Dead blow hammers are used when you need to strike an object without causing damage to it or without creating a lot of rebound or vibration. Dead blow hammers minimize rebound because of the sand, shot, or other filler inside the head that absorbs the shock of the blow. A soft face hammer is a hammer with a head made from a soft, non-metallic material, designed to prevent damage to the workpiece or surface being struck.

A bricklayer's hammer, also known as a masonry hammer, is specifically designed for brick and masonry work. The flat, chisel-like blade on one side is used to score and cut bricks or blocks to the desired size. They are also useful for tapping bricks into place to ensure they are level and properly aligned and the pointed end can be used to chip away excess mortar or to remove old mortar from joints.