HAMMERS!!

[mattw]

Everyone loves a great hammer!!

which one is your favourite and why?

i need a new one and i am currently undecided so let me know what you use.

it will get used alot!

thanks!!

[Polar Sparky 1224]

I have a Estwing 22 Oz. Smooth Face Framing Hammer. I loved using it doing residential work. And have found it very handy still in commercial.

A hammer brand really doesn't matter to me but, if you want to just pound the crap out of things this hammer is great but guard it well.

[PhilG.]

All my small hammers are Estwing. They rule, although I have been thinking about buying one of those Stanley's with the internal tuning fork.

[Lorax]

I have a 16 oz wood handled Craftsman hammer that my Dad gave me in 1972. :cool: Have never needed anything else!:D

[PhilG.]

I have a 16 oz wood handled Craftsman hammer that my Dad gave me in 1972. :cool: Have never needed anything else!:D

I, like you have a treasured hammer. Mine's an old Plumb from my grandfather from just after the WWII. I don't dare use it for everyday use. To me this is a collector's item.

[Pipestone Kid]

I, too, have Plumb hammers--three of them. One with a wood handle and two with fibreglas. Had them since the late 50's and early 60's. When I worked in the trade I wouldn't have anything else. Don't know if they are still around, though. When you go looking for a hammer, take a thin brad with you and try to lift the hammer by the claw with it . If it doesn't grab the claw, be leery of it.

Jim

[CWSmith]

I have an old Craftsman carpenter's hammer with a long claw. (Without looking, I think it's a 20 oz) It was my first new hammer and was given to me as a gift back in the late 60's. I also have a Stanley wooden handle 16 oz, with a short claw (marked 91-1/2 ?) which I bought at around the same time, as I recall.

Both have served me well, through two houses and a number of projects from putting on a new roof to building a deck and countless other things. Both are in great shape and for general carpentry, I don't imagine I'll ever need anything else.

CWS

[Lorax]

Had them since the late 50's and early 60' s

So this got me to thinkin'. Just how old is this "Kid". 73! :cool: God Bless Ya! Must still be a kid at heart, eh? :p

[Gofor]

I've got a 3 lb Roughneck brand hand sledge that help's me get tight parts to fit. Doesn't work too well with brads, tho.:D

[Pipestone Kid]

Lorax: you are right on. I am 73. Have had the Pipestone Kid handle since the 60's, too! (You remember CB's don't you?):-)

[Lorax]

http://www.mfca.org/Index/Convoy%20from%20hill.jpg
Mercy sakes alive Good Buddy! Looks like we got us a CONVOY!:cool:

[plumber]

My favorite claw hammer is an old steel "plumb" hammer. can't even remember when I bought it. I have several hand sledges and ball peens but my favorite ball peen is an old wooden handled hammer my father gave me. Its about a 20 or 22 oz. hammer and has peened more lead, brass and copper than all my others combined. I won't use it on chisels or punches anymore because I don't want to shock the original handle anymore than necessary.

[plumbdog10]

A Vaughn "California Framer" for wood, a Vaughn Ball Pein for metal.

[cactusman]

I just purchased this hammer at home depot the model wf21.
This is the 14" handle 21oz smooth face hammer

It really looks weird! and as a left handed person I was cautious but once in my hand it has a very comfortable fit.

I was not sure about the 14" handle as I have longer handles on my other hammers, never the less a nice feel.

I then did the test overhead hammering. I did a few #8 nails and the effort was minimal. It took a few hits for the #16 nail but still a comfortable swing.

It will take a bit to get used to the short throw as the typical hammer head is longer and you sort of wind up to hit the nail.
I was also concerned about the head distance in close areas but not a problem.

so much for hunting down a "left handed hammer"


cactus man in Arizona

[franklie]

A Vaughn "California Framer" for wood, a Vaughn Ball Pein for metal.

Like PlumbDog my current hammer is a Vaughn "California Framer" . I'm surprised at how well balanced it is in my hands.

