ball-peen hammer
Definition
Noun: A type of hammer with a distinctive head featuring two ends: one is a flat, striking face, and the opposite end is a rounded, hemispherical peen (or pein). It is primarily designed for metalworking tasks.
Usage
The ball-peen hammer is used for shaping and riveting metal. The flat face is for general striking, while the rounded ball end is for peening (flattening and shaping metal, such as when setting rivets or rounding off edges).
Examples
- The blacksmith used a ball-peen hammer to shape the hot iron on the anvil.
- To secure the rivet, you must strike it with the ball end of the ball-peen hammer.
- A standard claw hammer is for driving nails; a ball-peen hammer is for working with metal.
Advanced Usage
- In Machining and Toolmaking: The ball-peen hammer is a fundamental tool for precision metal shaping, planishing (smoothing sheet metal), and peening surfaces to work-harden them.
- Distinguishing Feature: The term specifically refers to the rounded, ball-shaped peen. Other hammers may have a cross-peen (wedge-shaped) or straight-peen.
Variants and Related Words
- Engineer's hammer: Another common name for a ball-peen hammer.
- Machinist's hammer: A synonym, emphasizing its use in machining.
- Peen (noun): The end of a hammer head opposite the striking face. The "ball-peen" describes the shape of this end.
- Peen (verb): The action of striking with the peen end of a hammer to shape or harden metal.
Synonyms
- Mechanic's hammer
- Metalworker's hammer
Related Phrases
- Ball end: A common shorthand for the rounded peen of the hammer.
- Peening hammer: A general category that includes ball-peen, cross-peen, and straight-peen hammers.
Noun
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a hammer with one round and one flat end; used in working metal
