should I buy a Estwing hammer?

[AltecDarpa]

I have a few Stanley hammers with fiberglass handles and they work as well as a hammer could I suppose, but knowing the heads are only attached with epoxy (from what I can tell) makes me think about it every time I use them, I had the head come off a hatchet with a fiberglass handle when I was a kid and don't really want a repeat.

Well Estwing hammers are on sale at Canadian tire for around 20-25 bucks for a 16oz rip or 20oz rip, how do the solid steel hammers feel compared to fiberglass?
anyone ever had one chip or anything?

 

[trboxman]

I've had Estwing hammers chip. I think that they're just a tad too brittle. I like the Stanley anti vibe hammers a lot. I've used them pretty steadily for 8 or 9 years now and haven't had any issues with chipping or marring of the face.

 

[canuckian]

best claw hammer I've ever owned. I've used mine with no mercy for quite a few years and never had an issue with it. the anti vibration handle works like a charm as well. Also, if they have them at your location and you're in need of one, their little 3 lb sledge hammer is one of the handiest I've ever owned.

 

[AltecDarpa]

I've had Estwing hammers chip. I think that they're just a tad too brittle. I like the Stanley anti vibe hammers a lot. I've used them pretty steadily for 8 or 9 years now and haven't had any issues with chipping or marring of the face.

do you know if chipping is covered by any sort of warranty?

And the little 3 lb sledge is on sale for 30, I was thinking about picking it up for use with my cold chisels instead of using my short handled 8lb sledge, its a little overkill for most stuff.

 

[trboxman]

I don't know if chipping is covered under a warranty.

 

[Roots]

best claw hammer I've ever owned. I've used mine with no mercy for quite a few years and never had an issue with it. the anti vibration handle works like a charm as well. Also, if they have them at your location and you're in need of one, their little 3 lb sledge hammer is one of the handiest I've ever owned.

+1

Although I've only used them for projects around my house. I'm not sure how they'd compare with some of the newer anti-vibration hammers that are out now, for continuous daily carpentry/framing/roofing work.

 

[woody 73]

I lost count on my hammers but in the last 40 years I have never had anything go wrong with my estwing hammers. Funny thing but last night in lowes I looked at some new estwing tool and that sucker was made in China; soon they will take over everything!

 

[Shadowdog500]

Yes, get an estwing. I have several sizes and expect them to outlast me.

 

[85camaro]

Estwing is the king of hammers.

 

[demographic]

I have several Estwings used them for years and have to wonder what the hell are you hitting in order to chip one?
Never had any bother hitting nails in and even hitting the softer end of a bolster chisel when needed. I'm not thick enough to hit two hammers together anymore after pulling a bit of hardened steel out of my thumb when my brother used a hammer on a brick hammer next to me (neither of those were Estwings by the way)
Its not the brightest thing to be hitting two hardened bits of steel together anyway.

Anyway, I wouldn't bother with a 16 ounce as its not far off a toffee hammer and regard the 20 ounce as a good second fix/finishing hammer.
Personally even though I have a couple of the 20 ounce curved claw hammers I wouldn't buy another as I prefer the rip claws.

I also have an Estwing 24 ounce framing hammer which is invaluable for.. erm... well... framing and as that one went missing for a while I also bought a 25 ounce Estwing E3/25S Straight Claw Framing Hammer which is another two inches longer than normal framing hammers so its 18 inches long. The jury is still out on that one as I've not done much timber framing since I bought it and have mostly been using my 20 ounce finishing hammer.

I'm a carpenter and over here in England pretty much every carpenter/joiner in the land has an Estwing hammer, must be at least 95% of us has an Estwing.

I'm not sure they are better as I don't care to use any others but personally I can't get on with those Stanley things, they just don't feel "right" in my hand.

 

[rlitman]

I've had Estwing hammers chip.

What on earth were you doing with it? An Estwing hammer should NEVER chip if you were just driving nails into wood.
Estwing framing hammers have hard heads for driving nails. Not for hitting hardened steel.

They make a "drilling" hammer with a softer face designed for hitting chisels (star drills, etc.), and also for hitting masonry nails (made from hard steel).

 

[ChrisF250]

20oz straight claw here. Best hammer Ive ever swung, so solid and very smooth. My old anti-vibe only lasted a number of weeks. Also love that Estwing is made in USA. So the answer is yes you should buy one.

 

[tekman00]

I have been using an Estwing hammer for 15+ years for home use and it is still going strong. Plus I just got the 3 lbs hammer and the 26" axe for Christmas. I think every man should have one of those axes.
It's just bad-a**!!

