Best sledge hammer?

[Deafautotech]

I am tired of break cornwell's 4 lbs sledge hammer that is fiberglass and epoxy glue get break apart and got it loose and fell off. Cornwell has sent it in for repair under warranty. And now I had break apart the 6lbs blue point sledge hammer that snap on dealer want me to send it out at my cost to have it fix. So I decided to look for best hammer on market that would not be problem to warranty like Matco Orange sledge hammer that Made by Wilton hammers. And I did asked Matco dealer- what if it has break off the handle or crack sledge hammer head, he said just swap whole hammer for new. Not repairable... I am big key on warranty and how long it would take.... Cornwell took two months around time...

I like 4 lbs 16" sledge hammer as no 6 lbs available... Unless get a 8lbs 24" sledge hammer... I use it a lot for suspension, steering, brake rotors, and many things.

 

[kiatech]

Wilton

 

[RedneckWelder]

Wilton bash is the way to go IMHO.

 

[drivesitfar]

Dea: i hear Wilton's hammers are pretty nice. there are many threads on this subject. did you do a search yet because this has been talked about a lot?

just curious how long it is taking you to break a hammer? a couple times or years?

 

[Fugio]

I've been thinking about making my own. My dad broke his hickory pick axe handle the other day and it got me to thinking.
In my spare time, once in a while, I like to make medieval weapons and other zombie smashing goodies. I've got some large langettes from a huge pole axe here that I could weld to the head. Then wrap the whole thing in Fiber Fix.

Has anyone every tried langettes with an axe or sledgehammer to prevent overstrike damage and loose heads?

 

[ggielen]

Wilton B.A.S.H

Don't know if they still do it, but they offered $1000 if you were able to break it (normal use). That's pretty much a no-liability guarantee as far as i'm concerned, it really is tough.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Wilton Bash is the unbreakable one if that's what you want. Personally, the "best" for me (and my criteria) is the free one I already own.

If you're using it so often that it's breaking constantly, pony up and get the Wilton.

 

[Deafautotech]

Blue point 6lbs- I use it to be hardest hammering on to get rotors off or something stuck on vehicle. But I left it in drawer for while because it started to get breaking point.

Cornwell- few months or sooner if use it so much before break loose

How is good warranty on Wilton? How much of hassles to get it warranty if I has break it apart?

I might ask my Matco dealer about Wilton hammer.

Also anyone has issues with mac antivibe hammer?

 

[Askme42]

Blue point 6lbs- I use it to be hardest hammering on to get rotors off or something stuck on vehicle. But I left it in drawer for while because it started to get breaking point.

Cornwell- few months or sooner if use it so much before break loose

How is good warranty on Wilton? How much of hassles to get it warranty if I has break it apart?

I might ask my Matco dealer about Wilton hammer.

Also anyone has issues with mac antivibe hammer?

I think $1000 if you break it says you're probably not going to break it. You likely have a local dealer that deals Wilton. I'd try and find them and talk to them.

 

[Cope]

Also anyone has issues with mac antivibe hammer?

I have a Stanley Anti-vibe claw hammer, and I hate it. Can't speak for their sledges.

 

[rusty65]

Wilton because if you get the unbreakable model they will give you 500 dollars if you can break it.

 

[firebox40dash5]

I think the $1000 is only the 1st year or 3 years or something... but I have yet to break one. I have the 16" 4lb. sledge, 3 lb. cross peen, and 14" 24 oz. ball peen. All of them have been flawless for me. I got the bigger ones to replace my 3 lb. Craftsman sledge that would routinely fling the head around the 1 year mark.

The Mac/Stanley Antivibes seem to hold up too if they sell what you want.

 

[Heavymetalmechanic]

Correct me if I am wrong, you are breaking the handle on the hammer, not the head. And this is happening repeatedly? Sounds more like operator error then any issue with the hammer itself.
If it's being used in spaces/jobs where you are likely to strike the handle regularly why not just get a cheap 6-12lb head and change out the hickory handles yourself as they get beat up? Takes 5-10 minutes.
I bought my own 8lb sledge because I was sick of using the shop provided one that was always beat to snot. You and get a rubber coller that wraps around the handle shaft below the head to absorb impacts when you miss your swing.

