pounder

tool

Also known as: hammerstone

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

A pounder is a tool used for pounding or one that pounds. This term encompasses a variety of striking tools, often referred to as hammers. These tools typically consist of a handle and a striking head, with the head frequently made of metal.123

Percussive tools, like hammers and pounders, function by delivering forceful blows. The effectiveness of these tools depends on factors such as the mass and velocity of the head, which generate kinetic energy and momentum. Different types of pounders exist, including those used for specific tasks like firearms that throw projectiles of a certain weight. The design and weight of a pounder vary greatly depending on its intended use, ranging from light tools for delicate work to heavy ones for breaking stones.243

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hand tool
Hammers and hammerlike tools
…by other names, such as pounder, beetle, mallet, maul, pestle, sledge, and others. The best known of the tools that go by the name hammer is the carpenter’s claw type, but there are many others, such as riveting, boilermaker’s, bricklayer’s, blacksmith’s, machinist’s
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…by other names, such as pounder, beetle, mallet, maul, pestle, sledge, and others. The best known of the tools that go by the name hammer is the carpenter’s claw type, but there are many others, such as riveting, boilermaker’s, bricklayer’s, blacksmith’s, machinist’s
Read More