Hammertime at Epstein's: Help Me Out

[Bull]

My current assortment of hammers in my box consists of a variety of ratty flea market finds and hand-me-downs. I have no dead blows at all (lame!) but have ball peins from very tiny to sort of big (but I have no idea of the exact weight.)

Epstein's just got in a truckload of seconds from Vaughn, and I like the prices.

http://harryepstein.com/dailydispatch/

But, I'm not really sure what sizes I should have. Do I "need" a 12 oz AND a 16 oz, or a 16 oz AND a 20 oz, for example? Am I ever going to be saying "dang, this hammer is just 4 oz off from what I need"?

Epstein's seems to have a range from tiny 20z up to beefy sounding 48 oz. I am certain that I want one each of those sizes, but what goes in between?

Thanks for your guidance.

 

[vintagefan]

My current assortment of hammers in my box consists of a variety of ratty flea market finds and hand-me-downs. I have no dead blows at all (lame!) but have ball peins from very tiny to sort of big (but I have no idea of the exact weight.)

Epstein's just got in a truckload of seconds from Vaughn, and I like the prices.

http://harryepstein.com/dailydispatch/

But, I'm not really sure what sizes I should have. Do I "need" a 12 oz AND a 16 oz, or a 16 oz AND a 20 oz, for example? Am I ever going to be saying "dang, this hammer is just 4 oz off from what I need"?

Epstein's seems to have a range from tiny 20z up to beefy sounding 48 oz. I am certain that I want one each of those sizes, but what goes in between?

Thanks for your guidance.

I personally like a few sizes of ball pein, from small to large. Usually use them for small and large mechanical/repair projects. It sounds like you have that covered.

I like at least three claw hammers, usually one "general use" hammer at 16oz or so, a framing hammer, and a small trim hammer. Usually I'll go all steel on the 16oz, so I can use it really hard for all sorts of things.

Add on to that, dead blows/soft face hammers are really handy and pretty much a must IMO.

 

[Automatic Slim]

Will be interested to hear some of the replies here Bull. For me, I have no need for a 12oz hammer, simply put - I just don't pound alot of nails anymore, and if I do it is an air gun - but prefer to screw and glue myself.

16oz is a good fit for me with the rip head - plain face (don't like checkers), i have some claw heads but as stated don't really use a hammer much to drive nails and prefer using a prybar to lift nails. The rip and heavier weight does seem to help "tap" things into place, or get into tighter spots with the rip head.

Anything more than 16oz in a framing hammer is just too much weight and not needed for my purpose.

I've got assortment of drilling hammers, blacksmith hammers, sledge, etc..... I do like the compact size and heavy weight with a nice drilling hammer for beating things, stakes, rebar, etc........

I use a ball pein for punches and light chisel work, and generally prefer a 32oz, two pounds feels about right for a good blow and doubles for straightening out metal parts as well.

I matter of preference, but vaughn makes some nice hammers.

I did look over their assortment and some good deals to be had (depending on ship) and good price on some of their bars as well. If they have an $ amt for free ship, hit 'em up to that point and call it good?

 

[jjjrmx5]

For claw hammers, I find that up to the individual user. They tend to be swung a lot and sometimes all day so weight and handle feel factors in.

For home use I keep two 16 oz framing/claw hammers around. Good for basic roofing and framing nails but also can do finish nail work.

For ball peens I have every size from 8 oz. up to 40 oz plus a 3 lb drillers hammer. Plus a couple of long sledges.

16 and 32oz's ball peens take care of most jobs for me. 12 oz. good for small work. 40 oz. good for metal work.

I;m never without my drillers hammer and should buy a backup for home. Think Mini slege that takes care of almost any job over 32 oz hammers. My neighbor is constantly over the houe borrowing it.

My Std. dead blows are 16 oz and 32 oz. as well for main use but the 24 oz is handy. HF's are acceptable or if moving up in $$$ Trusty Cook, Nupla or a few others.

If not on a budget , get the 24 oz. (or 32 oz if you do big work) Trusty cook or snap-on dead blow ball peen with the metal ends too. You WILL find a use for it.

Double rubber/nylon faced mallet/hammer with removeable faces is a near must as is a rubber mallet. Brass hammers are nice but it all depends on your use.

Tons of other hammers out there for home use, automotive use and even floor mfgr./production use but those are the mains for work and home for me.

 

[Automatic Slim]

Define "seconds" - there is nothing worse than an "off" hammer (except maybe an untrue shovel handle, lol) that either the face is not milled right, or out of align and hits off center. If either is considered a "second" would have to pass.

Could not find if they have free shipping if certain amount is ordered. But heavy hammers can be expensive to ship. If they are going to rip your head off (actual shipping amount) to deliver, may be best deal for the locals?

 

[ChevyEFI]

Hmm.
What ball pein weight to set small cold rivets?

 

[Spudland_Dave]

16 and 32oz's ball peens take care of most jobs for me. 12 oz. good for small work. 40 oz. good for metal work.

If not on a budget , get the 24 oz. (or 32 oz if you do big work) Trusty cook or snap-on dead blow ball peen with the metal ends too. You WILL find a use for it.

I just bought a set of the 16-24-32 oz. SnapOn Ball Peen Dead Blow's....reason I got em all was I didnt know which one I wanted. Once I got them in my hand and purely from a feel in the hand standpoint...I can see I'm gonna like and use the 16 and 32 quite a bit...24 just feels odd to me for some reason maybe my mind will change once I actually use them on something. Pondering the 40oz now, and I will get the 16oz Soft Face/Mallet type Dead Blow on my next order.

