Recomend a Dead-Blow, Ball Peen hammer

[cgv69]

OK - I need\want a dead blow ball peen (DB-BP) hammer

Here's what I've got already (not including claw or specialty hammers)... Estwing E3-16BP & E3-24BP (16 & 24oz Ball Peens), Estwing B3-3LB (3lb drilling hammer) and an Estwing CCD45 45oz Softface deadblow).

As you can tell I really like Estwing hammers but unfortunately they don't make DB-BP's. I want a DB-BP for those times I really have to let something that's stuck have it. That's kind of what I use the drilling hammer for now but Its handle is a little short for that kind of work (IMO) and I really like how dead blows transfer all the energy to the item you're hitting.

My first question is what brand? I'm sure the SO version is nice but out of my price range. I kind of want to stick with something red to match my CCD45 and I prefer quality American made tools when possible. The 2 options I've found is Armstrong and Trusty Cook? I've never heard of Trusty Cook before but I assume the Armstrong model is GTG?

Second question is what weight? I was leaning towards something in the 48oz range but I see a lot of people prefer the 32oz? I know some feel the 48oz may be too heavy but it's not like it's something I'm going to be swinging all day and the nice thing about dead-blows is I found you really don't have to swing them hard. I find a heavy dead blow swung lightly is more effective then a standard medium weight hammer swung hard.

 

[mlittle29]

Cant go wrong with NUPLA, ESTWING, or VAUGHN. Try Amazon for the cheapest prices.

Personally I have Nupla, Estwing and Snap on for my Hammers. I haven't used the Vaughn but folks in here seem to like.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Snap-On or Trusty Cook from up out of Indy.

www.trustycook.com/products_hammers.htm

Dead-blow ball peens are not a main-stream use kinda product so few are sold to the consumer market outside of the tool trucks and industrial supplier like Grainger and are not avilable from the std. hardwre, home goods or cheapie tools sellers.

It's just one of those products that you have to pay market price due to limited suppliers/mfgrs.

I'd suggest 24oz and 40 oz or if just one 32oz.
Even in the armouring business teh 40oz's do not get the use you would think they would.

No cheap solutions so save up and buy quality. Snap-On gives you a lifetime warranty adn you can buy replacement metal tips but I've used the Trusty Cooks and they are a high quality product I'd be always happy to purchase.

 

[cgv69]

Cant go wrong with NUPLA, ESTWING, or VAUGHN.

As far as I can tell, none of those companies make dead-blow ball peen hammers

 

[Mugen AP1]

Snap-on 100%. Spend the money, you wont look back.

 

[woody 73]

Being a hammer kind of guy if you pick up a set from trusty cook that will fill your plate.

 

[cgv69]

Snap-on 100%. Spend the money, you wont look back.

My nephew recently started a mechanic's trade school and if I can tap into his SO discount then the SO hammer will become a serious option. Otherwise...

Being a hammer kind of guy if you pick up a set from trusty cook that will fill your plate.

I'm kind of leaning this way. I was looking at their web site though and it has me a bit confused...

They have a model TCBP16 but it's listed as weighing 26oz. Their model TCBP24 is listed as weighing 36oz. Model TCBP32 weighs 47oz and finally TCBP40 weighs 50oz. I'm wondering if the model # refers to the weight of the head alone and the listed "Weight" is total weight of the tool, i.e. TCBP32 is a standard 32oz DB-BP hammer that has a total weight of 47oz?

 

[gotmud13613]

Cant beat this one for the $ http://www.ebay.com/itm/T10093-16-o...ultDomain_0&hash=item3f166dda4b#ht_1134wt_741

 

[jtfc]

Supposedly trusty cook makes the ball peen for snap on and cornwell and maybe even mac and matco. If you get one from trusty cook then theoretically it will be the same thing as a snap on (but not really) I have 2 snap on deadblow ball peen hammers a 24 oz and a 40oz. If I could only have one I would keep the 40oz. One other thing to keep in mind is that yea the snap on hammers are more expensive but compared to the cornwell version which supposedly is made by the same manufacturer the overall quality and construction is better imo such as the black rubber grip inserts and the extra grip/notches so you can hold the hammer closer to the head. I recommend either a snap on or cornwell hammer and be done with it. Good luck

 

[bcradio]

Cant beat this one for the $ http://www.ebay.com/itm/T10093-16-o...ultDomain_0&hash=item3f166dda4b#ht_1134wt_741

Anyone tried this one out? I'd be interested to get it if its decent quality.

 

[rlitman]

As far as I can tell, none of those companies make dead-blow ball peen hammers

LOL. Yeah.

You want a warranty, get a Snap On. Used, they're not that ridiculously priced btw.
You don't care, and just want cheap, Grizzly makes one, and I've seen them from Stanley too (both look identical).
Something like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/T10093-16-o...707?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f166dda4b

 

[jjjrmx5]

My nephew recently started a mechanic's trade school and if I can tap into his SO discount then the SO hammer will become a serious option. Otherwise...

I'm kind of leaning this way. I was looking at their web site though and it has me a bit confused...

They have a model TCBP16 but it's listed as weighing 26oz. Their model TCBP24 is listed as weighing 36oz. Model TCBP32 weighs 47oz and finally TCBP40 weighs 50oz. I'm wondering if the model # refers to the weight of the head alone and the listed "Weight" is total weight of the tool, i.e. TCBP32 is a standard 32oz DB-BP hammer that has a total weight of 47oz?

