Replies

1. 
   FramerJay | Apr 09, 2003 04:29am | #1

   Do a search for "Titanium hammers" and "Stiletto" and that should turn up quite a few threads--this topic has been discussed many times before. In short though, people who use Ti hammers have favorable opinions of them; only real downside is excessive cost.

1. 
   catfish | Apr 09, 2003 04:42am | #2

   Thanks for the tip. The reason I am asking, The lead carpenter at work(with 22yrs exp.) Is having carpal tunnel problems, the Dr says its from his years of swinging a heavy hammer.  Thanks Catfish

1. 
   FramerJay | Apr 09, 2003 05:09am | #3

   I have only been framing for about a year, but I started having problems with carpal tunnel and general "sore arm" about two months into my career--I attributed this to the all-steel Estwing 28-oz. hammer I had been using since I began. I got a wood-handled Craftsman 24-oz. and then a Craftsman fiberglass 20-oz. hammer and all has been well. As to your specific question, the lead's DR. is probably right and from everything I've read from the trusty guys (and gals) here in the Forum, the Titanium hammers do make a difference. Here are a couple of web addresses to companies that make Ti hammers:

   http://www.vaughanmfg.com

   http://www.stilettotools.com

   Best of luck bro!

1. 
   xMikeSmith | Apr 09, 2003 06:51am | #4

   hey, capn... that's funny..

   1st night i ever logged on, someone was telling about looking for hammers and logging onto stilletto... well the site in those days was not about hammers....

   man, that site got a lot of hits that nite... wonder what ever happened to those gurls ?Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

2. 
   GUNN308 | Apr 09, 2003 08:07am | #5

   Been bangin nails for 30 odd yrs, broke my right elbow 25 yrs ago learned then that wood is alot easier on the body than steel or fg. Also learned that ax handles, hachet handles aren't long enough, with a good sized bucks hoof on it saves on the fore arms, no energy wasted on grip just let it slide till it stops. Makes a big difference at sundown.

2. 
   Timuhler | Apr 09, 2003 04:28pm | #6

   I bought the Tibone last fall and I will never swing a heavy hammer again.  I used a 24oz Dalluge axe handle.  That was a nice hammer.  The Tibone is expensive, but we all have things we like to spend money on, so . . . .  My sister used to gripe about how expensive everything was.  I told her if she stopped buying 2 lattes from Starbucks everyday she would have more money.  Do the math, at least $6 a day x about 6 days a week x 4 weeks in a month. 

   My point is, is that everyone spends there money on something.  I suggest you get a Titanium hammer.  I have never regretted buying mine. 

   I got mine for $164 through our lumberyard.  I got to run it through the company I work for so they could expense it, then I paid the difference. 

   I guarantee you won't regret buying a Titanium hammer.  Just my $0.02.  Hope this helps.

1. 
   GoldenWreckedAngle | Apr 09, 2003 08:06pm | #7

   You spent a hundred and sixty four bucks on a hammer and still had two cents to share. You make too much money! :-)>

   Where's Pro-Deck anyway? Never known him to miss a hammer discussion.Kevin Halliburton

   "One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -Elbert Hubbard-

1. 
   Timuhler | Apr 10, 2003 01:38am | #8

   Wrecked,

   That was some of the best money I've spent.  I don't make too much money :-).  Does anyone?  I'm one of those guys who waits and waits, then buys something nice.  It drives my wife nuts.  She likes to spend all the time and can't figure out why I don't. 

   I'm telling you, if you used one for a week, you wouldn't use anything else again.

2. 
   ProDek | Apr 10, 2003 05:02am | #12

   OK Kevin here's a picture of the Titanium line up.............

   the only one missing is the Dahluge..........

   now where is the picture of the "sweet sixteen?"Bob

   "Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   
2. 
   JohnSprung | Apr 10, 2003 01:48am | #9

   For that money, you could get a pneumatic palm nailer.  For rough carpentry, shouldn't hand nailing be as obsolete as hand sawing?

   -- J.S.

1. 
   Timuhler | Apr 10, 2003 03:01am | #10

   Hand nailing obsolete?  It'll never be obsolete. 

   I hand nail when I'm up high.  Nailing birdblocks, nailing rafters to the plate (we stick frame everything).  I don't want an airhose to trip over when I'm walking the walls.  Nailing seismic straps that require 16d nails.  The holddown straps we have to use have something like 36 16d nails.  Mulitply that by 20 straps a house. 

   I could probably make a list of things that I have to hand nail or it's easier to hand nail or safer to handnail.

