Claw hammer, sledge or rubber mallet? Choose at Saniso

Use a claw hammer to drive and pull nails, a rubber mallet for soft blows on tiles and paving, and a club or sledgehammer for heavy blows on chisels and masonry. The right head and weight make the work safer and prevent damage. Below we explain which hammer suits which job; you will find all models under hammers and striking tools.

This guide covers hand hammers only — not rotary / SDS demolition hammers elsewhere under Tools. Prices are a snapshot (incl. and excl. 21% VAT). Always check the live product page.

On the jobsite it is faster to pick the type first, then weight or head diameter. That avoids using a claw hammer where a rubber mallet or sledge is needed.

Why the right hammer type matters

Wrong face or weight damages work or wastes force. Match claw for carpentry nails, rubber or paving heads for delicate surfaces, machinist weights for metal benches, brick/masonry for stone, and sledge/blacksmith only for heavy striking.

Claw hammer / carpenter’s hammer — drive and pull nails

Carpenter’s hammer 450 g vs claw hammer 600 g

Saniso lists carpenter’s hammers around 450 g and claw hammers around 600 g (STALCO and STALCO PERFECT). Examples:

• Carpenter’s hammer 450 g STALCO S-19445 — ~€8.78 incl. / ~€7.26 excl.
• Claw hammer 600 g STALCO S-19506 — ~€9.50 incl. / ~€7.85 excl.

Browse carpenter hammers and the hub hammers.

Soft face: rubber hammer and paving hammer

Saniso has no separate “soft-face” category. Soft striking sits under rubber hammers and paving hammers (rubber / polyurethane heads).

Rubber hammers (Ø65–90 mm)

For tiles, wood and assembly without marking hard faces. Example: rubber hammer Ø90 mm STALCO S-19590 — ~€6.85 incl. / ~€5.66 excl. Category: rubber hammers.

Paving hammers with rubber or polyurethane heads

For bedding pavers; PERFECT lines include interchangeable heads and handles. Example set: paving hammer set Ø30 mm, 4 pcs STALCO PERFECT S-69249 — snapshot ~€70.93 incl. / ~€58.62 excl. Category: paving hammers.

Sledge and blacksmith hammers — heavy striking

The explicit sledge listing is narrow: sledge hammer 3000 g STALCO S012024300 — ~€22.81 incl. / ~€18.85 excl. Heavier blacksmith hammers (5–8 kg) sit under blacksmith hammers. Saniso shows a selective heavy line here — not a wide sledge catalogue.

Machinist / metalworking hammers

For bench and metal work — weight series from light to heavy. Example: machinist hammer 500 g STALCO S012024050 — ~€5.58 incl. / ~€4.61 excl. PERFECT metalworking example: metalworking hammer 1000 g STALCO PERFECT S-69110.

Masonry and stonemason hammers

Brick / masonry hammers for stone and brick — not claw hammers. Example: brick hammer 600 g STALCO S-19536 — ~€17.98 incl. / ~€14.86 excl. Categories: masonry hammers, stonemason hammers.

Related striking tools (not hammers)

Axes, chisels and crowbars appear in the parent listing when you need those tools. Rasps, files and trim-removal kits in the parent listing are not hammers:

• Axes
• Chisels
• Crowbars and claw pullers

Assortment at Saniso — how to navigate

1. Start at hammers or subtype cats (carpenter, rubber, paving, blacksmith, masonry). 2. Parent Hammer-type tools = 123 SKUs including non-hammers — filter by type. 3. Brands: STALCO and STALCO PERFECT only. 4. Machine rotary/SDS hammers are elsewhere under Tools — not this hand-tool hub.

Snapshot price band across the parent listing: roughly €3.28–€70.93 incl. 21% VAT.

Quick buying checklist

1. Carpentry nails → claw / carpenter’s hammer (450–600 g range on Saniso). 2. Fragile surfaces or pavers → rubber or paving hammer (soft heads). 3. Bench / metal → machinist or metalworking weight series. 4. Brick / stone → brick or masonry hammer — not a claw. 5. Heavy striking → sledge 3000 g or blacksmith 5–8 kg only as listed. 6. Stay on hand-tool categories; misfiled rasps/files in the parent list are not part of choosing a hammer.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a claw hammer and a machinist hammer?

Claw = nails (drive/pull). Machinist = general/metal bench work in weight series.

Which hammer for soft striking without marking the surface?

Rubber hammer or paving hammer with rubber/PU head — see rubber and paving categories.

When do I need a sledge or blacksmith hammer?

Heavy striking only; Saniso’s explicit sledge SKU is 3000 g, plus blacksmith 5–8 kg — a selective heavy range.

What claw hammer weights does Saniso list?

Around 450 g (carpenter) and 600 g (claw) in the verified samples — check live titles.

Can I order paving heads or handles separately?

Yes — PERFECT paving accessories (heads/handles) appear in the paving hammers category.

Is a brick hammer the same as a claw hammer?

No. Brick/masonry for stone; claw for wood/nails.

Read also: Splitting wood with a splitting axe: how to do it safely

Contact: Saniso B.V., De Corantijn 95, 1689 AN Zwaag · +31 85 488 5920 · Contact.