Best ball pein?

[stricht8]

Who makes it and why?

 

[shoturtle]

There are couple good ones, I like the erstwing.

 

[allinon72]

Vaughan

 

[stricht8]

Is the cman made by Vaughn? I like the Cman wooden handles.

 

[olytdi]

I don't know which is best but the reason they make them is that the ball end is used to form metal. The peen or pein is the flat striking surface of a hammer.

 

[stricht8]

So outside of the metal fab/bodywork business, why would Joe Blow mechanic need the ball?

 

[stricht8]

The HF balls are not round.

 

[Roots]

East wing, Snap-On if you want a dead blow version.

 

[Altec]

Who makes the ones with the red tinted wood handles? I have one, but I cant find a name on it... It has been the best hammer I've used. Been through hell, and still is holding together.

I've been gun shy with hammers since a 4lb Craftsman came apart on the up swing, went two stories up, and landed next to me with a loud whap.Hat was a glued type. Not a pinned/wedged. I don't use glued ones now...

 

[stricht8]

East wing, Snap-On if you want a dead blow version.

Dead blow ball pein?

 

[Vvmvbb]

Dead blow ball pein?

Yeah, might be more handy. I want one of these:

http://www.trusty-cook.com/store/ballpein.asp

 

[synergy321]

Dead blow ball pein?

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675296&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Pretty highly rated. I'm afraid if I try one I'll want it

 

[pipsters]

Is the cman made by Vaughn? I like the Cman wooden handles.

Yes they are

 

[stricht8]

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675296&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Pretty highly rated. I'm afraid if I try one I'll want it

Dang, dat baby is expensive. Might have to put it on the X - mas list

 

[buco]

Estwing. It is the best because the whole body is one piece of steel. YOU NEVER HAVE TO CHANGE THE HANDLE OR FUK WITH IT IF ITS LOOSE!

sorry bout' the yelling

 

[koditten]

Who makes the ones with the red tinted wood handles? I have one, but I cant find a name on it... It has been the best hammer I've used. Been through hell, and still is holding together.

I've been gun shy with hammers since a 4lb Craftsman came apart on the up swing, went two stories up, and landed next to me with a loud whap.Hat was a glued type. Not a pinned/wedged. I don't use glued ones now...

I don't know if they are wood, but mine are made by Plumb. I have 2 that are over 30 years old and they are my number 1 "go to" ball/peen hammer.

Mine has dark, red fiberglass for the hammer.

On the other hand, for something with a bit more heft, I love my yellow handled Harbor Freight Drillers hammer. Don't ask me why it's called a Drillers hammer. It is just a perfect size for some medium,heavy duty metal forming.

Later

KO

 

[stricht8]

Estwing. It is the best because the whole body is one piece of steel. YOU NEVER HAVE TO CHANGE THE HANDLE OR FUK WITH IT IF ITS LOOSE!

sorry bout' the yelling

I find the one piece construction appealing as well but they seem a bit heavy.

 

[woody 73]

Don't hold me to this but I think the snap on hammers are made by the trusty cook company. If warranty is your #1 concern go with the snap on hammers but if you want a top notch hammer and price is your #1 concern go with the trusty cook.

If you do not have any heart problems and you are not the faint of heart (I did warn you) try looking at the THE HAMMER SOURCE WEB-SITE because they carry some fantastic hammers.

And Lord help you because you will get addicted, just ask me I go to Hammers anonymous (same thing as AA) but I do the 10 step program and #1 must be to never go to the above web-site.

 

[smogtech]

Snap on is best hammer I've ever swung.

 

[buco]

I find the one piece construction appealing as well but they seem a bit heavy.

Yeah, they are a different feel, but i hate messing with handles.

 

[back2class]

peddinghaus IMHO make that snap-on seem pretty crude.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Don't hold me to this but I think the snap on hammers are made by the trusty cook company. If warranty is your #1 concern go with the snap on hammers but if you want a top notch hammer and price is your #1 concern go with the trusty cook.

Nope. It has been confirmed Woody by Trusty Cook that they do not mfg. the dead-blow ball peen currently offered for Snappy. Ot at least that is what they claim when asked via e-mail and on the phone.

They do make other hammers for them tho.

 

[djkeev]

............
On the other hand, for something with a bit more heft, I love my yellow handled Harbor Freight Drillers hammer. Don't ask me why it's called a Drillers hammer. It is just a perfect size for some medium,heavy duty metal forming.

Later

KO

Drillers hammer; you are probably too young to remember the days before carbide drill bits when holes in concrete or stone required a STAR DRILL and a Hammer, invest a lot of time to hit the bit rotate it, hit the bit, rotate it, hit the bit, rotate it........ Makes you appreciate hammer drills and the amazing bits thet have today!

http://www.hardwareworld.com/1x58-Star-Drill-p38H38J.aspx

Still available to purchase.

Dave

 

[bcradio]

So outside of the metal fab/bodywork business, why would Joe Blow mechanic need the ball?

From what has been stated on this site before, regular claw hammers can shatter when striking metal because they are more brittle than ball pein hammers.

