Deadblow hammers...

[77Mini]

So I'm in the market for a new deadblow. Something in the 24-26 oz range. I was all set to order a Trusty Cook but by the time it gets here its like $60. Thats about half shipping. I can get a Snap-on for about the same price. To be honest I think I would prefer the Trusty Cook.
The one i had before was a Mastercraft. Nothing fancy but i never really had an issue with it. The reason it failed was no fault of the tool. Unfortunately they are making the new ones with a tiny head and i don't really like it.
Any suggestions on a reasonably priced deadblow? Worst case scenario would you buy the Trusty Cook or the Snap-on?

 

[Buckgnarly]

I have beat the ever living **** out of a Buddy Blaster putting stuff on my 3pt hitch, and it shows zero wear. Beat the arms, sharp edges, etc. and no cuts or even dents so far in the dead blow.
I have some Snap On deadblows, I like the fact that I can warranty them, but after using that TC dead blow I have no worries of ever replacing the TC.

TC might be able to work with you for shipping, especially if you buy a few hammers. They also sell blems (that Buddy Blaster is a blem) at a great discount, half IIRC.

 

[firworks]

How's Amazon work for you up in Canadiana? If you watch Amazon you might be able to get a TC made deadblow Armstrong branded for cheaper. Estwing is moving away from TC but you may still be able to find a TC made Estwing on Amazon as well. Just compare against the TC website and it should be fairly easy to tell which hammer is which. Otherwise maybe Richard will drop in here with some advice for Canadian hammer purchasers.

For example:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DPL0YGQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

This is the Trusty-Cook Model 2 26oz Dead Blow but Estwing branded. Checking CamelCamelCamel it's been as low as 36$ in the past. If you get free shipping like US Amazon then that would be cheaper than buying direct from TC.

Similarly, here is the Estwing 88E which is the same as the Trusty-Cook Model 7 sledge hammer:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DPL0YHK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

It's been as low as 39$ in the past which is a steal. The hammers themselves are a good price from TC but sometimes on Amazon you can find the rebranded hammers for a real bargain.

 

[77Mini]

I talked to them about shipping it USPS instead of UPS hoping that would be a bit cheaper ...and i shouldn't get hit with huge brokerage fees that way. It was $20 more. They were friendly to deal with but the shipping is more than half the price and then who knows what sort of brokerage fees I'll get hit with.

 

[7th Kahuna]

I asked a question about dead blows recently, specifically in reference to Trusty-Cook, but some other brands came up in discussion. Might be worth a quick read.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=330397

 

[T45]

If you're canadian, they have some really good ones made in canada,

Impact - poly

http://www.ecodieselcanada.com/?p=33

 

[77Mini]

My best option so far is lookin glike the Eastwing (trusty Cook) from amazon.ca fro $53.20 with free shipping. twice the price but I end up better off with the free shipping

 

[Jim Johnstone]

May be more expensive, but I've never found a deadblow I like more than my lixie 200H. Interchangeable soft faces for easy replacement when they wear out, and you can choose different hardness for the faces.

 

[Wanna Ride]

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=dead+blow+hammer

I've got several of these, and they've held up very well.

 

[77Mini]

Just ordered the estwing. Hopefully its worth the price......

 

[Wes J]

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=dead+blow+hammer

I've got several of these, and they've held up very well.

Tried them in the machine shop. They don't last long. Any kind of sharp edge will cut the faces up pretty quickly.

 

[90zcar]

That makes sense though......hitting sharp edges with a plastic faced hammer will tear them up. I have a harbor freight 2lb dead blow that I did warranty once....yes they warranty those.
I also have a snap on 56oz dead blow and both the harbor freight and snap on both have cut up faces. It happens.....

So unless you are hitting bunnies and cotton balls.....they will get somewhat tore up no madder which one you get

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[Wanna Ride]

Tried them in the machine shop. They don't last long. Any kind of sharp edge will cut the faces up pretty quickly.

Same environment I use mine. The expensive ones I've had did the same. Maybe not quite as fast, but quite a bit of difference in the cost too. I think the newer HF ones are made better, because these seem to last longer than their earlier versions.

Beating on large castings and fixtures will sure take a toll on them.

 

[FMC1959]

That makes sense though......hitting sharp edges with a plastic faced hammer will tear them up. I have a harbor freight 2lb dead blow that I did warranty once....yes they warranty those.
I also have a snap on 56oz dead blow and both the harbor freight and snap on both have cut up faces. It happens.....

So unless you are hitting bunnies and cotton balls.....they will get somewhat tore up no madder which one you get

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If you're canadian, they have some really good ones made in canada,

Impact - poly

http://www.ecodieselcanada.com/?p=33

The OP bought his replacement; for anyone else needing a good DB, I have the Impact Poly T45 mentions, they are excellant. Not sure how they bond the plastic onto the hammer, I have beat them pretty good on metal & stone pavers, holding great for now.

