The Best Air Hammers for Powering Through Your Metalworking Jobs

Air hammers, or “air-chisels,” might not be the most common power tool you think of, but these powerful little machines put a tremendous amount of power in the palm of your hand. Think of them as mini-jackhammers, whose compact size and pistol grip allows them to be used in a variety of demo applications, and also allow users to maintain control while they work. Although they’re primarily used for auto-body work like removing frozen wheel-bearing hubs and exhausts, and popping ball joints loose, they’re also useful for metal or masonry demolition tasks, like cutting sheet metal and busting up concrete.

What to Consider

You should first consider what type of job you want your air hammer to perform before you purchase one. A good way to find the best option for you is to compare the BPM (blows per minute) generated by each model. Lower BPM hammers have longer barrels, which takes more time for the piston to return to position, and allow the hammer to transfer maximum force in each blow, which is perfect for less precise, but more destructive jobs. As a general rule, the higher the BPMs, the less power is transferred per blow, which is usually more suited for lighter-duty tasks that require a bit more control.

How We Selected

After thorough online research, including expert opinions and customer feedback, we narrowed down our list of the best air hammers to these eight options. We made sure to include picks from most of the well-respected and high-quality brands in the business, like Ingersoll Rand and Chicago Pneumatic, who have been making tools for over a hundred years. Although air hammers aren’t cheap tools, we did our best to include several lower-budget options in our selection, while also keeping a couple high-end options for those who need maximum durability and hammering power.