Hammer, Cross Pein

Quick Answer: A cross pein hammer has a flat striking face on one side of the head and a narrow, wedge-shaped pein on the other, set at right angles to the handle. The cross pein hammer is used to start small pins in woodwork and to spread, shape and rivet metal.

What the Pein Is For

The word pein, also spelt peen, describes the shaped end opposite the face. On this hammer the wedge runs across the line of the handle, unlike a straight pein, whose wedge runs parallel to it, and a ball pein, which is rounded. The narrow pein fits between the fingers holding a small panel pin or tack, so the pin can be started with a few light taps before the hammer is turned round and the flat face drives it home.

In metalwork the pein is used to stretch and spread metal in a chosen direction, for example when drawing out a strip in forging practice, bending sheet over a former, or spreading the tail of a soft rivet. Each blow of the wedge pushes metal sideways, at right angles to the pein’s edge, which lets the user control which way the work grows.

Head weight varies widely between the light pin hammers used for joinery and heavier patterns for metalwork; the weight of this model can be confirmed at the time of ordering. For larger nails and for pulling nails, the claw hammer is more convenient.

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Start pins with the pein using gentle taps; hard blows bend small pins.
• Keep the face and pein free of rust and burrs so they do not mark soft metal or timber.
• Wear eye protection for metalwork and when small pins may spring away.
• Retire the hammer if the wedge or head works loose on the handle.

Applications

• Starting panel pins and tacks in picture frames, boxes and model making
• Forming and folding sheet metal in technology and fabrication classes
• Spreading soft rivet tails during joining exercises
• Light forging and drawing-out practice in metalwork training

Why Choose LabEquip

Woodwork and metalwork rooms, model-making clubs and trade training centres choose the cross pein pattern for fine work that a claw hammer is too clumsy for. LabEquip supplies it as part of its general lab products; head weights can be discussed through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between cross pein, straight pein and ball pein hammers?

All have a flat face. A cross pein has a wedge set across the handle line; a straight pein has its wedge running along the handle line; a ball pein has a rounded end used for riveting and shaping metal and is common in engineering workshops.

How do I start a panel pin with a cross pein hammer?

Hold the pin between finger and thumb, place the narrow edge of the pein on its head and tap gently until the pin stands on its own. Take the fingers away, turn the hammer round and drive the pin with the flat face.

Can a cross pein hammer be used for riveting?

Yes, for soft rivets such as aluminium or copper. The pein spreads the rivet tail, and the face then rounds or flattens it. Support the rivet head on a solid block while doing this.

Which weight suits woodwork?

Light heads are preferred for pins and tacks because they give control and do not bend small fasteners. Heavier heads suit metalwork, where more force is needed to move the metal.

Why does the pein direction matter in metalwork?

Metal spreads at right angles to the edge of the pein. By turning the work so the pein edge lies across a strip, a smith makes it grow in length rather than width, which is useful for drawing out and for directing a bend.

Can the pein mark wood?

Yes, if it misses the pin it leaves a narrow dent across the grain. Keep the blows light and, for visible work, finish driving with a nail punch so the face does not touch the surface.

Last Updated: September 2026