Someone stole my 16″, 22 oz. Estwing (had it for years). Need to replace it; what’s your favorite & why?
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This has come up before, but it can't hurt to bring it up again. Lots of folks have strong opinions about hammers and it's one of those things where they're always trying to build a better mouse trap.
Take a look here:
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=107572.1
and here:
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=107955.1
That should get you started.
As for me, I prefer my Stanley fiberglass handle to Estwing. The Estwing just seems to transmit more of the impact to my arm. BUT, I'm not a framer and I rarely even use a "manual" hammer anymore.
it would be helpful if we knew what sort of work you do.. I have a Estwing but I also have a Titanium stilletto and more than a dozen other hammers..
The Estwing I use for smallish work While the titanium Stilletto with the hatchet handle is my favorite for heavy work..
I used to have a 22 ounce Vaughan waffle head with the hatchet handle.. but gave that away when I developed tendonitous.
Mention your age as well, there is a point where you'll want to get away from those massive hammers and get one that will protect your arm..
I'm 65 and I love my Stiletto (straight handle). But it still freaks me that it weighs (14 oz) less than my steel trim hammer (16 oz). The titanium hammer is everything they say, and I don't care what the physicists say about its benefit being impossible.You are right to bring up age to the OP. I had a bad case of framers elbow several years ago and it was very scary -- the prospect of no more hammering. At my age I do fear incapaciting injuries, knowing that it takes longer to heal.
Why change? When you have the best?
I've got an Estwing as well but it's far from the best.. For what it does it does it acceptably.. but it's not the perfect tack hammer, nor the best framming hammer.. I've stopped using hammers to pull nails so it's not the best at that either..
It is the best overall framing nailer made. Used it for 30 years, never dissapointed me.
I've found much better framing hammers.. that don't harm an old mans elbows as much..
'My Estwing is fine for the use I make of it, it's not the best at a lot of things..
Seeing as most framers don't hand nail anymore, the elbow is a moot question.
Seeing as most framers don't hand nail anymore, the elbow is a moot question.
Maybe, but I doubt that either you or me could substantiate that claim. For me part of the equation is walking around with less weight in my bags.
If you read literature by the light and ultra light hikers, the small amount of weight saved here and there really add up per footstep. For us that includes up and down ladders all day.
Of course, I've got some other weight that I'm trying to lose . . . .:-)
I once had a 28oz. waffle head with a long wooden handle. I loved that hammer until the first time I hit my finger. The waffle head took off a big chunk of skin and that was the end of that hammer.
Once I worked on job with a team of men that traveled the country framing Pizza Huts. They all used hatchets, I think they were in the 30oz. range. They were some of the fastest framers I ever saw.
"Used it for 30 years, never dissapointed me."Did you ever try anything else for a while?
yep, went back!>G<
What did you try?
Having one hammer is like having one pair of shoes. Why deprive yourself of pleasure?
Rocket and death stick. Why?
Really just wondering. From what I gather, you are-were a framer all your life and info from someone such as yourself who has the years of doing behind them is more insightful.
to be honest, in the last 10 years or so, using a hammer became less and less. No one uses a hammer much these days thank god. This will make it better for all carpenters in the future. No mre aches and pains from repetitive hammering of nails.
My choice of an estwing has to do with the fact that I pull, push, more than hammer. I like a steal hammer instead of worring about if the handle will break.
Good question. Remember, the rule of thumb is that for each lost tool you have to buy at least two replacements.
You need a big Estwing around to pull reluctant nails, tweak walls and generally do some damage, but for everyday repetitive use I have two wooden handled hammers I prefer. A Dalluge titanium head and the Vaugn S2. Both feel really good, are easy on the elbow and the eye. For smaller jobs and finishing I carry a Japanese Dogyu. All three also have rare earth magnets for one handed nail starting.
For me a dedicated framing hammer should have a magnetic nail holder in the head to start nails up high and to make picking up a stray nail easier.
I used 24 oz death stick heads and hart hatchet handles when framing full time, but even after months of straight framing never felt I had enough arm strength to take advantage of that weight head and would have been better off with 22 or 20 oz.
Now that framing is secondary I enjoy the simple 20 oz. eastwing since my finish hamer is a 16 oz and trim hammer is a 12 oz.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
Hart Woody.
Also called a "California framer"
Just don't yank on it pulling nails out, 'cuz it's wood.
Forrest
Just don't yank on it pulling nails out, 'cuz it's wood. I've had no problems pulling sideways with any of mine. Another vote for a California framer.
