Claw vs. Rip Hammer: Are You Using the RIGHT Hammer Today?

While some tools appear to serve a singular, straightforward purpose, a closer look often reveals a world of specialized design intended for optimal performance.

Beyond the Generic Grip: Understanding Your Hammer’s True Calling

It’s a common scene in workshops and homes alike: a task requires driving a nail or prying a stubborn piece, and the first hammer within reach is grabbed. For many, "a hammer is just a hammer"—a simple percussive tool with a handle and a head. This seemingly innocuous assumption, however, is a highway to inefficiency, potential damage to materials, and even premature wear on your tools. Using the wrong hammer can lead to bent nails, marred surfaces, and a frustrating experience that could have been easily avoided.

The Critical Distinction: Claw vs. Ripping Hammers

To truly elevate your craftsmanship and tool proficiency, it’s crucial to move beyond this basic misconception and recognize that not all hammers are created equal. Among the most frequently confused, yet fundamentally distinct, types are the Claw Hammer and the Ripping Hammer. While both might feature a striking face and a splitting or prying end, their designs are subtly, yet significantly, different, tailored for entirely separate primary functions.

Understanding these distinctions is the first step toward effective tool selection. Each hammer is an optimized instrument, engineered with specific weight, balance, face curvature, and claw geometry to excel at particular tasks. Misapplying a hammer often means working against its inherent design, reducing efficiency and increasing the risk of less-than-perfect results.

Tailored Tools for Specific Tasks

Consider the primary roles these hammers are designed to play:

• Claw Hammer: Primarily optimized for driving nails and, crucially, for extracting them cleanly. Its distinct curved claw is shaped to provide leverage for pulling nails with minimal effort and surface damage.
• Ripping Hammer: While capable of driving nails, its design leans heavily towards demolition and heavy-duty prying. Its straighter, more robust claw is ideal for splitting wood, prying apart tightly joined materials, and enduring more rigorous forces.

The choice between these two isn’t just a matter of preference; it’s a strategic decision that impacts the quality of your work and the longevity of your tools. Imagine trying to precisely pull a finishing nail with a heavy ripping hammer – it’s an awkward, potentially damaging endeavor.

The Importance of Precision: Striking Metalworking Tools

The significance of selecting the correct hammer becomes even more pronounced when considering tasks beyond basic carpentry, such as striking other metalworking tools. Whether you’re using a chisel, a punch, or a cold set, the hammer you choose directly affects the impact’s effectiveness, the safety of the operation, and the integrity of both the striking tool and the piece being worked on. Using a hammer with an inappropriate face or insufficient weight can lead to glancing blows, damaged chisel handles, or even dangerous ricochets. This precision is paramount, underscoring why a detailed understanding of each hammer’s application is indispensable.

To truly master your toolkit, understanding these nuances begins with a deep dive into each hammer’s specific design, starting with the ubiquitous claw hammer.

Having explored the fundamental considerations for selecting the right tool for the job, we can now delve deeper into the specific types of hammers and their unique strengths.

The Carpenter’s Cornerstone: Mastering the Art of Precision and Extraction with the Claw Hammer

Often the first image that comes to mind when one thinks of a hammer, the claw hammer is a ubiquitous tool, a true workhorse in any toolkit. Its genius lies in its dual-purpose design, excelling at both driving fasteners and, perhaps more distinctly, removing them with remarkable efficiency.

The Signature Design: Efficiency in Extraction

The most distinguishing feature of a claw hammer is, naturally, its claw. This characteristic design involves a curved, forked extension opposite the hammer face, forming a V-shaped notch at its end. This curvature is not merely aesthetic; it’s engineered for leverage. When pulling a nail, the claw hooks beneath the nail head, and the curved shape acts as a fulcrum. As the handle is pulled back, the hammer head pivots on the surface, multiplying the force applied to the nail and allowing for surprisingly efficient extraction, even for stubborn fasteners. Its primary function is, unequivocally, efficient nail pulling.

Precision Pounding: Weight, Balance, and the Smooth Face

Beyond its prying capabilities, the claw hammer is also an adept driver. Typical weight ranges, especially for general-purpose models, often fall between 16 and 20 ounces, striking a balance that provides enough heft for effective nail driving without causing excessive fatigue during prolonged use. Good balance is crucial, allowing for a controlled, comfortable swing that directs force precisely. The hammer face is typically smooth and often slightly crowned, which is ideal for a range of tasks. This smooth surface is paramount for general carpentry and finish work, as it minimizes the risk of marring or damaging the surface of the material when striking. It’s particularly effective for setting nails flush or slightly below the surface without leaving unsightly marks, crucial for a professional finish.

