In this article we review, what we believe to be the best dry wall hammers, currently available on the UK marketplace. As the name would suggest, these are used for working with drywall and plasterboard.
It is commonly referred to as a drywall hatchet. These are specialist tools and most home owners will never really use one of these.
Here is a good video that shows the difference between a normal hammer and a dry wall hammer.
As you can see from the video above, these are two distinct types of hammers. The head is bevelled with a waffle design. That stops tearing a hole in the outside of the drywall, when hammering in a nail.
The waffle design creates a good grip for the filler, when it comes to smoothing out and finishing the wall.
The other edge of the hammer has the look of a blade that you would normally find on a hatchet. It is not used that often, but mainly used to score the wall for cutting out things like electrical socket boxes.
What Is a Drywall Hammer Used For?
As mentioned above they are used by tradesmen who work with drywall and plasterboard. Home owners can use these if they are doing some internal work, but they are not a popular tool for the average person about the home.
These vary in price quite a lot. A cheap one costs around £5-10, whereas a professional one will cost around £29- £35.
Top 5 Rated Drywall Hammers
Just below you will find a table, where we have placed the drywall hammers in order. The order we have used is the highest buyer rated first. In other words we have placed the drywall hammers in the order, of what buyers judged their quality to be.
We have also included average UK prices, but be aware that these are always subject to change. Always check on the exact date and time when you are making any purchase. The ratings we update on a regular weekly basis.
if you click on the product name, you will be taken to Amazon UK, where you can read other buyer reviews. In this table we have included the rank, hammer name, an average price, our rating and a grade.
Please note the prices are averages as they change regularly. Always check any price if you decide to make a purchase. The Rating is out of 100%.
Rank | Name | Rating | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 96% | A+ | |
2 | 94% | A+ | |
3 | 92% | A | |
4 | 86% | B+ | |
5 | 84% | B |
As you can see, the better ones cost around the £29-35 mark. The more expensive ones will be bought by those in the trade, who need a long lasting hammer. The cheaper ones are ideal for those who will need to do a little internal wall work, or perhaps some home renovations.
Drywall Hammer Summary Reviews
Underneath, we have completed short and concise reviews, on these top 5 products. That way you can see at a glance, which one is the best choice for you.
No 1 Choice - Estwing E3/11 Drywall Hammer Review
Our Number one choice for quality and value
This is a 14 ounce dry wall hammer with a cushioned vinyl grip. It is very well made as it is formed from a solid one piece forged construction.
That is always the best way to make any hammer, as there is little danger of any weak points in the hammer construction.The head of the hammer has been scored, and that reduces the chances of leaving marks on plasterboard.
Like any good drywall or plasterboard hammer, it then has cutaway and notched blades for extracting nails and cutting laths.
It is light in weight and feels really well balanced in the head. Almost every buyer stated that, these are well made and last for a very long time.
No 2 Choice - Draper 09121 14oz Drywall Hammer Review
This is also a 14 ounce hammer from the Draper brand. It has a carbon steel head which has been hardened, tempered and polished.
The shaft has an air bag in the hand grip, which really does a very good job in removing the repetitive vibrations of the hammering action.
It has a really nice weight, a good balance and feels nice and comfortable in the hand. A good choice if you have to use one of these for most of the day.
No 3 Choice - OX Hammer - Pro Heavy Duty Drywall Hammer Review
Another 14 ounce hammer this time from the very popular Ox line of tools. This one is in my opinion very high quality, and it is a one piece steel construction.
Great for working on drywall or gypsum, and has a rubber grip handle, that gives the hammer a nice balance. It also comes with a lifetime warranty, and it doesn't get much better than that.
No 4 Choice - Stanley 1-54-015 FatMax AntiVibe Drywall Hammer Review
A different model from the Stanley brand, and one that is quite a popular choice. Like the others, this is also a 14 ounce (400 grams) hammer.
It uses an anti-vibe technology and has a forged steel head. Another good choice for drywall and plasterboard, and the blade on this one is perfect for doing cut outs of electrical sockets.
The face is slightly offset and that helps it from slipping off the nails. Overall a nice weight and a good grip on this one.
No 5 Choice - Wall Boarding Drywall Hammer Crowned 14oz Review
This is a good choice for the home owner who needs to do some home renovation or the odd project that involves drywall, plasterboard and gypsum.
It is a 14 ounce hammer which has been heat treated and it is a one piece construction. It is cheap and cheerful and will do a good enough job.
It isn't designed though for prolonged or regular use.
Drywall Hammer Buying Guide
If you are still unsure as to which drywall hammer to buy, then the guide below should help you out. Like most hammers, there are a range of choices.We have shown what we believe to be the best of those above.
Most people will never have a need for one of these. Think carefully before you buy one of these, as they do have limited use.
They are mainly for professionals in the trade, though can be handy for DIY people who like to do some home renovations, like renovating a garage or a small loft conversion.
Which Type of Drywall Hammer is Best?
Almost all of these are light in weight, and all of the ones that I have seen and used weigh 400 grams or 14 ounces. These are used a lot during the day, and the light weight is essential.
In terms of use, something that is well balanced is very important, and just makes your life easier.
Is the Blade of a Drywall Hammer Important?
When I asked the tradesmen what this was used for, I got two answers:
- For cutting out things like electrical sockets
- For carrying boards
Some people also used it for scoring boards so as there was a better grip when it came to a skim coat.
The reality is that most plasterers do cut outs with a sharp knife. The carrying element is handy if two people are working on moving plasterboard around.
One person grips one side of the board in the gap where the blade is, and the other person grips the opposite side at the opposite end, and it makes it easier to carry and move around.
The Head of a Drywall Hammer
This is the most important part though as it is this which strikes the nail. You want to be able to sink the nail into the board without tearing it. That is what these heads do well.
They also leave a nice round indent which is marked and that allows it to be easily finished with a skim coat. It is also much easier to fill in.