 

[gatewaysysop]

Estwing. It is the best because the whole body is one piece of steel. YOU NEVER HAVE TO CHANGE THE HANDLE OR FUK WITH IT IF ITS LOOSE!

sorry bout' the yelling

Quoted for truth.

I have a full set and was impressed enough that I've given a full set to my father as a gift about a year or so back. He loves them as much as I do, perhaps even more. They are awesome, US-made and tough as nails. Great value for the money, all around.

 

[cotjocky]

My Blue Point hammers have served me well for many years. Handle is starting to get a bit loose on a couple, but Snappy would probably thrown in a bigger wedge or swap them out if I would gripe about them.

 

[dieselmike]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00938528000P?prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00938074000P?mv=rr

 

[Outlawmws]

So outside of the metal fab/bodywork business, why would Joe Blow mechanic need the ball?

An old timer trick for making paper and thin cardboard gaskets was to gently tap the outer periphery of the material against the gasket surface with the ball end, then do the holes, and then the inside of the pattern. the edge of the gasket surface would cut the paper/cardboard and you would have a perfectly fitting gasket.

It actually works quite well.

Besides that, even mechanics and definitely body workers need to form metal at times. Body hammers are great for metal repair but if you are dishing out a section of metal, it's hard to beat a good ball peen.

Lastly it used to be used for strain relief for metal parts. I never learned the details, but again another mostly lost skill.

 

[Outlawmws]

Yeah, they are a different feel, but i hate messing with handles.

Steel handles can have their place, but the flexibility of the wood handle helps deliver the strike better, and is easier on the users arm, ligaments, and other soft tissue. I made a "tire hammer" once from a slug of steel, some 1/2" plate, and a pipe for a handle, and the kickback from a ms-stroke was something fierce. I don't own that hammer anymore...

 

[BajaBound]

My favorite is my 24oz wood handled craftsman, it is all about feel with that hammer. I also have a 36 and 24oz snap on dead blow and they are damn good hammers.

 

[pfbz]

I have a blue-point hickory handled ball peen...

Anybody know who makes the Blue points for Snap-On? I can't imagine it's their own hammer.

 

[TheCarbideRat]

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/BH40DB/40-OZ-DEADBLOW-BALLPEIN-HAMMER/

Matco makes a decent unit. I have this one, it got one great review and one bad one on the Matco site, wonder why that guy was so dissatisfied, oh i see he's Canadian, makes sense now.

 

[illmatyk]

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675296&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Pretty highly rated. I'm afraid if I try one I'll want it

You will. I did. Ended buying one here off the forum. Had it for a couple months, then someone stole it. And it was the only bright orange SO hammer in the shop.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

I have a blue-point hickory handled ball peen...

Anybody know who makes the Blue points for Snap-On? I can't imagine it's their own hammer.

Who makes the ones with the red tinted wood handles? I have one, but I cant find a name on it... It has been the best hammer I've used. Been through hell, and still is holding together.

I've been gun shy with hammers since a 4lb Craftsman came apart on the up swing, went two stories up, and landed next to me with a loud whap.Hat was a glued type. Not a pinned/wedged. I don't use glued ones now...

Red handle hammers are usuallty Plomb

I think that Vaughn is the OEM for Snap-on for the Blue Point line of hammers.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have purchased many a ball peen hammer on the cheap from garage sales

 

[cgv69]

Estwings are great because they are indestructible. That's what I keep in my tool box for automotive use. They are mainly used for beating something open\closed\apart.

But I do appreciate a good wood handle BP hammer too. I have a couple of the Craftsman model (shown below) that I keep with my gunsmith tools and IMO, they are very good as well.

IMO, wood handled hammers are much better for detail work were you need the control and feedback that you just don't get with an all steel hammer. Plus wood feels much better in the hand, especially after I fix the ****** finish most of them come with.

 

[Yosho]

Nupla? I'm in the market for some ball pein hammers and am considering my favorite hammer brand. I have several of their hammers (bought at Sears) years ago and love them, but I've never seen/used a Nupla ball pein. Sears doesn't sell them at the stores, so I'd have to buy them from the web.

 

[illmatyk]

Quick question that I forgot earlier, but I have a 16oz BP that I got cheap, its a no name brand($5)...I've had the thing for a few years and the handle broke a couple months back. I saw a replacement handle at the hardware store for a couple dollars. Is it worth replacing the handle or should I just get another one to add to the rest of the hammers I have?

 

[camarotoolman]

C-man, brake the handle and go get a new one.

 

[koditten]

Drillers hammer; you are probably too young to remember the days before carbide drill bits when holes in concrete or stone required a STAR DRILL and a Hammer, invest a lot of time to hit the bit rotate it, hit the bit, rotate it, hit the bit, rotate it........ Makes you appreciate hammer drills and the amazing bits thet have today!

http://www.hardwareworld.com/1x58-Star-Drill-p38H38J.aspx

Still available to purchase.

Dave

Thanks, DK. I had no idea that was the way to drill holes "old school".

Later

KO