Roofing hammer, why the checkered face?

[epsilonGreedy]

I hope to start fixing some trial slates tomorrow onto 50mm x 25mm battens with rafters at 600mm centres. The slates are 500x250.

 

Before I decide on which hammer to buy I am puzzled about why roofing hammers have checkered face. How does a checkered face help when nailing slates.

 

 

 

[jack]

Apparently they're called milled or waffle faced hammers: https://homefixated.com/milled-face-vs-smooth-face-hammer-smackdown/

[Declan52]

Just means when you hit your thumb it will look like it's got caught in a waffle maker.

[Vijay]

I'm sure I remember being told it's a grip thing, so it helps the hammer head not to slip/bounce off the nail and hit a tile

[wozza]

Many years ago whilst I was a lad, I remember watching my dad (a master carpenter) using his hammer. After a while and hammering in of numerous nails, he rubbed the face of his hammer on brick surface, I asked him why he did it. He said that the face of the hammer becomes shiny and smooth with use and it can slip off the nails, "roughing it up takes the shine off so it doesnt slip" he said.

 

I guess as Vijay says, it probably to prevent it from slipping off the nail.