Decent hammer/dolly set

[andyvh1959]

Any suggestions on a decent hammer/dolly set for bodywork and sheetmetal? I'd like to get a good used set, Craftsman (old), Snap-On or Martin. Gearwrench I've read has an ok set. Harbor Freight, nope. Most of the less expensive sets on Amazon look ok, but many reviews have hammer heads falling off, machined faces on hammers looking like a middle school metals class project result, crappy machining on the hammer faces, hammer faces denting or chipping after one use, poor tool feel because of crappy handles, dollys being way too small. So I'd rather find a good quality used set than to buy some less cost crappy stuff.

 

[ZRX61]

Go with Martin, they use the old Fairmount design.

 

[andyvh1959]

Which is also to say if I find a set of Fairmont hammers/dollys I should grab them?

 

[cgrutt]

Martin

 

[ZRX61]

Which is also to say if I find a set of Fairmont hammers/dollys I should grab them?

Absolutely, also any Protos (especially a 1427) & Porter-Ferguson (dollies & spoons)

If you have a belt sander you can dress dinged up dollies with various #grits

Proto 1427's sell for stupid money on Ebay... There's just a head for sale on there right now for $40. Buy any of the Proto 1400 series's with broken handles.

 

[finn]

Auto Body Toolmart had a pretty good selection when I was looking a few years ago.

 

[andyvh1959]

Thanks for the replies. Auto Body Tool Mart is close to some customers I call on so I'll stop there when in Elgin to see the tools in hand before I spend the bucks. They have a broad assortment of tools and prices better suited to the occasional body worker like me.

 

[ecotec]

If you don’t have an immediate need, onesie twosie from estate/garage sales is the way to go.

If your time is precious, Snap-on/Martin/Fairmount.

Here is some of mine. The majority of my hammers are Martin.

 

[Jacko264]

It’s also about the feel when using body hammers and dollies the balance etc

 

[ecotec]

It’s also about the feel when using body hammers and dollies the balance etc

Absolutely.

Some are just inherently unbalanced, though. Your fender hammer is never going to feel balanced.

They are one tool that, at garage/estate sale prices, you should buy a few of… and keep the one or two you like the most.

 

[ZRX61]

In related news, I just saw some clueless ***** on Texas Metal use body hammer to beat on a center punch...

 

[ecotec]

In related news, I just saw some clueless ***** on Texas Metal use body hammer to beat on a center punch...

Is that a tv show?

 

[ZRX61]

Is that a tv show?

Barely... It should be called "Morons with Welders"

 

[Firebrick43]

Martin

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

Of the new stuff Martin or Picard. Picard makes a lot of the old Porter Ferguson shapes in dollies. Really good stuff, my favorite of the new stuff. Martin is pretty good as well but I do like the Picard stuff I've bought. (quite a few)
The Hammer Source is a good place to get Picard hammers and dollies. https://hammersource.com/

Old Porter Ferguson is nice as well. It brings way too much money on Ebay though. The door skin hammer is one of the best I've used.

Used Proto is really nice. Plvmb and early Proto are probably the best body hammers ever made. I have many Proto's and Plvmb's. Proto 1427 is a good all purpose hammer. Proto 1424 is another essential one. Proto 1421, 1428, 1426 are all good ones to have as well.

Only Snap-On's that I consider a must have is the BF618 (disco'ed) and the BF608. If you can find a (old) Blue Point 714 dolly, get it. Really good dolly with multiple faces and angles. The old Blue Point hammers are good as well.

You don't need a huge amount to get started. Several good hammers and several dollies (heel, toe, and a couple of high crown dollies like the "railroad" dolly is all you need to get started.

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

It’s also about the feel when using body hammers and dollies the balance etc

Balance is essential. Good tools have it. Others don't. One reason I don't particulary like Martin, is the balance and feel of the hammers isn't there. Most of that has to do with the handle.

Don't get hammers with fiberglass handles. They don't have any "feel" to them.

 

[ZRX61]

Balance is essential. Good tools have it. Others don't. One reason I don't particulary like Martin, is the balance and feel of the hammers isn't there. Most of that has to do with the handle.

Don't get hammers with fiberglass handles. They don't have any "feel" to them.

& your shoulder will be reminding you all night what you did during the day.

 

[ZRX61]

At least half this stuff was estate sale finds..