Get the job done with a tool designed for the task.
IE, if your doing finish work use your other hammer- the finishing one.
Nothing compares to my 1968 True Temper Rocket. :) Truth be told, it's been relegated to demo duty.
I use a 20 ounce Estwing for everything... unless all day nailing when my wooden handled 20 yr old record is less tiring.
As soon as I tried a 28 oz. Estwing, my 22 has been collecting dust. I had to hunt to find one with a smooth head, but I use it for everything from framing to trim. It's great to scratch the ground when trying to level a ladder, and it pops the caps off tubes of silicone slicker than owl snot. Was pulling galvy spikes the other day, big 20's out of barn beams, the 28 yanks 'em out like they were thumbtacks. Just today, I snuck up on a yellow jacket and gave it all 28 oz right over the head. Bye bye bee, Yeah, me and my 28, I love her.
what do you plan to do with the hammer: frame all day? strip forms? use it only when the job is too small to hassle with a nailer?
people rave about the titanium framers, but how will you feel when that hammer develops legs too?
i have a 22oz estwing waffle that i use everyday, but not for production framing...i use mostly as a persuader/prybar in conjunction with my 16oz fibreglass hammer that i use for the majority of banging.
toolman65
Bit of framing, general whacking. Toolbag seems empty w/out framing hammer after decades. No more asses and elbows for me.
if you must carry a framer,replacing with another estwing 22oz may be the best option, especially since you don't swing it all day.however, you may also consider getting a vaughn v5 19oz framer. it comes with a waffle face along with a magnetic nail starter and a mini claw on the side of the head.as for getting your hammer stolen, do what i do: spray paint the shaft and head bright orange fluoresent. not only does everybody know it's my hammer, it also makes it alot easier to find in a pile of garbage.toolman65
Hey - just at Depo; saw a decent-feeling clone of a Hart Woody (hatchet-handled) 22 oz hammer for like $19.00
Forgot the brand, but maybe Husky/
Forrest
Yeah, someone stole my framing hammer too-I'm in the process of replacing it..was a Douglass. 20 oz. Framing Hammer w/ Rip Claw.
A very underrated wood-handle hammer, indestructible, nice balance...
http://www.douglastool.com/
Have had titanium in the past...they don't tell you how soft
titanium is, the heads deform, steel is harder holds up longer.
I do a lot of remodeling, framing hammers take a lot of abuse
in my business. The douglas design has a very strong head
to handle connection. If it breaks, replacement is fast
simple and secure. Highly recommended. I will be replacing
my stolen one with a new 23 oz. one. nice inverted waffle too.
-CRF/Minnesota
That's the same head as my Titanium Dalluge. They licenced it from Douglas. Function aside, it is also the best looking hammer design out there.
I have the inverted waffle head Douglas and love it. Something about a wooden hammer especially with the nice features the Douglas has,
I used my Estwing for years...for framing and the leather gipped one for small projects but my Douglas framer comes out on more occasions the past few years.
The only complaint I have is the handle is a touch fat and I have big hands...and it does get slippery so it needs to be taped for me.
the other thing which is kinda weird is.....those allen screws that hold the head onto the handle loosen up pretty often....that happen on yours??Probably should try some lock-tite on it (or whatever that stuff's called)."Revolution is not something fixed in ideology, nor is it something fashioned to a particular decade. It is a perpetual process embedded in the human spirit". abbie
"Give them what they want" abbie
BeesWax is the best Lock-tight I know of.
I have used the Douglas and the Hart and I think they are probably the best if you're a full time framer. The balance and absorption was fantastic on both. Never took a liking at all to the Estwing even though I owned two (one I found and eventually gave away).Frammer was right in that framers don't swing a hammer as much anymore.
Presently I own a Stiletto Titanium 14 oz. with the ax handle and that's the one that works best for me now. I also have the 10 oz Titaium as my finish hammer, and that is one of my all time favorite tools. I've known a few here at BT who were thinking about ways to make it walk after handling it. I won't (Shep) mention any (Sphere) names.Some of the older framers I know (over 50 crowd), have switched over and swear by the titaniums because it saves their elbows. Hammers are purely subjective to each person.
I use the same hammer and have for years.
Best hammer I have ever had, beats even my oldest favorite Rocket Tru Temper 22 0z. Between those two I used Hart woodies.
Still have about 4 of them hanging around gathering dust.
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.