Applications: Where the Claw Hammer Excels

The versatility born from its dual functionality makes the claw hammer an indispensable tool for a variety of tasks where control and the ability to correct mistakes are key. Its ideal applications include:

• Light Framing: For assembling interior walls, small structures, or general carpentry where moderate force and occasional nail adjustments are needed.
• Trim Work: Perfect for installing baseboards, crown molding, or door casings, where precision in nail placement and the ability to gently set finish nails are critical.
• Upholstery: When working with fabric and wood, the claw hammer’s ability to drive small nails or tacks, and then meticulously remove them if adjustments are needed, is invaluable.
• Jobs Requiring Precision: From assembling furniture to minor repairs around the house, the claw hammer’s balanced design and smooth face allow for controlled, accurate strikes, minimizing collateral damage.

Nuances in Design: Variations for Specialized Finishes

While the general form remains consistent, claw hammers do come with subtle variations tailored for specific finishing needs. Some may feature slightly different claw curvatures—straighter for more aggressive prying or more pronounced for maximum leverage. Head weights can vary, with lighter heads (e.g., 12-14 oz) favored for finer finish work where lighter blows and less marring are desired, and heavier heads for more substantial driving tasks. Some specialized "finish hammers," a direct descendant of the claw hammer, might have a smaller, more highly polished face specifically to avoid any surface marks, focusing almost exclusively on setting nails perfectly.

Claw Hammer Essentials: Features and Use Cases

To summarize the utility of this foundational tool, here’s a quick overview:

Feature Category	Description / Typical Characteristic	Ideal Use Cases
Claw Design	Curved, V-notch for gripping	Efficient nail pulling, prying apart materials, minor demolition tasks
Hammer Face	Smooth, often slightly crowned	General carpentry, finish work, setting nails flush, minimizing surface damage, prevents marring wood
Weight & Balance	Typically 16-20 oz (for general use), well-balanced for control	Comfortable for repetitive general use, good control for precision, reduces fatigue during prolonged tasks
Primary Applications	Versatile, dual-purpose (driving & pulling)	Light framing, trim work, upholstery, general repairs, delicate adjustments, precision tasks
Variations	Different head weights, claw curvatures, handle materials	Finer finish work (lighter heads), specific nail extraction challenges, improved ergonomics for specific users

While the claw hammer excels in versatility and precision, some jobs demand a different kind of power.

While the standard claw hammer excels at precise nail extraction and general tasks, some jobs demand a tool with a far more aggressive approach to deconstruction.

Crush, Pry, & Conquer: The Ripping Hammer’s Dominance in Demolition

When a project moves beyond delicate adjustments and into the realm of substantial structural changes or complete teardown, the ripping hammer emerges as the undisputed heavy-hitter. Designed for sheer force and uncompromising leverage, this tool is engineered to tackle the most demanding tasks with efficiency and power.

Built for Brutality: The Straight Claw Design

Unlike the curved claw of its general-purpose cousin, the ripping hammer features a distinctively straight, more robust claw. This design is not intended for the gentle art of nail pulling, but rather for maximum leverage in prying, splitting, and demolition. The straighter angle allows the user to drive the claw deep into wood, between boards, or under stubborn materials, providing a powerful fulcrum point to separate components with significant force. Whether you’re pulling deeply embedded nails that resist a conventional claw or prying apart tightly joined lumber, the ripping hammer’s claw is your ultimate leverage machine.

The Demolition Dynamo: Primary Role and Applications

The ripping hammer’s primary role is deeply rooted in demolition, heavy-duty prying, and dismantling structures. It’s the go-to tool when you need to break things apart quickly and effectively.

Its ideal applications include:

• Rough Framing: Driving large, common nails through thick lumber where sheer power is more important than a pristine finish.
• Breaking Apart Palettes: Efficiently dismantling wooden pallets for reuse or disposal, a task where the straight claw excels at prying stubborn planks.
• Substantial Renovation Projects: From tearing down old walls and ceilings to removing stubborn flooring, the ripping hammer makes quick work of deconstruction phases.
• Separating Lumber: Prying apart glued or nailed wooden components, making it invaluable for salvaging materials or altering existing structures.

