A electric hammer includes a generally pistol shaped housing with a grip portion, a barrel portion and an electric motor and battery pack disposed in the grip portion. The motor includes an output shaft that extends upwardly into the barrel portion, a cylindrical drum fixed to the shaft with a generally flat upper surface and peripheral edge. The drum in the shape of a right circular cylinder includes a cavity or short passageway extending from the upper surface into the interior thereof. A longitudinally extending rod with a short transverse portion extending into the cavity so that the rotation of the drum provides reciprocal movement of the rod causing a hammer head to repeatedly strike a nail head. An important feature of the hammer resides in a tubular member with a tapered bore running through the barrel portion of the electric hammer allowing for limited lateral movement of the elongated rod as it repeatedly strikes the head of a nail with a solid metal hammer head.