If you are getting tired swinging and start to miss that is a good time for a micro-break. Take 30-60 seconds and then go back at it, it's not worth hurting yourself or damaging tools/projects.

That said, sometimes you just have to 'go hard' with a BFH, and stuff gets beat up, Wilton is a damn fine hammer.

 

[vahanian]

I've got a 16" 8 lb Wilton sledge which I use for wheel bearings, rotors etc. The hammer is an absolute Monster. and from the Wilton website: "Technology that for 2 full years after purchase, break the handle under normal wear and tear and receive $1,000."

 

[Askme42]

If you are getting tired swinging and start to miss that is a good time for a micro-break. Take 30-60 seconds and then go back at it, it's not worth hurting yourself or damaging tools/projects.
.

Or hurting other people. My grandpa needed 30 stitches in his hand after I tried just one more swing instead of taking a break.

 

[Deafautotech]

Correct me if I am wrong, you are breaking the handle on the hammer, not the head. And this is happening repeatedly? Sounds more like operator error then any issue with the hammer itself.
If it's being used in spaces/jobs where you are likely to strike the handle regularly why not just get a cheap 6-12lb head and change out the hickory handles yourself as they get beat up? Takes 5-10 minutes.
I bought my own 8lb sledge because I was sick of using the shop provided one that was always beat to snot. You and get a rubber coller that wraps around the handle shaft below the head to absorb impacts when you miss your swing.

If you are getting tired swinging and start to miss that is a good time for a micro-break. Take 30-60 seconds and then go back at it, it's not worth hurting yourself or damaging tools/projects.

That said, sometimes you just have to 'go hard' with a BFH, and stuff gets beat up, Wilton is a damn fine hammer.

I has Sledge hammers that handles are fine except the sledge head get wear and tear on epoxy or ******** glue that would crack and break off to make it loose on the handle. Other time whole glue stuff POP off and it is loose on handle. I don't break the handle but just the sledge hammer head issues.

 

[Deafautotech]

I've got a 16" 8 lb Wilton sledge which I use for wheel bearings, rotors etc. The hammer is an absolute Monster. and from the Wilton website: "Technology that for 2 full years after purchase, break the handle under normal wear and tear and receive $1,000."

How much for that Wilton hammer 8 lbs 16"?

 

[Deafautotech]

Do I has to order the Wilton hammer from Wilton company direct to try for break it to get rewards? Or?

 

[Heavymetalmechanic]

Ah ok I understand better now, thank you for clarifying the problem.

 

[rob0781]

I would just take both hammers and replace the broken handles with some decent handles. Are you missing with the hammer head and bashing the handle on the rotors? I work in a truck shop and sledge jammers really get abused and haven't broken any yet and been just using cheap ****.

 

[Askme42]

How much for that Wilton hammer 8 lbs 16"?

http://www.colsafety.com/wilton-b-a-s-h-sledge-hammer-8lb-head

 

[Deafautotech]

I would just take both hammers and replace the broken handles with some decent handles. Are you missing with the hammer head and bashing the handle on the rotors? I work in a truck shop and sledge jammers really get abused and haven't broken any yet and been just using cheap ****.

No, I has problem with the epoxy that has "glue " together between handle and sledge hammer. I am pretty hardest on hammer and the exopy was break apart and make handle and hammer head loose together. It is not handle or sledge head problem, it is problem of exopy that keep loose once it get break apart.

 

[MattPersman]

I Have the 4 lb Mac antivibe sledge. Been a good hammer, nothing special technology wise but a well built hammer. I never had a problem with a 4 lb stanley hammer from lowes either and I think those were only $20.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I've seen the Wilton hammers at a couple local industrial suppliers...they look really nice.

 

[Deafautotech]

My concern is warranty because if get a Wilton hammer- I has to send it to service center to have them look at it to see if under warranty or not. While my Matco dealer will sell the Matco hammer as similar with Wilton's but my dealer said if it has problem or break- he will replace it no problem. Even if handle break apart or hammer head crack or else...

 

[TheGrooveking]

I have the Matco sledges, 4lb, 8 lb and 14 lb and will say they are great but their grip *****, if I don't wear thick gloves it'll leave my hand sore and torn up. The Wilton hammers look better, also look at NAPA's hammers too. For some reason I don't think Wilton makes the Matco's.