They are not cheap but I would recommend to anyone wanting a top of the line DB hammer.
http://bcfasteners.com/product-category/brand-names/impact-poly-hammers/

 

[firworks]

That Impact Poly Woodworker is pretty interesting looking. I don't think I've seen another hammer like it before.

 

[oldldh]

Since we've broken through to the Chinese side of the tool world...

I give you...

Tekton's 16/32/48 oz Set for $32.99...

Tekton's 24 oz for $13.99...

Tekton's 64 oz for $21.98...

Or a 1 lb, 1 1/2 lb, 2 lb, 3 lb, and the 4 lb BFH...

For $68.96 from Amazon...

I have them all, and so far, they work fine, and the faces aren't getting cut up --- yet...

 

[90zcar]

So I guess we can conclude the tekton hammers are the exact same as the HF one. They are identical looking.

Anyways. Here are my 2 dead blows. The HF 2lb on the left and the snap on 56oz on the right.


Both are cut/chunked the same. They take a lot of abuse before you have to warranty them. I warranties the Orange HF one a year or so ago only because I let someone borrow it and I don't know what they were hitting but it literally split the head. Harbor freight warranties it no problem and no questions asked.
So having hammers from from both end of the spectrum I would buy strictly HF dead blows because of the insanely cheap price and easy warranty.
Yes they may crack a little bit quicker than a higher dollar one but for the price/ease of warranty there is no comparison


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[bmwpowere36m3]

For the same money (your situation) as SO, I'd get the SO. I have a mix of TC and SO dead-blows and soft-face hammers... and I give a slight nod to the SO for the cushioned grip which is real nice.

 

[Trey T]

Are Estwing hammers good? I know they sell deadblow at local HD

 

[90zcar]

For the same money (your situation) as SO, I'd get the SO. I have a mix of TC and SO dead-blows and soft-face hammers... and I give a slight nod to the SO for the cushioned grip which is real nice.

Absolutely. A lot easier to warranty is the main key.


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[dutchgray]

Absolutely. A lot easier to warranty is the main key.


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If your have a snap on truck that visits.

 

[90zcar]

Last I checked there isn't a trusty cook truck anywhere so u are really screwed when it comes to that warranty. Sending it in and all that jazz isn't fun


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[firworks]

I think if I sent a picture of a broken hammer to Richard he'd have a new one in my hands pretty dang quick. I'm in Illinois though so Indianapolis isn't that far away.

I don't know for sure though, I've never broken one. That's not meant as a statement of indestructibility but that I so far have been using them for general automotive work on cars so they aren't getting too much abuse.

On a related note I think that Richard joked one time that if you can get the shot to come out of a Buddy Blaster / break the head, they'll close up shop.

 

[7th Kahuna]

Are Estwing hammers good? I know they sell deadblow at local HD

Up until recently, Estwing sold deadblows (red in color) that were made in the USA by Trusty-Cook. They have now shifted production to Taiwan. The new hammers are in the standard Estwing colors and I doubt anyone has really had time to break one in. Giving that it is Estwing we are talking about, I would hope that they will hold up well.

 

[77Mini]

The Estwing I ordered is the old red style (Trusty Cook)

 

[sld961]

Sounds like you already ordered one, but a PM to Richard at TrustyCook is worth 20% off, plus if you order $75 or more, it's free shipping. So you could have got several hammers for 75ish.

Edit: Richard's handle is hammersmadeinusa

 

[77Mini]

Sounds like you already ordered one, but a PM to Richard at TrustyCook is worth 20% off, plus if you order $75 or more, it's free shipping. So you could have got several hammers for 75ish.

Edit: Richard's handle is hammersmadeinusa

I talked to them. Shipping to Canada is brutal and the free shipping thing doesn't apply.

 

[sld961]

I talked to them. Shipping to Canada is brutal and the free shipping thing doesn't apply.

Ah, I missed the Canada part.

 

[owenst7]

Nupla also makes some good hammers. I have a dead blow with a metal face on one side with that goofy looking fiberglass handle they use a lot. I use the metal face for sharp things so I don't tear up the plastic face.

If you need to hit a sharp face with something soft, you probably need a rawhide or a solid plastic hammer. Or, just accept that you will destroy your plastic dead blows. It's not the hammer's fault if you use the wrong tool for the job.

 

[rmsg0040]

I talked to them. Shipping to Canada is brutal and the free shipping thing doesn't apply.

How close are you to the border, I sometimes ship to Buffalo, then hop across

 

[dutchgray]

Last I checked there isn't a trusty cook truck anywhere so u are really screwed when it comes to that warranty. Sending it in and all that jazz isn't fun


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I'm not a mechanic so if I had to warranty any tool its getting sent in or given back to the tool store, so the Snap On truck service thing doesn't apply and thus isn't worth paying the Snap on premium for. I have TC, Estwing by TC, Nupla, Garland and Thor dead blow hammers, they're all good. I don't consider a dead blow hammer to have a warranty, they are all a consumable item.