Engineered for Impact: Weight, Handle, and Face

Several design elements contribute to the ripping hammer’s superior striking power and utility in tough jobs:

• Heavier Weight: Ripping hammers are inherently heavier than standard claw hammers. This increased mass translates directly into greater kinetic energy upon impact, allowing for more powerful blows that drive larger nails or break apart materials more effectively.
• Longer Handle: The extended handle of a ripping hammer provides an important mechanical advantage. A longer lever arm allows the user to generate more head speed and apply greater leverage when prying, further enhancing its demolition capabilities.
• Textured Hammer Face (Waffle Face): Many ripping hammers feature a textured, often cross-hatched or "waffle" face. This design serves a crucial purpose: it increases the grip on the head of a nail, significantly reducing the chance of the hammer sliding off the nail during a strike. This minimizes mis-hits, enhances safety, and ensures that each blow is delivered with maximum impact, particularly when driving large nails in rough framing.

Ripping Hammer at a Glance: Specifications and Applications

To better understand the distinct advantages and uses of this powerful tool, consider the following breakdown:

Specification/Feature	Design Rationale	Typical Applications & Benefits
Claw Design (Straight)	Maximize leverage for prying and splitting.	Heavy-duty prying, splitting wood, extracting deeply embedded nails, separating joined lumber.
Weight (Heavier)	Increase kinetic energy upon impact.	Driving larger nails with fewer strikes, breaking apart tough materials, demolition.
Handle Length (Longer)	Enhance leverage and striking power.	Greater control and force for prying, increased momentum for powerful strikes, improved reach.
Hammer Face (Waffle/Textured)	Improve grip on nail heads, reduce slippage.	Rough framing, driving large common nails, ensuring solid contact and minimizing glancing blows, increased safety.
Primary Role	Aggressive deconstruction and material manipulation.	Demolition of structures, dismantling pallets, substantial renovation projects, breaking apart concrete forms, general heavy-duty construction tasks.

Understanding the robust construction and specialized features of the ripping hammer reveals its true purpose as the workhorse of demolition and heavy-duty construction. Now, let’s put these insights into perspective by comparing its capabilities directly with those of its more refined counterpart.

While the ripping hammer certainly proves its mettle in the demanding world of heavy-duty tasks and demolition, understanding its nuances against its more common counterpart is crucial for truly mastering your toolkit.

The Tale of Two Claws: Unlocking Optimal Performance with the Right Hammer

Every seasoned professional knows that a hammer is far more than just a weighted head on a handle. Its design, from the curve of its claw to the texture of its face, dictates its optimal use. Differentiating between a standard claw hammer and a specialized ripping hammer is key to avoiding frustration, increasing efficiency, and ensuring the quality of your work. Let’s dissect their core differences and unveil where each truly shines.

Claw Design: Curved Grace vs. Straight Strength

The most immediate and telling difference between these two types of hammers lies in their namesake feature: the claw. This seemingly minor variation has profound implications for their primary functions.

The Curved Claw: The Nail-Pulling Maestro

The traditional claw hammer, often just referred to as a "claw hammer," features a distinctively curved claw. This design is engineered specifically for one primary action: nail pulling. The curve provides optimal leverage, allowing you to easily wedge the claw under a nail head and rock the hammer back to extract it with minimal effort. Its "V" shape is typically narrower, making it ideal for gripping various nail sizes securely.

• Ideal for: Finishing carpentry, trim work, general household repairs, and any task where precise nail removal is a priority.

The Straight/Ripping Claw: The Prying and Demolition Dynamo

In stark contrast, the ripping hammer boasts a straighter, more aggressive claw. This design is not optimized for delicate nail pulling but rather for powerful prying actions and demolition activities. The straighter tines can be driven more easily into gaps between boards, under shingles, or behind stubborn materials, offering superior leverage for separating components. Its robust, often wider "V" or split is built to withstand significant force without bending or breaking, making it an indispensable tool for rough work.

• Ideal for: Framing, deck building, disassembling structures, pulling apart nailed lumber, and general construction demolition.