[tkholck]

Like PlumbDog my current hammer is a Vaughn "California Framer" . I'm surprised at how well balanced it is in my hands.

What he said plus a craftsman and estwing.

[ron burton]

true temper rocket a-16 about 30 yars old best trim hammer ever made IMO

[archblackmage]

I have a estwing 16oz. leather wrapped handle rip smooth face for trim. A dead on death stick from sears 24 milled face axe wood handle with a magnet nail holder, and a 16oz wood craftsman smooth face and a 24 oz wood handle craftman milled face. I like the deathsick and estwing the best

[michael stephen]

Plumb hammers are very good. Check out Cooper Tools..

[odleo403]

An Eastwoing 22 oz had for the past 14 years, A craftsmand hammer my grandfather had I beleivev it to be baout 60 years, do not use it much anymore

[boytyperanma]

My favorate hammer is a wooden handled 22 ounce stanley fat max. I have other hammers that are supposedly better but I end up going for the fat max more often then not. It's just comfortable for me to use. It has a little magnet on top for starting nails that I rarely use but it's nice to have when I want it.

[bob bridgewater]

Hay All. For me I have several I use depending On the job! And I do all kind of work. LOL For siding I use my 16 oz Craftsmen wood handle, All around use and hand bangin sheathing 8 penny nails, my 20 oz estwing. And for hard work like framing and riping a 22 oz fiberglass handle, dont know who mad it . Thats been wore out for quite some time now. LOL.
O'ya all rip claws.

[TozziWelding]

A 3 pound sledge with a piece of solid round stock welded in as a handle. Or my 4 pound blacksmiths hammer with a piece of #7 rebar wrapped in duct tape as a handle. As a weldor my needs are greatly different than a carpenter. My finish hanner is a 15 Oz ball peen, and the delicate hammer is a 2 pound dead blow:D

[TomCunningham]

Ahhhhhhhh a good hammer huh!!!! well i have been a Carpenter for quite awhile i started out using an Estwing 28oz granted Estwing makes a great hammer and well balanced but unfortionately I will not use them anymore, Ya see when i got into construction there were no nail guns it was all hand driving and the Estwing has caused me to have problems in my right arm so i went to the Estwing fiberglass handled hammer and used for a couple years b4 they discontinued it. So my search was on for a good hammer after years of searching and swinging I myself have found the Craftsman wood handled hammer works best for me and its lifetime guarantee made my mind up in wich ive only had to replace it 2wice in wich this one has lasted me almost 8yrs now.....So i recommend if you are handdriving alot to detour away from metal handled hammers you will pay for it in years to come but if your just using it here and there Estwing is the way to go.
I would also like to add when looking for your hammer to take 2 hammers and hit the heads together and make sure you have no ringing in it theres nothing more annoying then to hear your hammer ringing while driving nails or beating what ever it is your needing it for.

[Newman]

Well, I got a Stanley 22 oz. FatMax from Lowe's - lots of annoying ringing, and the handle came loose after half a dozen wacks! Maybe it was a defect!?
I got a Stanley AntiVibe which feels pretty good, and a Vaughan Blue Max...

[Woussko]

Call me old fashioned but I happen to like Hickory handles on all my hammers. Most of them are Vaughn, but my sledges are Collins which is famous for making Fireman's axes and such. Plumb is another good hammer line and they too make nice axes. I can't take the shock waves in my hands that a steel handle hammer brings about. I do like a few of the Nupla fiberglass handle hammers but the $$$ for them makes me howl.

[garager]

Fatmax (framers) is what I got, went nuts first time using it. Way to slippery with the black paint on it. Had to figure out a way to stop it from sliding. Went to my work trailer and I was going to put a bunch of notches on it. When I saw a roll of double sticky sided electrical tape, wrapped up the handle good and tight. Been using it that way ever since, I think 2 years now, tape is still on, but I think its time to put a new wrapping on it. The head has never come lose not even a smidgion, very pleased with it...

[Woussko]

garager

Go to a good tennis pro shop and look at grips and grip tapes they should have there. I've had good luck with some of the rubbery grip tapes on wood tool handles.

