Tools of the Trade: A Basic Guide to Jewelry Hammers

Most folks have used a hammer to tap a nail into the wall or pull one out. Maybe you used one in shop class, back when we had shop classes. I started using one when I was young because my grandpa was a carpenter. I spent time in his workshop playing with pieces of lumber, nails and hammers. I wasn’t formally trained in metal arts, so I’m still learning about the wide world of hammers in the metalsmithing world. Since becoming studio manager at a jewelry studio cooperative, I’m learning more about the different hammers and their uses because I want to guide studio users as well as maintain the hammers. Let’s have a look at some standard hammers you’d find in a jewelry studio.

Ball Pein (Peen) Hammer: A go-to workhorse for jewelry makers with its flat head on one side and ball-shaped head on the other. You can texture, rivet and harden metal with this tool.

Nylon or Rawhide Mallet:
Whether you choose a rawhide or nylon hammer, this is an essential tool for forming and shaping metal without leaving marks or indentations in the metal.

Brass Hammer:
This hammer is used when you strike steel punches or stamps. The brass hammer is heavy but made of a soft metal so it won’t chip or deform the tool head. The brass will also absorb the shock so you don’t have a hammer bouncing back on you!

Planishing Hammer:
Flattens and work hardens metal. This hammer head has highly polished flat or slightly convex heads. The mirror surface finish on the hammer is important to maintain so as to not transfer any marks or texture onto the metal.

Texturing Hammer:
The heads of these hammers have a pattern that transfers to the metal. Some of these hammers come with interchangeable heads with different patterns. These hammers are good for making decorative textures on your jewelry.

Cross Peen Hammer:
One end of the head is flat, and the other end is a flat wedge shape. The wedge shape comes in a variety of thicknesses. It’s used to forge and stretch metal.

There are other hammers, and variations on the hammers listed here, but this covers the basics. Most of these hammers can be used to create a pattern or texture onto metal. Practice on a scrap piece of copper. If you’re really organized, you’ll make the patterns and label which hammer created the pattern so you can build a reference library of patterns. Remember, hammers are utilitarian, but also artistic.

Jeweler’s love tools. We can make “new” hammers from old ones by grinding them, or creating a pattern onto the head. Experiment, be adventurous in your jewelry-making endeavors!

Explore pieces that use texture and forming:

Textured Tiered Hexagons
Curved Hexagon Pendant
Textured Half-moon Pendant