The 5 Best Chipping Hammers
This wiki has been updated 17 times since it was first published in August of 2019. If you've spent any time arc welding, you know that it leaves slag behind. Formed when the flux melts, this must be removed before you can add another layer or finish off your seam. That's when you reach for one of these chipping hammers. Use the chisel or cone end to break or pick away the unwanted material and scrape off spatter to give your work a nice, clean look. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Estwing Big Blue
2. Atlas Long-Nek Tomahawk
3. Hobart 770069
Editor's Notes
September 02, 2019:
Like the indispensable welding helmet and gloves, a good chipping hammer is a necessary piece of equipment for professional welders and do-it-yourselfers alike. It is used to chip away or shatter the slag left behind after you've finished your bead so that you can add another layer or further process your weld. The flat side of the hammer is also good for scraping away spatter.
Slag forms in arc welding when the flux melts during the welding process. In flux-core arc welding, the flux acts as a necessary shield that prevents the molten metal in the weld zone from reacting with oxygen in the air. You could remove the slag using a grinder, but a hammer is less expensive and gets into those hard-to-reach spots.
We chose our selections based on quality, value, and reputation among users. Even though it costs more than other options, the Estwing Big Blue earned a top spot because it is forged from a single piece of steel. Its point stays sharp after extended use, and there are no seams to break or handles to come loose.
4. Vastools Kit
5. Lincoln Electric KH533
An avid reader and outdoors enthusiast, Joe earned his doctorate in literary studies before making the lateral leap from academia to technical writing. He now lives and works in the inter-mountain West where he creates technical and marketing content, including white papers, solution briefs, and courseware for some of the world’s largest information technology companies. With more than 14 years of experience in the field, he has learned more than he ever thought he would know about such enterprise IT topics as cloud computing, storage, databases, business software, and networking. When he’s not writing about business computing, he can be found outdoors, probably hiking with his family and dog.