Weight, Balance, and the Power of Your Swing

Beyond the claw, the overall weight and balance of a hammer significantly influence its handling characteristics, impact force, and suitability for specific tasks.

• Standard Claw Hammer: These are generally lighter, often ranging from 16 to 20 ounces. Their balance tends to be more centralized, promoting finer control and reducing fatigue during repetitive, lighter striking tasks. This lighter weight is an asset when you need precision for setting smaller nails or working on delicate materials.
• Ripping Hammer: Designed for brute force, ripping hammers are typically heavier, commonly found in 20 to 28-ounce variations, and sometimes even heavier. Their weight distribution is often biased towards the head, providing more momentum and kinetic energy with each swing. This forward weighting translates to greater driving power for larger nails and more effective impact for prying and demolition work. While excellent for delivering powerful blows, their increased weight can lead to quicker fatigue during prolonged use.

Hammer Face: Smooth Finishes vs. Waffle Grips

The texture of the hammer face, the part that makes contact with the nail or material, is another critical differentiator that impacts the quality of your work.

Smooth Face: The Craftsman’s Touch

Most standard claw hammers feature a smooth, polished hammer face. This design is paramount for tasks where aesthetics matter. A smooth face minimizes the risk of leaving unsightly marks or indentations on the surface of the wood or other materials, making it the preferred choice for finishing work, trim installation, and any application where the visual integrity of the final product is important.

• Impact: Ensures clean, unblemished finishes; reduces the need for sanding or filling after nailing.

Waffle Face: The Framing Workhorse

Ripping hammers, particularly those designed for framing, often come equipped with a waffle-patterned (or milled) face. This textured surface provides a superior grip on nail heads, reducing the chance of the hammer slipping off the nail, especially when driving larger, slicker framing nails. This enhanced grip is invaluable in rough carpentry and framing, where speed and secure nail setting are prioritized over a pristine finish.

• Impact: Prevents "miss-hits" and bent nails; provides more aggressive driving power; typically leaves a distinct waffle pattern on the surface.

Choosing Your Champion: Matching the Tool to the Task

The critical takeaway is that neither hammer is inherently "better" than the other; they are simply designed for different roles. Selecting the appropriate hammer for your specific task is paramount to efficient work and successful outcomes. Using a ripping hammer for delicate trim work will likely result in damaged wood, while attempting heavy demolition with a light claw hammer will prove inefficient and potentially dangerous.

By understanding the distinct features of each, you equip yourself to make informed decisions, ensuring that every swing contributes effectively to your project.

Feature / Characteristic	Claw Hammer (Curved Claw Hammer)	Ripping Hammer (Straight Claw Hammer)
Claw Design	Curved, often narrower "V"	Straight, robust, often wider "V" or split
Primary Action	Precise nail pulling and extraction	Aggressive prying, demolition, material separation
Typical Weight Range	Lighter (e.g., 16-20 oz)	Heavier (e.g., 20-28 oz, sometimes more)
Balance	More centralized for control and finesse	Often forward-weighted for maximum impact and driving power
Hammer Face	Smooth, polished	Waffle (milled) or sometimes smooth (for general-purpose ripping)
Ideal Applications	Finishing carpentry, trim work, furniture assembly, general repairs, delicate nailing	Framing, deck building, demolition, prying apart lumber, heavy construction, rough work
Key Benefit	Prevents surface damage, excellent leverage for nail removal	Superior prying force, powerful striking, reduced nail slippage (waffle face)

This detailed breakdown underscores the importance of thoughtful tool selection. Because just as crucial as the hammer head itself, is the material it’s made from, and how that material impacts your wider collection of striking metalworking tools.

Having distinguished between the primary uses of claw and ripping hammers for construction and demolition tasks, it’s crucial to understand where their utility ends, especially when faced with more demanding metalworking challenges.

The Striking Truth: Why Your Everyday Hammer Isn’t Made for Metalworking

While a hammer is an indispensable tool in any workshop, assuming all hammers are interchangeable for every striking task can lead to significant risks and damaged equipment. When it comes to striking metalworking tools like a cold chisel or a punch, the type of hammer you choose is not just a preference—it’s a critical safety and performance decision.

The Misguided Choice: Claw and Ripping Hammers for Metalwork

To address the core question directly: no, neither a claw hammer nor a ripping hammer is suitable for striking metalworking tools such as a cold chisel or a punch. These hammers are primarily designed for driving and pulling nails in wood and similar softer materials. Their construction and material properties make them ill-equipped for the high-impact forces required when striking hardened steel tools.