 

[camarotoolman]

Estwing 22oz. for me. just don't hit your leg, arm with that pointy edge of that handle, it realy hurts! You might get lucky at a flee maket, I sell good ones for $15.

 

[jasonreck71]

I have a FatMax and I LOVE IT. It's a 22oz framing hammer with a wood handle. I have build 2 houses and 3 basements with it. I have had no issues with chipping, and I have used it for a few things I shouldn't have, and the handle has never broke on me. When it does eventually break I will be buying another one stat.
_______________________________________________________________
check out my blog

 

[demographic]

One thing I'm not sure I buy into the hype of is the anti-vibe thing. I have used a leather washer handled Estwing for years and also more recently used a blue handled framing hammer, now reading the bumf it says that the blue handled ones are anti vibe but I can't say I really noticed bad vibes from the leather handled one nor have I noticed the blue anti vibe ones being any better or even worse.
Then the Stanley anti-vibe hammer I had a go with (and didn't like) didn't feel smoother than the Estwings, I just didn't like its shape.

Personally I think its marketing ********.

Oh yeah, as everyone else does photos of the stuff they use all the time here's mine. 20 ounce curved claw, 24 ounce framing (16" long) ripclaw and 25 ounce long (18" long) handled framing ripclaw hammer.

Note how the head of the 25 ounce one is slimmer where it doesn't need the metal and bigger on the striking face where it does.

Then there's a shot showing an old shape 20 ounce Estwing I bought at a secondhand tool place alongside a new shape Estwing. I don't know when they changed the shape but I do know its got to be over 20 years ago. If anyone knows more about when they stoppe3d making them in the old shape I'd like to know.
Old on the left and newer on the right.

****, I've just realised that I'm a hammer geek.

 

[cashishift]

I own 2 of them.. might buy a sledge someday.

Extremely happy with both. Sad to see some of their new bars and such are made in china.

 

[slob]

I know tin knockers that have been using the same Estwing setting hammer for almost 30 years.

 

[decaf]

King of hammers! and he came from Sweden!

 

[trboxman]

What on earth were you doing with it? An Estwing hammer should NEVER chip if you were just driving nails into wood.
Estwing framing hammers have hard heads for driving nails. Not for hitting hardened steel.

They make a "drilling" hammer with a softer face designed for hitting chisels (star drills, etc.), and also for hitting masonry nails (made from hard steel).

The one I had chip on me did so while driving hot dip galv 20d nails into dried pressure treated pine. Nothing that should have caused a chip, could have been a mfg defect but I wasn't going to buy another just like it.

 

[WQ59B]

Have used the same Estwing 24 oz about 11 years now as a contractor.
No complaints on any aspect- nice piece.

 

[chris fresh]

have swung a 20oz for 20 years now,and would never change.i also own the 16 and the 28oz versions and love them.

only complaint i've ever heard was from sissy framers who don't like to hear the tinking the hammer makes while hitting 16's and 20's.so you will usually see them swinging a wood handled hammer.but i love all of mine,and a hatchet from them is on my want list.

 

[thesilverone]

i own a 20 oz that is an old as me

 

[demographic]

have swung a 20oz for 20 years now,and would never change.i also own the 16 and the 28oz versions and love them.

only complaint i've ever heard was from sissy framers who don't like to hear the tinking the hammer makes while hitting 16's and 20's.so you will usually see them swinging a wood handled hammer.but i love all of mine,and a hatchet from them is on my want list.

The tinking? Not sure but do you mean the ringing sound that the claws make when you hit a nail in?
I like that about them and one old guy I worked with described it as the hammer singing about being happy in its work. For some reason I liked that explanation.
I only get that noise on my 20 ounce hammer though and not on the bigger ones.

 

[49tandc]

I've pounded nails for a living when I was young (63 now). I bought an Estwing framing hammer and went to work. The top of the face is now worn down after 40 years of nails, but its ALWAYS the first hammer I pickup for repairs around the house. It will go to one of my sons and we'll see if they can wear it out.

Do and don't second guess - I wonder if I should have gotten the Estwing???

49T&C

 

[CAOS]

I own 4 Eastwing hammers and one axe.

But if you wanna go high end, Stiletto hammers are where its at!

 

[Outlawmws]

Instead of spending more $$ why not try their warranty?

Tell them the story, send in a pic, and see what they say.

