PaulMcI

I first blew out my right elbow overcranking big drummed winches in sailing races, then found that, over time, I was losing control of the hammer whenever I worked with it overhead. In fact, in one downward swing, I actually cracked my 70-year-old Mum on the head. All that was enough to convince me of the value of finding easier ways to hammer, especially over my head.

Since then, some 35 years, I have cheated my way around the pain and fatigue that comes with using steel hammers by limiting myself to 16-pounders. Yes, it took me a long, long time to drive 6-inch spikes, which, in turn, caused my right arm even more fatigue and pain.

Of course, now that I am 60, I can add arthritis (base of thumb) and essential tremours (who knows from where) to the mix.

Right about now, $200 to counter the long-term effects of age and misadventure sounds like a heck of a deal. I would love to try a titanium hammer!

Paul McIsaac
Powell River, British Columbia