# Ballpeen hammer **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 24, 1999, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballpeen-hammer/2780 "1999-08-24T13:49:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 1999, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballpeen-hammer/2780/1 "1999-08-24T13:49:00Z")
This is one of those things that have always bothered me. Why does the balpeen hammer have the ball on one end? Was it just used as a weight before someone decided to but a claw on the other side, or did it have some actual use to it? * * * Formerly known as Nec3f on the AOL SDMB ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Berry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@Carl\_Berry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Berry)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 1999, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballpeen-hammer/2780/2 "1999-08-24T14:01:00Z")
The peen has many uses in sheet metal work. It is used to shape copper & brass.To fold a hem on edges of metal is often called “peening” It’s handy for making hammered metal & Steel Band instruments…Tin knocker ---
**Author:** ![ChuckSki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@ChuckSki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChuckSki)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 1999, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballpeen-hammer/2780/3 "1999-08-24T16:10:00Z")
The peen (n.) is the end of a hammerhead opposite the flat striking surface. A ball peen hammer has just that; a ball (or at least a rounded surface) opposite the main striking surface. The act of peening (v.) is to hammer, bend, or shape with a peen. It is often used in metalworking for indenting, moving metal (as in setting a rivet), or many other hammering tasks where the rounded head (and more precise striking point) is desired. Please note spelling - ball peen hammer. * * * “The intellectuals’ chief cause of anguish are one another’s works.” Jacques Barzun Cheers! CAL