[jaco]

I bought a Estwing 15 years ago and use it to this day.

[garager]

Thanks woussko, I'll certainly do that, great advice...

[JimDon]

Tennis pro shop might be some serious $$$. Ever try the self-sealing silicone tape in the electrical dept.? Not very expensive, sure works nice. Will even seal minor plumbing leaks. Put it on, let it set up 24 hours before use. Even has some shock absorbing qualities. Probably very similar (if not same thing) used by tennis pros too. Just a thought.
Jim Don

[Woussko]

Jim has a great idea and it sure would cost less.

What I really had in mind, I needed to go find in my junk pile. I found it in a major sporting good store some time ago. It's a blue rubber-felt like grip tape called "Turna-Grip" and not saving the package, I have no idea who made it.

Back many years ago I remember using cloth adheasive medical tape on softball-baseball bats. Maybe that would work on hammer handles. I'm thinking mostly of wood handles and sledge hammers. There are loads of choices and what one person likes another may not.

[garager]

Most certainly JimDon, called up my brother(electrician) and asked if he has any. No problem, so I'll trot over there in the morning and get it from him, the price is right, thats for sure.....Thanx....

[Gage Mc.]

Stanly graphite framing hammer.

[Msuiter]

use a estwing 22oz for framing and a 16oz fiberglass handled craftsmen for finish work. i used to use the wood handled craftsmen hammer but i got sick of replacing it

[gear junkie]

Stanley antivibe for general purpose and a 18oz malco for sheetmetal.

[tinmack]

I have the Estwing 21 ounce fiberglass - picked it up at a half price sale last year. It is AWESOME!!! Best hammer I have ever used, left me with 2 out of 10 fingernails that weren't black. Other hammers, 0 out of 10....:D

[BHD]

If you do not care about your wrist or carpal tunnel problems go Est wing, or if your providing hammers to others, there great gorilla hammers. (some of them are OK, and not much handle vibration. but others will have your fingers asleep in a few swings.

but for my own use I like the wood handle plumb, the fiber glass handle plumb a close second. but like many have said, my good hammer is nearly 30 years old. and my fiber glass one is about 20 years old.

[TDX]

My best maintenance hammer is a 18 ounce Vaughan electrician's hammer, with an extended face and fiberglass handle. It drives nails in tough, recessed places, like pipe/tube straps in walls. The hollow fiberglass handle is not too rough on the hands.I found another one, fairly worn and sans handle, so I rehandled it with hickory and keep it in my "B"-kit.

Overall, I still like a wood handle hammer for extended nail driving, and I have old Stanleys, Vaughan's & Plumbs up to 28 ounces or so. Hickory is still the best shock absorber. Almost all of my ball-peens & heavy hammers are wood handled for the same reason.

[ToUtahNow]

Here is a picture of my Victory Hammer.

Mark

[cpw]

Here is a picture of my Victory Hammer.

Mark
Hey, wrong thread! :)

[ToUtahNow]

Hey, wrong thread! :)

Hey it said Hammers so I assumed they were talking about motorcycles hence the picture of my Victory Hammer.

Mark

[Woussko]

My best maintenance hammer is a 18 ounce Vaughan electrician's hammer, with an extended face and fiberglass handle. It drives nails in tough, recessed places, like pipe/tube straps in walls. The hollow fiberglass handle is not too rough on the hands.I found another one, fairly worn and sans handle, so I rehandled it with hickory and keep it in my "B"-kit.

Overall, I still like a wood handle hammer for extended nail driving, and I have old Stanleys, Vaughan's & Plumbs up to 28 ounces or so. Hickory is still the best shock absorber. Almost all of my ball-peens & heavy hammers are wood handled for the same reason.

I'm with you on the hickory handles. Once we get used them them the other handles just feel wrong.

Picture of Electrician's Hammer only this has a fiberglass handle with rubber grip. Just more Yaupo Schight if you ask me.

[where am i]

i have a nice estwing steel ball pein hammer.