Here’s why using a claw or ripping hammer in this context is a grave mistake:

• Softer Steel Construction: The hammer face of typical claw and ripping hammers is made from steel that is generally softer than the hardened steel of a cold chisel or punch. This intentional design prevents them from being brittle and allows for some deformation when striking nails without shattering.
• Rapid Mushrooming (tool damage): When a softer hammer face repeatedly strikes a harder metal tool, the hammer’s steel will deform and spread outwards at an accelerated rate. This phenomenon, known as mushrooming, creates dangerous, sharp, overhanging edges around the perimeter of the hammer face.
• Risk of Chipping and Flying Shards: These mushroomed edges are brittle and prone to chipping off. The high-energy impact can cause these flying metal shards to break away with considerable force, posing a severe risk of eye injury, cuts, or other serious bodily harm to the user or anyone nearby.
• Ineffective Energy Transfer: Beyond safety, using the wrong hammer is simply inefficient. The softer face absorbs more energy, leading to less effective force transfer to the chisel or punch, making the task harder and less precise.

The Proper Alternative: Enter the Ball-Peen Hammer

For any task involving striking metalworking tools, shaping metal, or riveting, the Ball-peen hammer is the unequivocal choice. This specialized tool is engineered from the ground up to handle the unique stresses of metalwork.

• Hardened Steel Construction: The hammer face and peen of a ball-peen hammer are made from specially heat-treated, hardened steel. This makes them significantly tougher and more resistant to deformation and mushrooming when striking other hardened steel tools.
• Designed for Impact: The flat hammer face is perfectly suited for delivering precise, forceful blows to objects like a cold chisel or punch (metalworking tool). Its robust construction ensures that energy is transferred efficiently and safely.
• Versatile Peen End: The distinctive spherical "peen" on the opposite end of the hammer serves multiple functions, from shaping metal by stretching or flattening it, to setting rivets, and even peening edges.
• Safety and Durability: By using a ball-peen hammer, you significantly reduce the risk of mushrooming and flying metal shards, protecting both yourself and your tools, while also ensuring the hammer itself stands up to the rigors of metalworking for years to come.

Understanding these distinctions is paramount for both safety and effective craftsmanship.

Appropriate Hammer Types for Striking Metalworking Tools

Hammer Type	Suitable for Striking Metalworking Tools (e.g., Cold Chisel, Punch)?	Reason/Primary Use
Claw Hammer	No	Designed for driving and pulling nails in wood. Softer steel face leads to mushrooming and flying metal shards when striking hardened metal.
Ripping Hammer	No	Similar to claw hammers, primarily for driving/pulling nails and light demolition in wood. Softer steel face presents same mushrooming and safety risks as a claw hammer for metalworking.
Ball-Peen Hammer	Yes	Specifically engineered with a hardened steel hammer face and peen for striking other hardened metal tools, shaping metal, and riveting. Prevents mushrooming and ensures safe, efficient energy transfer.

Understanding these distinctions is paramount for both safety and effective craftsmanship, setting the stage for more advanced and secure projects.

The "striking metalworking tools" dilemma we explored isn’t just about if you use a hammer, but crucially, which hammer you employ for the task at hand.

The Hammer’s True Calling: Why One Size Doesn’t Fit All

In the world of craftsmanship, a hammer isn’t just a hammer; it’s a specialized instrument designed for specific tasks. Recognizing these distinctions is not merely about technique, but about safeguarding your tools, ensuring your safety, and elevating the quality of your work.

Decoding the Demolition: Claw vs. Ripping Hammers

At first glance, a claw hammer and a ripping hammer might seem interchangeable, both capable of driving nails and removing them. However, their subtle design differences dictate their ideal applications.

• Claw Hammer: This is the quintessential all-rounder for general carpentry and household tasks. Its distinctive V-shaped "claw" is designed primarily for pulling nails. The gentler curve of the claw provides excellent leverage for carefully extracting fasteners without excessive damage to the surrounding material. It’s perfect for finish work, framing light structures, and general assembly where precision and minimal marring are priorities.
• Ripping Hammer: Built for heavier-duty work and demolition, the ripping hammer features a straighter, often more robust "ripping claw." This design allows for maximum leverage when prying apart stubborn boards, disassembling structures, or splitting wood. While it can pull nails, its primary strength lies in its ability to rip and tear, making it indispensable for framing, deck building, and renovation projects where brute force and durability are required.

