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Upholstery Hammers, Mallets and Tack Hammers
Shop upholstery hammers and mallets for driving traditional tacks, fitting decorative nails, working with punches and carrying out general furniture and upholstery tasks. Livedale supplies magnetic tack hammers, nylon-tip decorative nail hammers, wooden mallets and a lightweight pin hammer for professional upholstery, furniture restoration and suitable soft-trimming work.
Different striking tools are designed for different jobs.
Choose according to:
- The tack, nail or tool being struck
- The required force
- Whether the finished surface could be marked
- The size and weight of the hammer head
- The furniture-frame material
- Whether the fixing must be held magnetically
- Whether the tool is being used with a punch or die
- The amount of control required
A magnetic tack hammer, nylon-tip hammer and wooden mallet should not be treated as interchangeable. Selecting the right tool helps provide better control and reduces the risk of damaging the fixing, fabric or furniture surface.
Shop Upholstery Hammers and Mallets by Type
The range includes:
- Magnetic upholstery tack hammers
- Nylon-tip decorative nail hammers
- Wooden mallets
- A lightweight pin hammer
- A replacement nylon tip for the C.S. Osborne No.36
Magnetic Upholstery Tack Hammers
Magnetic upholstery hammers are designed to help position and start suitable tacks where holding the fixing between the fingers would be awkward.
The magnetic end can retain a steel tack while it is placed against the furniture frame. Once started, the tack can be driven using the appropriate striking face.
The current range includes:
These hammers are closely associated with traditional upholstery work using suitable Upholstery Tacks & Gimp Pins.
Potential applications include:
- Starting upholstery tacks
- Fixing hessian
- Attaching traditional jute webbing
- Securing suitable lining materials
- Furniture restoration
- General traditional upholstery work
The magnetic head is intended to assist with positioning. It does not remove the need to keep the tack straight and aligned with sound frame timber.
Balanced 7oz Magnetic Upholsterer’s Hammer
The Balanced 7oz Magnetic Upholsterer’s Hammer has:
- Forged steel construction
- Polished split magnetic head
- Hickory handle
- Published weight of 7oz
The narrow head is suited to controlled tack work where a larger general-purpose hammer would be unnecessarily heavy or difficult to position.
Use it with upholstery tacks suited to the furniture construction and frame material.
C.S. Osborne No.33 Bronze Magnetic Hammer
The C.S. Osborne No.33 Bronze Magnetic Upholstery Hammer has:
- Solid bronze head
- Steel tips at both ends
- One magnetic end
- Hickory handle
- Published head weight of 7oz
The magnetic end helps start suitable tacks, while the opposite steel-tipped face is used for further controlled striking.
Its bronze head provides a different weight distribution from the forged-steel magnetic hammer, so the preferred option may depend on balance, handle feel and established workshop practice.
Using a Magnetic Tack Hammer
Position the tack against the magnetic end and place it at the required fixing point.
Start the tack with a controlled blow before removing the magnetic face and completing the fixing with the appropriate striking end.
Check that:
- The tack is straight
- The frame timber is sound
- The fabric or hessian is correctly tensioned
- The fixing length suits the construction
- Fingers remain clear of the striking area
- The tack head is not being damaged
Do not drive a tack into split, weakened or unsuitable frame material simply because the magnetic head allows it to be positioned there.
For removal and preparation during reupholstery, browse Staple Removers, Tack Lifters & Ripping Chisels.
Nylon-Tip Hammers for Decorative Nails
Nylon-tip hammers are used where a softer striking surface can help reduce marking to the heads of suitable decorative upholstery nails.
The range includes:
- C.S. Osborne No.36 Nylon-Tip Hammer
- Kabara Nylon-Tip Hammer
- C.S. Osborne No.36 Replacement Nylon Tip
These hammers are most closely associated with Decorative Upholstery Nails & Nail Strip.
Decorative nail heads can be marked, flattened or scratched by an unsuitable steel hammer face. A nylon tip provides a less aggressive contact surface, although careful alignment and controlled striking are still required.
C.S. Osborne No.36 Nylon-Tip Hammer
The C.S. Osborne No.36 Nylon-Tip Hammer is designed for striking suitable decorative upholstery nails while reducing direct damage to the visible nail head.
A matching No.36 Replacement Nylon Tip is available when the original tip becomes worn or damaged.
Inspect the nylon face regularly. A badly marked, split or contaminated tip may transfer damage to the next decorative nail.
Kabara Nylon-Tip Hammer
The Kabara Nylon-Tip Hammer provides an alternative tool for fitting suitable decorative upholstery nails.
Its nylon striking tip helps reduce marking compared with direct use of a hard steel face.
The choice between the Kabara and C.S. Osborne models may depend on:
- Handle shape
- Tool balance
- Head dimensions
- Workshop preference
- Availability of replacement tips
- Frequency of decorative nail work
Fitting Decorative Upholstery Nails
Before starting, mark the intended nail line and check the spacing.
Use Measuring & Marking Tools where an accurate straight or evenly spaced decorative line is required.
Start each nail carefully and avoid driving it fully home until its position has been checked against the surrounding nails.
Work progressively along the furniture rather than fitting isolated nails at widely separated points.
Check:
- Spacing
- Alignment
- Nail-head orientation
- Fabric tension
- Frame condition
- Distance from the furniture edge
- Clearance around corners
A nylon tip can help protect the visible nail head, but it cannot correct uneven spacing or a nail driven at an angle.