Yea, Trusty Cooks' product description is confusing. How that hammer ends up with an extra 12oz+ confused me too.

If you look at the model/part no's they have 16, 24, 32 and 40 which should correspond to their "common standardized" weight in oz's and snap-on uses the same weights for their hammers. You might want to e-mail T-C as to how they arrive to that final weight they list as I;m not sure snap-on lists it. It could be head or it could be shot/sand cannister pack size and then the handles and metal end caps add the extra weight.

I'll have to thru the two on a scale tomorrow and see what I find.

 

[Roots]

As far as I can tell, none of those companies make dead-blow ball peen hammers

I was confused as well, especially as the OP even mentioned that with Estwing, oh well.

As for dead-blow ball peens, I've yet to see a better one than those sold by Snap-On.

Interesting info about the Trusty-Cook brand mentioned earlier. They do indeed state they're the OEM for Snap-On among other major brands. From looking at their retail site though, the models they sell are NOT the same as they make for Snap-On. Significant savings but it appears there's no cushioned handles and they're slightly different weights, likely do to contractual agreements.

 

[enrare]

I just talked to Jeff at Trusty Cook and ordered a soft faced dead blow and the TCBP32 dead blow ball pein. Jeff did a good job of helping clear up some of the confusion and mis-information about Trusty Cook hammers and who they make hammers for, etc. He said Trusty Cook may need to revamp the website to clarify some of the common misconcepts about TC hammers. Jeff was very appreciative of my business and places like Garage Journal that help get the word out about thier products.

 

[bcradio]

I just talked to Jeff at Trusty Cook and ordered a soft faced dead blow and the TCBP32 dead blow ball pein. Jeff did a good job of helping clear up some of the confusion and mis-information about Trusty Cook hammers and who they make hammers for, etc. He said Trusty Cook may need to revamp the website to clarify some of the common misconcepts about TC hammers. Jeff was very appreciative of my business and places like Garage Journal that help get the word out about thier products.

Please do tell!!

I would like to know

 

[cgv69]

I just talked to Jeff at Trusty Cook and ordered a soft faced dead blow and the TCBP32 dead blow ball pein. Jeff did a good job of helping clear up some of the confusion and mis-information about Trusty Cook hammers and who they make hammers for, etc. He said Trusty Cook may need to revamp the website to clarify some of the common misconcepts about TC hammers. Jeff was very appreciative of my business and places like Garage Journal that help get the word out about thier products.

Well don't be a tease - spill it!

 

[enrare]

Well don't be a tease - spill it!

I may not be able to recall all the details exactly so it would be best to talk to Jeff directly, but this is what I remember. Jeff mentioned TC only makes Snap-On's sledge hammers. It sounded like TC used to make Snap-On dead blow ball peins but not anymore. He stressed TC uses a hot cast urethane molding process and Snap-On uses an injection molding process. I gathered that hot cast is better. He also said the urethane TC uses is more durable than what Snap-on is using. He said there is confusion on the tools trucks about what hammers TC makes since some of the imports look identicle but use inferior materials, think this came about when one of the truck brands TC was making hammers decided to go off-shore and had a look alike made. Jeff mention TC makes Matco's neon-green hammers. Can't remember if TC makes all or some of Cornwell hammers. I think Jeff said TC makes the red Armstrong hammers. I can't remember what Jeff said about SK hammers. Like I said it would be best to talk to him directly.

When I emailed TC about thier hammers they emailed me some info/brouchers that I could not find on the website. They also mentioned in the email a "machinists special" they are currently running on a few of their urethane dead blow hammers, which I picked up in addition to the ball pein hammer. I saw earlier some confusion about TC hammer model numbers and the hammer weight, and I was the same when I called to order. Said I wanted the 47oz hammer but believe 32 was in the model number. Jeff said the head weight is 32oz, so I assume the other 15oz of weight is from the handle to give a total hammer weight of 47oz.

 

[cgv69]

enrare - thanks for the info, especially clearing up the weight\model # confusion

PS - I'm not surprised to read they make the Armstrong and SK versions as the look the same. I wouldn't be surprised to hear they are also making Estwing's new line of red soft-face dead-blows? If that is the case, I'm a little surprised Estwing didn't specify theirs be made in blue?

 

[2mJps]

I have a so dead blow ball peen. It never felt write so I dont use it.

 

[vintagefan]

Dead-blow ball peens are not a main-stream use kinda product so few are sold to the consumer market outside of the tool trucks and industrial supplier like Grainger and are not avilable from the std. hardwre, home goods or cheapie tools sellers.

It's just one of those products that you have to pay market price due to limited suppliers/mfgrs.

I'd suggest 24oz and 40 oz or if just one 32oz.
Even in the armouring business teh 40oz's do not get the use you would think they would.

I find that really strange, as for me, the dead blow ball peen is the most used; I rarely use anything else. In fact, even when I do more "traditional" repairs after work at someone's house, I bring my ball peen, a cat's paw, and a prybar. I haven't used a claw hammer in so long I can barely remember the last time.

 

[supersteve]

Thanks for the heads-up on Trusty-Cook, guys.
I see some new deadblows in my future.

 

[Steve_P]

I have two TC deadblow hammers and never use them- the handles are too small (grip) for me, it's also a hard plastic grip (not good IMO), and there's just not enough deadblow action in them for me to notice. For hammers, I reach for my estwings every time