The key distinction lies in the angle and thickness of their claws, influencing their prying power and finesse. Choosing between them means selecting the right amount of leverage and delicacy for the job.

The Art of Impact: Why Your Metal Striking Demands a Ball-Peen Hammer

While claw and ripping hammers excel with wood and fasteners, they are critically unsuitable for striking hardened metal tools or surfaces. This is where the Ball-peen hammer becomes an absolute necessity, not just a preference.

• The Danger: Using a traditional claw or ripping hammer to strike a hardened chisel, punch, or any tempered metal component poses a significant safety risk. The faces of these hammers are often designed for softer impacts (nails into wood) and can chip or deform when striking harder metals. This can send dangerous metal shards flying, causing severe eye injuries or cuts.
• The Solution: The Ball-Peen Hammer: Engineered specifically for metalworking, the Ball-peen hammer features a flat, hardened striking face on one side and a rounded "peen" on the other. Both surfaces are heat-treated to withstand the high-impact forces of striking other metal tools without deforming or chipping.
  • Flat Face: Ideal for driving punches, chisels, and cold sets, or for shaping sheet metal.
  • Rounded Peen: Used for riveting, rounding off edges, peening (hardening or shaping metal by hammering), or expanding the end of a rivet.

Reiterating this advice is paramount: for any task involving striking metalworking tools, always reach for a Ball-peen hammer. It’s a non-negotiable safety and tool longevity measure.

Beyond Technique: The Right Hammer as a Pillar of Craftsmanship

The choice of hammer extends far beyond mere convenience; it is a fundamental aspect of safety, project quality, and craftsman efficiency.

• Safety First: Using the correct hammer minimizes the risk of accidents. A wrong hammer can slip, cause fasteners to buckle, damage the workpiece, or as noted, shatter when striking inappropriate surfaces. The right hammer, properly balanced and weighted for the task, provides better control, reducing the chance of missed strikes or injury.
• Elevated Project Quality: The right hammer ensures clean, precise work. Using a finish hammer for delicate trim work prevents marring, while a heavy framing hammer drives large nails flush with authority. This attention to detail results in a professional finish, stronger joints, and an overall higher standard for your projects.
• Optimized Craftsman Efficiency: When you have the right tool, you work smarter, not harder. The correct hammer reduces fatigue, makes tasks quicker, and minimizes wasted effort. No more struggling with a claw hammer to pry apart a sturdy pallet or risking damage by striking a punch with an unsuited tool. Efficiency isn’t just about speed; it’s about doing the job right the first time.

A Call to Action: Equip Your Craft with Confidence

Take a moment to inspect your own toolbox. Do you have a diverse selection of hammers, or are you making do with a single, general-purpose option? Making informed choices about your tools is an investment in your craft, your safety, and the quality of your output. Equip yourself not just with tools, but with the knowledge to wield them correctly for every single task.

Understanding the specific roles of hammers is just the beginning; similar discernment applies to every tool in your arsenal, ensuring you approach each project with precision and safety.

In the realm of hand tools, true mastery comes not just from technique, but from making informed choices. We’ve explored the essential distinction between the multi-purpose Claw hammer, a master of nail pulling and precision, and the heavy-duty Ripping hammer, engineered for leverage, prying (action), and demanding demolition (activity) tasks.

Crucially, we’ve emphasized the absolute necessity of recognizing when neither of these is appropriate for striking metalworking tools like a cold chisel or a punch (metalworking tool). Attempting this with an unsuitable hammer risks severe `mushrooming (tool damage)` to the hammer’s hammer face, potential for dangerous chipping, and flying metal shards. Remember, the specialized Ball-peen hammer is the correct tool for these applications.

Using the RIGHT Hammer isn’t merely a matter of convenience; it’s a fundamental aspect of tool safety, project quality, and craftsman efficiency. It protects your tools, prevents frustration, and ensures your work stands the test of time. So, take a moment to inspect your toolbox, understand the unique strengths of each hammer, and make informed choices for every task. Elevate your craft – always pick the right hammer!