   I used to get in an argument with a guy I worked with.  He didn't like to buy new tools at all.  Wore old nail bags that things fell out of, always had the head of his hammer ducttaped to the handle and he wouldn't spend any money on himself.  He would go to the local mountain shop and spend big bucks on camping gear and mountain climbing gear and buy the best long underwear and fleece, but he would only use it once a year.  He didn't want to wear the long underwear on the job because it was so expensive. 

   My point is, everyone spends their money on something.  Some guys have to drink expensive beer, some buy the best tools, some spend a huge amount of money on a pickup, etc. etc.   I bought the Tibone, lots of guys wouldn't.  I would never spend $35,000 on a truck, lots of guys would.

   Sorry for the diatribe.  I always enjoy discussions like this.

   So, you'll respond to this post and tell me you've decided to buy the hammer right? :-) j/k

1. 
   JohnSprung | Apr 10, 2003 09:45pm | #22

   Well, I probably should have written more to be clearer.  Usually I write too much. 

   There was a time when any saw cut done on the job site was done by hand.  After that, there was a time when you either cut it by hand, or carried it to a centrally located table saw.  Then after WWII, the Skil worm saws came into widespread use.  Today you couldn't compete in the market without an electrically powered hand held saw.  There are rare cases where I'll use a hand saw today, for instance to finish up a cut where I'm getting dangerously close with the sawzall to something I don't want to damage, or the stroke of the machine is longer than the distance from the surface of the piece to something behind it that'll get hit by the end of the blade.

   With rapid fire framing nailers and compact palm nailers available, I think the economics would also dictate that you couldn't compete if you did all your nailing by hand.  Perhaps that's what I should have said.  Of course there are places where it's safer not to have the bulk of a big nailer and a hose to trip on.  There are times when you have so little to do that it would be more work to set up and take down the pneumatic stuff.  Sometimes a nail from the gun needs one more hit.  There are places where you want to be careful not to damage something.  But doing so much hand nailing that it becomes a repetitive stress injury issue makes me wonder if it's just habit, and there may be ways to do it quicker using air power.

   I know what you mean about those Simpson straps with the three dozen holes to fill with 16d's.  I did a bunch of them just before I bought the palm nailer, which should make them lots easier to do from now on.  Have you tried a palm nailer on the Simpson hardware?

   -- J.S.

1. 
   ProDek | Apr 10, 2003 10:05pm | #23

   I use a palm nailer on Simpson hangers every time we are running our joists 12" on center. Works great! Not much room for swinin. Get the palm nailer with the magnetic head though.Bob

   "Rather be a hammer than a nail"

2. 
   Timuhler | Apr 11, 2003 02:00am | #24

   John,

   My post was meant tongue in cheek, so I hope it didn't bother you.  It didn't seem like it from your reply.

   I know what you mean about not being able to compete if you did all your nailing by hand, especially if you have shear nailing requirements.  I do like to bang small walls together without a gun for the practice, but I wouldn't spend a day hand nailing.

   I do use a palm nailer for some of the hardware that requires a 16d.  I would use a palm nailer for joist hangers, but we have a postitive placement nailer that works really well.  I remember nailing joist hangers when the 2x10s where on 12" centers.  That was when I first started.  I hated it.  The palm nailer was a godsend.

   I have to tell you though, I used to think it was the stupidest idea in the world to spend that much money on a hammer.  I tried one out at a JLC show, but I still didn't want to spend the money.  I'm fortunate though, I got to run it through the company I work for and that took a bite out of the cost.  I view it as an investment in my future.  I'm 25 and I love what I do and I want to keep doing what I do for a long time. 

   Heres a couple of pics of some work I've done recently.  You'll see why I love this trade.View Image

   View Image

   The second pic isn't the best looking house, but the roof was fun and mostly cut on the ground.

3. 
   JohnSprung | Apr 11, 2003 02:58am | #25

   > My post was meant tongue in cheek, so I hope it didn't bother you.  It didn't seem like it from your reply.

   Not only didn't it bother me, that's exactly the kind of discussion I like.  When experienced people come to different conclusions and back them up with good reasons,  there's a real opportunity to learn something useful. 

   -- J.S.

4. 
   Timuhler | Apr 11, 2003 08:09am | #27

   So John, are you going to buy the hammer now?  You know you want to :-)

5. 
   JohnSprung | Apr 11, 2003 10:07pm | #28

   I'll sure try one if I get to a trade show.  But my extravagances will be the copper roof and maybe the 42" public clock on the gable end of the dormer.  If I'm not flat broke after that, maybe.....

