Home DIY'ers, Woodworkers, Carpenters. Recommend me a new hammer.

[Kelvrick]

My collection of rubber mallets, wrenches and smaller hobby sized hammers can't get the job done anymore. That, and considering if I want any heft, my next choice is my Stanley Fatmax Extreme. There is definitely some force when I hit something with this guy, but it is a little overkill for use with my prybar to remove tackstrips from concrete. Also get a little unweidly and is hard to maneuver. Amazon link for reference.

http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-55-099...0788271&sr=8-1

So, I want a hammer, but am unsure of what to buy. I figure I should get something quality but figured there are more options than the standard claw hammer at my local hardware store. Like this Stanley. It looks traditional and appears to be able to do whatever I want.
http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-51-94...ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1280794219&sr=1-3

But, what about this Estwing or this Vaughan. You guys have any thoughts?
http://www.amazon.com/Estwing-WF21LM...0788393&sr=8-8

http://www.amazon.com/Vaughan-CFB2HC...788418&sr=8-18

 

[JEDI]

tonka and play-skool makes good ones

 

[Miramonti]

Depends if you're looking for a 24/7 hammer, or if you just plan on hammering in the morning.

 

[Kelvrick]

tonka and play-skool makes good ones

The steel tonka trucks seem to last forever, I'd be interested if you can find me a steek tonka hammer.

jjsole, not sure how to respond to you because I don't know if it was a wisecrack or asking if I plan on making a living with the hammer. I'm just a home owner that likes to do his own repairs.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

estwing 16oz straight claw

http://www.google.com/products/cata...log_result&ct=image&resnum=7&ved=0CEsQ8gIwBg#

 

[bfdd]

I wasn't allowed to own a claw hammer

 

[Miramonti]

The steel tonka trucks seem to last forever, I'd be interested if you can find me a steek tonka hammer.

jjsole, not sure how to respond to you because I don't know if it was a wisecrack or asking if I plan on making a living with the hammer. I'm just a home owner that likes to do his own repairs.

No response necessary...

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

you will never see a pro using one of the gimmicky hammers.

 

[bfdd]

you will never see a pro using one of the gimmicky hammers.

the top one sure. i've never seen a pro use something like that stanely, but i have seen many use similar hammers to the two bottom ones he posted. if i had to pick, i'd pick the bottom most one, the vaughn. then again like i said, i wasn't allowed to own a claw hammer so i don't know a whole lot about them.

 

[marvdmartian]

Go down to Sears, stand in front of the hammer display looking helpless. Hopefully a quasi-hot female Sears sales girl will come help you out, and you'll hit it off. If nothing else, you can buy a hammer with a lifetime warranty, for a reasonable price.

Craftsman hammers rock. I had one for ~12 years, broke the wooden handle pulling nails to re-use some wood. Took it down to Sears, the guy had me out the door with a new hammer in ~5 minutes. You cannot beat that. While Harbor Freight offers lifetime warranty on their hand tools, good luck getting a replacement unless you saved your receipt (which Sears doesn't require).

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

the top one sure. i've never seen a pro use something like that stanely, but i have seen many use similar hammers to the two bottom ones he posted. if i had to pick, i'd pick the bottom most one, the vaughn. then again like i said, i wasn't allowed to own a claw hammer so i don't know a whole lot about them.

I've worked commercial construction for 11 years and never seen anyone use any of the odd-shaped hammers like that estwing he linked to. The california framers like the vaughn are common.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Go down to Sears, stand in front of the hammer display looking helpless. Hopefully a quasi-hot female Sears sales girl will come help you out, and you'll hit it off. If nothing else, you can buy a hammer with a lifetime warranty, for a reasonable price.

Craftsman hammers rock. I had one for ~12 years, broke the wooden handle pulling nails to re-use some wood. Took it down to Sears, the guy had me out the door with a new hammer in ~5 minutes. You cannot beat that. While Harbor Freight offers lifetime warranty on their hand tools, good luck getting a replacement unless you saved your receipt (which Sears doesn't require).

or you could buy a steel hammer and never worry about it breaking.

thats the downside to wood and fiberglas.

 

[Drako]

Get one of these

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...8129000P?mv=rr

or, one of these for smaller jobs

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...3821000P?mv=rr

 

[Kelvrick]

The top one (stanley fat max destructo thingy) isn't really a hammer. It has a hammer head and so I used it since it was the best of what I had. It is more of a "I want to destroy something" tool rather than a "build something" tool.

I've never seen the Estwing, but I don't hang around construction sides unless you count habitat for humanity. I just noticed it on amazon, saw decent reviews and threw it up as an option. In reality, I'll probably go with a more traditional Estwing or vaughan. That stanley one with the "antivibe" looks kind of interesting. Looks all steel too, so I don't have to worry about breaking the handle. Doesn't seem to have a nail starter though.

 

[Drako]

That stanley one with the "antivibe" looks kind of interesting. Looks all steel too, so I don't have to worry about breaking the handle. Doesn't seem to have a nail starter though.

That's the main advantage to wood or fiberglass handles - dampening is built in. Plus the fact that the handle is usually lighter than the steel ones, so the center of mass is closer to the hammer head.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

That's the main advantage to wood or fiberglass handles - dampening is built in. Plus the fact that the handle is usually lighter than the steel ones, so the center of mass is closer to the hammer head.

that can be a valid concern for a framer using a hammer all day, but a homeowner swinging it once a week or once a month doesn't need to worry about joint deterioration.

