What’s the difference between a drywall and normal hammer?

You might be under the impression that a hammer is pretty straightforward, that it’s a weighty tool used for breaking things or ramming nails into walls. But, when it comes to plastering or drywall jobs, it’s important to know what's the difference between a drywall and normal hammer, as there are actually some pretty significant contrasts and uses for the two. A drywall hammer, like its name, is specially used for putting up or taking down drywall. As opposed to a standard hammer, it often comes with a serrated front face, which makes it more suitable for connecting with the nails and driving them properly into place. It also has a hatchet shaped back part for making rough cuttings in the drywall if you’re looking to make space for things such as outlets. This is why the drywall hammer is sometimes referred to as the drywall axe. The hatchet part can also be used for pulling nails out if they aren’t positioned correctly, ready for them to be hammered back in the right way. Unlike the normal hammer the drywall hammer often comes with a square head. And it sometimes has magnetic qualities to keep the nails in place, can come in different weights and reduce the effects of recoil shock. In fact it differs quite considerably from a standard hammer in look, feel and design altogether. This isn’t to say that a normal hammer isn’t useful in plastering, it’s just that the standard hammer is used for things other than drywall, such as for careful removal of old plaster from brickwork in the preparation part at the beginning.

When should you use a drywall hammer?

The drywall hammer is specially designed to drive nails through drywall into the wall behind it, leaving a depression in the drywall panel where the head of the nail lies beneath the surface. This way, when plastering your drywall, it’s easier to cover up the parts where the nails are hammered in with plaster and give yourself a more flawless finish at the end. It’s a tool designed specifically for use when dealing with drywall and will get the best results, so it’s well worth noting when you should use a drywall hammer and the difference between the time when a normal hammer will do the job just as well.

We stock drywall hammers

At Gypsumtools we stock drywall hammers that are perfect in helping you get the job done, whether you’re putting up drywall or taking it down. But if you need a hammer for something other than drywall, then maybe you should check out our easy to use magnetic nail hammer, which will grip the nails tightly and get you into tight places with minimum hassle. It’s important to know the difference when it comes to using the right tools in plastering. So, if you’re confused by which is the best for the job, feel free to drop in or give us a call for more information. We’re always pleased to help.