TheGrooveking

 

[Deafautotech]

I have the Matco sledges, 4lb, 8 lb and 14 lb and will say they are great but their grip *****, if I don't wear thick gloves it'll leave my hand sore and torn up. The Wilton hammers look better, also look at NAPA's hammers too. For some reason I don't think Wilton makes the Matco's.

TheGrooveking

I was told that Wilton made it for Matco as different color and shape. Similar as with trusty cook that make for mac and Matco tools too..

 

[rtole]

I have some Wilton unbreakables.........I like them. I have not broke one. I also have a 4lbs pawn shop give away hammer head on a fiberglass handle that I wrapped rope around under the head and black taped it down for overstrike protection. Then one wrap at the end for anti slip. I epoxied the head to the handle somewhere around 1996. I have never had anything that I could not get loose with it since then. Within a little reason. That hammer has lasted many auto shops doing brake and front end work, oilfield equipment repair shop, truck repair shops, and any home project I have had to do. I call it Thor's hammer. I have chiseled for days on end using this thing. Literally. I have windmilled this hammer for hours on end. When I was younger I was very strong. That hammer has seen things that would make 8 pounders cry.
This was bare head at a pawn shop they guy gave me cause he was tired of it on his shelf. I put a cheap fiberglass handle on it. I miss, drop, run over it, and about anything you can do to a hammer. The epoxy was cheap from Napa........
How can you mess up a hammer? I am by no means a dead eye hammer *******........a few cents worth of rope and tape should save your hammer. I have knocked the heads loose on the snap on deadblow ball peens, so I got rid of them after I got them warrantied. I have broke handles with overstrike misses, that prompted me to use the rope/tape. If you miss.......little more tape it look good again.

 

[rtole]

If you can break a Wilton unbreakable......it was messed up or you really messed up. Steal rods run thru the handle. I have seen 2 in the warranty bin at work........we sell tools at my shop.......I don't know how you would even do that. I have had mine for about 4 years I think......no issues, with being used everyday.

 

[fivespdcat]

I know that you're concerned about warranty, so you may want to check out this other members experience with Wilton's customer service and the durability of their tools:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=270631

 

[Deafautotech]

I know that you're concerned about warranty, so you may want to check out this other members experience with Wilton's customer service and the durability of their tools:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=270631

Wow it seem like need do more to make warranty claim if I has break it from hammering down... I might will need discuss more with my Matco tool guy to see that no question ask for replacement warranty if break.

 

[Deafautotech]

If you can break a Wilton unbreakable......it was messed up or you really messed up. Steal rods run thru the handle. I have seen 2 in the warranty bin at work........we sell tools at my shop.......I don't know how you would even do that. I have had mine for about 4 years I think......no issues, with being used everyday.

I has use sledge hammer to hammering on something I need to get it off like use snap on's huge cold chiesel to hammering off the rusted and seized trailer hitch that need to be remove for used car sept. I was hard hammer on it and it get break apart after hard and harder hits but I did not hit the handle to make it problematic. It is stupid exopy that came apart! It is not hammer head or handle.

 

[fivespdcat]

Wow it seem like need do more to make warranty claim if I has break it from hammering down... I might will need discuss more with my Matco tool guy to see that no question ask for replacement warranty if break.

Yeah, check with your Matco guy and make sure it's that easy, or you can just forget the whole epoxy/wood handled stuff and go full forged steel:

http://www.estwing.com/s_drilling_hammer_long_handle.php

Looks like street price is around $40 at any retailer including Home Depot.

I've got a 3lb short handle and haven't ever worried about breaking it!

 

[Deafautotech]

I had end up bought a mac anti-vibe 48ounces ball peen hammer. He will order a sledge hammer 4 lbs. I like the soft grip handle and my mac tool guy said he only had warranty one hammer after bent it and mushroom hammer. No problems. He had wrote on receipt that will replace it at no question ask...

 

[-Brent-]

I have a mid-sized Wilton unbreakable. I really like it. I've used it a lot more than my wood-handled sledge, which I haven't used in a capacity (or enough) that it would break.

 

[Deafautotech]

I am plan to buy Wilton 8lbs 16" handle BASH later as after new year so I can take blue point to my home and leave it alone.

 

[metalart]

I have also gotten good use out of wilton