 

[Drako]

that can be a valid concern for a framer using a hammer all day, but a homeowner swinging it once a week or once a month doesn't need to worry about joint deterioration.

Yeah, just have to worry about a numb hand

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Yeah, just have to worry about a numb hand

if that's an issue, they need to be hiring a handyman.

 

[Kelvrick]

if that's an issue, they need to be hiring a handyman.

I usually wear a pair of cheap "anti-vibration gloves" I got from harbor freight as work gloves. Really helped when using the tile saw for hours on end. This one.
http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/itemdisplay/displayItem.do?itemid=95584

Handymen? Thats for the modern sissymen who can't do things themselves. Or people with the money. I'd like to think I'm not the first, and I know I'm not the second.

Plan on hitting hte depot today after work to see how I like how these hammers feel. I'll tell them I'm testing how well the handle dampens the vibrations as I start banging on things in the store.

 

[Sluggo]

Go to Home Depot or Lowes and pick up a few and handle them. I always prefer a straight claw hammer, but have a couple of the $5 curved claw hammers for general pounding on stuff. The framing hammers are heavier, and will certainly cause fatigue with long use, especially if you are using it over your head, but for driving a nail in one or two swings, they can't be beat. I had a Craftsman 28oz wood handle framing hammer for years that I really liked. I lost it somewhere and replaced it with a 22oz fiberglass handle hammer that i don't like nearly as much.

Most framing hammers will have the waffle face, which will tear the crap out of anything it hits, except of course nails, including your skin and surrounding wood of what you are hitting.

 

[DrPizza]

I purchased a really nice Estwing a couple years ago. Best investment I've made in a hammer. Prior to that, I used to go to the Cummins Tool Sale events - half a dozen semi trucks show up at a location & sell tools about the quality of Harbor Freights. You walk around the sale & put the item number, description, and price on your little piece of paper. I always described their hammers as "cheap ass hammers" and bought up to half a dozen at a time (my kids often forgot them outdoors.) I've bent the claws on several, have broken the claws off some, and can't count how many wood and fiberglass handles I've snapped in half. My Estwing works like a tank, never had a problem with it & what I've done with it can probably be termed "abuse."

My advice - go to a hardware store where they have a large selection of hammers. Hold a few. Swing them through the air as if you were about to hit a nail. Some people feel more comfortable with an 18oz hammer or 20 oz hammer, or even 22oz hammer. Others like the pansy ass 16oz kiddy hammers. But, most importantly, get what feels comfortable to you.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

I purchased a really nice Estwing a couple years ago. Best investment I've made in a hammer. Prior to that, I used to go to the Cummins Tool Sale events - half a dozen semi trucks show up at a location & sell tools about the quality of Harbor Freights. You walk around the sale & put the item number, description, and price on your little piece of paper. I always described their hammers as "cheap ass hammers" and bought up to half a dozen at a time (my kids often forgot them outdoors.) I've bent the claws on several, have broken the claws off some, and can't count how many wood and fiberglass handles I've snapped in half. My Estwing works like a tank, never had a problem with it & what I've done with it can probably be termed "abuse."

My advice - go to a hardware store where they have a large selection of hammers. Hold a few. Swing them through the air as if you were about to hit a nail. Some people feel more comfortable with an 18oz hammer or 20 oz hammer, or even 22oz hammer. Others like the pansy ass 16oz kiddy hammers. But, most importantly, get what feels comfortable to you.

yeah, he could definitely get the 20 or 22 oz. That's what I have, but for the average anandtech user, 16oz would be appropriate.

 

[Blackjack200]

I would recommend an Estwing, get at least a 20 oz. hammer unless you are using it to tack molding or something. This would be a good choice:

http://www.amazon.com/Estwing-E3-20S...dp/B0000224VC/

You want the smooth head as opposed to the waffle head so when you're face nailing something you won't put a big waffle circle in the wood if you miss the nail.

At 2 more ounces you step up to a full fledged framing hammer:

http://www.amazon.com/Estwing-E3-22S.../dp/B0000224V9

The difference, apart from the weight, is that a framing hammer will be 16 inches long, so you can space studs with it.

I've used these hammers for years and never felt any kind of shock or vibration. Don't just swing the hammer, flick it almost like it's a whip, or imagine you're throwing it (only don't let go). You'll generate much more force on the nail and use less energy.

I can't comment on the hammers you linked to as I've never used, or even seen, either one of them.

 

[Blackjack200]

Most framing hammers will have the waffle face, which will tear the crap out of anything it hits, except of course nails, including your skin and surrounding wood of what you are hitting.

That's why a lot of carpenters will only use the polished face hammers. If the hammer starts slipping off the nail (happens a lot when you're driving galvanized nails, and the zinc starts flaking off onto the hammer head) just take a piece of 80 grit sandpaper and give the face a good scrubbing. Just like new.

 

[Kelvrick]

Crap, sorry guys. I just realized that I linked the same thing twice. What I meant to link when talking about a "traditional" hammer is this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-51-944...0794219&sr=1-3