   -- J.S.

2. 
   FramerJay | Apr 11, 2003 05:05am | #26

   Tim,

   It's funny you mention expensive trucks--mine is a four-year-old Chevy (please let's not get sidetracked in brands-of-truck discussion now LOL) that looks and runs brand new. It cost over $35K with everything done to it--wheels, lift, tires, etc. I loved it back in high school and still do, but it's turned into an upkeep nightmare since I've worked construction. Always washing, cleaning after toting dirty tools, hardware, and co-workers; not to mention it's really hard to get in the bed with the lift. I wish I had bought a reliable old K5 or FS Bronco and been done with it! Much more practical for me now.

   But anyway, I will never spend that much money on a truck again...all that money goes to buying (lots of) pro-grade tools.

2. 
   GUNN308 | Apr 10, 2003 06:23am | #14

   You know we got a whole generation of carps that can't bang a nail,turn a screw or cut a straight line by hand. Had a young cont. pay me $300 for three hours to cut an open riser skirt cause his sidewinder couldn't do that.

1. 
   ProDek | Apr 10, 2003 07:39am | #15

   So why pray tell didn't you give him that old wormdrive and go get a Skill Mag?????Bob

   "Rather be a hammer than a nail"

2. 
   CAGIV | Apr 10, 2003 07:49am | #16

   I thought hammers were just a fashion statement to hang on you belt, and never really take it out??? 

   I thought thats why Bob, had so many, kinda like women and shoes, depended on the day of the week and what mood he was in that day as to which one to wear.

   As to the sidewinder not being able to do it?  what kind of pos did he have, I can't remember a time my sidewinder couldn't cut something,  It boggs down with lvl's and I use the wormdrive for them most of the time, but other then that I don't have any problemsView ImageGo Jayhawks..............Next Year

1. 
   ProDek | Apr 10, 2003 08:12am | #17

   ROTHF- I only wear my Stilletos on Fridays - and My Fat Max on saturday night.:-)Bob

   "Rather be a hammer than a nail"

2. 
   CAGIV | Apr 10, 2003 08:17am | #18

   what you slummin it on saturdays?

   I figured a fat max would be like a $2 hooker compared to some of your stuff.View ImageGo Jayhawks..............Next Year

3. 
   ProDek | Apr 10, 2003 08:27am | #19

   ROTFLMAO_ Whatta ya expect? Ya think I'm gonna go out on Friday with Vaughan, Douglas and Woody and win over someones Hart in a Dalluge of Alaskan Ambers and come out Top Bannana?Bob

   "Rather be a hammer than a nail"

4. 
   CAGIV | Apr 10, 2003 08:33am | #20

   LMAO, man I sure turned this tread down hill in a hurry.

   Funny what sleep depervation will do to your mind....

   Maybe we should start calling you Bob the hammer pimp?

   Speaking of sleep depervation, sleep sounds like a good idea. 

    Take it easy, and try to get some work done tomorrow between "nailing" your hammers and washing the truck.View ImageGo Jayhawks..............Next Year

3. 
   catfish | Apr 10, 2003 03:27am | #11

   Thanks alot the T-Bone is the hammer I am looking at. One of the carpenters that work with me said "$189.00 for a hammer your crazy" I asked him, how much did you spend on your Super Sawzaw? you know the one you carry in your truck and don't use. well I use a hammer all day. I was a Paramedic/Firefighter for the last ten years so anything that will keep my body risk free is worth $189.00

   Thanks again Catfish

    

    

   Ace Contracting Inc. Charlottesville, VA.

1. 
   ProDek | Apr 10, 2003 05:08am | #13

   Here is the axe handled Tibone- this will be my next hammer.Bob

   "Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   
3. 
   Nails | Apr 10, 2003 03:39pm | #21

   C. After consideing all the pros and cons of hammers , I think the real problem is the way you hold a hammed. I saw on "Modern Marvels " T.V. program , Stanley tools researching with a guy that had his arm wired in half a dozen places swing a hammer while data was being recorded. If I held a hammed like he did it would probably hurt a lot of stuff including my left ankle. In 25+ yrs I have used only an Estwimg ,with no problem . It may sound strange but I hold my hammer with the first three fingers on my right hand and the only word I can think of is I "fling " the hammer with a straight wrist holding my little finger off the end of the hammer. It might be interesting to watch the way others on your crew hold and swing thier hammers and exeriment with your current hammer . Oh and they said the "Stanley Anti Vibe " has a tuning fork in the handle to reduce stress, somebody is probably going to put a battery in the handle one of these days, hehe