The fundamental difference is in the purpose they serve. Rip hammer is for getting nails off. While the framing hammer is for nailing, the exact opposite. You’ll find a framing hammer to have a waffle-like texture on the flat surface. These ensure that the nails don’t slip off or get bent.
Rip hammers are more dedicated to the cosmetics of the project. These are designed such that there’s no scars or marks on the workpieces. And another popular application that uses a rip hammer is that these are used to separate planks of wood nailed together. And that too without leaving a trace when it’s in an expert hand.
Rip Hammer Vs Framing Hammer
1. Usage of Rip Hammer and Framing Hammer
Rip hammer serves to divide wood blocks or cut off protruding board edges. It is also used as a measuring stick, to tear down drywall. It can dig shallow holes easily even in the toughest soil.
Framing hammers head with handles helps in increasing velocity, energy delivery, decreasing arm fatigue. Its magnetized slot allows us to hold a nail, placing it quickly into dimensional lumber.
2. The Shape of Head
Framing hammers have a ridged or milled faced head while rip hammers have milled faces and vice versa which framing hammers may not have. This milled head of the rip hammer prevents slipping off of the nail and being on the position.
In most cases, its head is textured. But it can also be smooth. Doom faced head prevents damage to the surface. But if you are pounding nails where the damage doesn’t matter, you can get all the help you need from a framing hammer because of its ridged face.
3. Claw
The claw of a rip hammer is flatter than others where a framing hammer has a straight claw. This straight claw can be used for dual purposes. It can remove nails and also act as a crowbar to pry apart lumber. On the contrary, the claw of a rip hammer serves to rip apart the woods that are nailed together.
4. Handle
The handle is usually made of wood in the case of a framing hammer whereas the handle of a rip hammer is made of steel and fiberglass which generally have rubber-like grips for increased comfort.
Rip hammer provides better grip and framing hammers have a relatively little grip which can allow the hammer to slide from the hand. But it can cause injury to users.
But in some cases, carpenters or other users prefer framing hammer as they allow the handle to slide through their hand as they swing and this allows greater control at that beginning of the stroke and gives increased leverage and power later.
5. Length
A framing hammer is a few inches longer than a rip hammer. It is generally 16 to 18 inches where a rip hammer is only 13 to 14. The reason because a framing hammer is for more powerful works like prolonged nailing and fencing jobs. The same may be done by a rip hammer but not in that heavy-duty fashion.
6. Weight
A rip hammer normally weights 12 to 20 oz, while that of a framing hammer is 20 to 30 oz or more. Yes, bulkiness affects their respective effectiveness. Using a light rip hammer takes a few hours to slosh large nails. But, surely, a heavy weighing framing hammer may indent mars on sleekier surfaces.
7. Size
A rip hammer is for renovation works where size, ergonomics, and appearance matters more. Both dimensions and the size of a framing hammer are larger and heavier than a rip hammer. Unlike the latter, in framing hammer power greater size delivers more power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: The described weight is the weight of the hammer or whole weight?
Ans: The advertised weight is the head weight determined by weighting the head and two-inch of the handle.
Q: Does rip hammer and framing hammer soften over time?
Ans: These hammers get soften but for a small amount because the clear coating eventually wears off and the lather handle starts to get patina.
Conclusion
A rip hammer is capable of doing dozens of tasks like driving nails, bowing, wracking, digging, and so on. But when you want to frame a building or to do some more energetic works, you need a framing hammer having extra weight, longer handle, and serrated face.
Both hammers are made for different purposes according to the tasks performed by them. Both of them are useful one over another according to different tricks.
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