 

[Alchymist]

I have been using an Estwing hammer for 15+ years for home use and it is still going strong. Plus I just got the 3 lbs hammer and the 26" axe for Christmas. I think every man should have one of those axes.
It's just bad-a**!!

Yes, I've had one of those axes for several years. And they are sharp!

One thing I'm not sure I buy into the hype of is the anti-vibe thing. I have used a leather washer handled Estwing for years and also more recently used a blue handled framing hammer, now reading the bumf it says that the blue handled ones are anti vibe but I can't say I really noticed bad vibes from the leather handled one nor have I noticed the blue anti vibe ones being any better or even worse.

Oh yeah, as everyone else does photos of the stuff they use all the time here's mine. 20 ounce curved claw, 24 ounce framing (16" long) ripclaw and 25 ounce long (18" long) handled framing ripclaw hammer.

Have several like that - from the 16 oz for cabinet work to the bigun for framing. Love the old leather handles, tho the blue ones are just as good. Won't buy anything but Estwing, though I own a few other brands. Still pick up the Estwings for any job.

 

[Honda 1]

I have one of the old leather handle, 16ounce, rip claw Estwing hammers and have used it for the last 30 years.
The newer models are reasonably priced at Sears and Home Depot and I would highly recommend them!
Good luck!

 

[Honda 1]

I have one of the old leather handle, 16ounce, rip claw Estwing hammers and have used it for the last 30 years.
The newer models are reasonably priced at Sears and Home Depot and I would highly recommend them!
Good luck!

 

[5lima30]

I've got (3) Estwing claw hammers. They are great! I have used and abused them and they are still all good to go! Try that with some China-mart hammer! My next hammer purchase will be a 3# Estwing engineers hammer. BTW their axes and hatchets are great as well!

 

[NUTTSGT]

You have to have a hammer that is comfortable in your hand for you. I have considered buying an Estwing a few times but the hammer I currently have works great for me.

Believe it or not, it's a cheap Popular Mechanics 20 oz rip claw. I bought it 12 years ago and it's held it's own on many projects. I just hate the thought of buying a new hammer and not liking and going back to my $6 PM hammer.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I've got (3) Estwing claw hammers. They are great! I have used and abused them and they are still all good to go! Try that with some China-mart hammer! My next hammer purchase will be a 3# Estwing engineers hammer. BTW their axes and hatchets are great as well!

Funny thing is, (sorry, missed your post) the hammer I referred to above I bought about 12 years ago at Walmart on clearance.

Honestly, it still amazes me.


EDIT: I just searched Ebay for a picture of one. . . . .. vintage my ***.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-PM-...ultDomain_0&hash=item2c6207f095#ht_616wt_1163

What mine looks like but not rusty.

 

[slip knot]

I have an older 16oz Estwing leather handle that really is comfortable to use. The blue handles seem to give me blisters. not sure why. I also like the wood handled hammers but I typically use the squared handles versus the round handles.

 

[KevinCT]

yes, you should. I have a camp axe, shinglers hatchet, leather handled rip and hammertooth framer model, I recommend them all.

I also have a orange handled Bostitch that I got free from lowes that is a complete ripoff of the estwing, it seems to be casted from the same mold as the original estwing,it's a perfectly good hammer, but inmo if it's worth copying might as well get the original.

 

[stripped]

I found an Estwing hammer that was buried under some debris at a house I once lived in.
I wire brushed the rust off of it and and used neatsfoot oil on the leather. Iv'e had the hammer now for 45 years. Best claw hammer I own.

 

[otis66]

I have a few Stanley hammers with fiberglass handles and they work as well as a hammer could I suppose, but knowing the heads are only attached with epoxy (from what I can tell) makes me think about it every time I use them, I had the head come off a hatchet with a fiberglass handle when I was a kid and don't really want a repeat.

Well Estwing hammers are on sale at Canadian tire for around 20-25 bucks for a 16oz rip or 20oz rip, how do the solid steel hammers feel compared to fiberglass?
anyone ever had one chip or anything?

Yes. Estwing is the best hammer made. Make sure it's a USA hammer.

 

[blacK20]

I got a 3lb mini hand sledge. Nothing bad to say about it. The best part is that it's one solid piece so I don't have to worry about it coming apart and flying over my head when I'm swinging it hard.

 

[geologist]

Estwing is the king of hammers.

I agree. I use an Estwing rock hammer at work (geology) and have never had any problems whatsoever or met another geologist that didn't love his (or her) Estwing hammer as well.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I got an Estwing claw hammer for probably 5 bucks at a garage sale. Cleaned it up on the wire wheel and it works just fine.