 

[Jazz1]

I bought a $20 7 piece set on Ebay. When they arrived i spent a few hours “finishing” the heads and dollies on my belt sander. EVERYTHING needed severe attention They get the job done, the hammer heads are unusually small but come in handy at times. I bought the set to get a wedge dolly as i had a fairly complete set of hammers but only a couple dollies.

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

At least half this stuff was estate sale finds..

I see a waffle "shrinking" dolly there. Completely and utterly useless. Grind the waffle face off as it is pointless. Shrinking dollys (and hammers) actually displace and stretch the metal. The only thing that shrinks is a guys wallet after purchasing one. Same with the waffle faced hammers. I got a Fairmount one in a big lot of stuff and ground the shrinking face to a reverse curve. Now it's useful.

 

[ZRX61]

I see a waffle "shrinking" dolly there. Completely and utterly useless. Grind the waffle face off as it is pointless. Shrinking dollys (and hammers) actually displace and stretch the metal. The only thing that shrinks is a guys wallet after purchasing one. Same with the waffle faced hammers. I got a Fairmount one in a big lot of stuff and ground the shrinking face to a reverse curve. Now it's useful.

No need to grind it, I have a smooth one the same shape, maybe two.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

S&G Tool Aid makes some decent hammers and dolly's as well. In all my years, I have yet to find a body hammer and/or dolly at a yard sale. Most of mine are from hitting up retired/deceased body men.

 

[NBN]

Which is also to say if I find a set of Fairmont hammers/dollys I should grab them?

Yes

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

The new Fairmount stuff is Chinese. Fairmount in name only.

 

[andyvh1959]

Today I bought a hammer/dolly set from a FBM seller for $30. Never used, still in the original box that I'd estimate was from the late 70's, three wood handle hammers, four dollys, both flat and rounded machined faces on the cast iron hammers, made in Taiwan on the box. So, not US made, but given the age and Taiwan origin it certainly is better than any current **** from China. I'll still shop local resale shops for old Martin/Fairmont/Crasftsman brand hammers and dollys.

 

[csp]

In related news, I just saw some clueless ***** on Texas Metal use body hammer to beat on a center punch...

Was that before or after they showed someone filling a 1/4" gap on suspension parts they "fitted"?

I have looked and looked for body hammers and dollies at estate sales for years. I've found one dolly.

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

Was that before or after they showed someone filling a 1/4" gap on suspension parts they "fitted"?

I have looked and looked for body hammers and dollies at estate sales for years. I've found one dolly.

I hear you. I looked for quite a while and finally stopped wasting my time. Very much depends on the area you live in. I was fortunate though to have gotten a lot off of Ebay years ago when stuff was still very affordable. Nowadays....not so much.

 

[Steve_P]

Looking for quality auto body tools at estate or garage sales is going to be less than a 1% success rate, unless the ad specifically states the person was a bodyman for decades; it's not like looking for vintage vise grips- which anyone with tools had at least a pair. Because what percent of the population works as a bodyman? Closer to zero than even one percent.

OP asked for decent, and in typical GJ fashion, everyone was in for Martin, Fairmount... These are top of line tools, well above decent. Of course he mentioned those names, but he'll probably be totally happy with his generic Taiwan setup. I have a 20+ year old HF set and, oh the horror, it's perfectly fine for hobby use. I am sure nothing is hard enough for frequent use, but it was also very well finished.

 

[dnschmidt]

Actually Eastwood isn't too bad.

 

[Copymutt]

For the few times I’ve needed such tools I’ve got by using small cuts off RR rail, a variety of hammers and chunks of heavy gauge pipe. For off vehicle many curves, compound curves can be created using well casing pipe, old truck rotors, and of course my anvil.

 

[ecotec]

You, for the most part, cannot shop garage/estate sales looking for a specific thing…

You have to go there, with an open mind… but not too open, and cherry pick the best of their things.

Over a long enough time, you will have more than enough of almost everything. This is not exaggeration. Not everything… but maybe drop some money for what you can’t find.

You could, in theory, write the check and not have to spend the time and money it takes to do this… but, doing it this way allows you to buy better things than you could afford or justify, at retail, $5-$20 at a time.

I get that some people’s time is more valuable… but when it isn’t… that person can afford to spend a few dollars to get $100’s of dollars worth of tools at retail. And THAT is the game.

At least that’s the game I am playing when I garage/estate sale shop. I want hundreds of dollars worth of tools for $5-$20.