 

[Thunderbisciut]

As stated in the link, they have imperfections in the finish. You're not going to get a blob of metal on a stick.

As far a size is concerned, don't ignore the little guys. I have a small 4 oz Vaughan ball pein I use with my pin punches.

I also get a lot of use out of my nylon faced 16 oz dead blow. It's good for pursuading metal objects without damaging them.

I have some normal dead blows, but honestly I always just reach for the biggest one. The practical guy will get by with one or two sizes, but what's the fun in that?

 

[jjjrmx5]

I just bought a set of the 16-24-32 oz. SnapOn Ball Peen Dead Blow's....reason I got em all was I didnt know which one I wanted. Once I got them in my hand and purely from a feel in the hand standpoint...I can see I'm gonna like and use the 16 and 32 quite a bit...24 just feels odd to me for some reason maybe my mind will change once I actually use them on something. Pondering the 40oz now, and I will get the 16oz Soft Face/Mallet type Dead Blow on my next order.

If you do a lot of big machinery or big metal work, you will need the 40 oz dbbp. Our heavy dut meatal guys use them a lot.

For me on the job I do a lot of finesse work with some heavy duty items so the 16oz. was too small.

Considering the prices of SO's the 24oz was perfect for a tool that mabye only gets used ones a week.

I mean :
16 oz. dbbp $69.25
24 oz. dbbp $ 87.50
32 oz. dbbp $ 98.00

That's close to $275 for three S-O hammers.

I'll fill in as I need them, which hasn't occured in several years.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I use ball peen hammers a fair amount. Small (4 ounce) when working on locks, 12-16 when I need to punch something out, and I used my largest BP yesterday swapping handles out on some screwdrivers.

I actually traded 2 hammers away last month, but of course this deal comes right after I placed an order with HJE

 

[03protege]

I have a 24oz Ball pein and find it somewhat small for some automotive tasks.

I really would like a heftier ball pein and probably a 3lb drilling hammer.

 

[willhollin]

They're so cheap! It would be rude not to get one of each!

 

[jsackin]

I am putting this on the daily dispatch.

Jori
HJE

 

[SMKS]

I am putting this on the daily dispatch.

Jori
HJE

I did a google image search for "Hammertime" when I saw this thread and that gif was by far the best thing I found.

 

[jjjrmx5]

I actually traded 2 hammers away last month, but of course this deal comes right after I placed an order with HJE

But they went to a VERY good home Jeff.

Which means me.

The 16oz. Blue Point ball peen you sent me will get a bright, shiney and new 14 1/2" factory correct handle from my Snap-On driver on Monday. It polished up well with a roloc scotchbrite. Still can't see a p/n for it (but Blue Point stamp is readable) but head size is identical to my fiberglass handled 16 oz. S-K ball peen.

The 12 oz. you sent me has been cleaned up and used many time already.

I pay it forward. Anything at any time can show up on your doorstep from me as I do owe you some goodies since you overtraded a bit.

 

[fflintstone]

I have a half dozen ball peen hammers from 2 oz to 48. I love the long handle 48 I love my little 2 oz.
I don’t have a 4 or 6 and not sure on eight. I want more. The smaller hammers are great for gun work and stuff like distributor gear roll pins.


I would not buy a framing hammer under 20 OZ.

I hate the short handled “drilling hammers” and no longer own them.

If I had not already spent way too much on gifts at Wilde Wednesday I would buy some.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Let's see a picture of the cleaned up hammers!

 

[sberry]

About 5 hammers. Agree with a 16 and 32 ball pein, a nail hammer or 2 and a 4 pound sledge, a drilling hammer is fine too. I dont even own a dead blow. It wouldnt be a bad thing just can grab a block of wood as a softener.

Its not something I worry about the right thing, nothing wrong with flea mkt hand me downs. I wouldnt worry about much till I needed it. More doesnt do any good unless you got a use for it all. I like the 4 pounder from one of those box stores with fiber glass handle. It seems like the last one I bought wasnt cheap, its about a 20$ adventure anymore.

This is another case of simple fast and handy compete with perfect and ideal. I have a couple smaller things but this is the 99%.

 

[Benw455]

Bull, I didn't know what to get either so I bought one of each.

 

[redwrench60]

I'd like to get a 3lb. (48oz.) ball peen hammer but I noticed the factory blemish one is only $2.10 cheaper than a Vaughan labeled non blemish. Think I'll just get the non blemish. Anybody make a ball peen bigger than 48oz? US made, no soft **** made from chinesium.

 

[basspro]

In my work box I keep a 2lb craftsman dead blow soft face, a 4ib proto dead blow soft face, a 16oz Estwing claw, a 16oz hickory craftsman, a 16oz and 24oz snap on dead blow ball pein, and a 10lb bfh with a 2ft handle. As far as ball peens go, I really both my 16oz. The snap on you can really finesse, and the shot gives it a little more drive than a standard 16oz when gettin' on it. I like the 24oz too, use them both alot. Honestly for the money, the hickory handle craftsman/vaughn are the best. Anything bigger than a 24oz ball peen and I get the bfh.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

If you do a lot of big machinery or big metal work, you will need the 40 oz dbbp. Our heavy dut meatal guys use them a lot.

Thats enough reason to fill out my lineup right there..... My favorite/most used go to hammer has to be my 3lb/16" Sledge, I find myself using it for everything...carpentry, metal fab, equipment repair...