ciocan

Ciocan is the Romanian term for a hammer, a hand tool used to deliver impact to objects in order to drive, shape, or break them. A typical ciocan consists of a dense metal head attached to a handle, usually made of wood, fiberglass, or steel.

Common varieties include the claw hammer, used for driving and removing nails; the ball-peen hammer, used in metalworking for shaping and peening; the sledgehammer, designed for heavy demolition; and mallets, which have softer faces to avoid marring surfaces. Each type is suited to specific tasks and materials.

Design considerations encompass head weight, balance, and the handle’s material and grip, which influence control and vibration. Safety practices include wearing eye protection, maintaining a secure grip, and inspecting the tool for cracks, looseness, or other damage.

Historically, hammers have existed since ancient times in stone and metal forms and evolved into a range of hand tools essential to carpentry, masonry, and metalworking. In modern trades, power hammers—pneumatic, hydraulic, or electric—complement hand hammers but do not replace their versatility and ubiquity in workshops.

See also: Hammer; Claw hammer; Ball-peen hammer.