What is the typical head weight (or weight range) for a general-purpose sledge hammer?
Background: I've been shopping around online and have seen everything from a small 2 lb hammer to weights up to 20 lbs. Shopping online, I haven't had the opportunity to pick one up and get a feel for the weight.
I get that the weight largely depends on the application (and the person). So assume I am a homeowner intending to use it for light to mid duty home improvement work (breaking up a concrete walkway, cinder block walls, occasionally splitting some firewood with a wedge, etc.)
Note: Right now I'm considering an 8 lbs hammer and a 12 lbs one. Is 12 lbs overkill? They're the same price, so it really comes down to the weight.
Best Answer
Normal "full length" sledge is 8 lbs, normal "hand sledge" (short handle) is 4.
Excess weight may have two downsides - one is more wear and tear on you the operator, and the other is that you may get lower velocity on your hits - and since energy is mass times velocity squared, a hammer weighing 12 lbs still needs to make at least 81% of the velocity of the 8 lb hammer to get the same "hit" - so you have to swing 50% more weight only 20% slower.
Barring unusual circumstances, I'd suggest you stick with 8 lbs. It got standard because it works for most things.
....also, go find (and perhaps even patronize) a brick-and-mortar hardware store...while you still can.