs – board games, video games, movies, TV shows, novels and merch. 

MC Hammer 

Stanley Kirk Burrell is the real name of the late ‘80s rapper MC Hammer. Everyone remembers ‘Can’t touch this’, but unless you’re a Hammerite you’re unlikely to recall much more of Stanley’s back catalogue. In later life he’s dabbled in thoroughbred racehorses, marital arts and IT. In the late 90s he became an ordained minister, officiating celebrity weddings. 

Thor’s hammer

In Norse mythology, Thor is the god of thunder and his hammer – called Mjölnir – has the power of lightning. It can be used as either a devastating weapon or a diving instrument to provide blessings. Co-starring Chris Hemsworth.