Wooden Upholstery Mallets
Wooden mallets provide a broader striking face than upholstery tack hammers.
They are suited to controlled striking where a steel hammer face would be unnecessarily hard or concentrated.
The range includes:
Potential uses include:
- Striking suitable drive punches
- Working with compatible furniture and upholstery tools
- General furniture assembly
- Controlled adjustment of suitable timber components
- Closing suitable upholstery fittings where a wooden face is appropriate
A wooden mallet is not intended for driving ordinary upholstery tacks with the same precision as a magnetic tack hammer.
C.S. Osborne Wooden Beech Mallet
The C.S. Osborne Wooden Beech Mallet has a published 4½″ square head.
It is described for all-round work, including striking suitable drive punches through fabric or leather.
This makes it relevant to selected Buttoning Tools and other punch-based upholstery operations.
Use the mallet only with punches and tools intended to be struck.
Toolstream Wooden Mallet
The Toolstream Wooden Mallet has:
- Hardwood head and shaft
- Published overall length of 310mm
- Angled striking face measuring approximately 60 × 50mm
Its angled face can help provide controlled contact where access or tool position makes a conventional square blow awkward.
Check the mallet head and handle before use. Do not continue using a wooden mallet with a split head, loose handle or badly damaged striking face.
Using Mallets with Punches and Tools
Place the furniture or material on a stable working surface.
Position the punch vertically unless its intended method requires another angle.
Use controlled blows rather than excessive force.
Check that:
- The punch is intended to be struck
- The cutting or forming edge is sharp
- The material is properly supported
- Hands remain clear
- The working surface will not be damaged
- The mallet face contacts the punch squarely
Browse Buttoning Tools for suitable dies, cutters and associated upholstery-button equipment.
4oz Hickory-Handle Pin Hammer
The 4oz Hickory-Handle Pin Hammer has:
- Forged steel head
- Hickory shaft
- Polished and lacquered striking face
- Ball end
- Published head weight of 4oz
Its lighter construction suits smaller fixings and controlled general furniture work where a full-sized hammer would provide too much force.
Potential applications include:
- Starting small pins
- Light furniture repairs
- General workshop assembly
- Working around restricted furniture sections
- Controlled adjustment of suitable small components
A pin hammer is not a substitute for a magnetic upholstery tack hammer where the fixing needs to be retained magnetically during positioning.
Hammers for Tacking Strips
Some Upholstery Tacking Strips contain integral nails and are driven into suitable furniture-frame timber.
A controlled hammer or mallet may also be used when closing suitable metal Plygrip around a concealed fabric edge.
Before striking:
- Check the strip position
- Make sure the covering fabric is protected
- Confirm that the frame timber is sound
- Keep the strip straight
- Avoid damaging the visible upholstery
- Work progressively along the strip
Do not strike directly onto delicate fabric with an exposed steel hammer face.
Choosing the Correct Hammer or Mallet
Choose a magnetic tack hammer for:
- Starting traditional upholstery tacks
- Fixing hessian and webbing
- Furniture restoration
- Controlled work in restricted areas
Choose a nylon-tip hammer for:
- Decorative upholstery nails
- Visible nail heads
- Finishes that could be marked by steel
- Repeated decorative nail work
Choose a wooden mallet for:
- Drive punches
- Compatible dies and cutters
- Broader controlled striking
- Suitable furniture assembly
Choose a pin hammer for:
- Small pins and light fixings
- General furniture repairs
- Work requiring a lighter head
The best tool is determined by the fixing or implement being struck, not simply by which hammer happens to be closest on the bench.
Care and Storage
After use:
- Wipe the head and handle clean
- Remove adhesive, polish or fabric debris
- Check magnetic faces for loose metal fragments
- Inspect nylon tips for wear
- Examine wooden mallets for splits
- Check that handles remain secure
- Store tools in a dry workroom
Metal fragments attached to a magnetic hammer face can scratch decorative fixings or finished furniture.
Replace a damaged nylon tip before it begins marking nail heads.
Do not modify a loose or split handle with an unsuitable temporary repair.
Safe Use
Wear suitable eye protection when striking tacks, nails, punches or metal fittings.
Keep hands clear of the striking area and make sure the furniture remains stable.
Avoid:
- Using a damaged hammer
- Striking hardened tools not designed to be hit
- Using excessive force
- Working with a loose handle
- Using a steel face directly on delicate decorative nails
- Allowing magnetic heads to collect sharp metal fragments
- Leaving hammers where they can fall from a bench
- Using a wooden mallet with a split head
Keep hammers, mallets, tacks and decorative nails away from children.
Associated Upholstery Products and Tools
The products most closely associated with this category are:
- Upholstery Tacks & Gimp Pins
- Decorative Upholstery Nails & Nail Strip
- Upholstery Tacking Strips
- Buttoning Tools
- Measuring & Marking Tools
- Staple Removers, Tack Lifters & Ripping Chisels
Return to the Upholstery Tools hub for cutting tools, pneumatic equipment, needles, pliers and other furniture-workshop tools.
Trade Upholstery Hammers and Mallets
Livedale supplies upholstery hammers and mallets to professional upholsterers, furniture manufacturers, restorers, automotive trimmers and training workshops throughout the UK.
The range covers traditional magnetic tack hammers, nylon-tip decorative nail hammers, wooden mallets and lighter general-purpose striking tools.
Approved trade customers can access preferential pricing across eligible products after registering for a trade account.
Choose the tool according to the fixing, furniture material and amount of control required.