What Is a Rubber Hammer?
A rubber hammer is a hammer with a rubber head.
Rubber hammers are used in furniture assembly and sheet metal work.
Rubber hammers have the advantage of being able to strike hard without worrying about scratches or dents on the struck area. Compared to wooden hammers, which have similar characteristics, rubber hammers are less likely to damage materials.
On the other hand, the disadvantage of rubber hammers is that the reaction when struck is dull. In subtle adjustment work, it is sometimes necessary to know the feel and sound of the hammer. Therefore, a wooden hammer is used for adjustment work, while a rubber hammer is used for hard-hitting work.
How to Use a Rubber Hammer
The rubber hammer is held in one hand. Hold the rubber hammer near the tip of the handle and strike the head against the material.
Below are some notes on how to use the rubber hammer.
- It is necessary to adjust the force to strike the material several times.
- When performing work that requires delicate adjustment, tap on the top of the applied wood to ensure that the force is applied evenly.
- Hitting with something like a metal nail will scratch the surface of the rubber hammer. Rubber hammers are not suitable for striking small metal objects.
How to Choose a Rubber Hammer
The key to choosing a rubber hammer is to consider the weight and size of the rubber hammer for your application.
Generally, the weight of a rubber hammer head is expressed in pounds or ounces (1 pound = 16 ounces, or about 450 grams).
- A 1/2-pound rubber hammer is small and fits in a toolbox. It is used for hammering in dowel joints used in furniture assembly. The 1/2-pound is good for smaller, repetitive tasks with less force.
- A 1-pound rubber hammer is a heavy, versatile hammer. It is used for assembly tasks that require some force, such as mortise and tenon joints on wooden furniture.
- A 2-pound or larger rubber hammer is used on carpentry job sites to assemble larger items. Due to their substantial head and handle size, as well as their weight, 2-pound hammers are not suitable for tasks such as hammering in dowel joints.
The diameter of the rubber hammer head should be based on the size of the object to be hammered.
Rubber hammers have handles of 300-400 mm in length. It is advisable to select a hammer with a length that is easy to use considering the environment in which it will be used and its portability.
The heads of ordinary rubber hammers contain carbon, which may cause color staining on the object. If you are concerned about the color staining, a hammer made of white rubber is a good choice.