Hammer Questions - Claw, Rip, Framing, etc

[bulletpruf]

Fellas -

I've been upgrading my hammer collection (Thor brass, Snap On dead blow ball peen, Estwing ball peen, etc) and it's time to pick up some good claw and rip hammers. Maybe a framing hammer, too.

I like Estwing's stuff, and prices are reasonable at Harry Epstein's. Question is what weight to get. Yes, I know what y'all are going to say -- get one of each type in each size available. Already doing/done that with my other hammers, so I'd rather not do that with these.

They offer claw and rip hammers in 12, 16, 20, and 22 oz. They also have milled face framing hammers; largest is 28 oz.

Curious to hear what y'all think I should get. I don't know if it matters, but I'm a big fella at 6'4" and 230 lbs, so I should be able to handle one of the larger hammers. I'm a decent carpenter, but don't do any finish work. If I'm using a hammer to build something, I'm normally hammering 3/4" plywood and 2x4's together or something like that.

I'm thinking a 16 or 20 oz claw, a 22 oz rip, and the second largest framing hammer (weight not listed on Harry Epstein's site).

Pictures and details here - http://store.harryepstein.com/c/Hammers.html

Thanks,

Scott

 

[franzdom]

I have these 2 as well as a 12C for hanging pictures and stuff. The 22S is much longer than the 16S. They are both quite useful.
E3-22S
E3-16S

 

[fury9]

I do alot of framing and I really like my 16oz smooth face. Better than my stilletto IMO

 

[BFHtime]

Different hammers are good for different things. My favorite hammer for drivin nails is a 14oz stilleto spelling may be wrong, titanium wood curved handle. I have tried many others. I have driven in 12 and even 16 penny spikes with one swing after setting the nail with a Stanley 16 oz. which I feel is the best all around hammer and not relatively cheap. Good for trim, tight corners and pulling nails. A heavy hammer is only good for moving walls hammering something, with little effort other than lifting it. Some are better for small trim work. Different claws for different things, but any self respecting person I know uses a straight claw.

I never liked estwing hammers. I do not like the balance, and the way it will turn into a half pretzel if you pull nails, with the head of the hammer 90 degrees to the driving position.

Wood handles do not hold up well to pulling nails. A heavy hammer can be good for demolition.

Try different ones and you will feel some of what I am talking about. I could go on for quite a bit, but I am tired right now. Good luck with yôur choice. I liked the graphite handled ones too.

You really have to try them for a while, to get a feel for a hammer.

 

[BFHtime]

The point I was supposed to make about driving the nails, we supposed be about skill vs weight. The proper swing with do better with less wear on the body. But a heavy hammer can help make up for that, except when moving or smashing things, so the previous just applies to driving nails in general. So you really do not need a fancy hammer, but if you did need a fancy hammer check out stilleto tools. Nice stuff. I dare say I have a few maybe have had five. Great customer service too.

 

[Youngguns]

Different hammers are good for different things. Different claws for different things, but any self respecting person I know uses a straight claw.

This.

The claw hammer has been outdated by the rip hammer in my opinion. I think you can get by with a steel headed, goldilocks (~19 oz) framing hammer. I usually prefer wooden handles, but if you want a hammer that can do anything and not have to worry, go fiberclass/metal. Vaughan and Estwing

 

[CJM8515]

I like wood handles, vaughn has worked well for me int he past. I have both claw and rip hammers as both have their place. All around a 16-20oz hammer is what Id look for. The heavier hammers do better framing and the lighter do better for multi tasking.

Right now my 2 fav hammers are some no name I got at home depot years ago thats a claw and a rip hammer made by vaughn i got from sears on clearance years ago. Also have an estwing 22 oz (?) framing rip hammer but I find it rather annoying as the metal imho still vibrates.

 

[dewalt378g]

I gave up my curved claw long ago as well. I use a 20oz straight claw for everything. For me it's my all around hammer for some light duty to almost heavy duty. As far as driving fasteners I mostly use some kind of powered nailer or screws. These days I seldom drive a nail. I second the fiber or metal handle as I've broken many wood ones. Stay away from metal tube handles too cause you'll eventually bend them. Personally, I like the steel "I-beam" type handles.

One pet peeve I have for any hammer is the shape of the claw. Some are too blunt and it's hard to get under things if you do much ripping, prying or nail pulling or demo work. I always look for a slender claw. Another thing is that some rip hammers are too straight with makes pulling nails not so fun. You can always use a sideways motion to extract a nail, but I think a slightly curved rip hammer gives the best of both worlds.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Fellas -

I've been upgrading my hammer collection (Thor brass, Snap On dead blow ball peen, Estwing ball peen, etc) and it's time to pick up some good claw and rip hammers. Maybe a framing hammer, too.

I like Estwing's stuff, and prices are reasonable at Harry Epstein's. Question is what weight to get. Yes, I know what y'all are going to say -- get one of each type in each size available. Already doing/done that with my other hammers, so I'd rather not do that with these.

They offer claw and rip hammers in 12, 16, 20, and 22 oz. They also have milled face framing hammers; largest is 28 oz.

Curious to hear what y'all think I should get. I don't know if it matters, but I'm a big fella at 6'4" and 230 lbs, so I should be able to handle one of the larger hammers. I'm a decent carpenter, but don't do any finish work. If I'm using a hammer to build something, I'm normally hammering 3/4" plywood and 2x4's together or something like that.

I'm thinking a 16 or 20 oz claw, a 22 oz rip, and the second largest framing hammer (weight not listed on Harry Epstein's site).

Pictures and details here - http://store.harryepstein.com/c/Hammers.html

Thanks,

Scott

Box nails? More weight the better. I don't really use claw type hammers or heavy hammering (I have a couple 16 oz) because I end up hammering or a while. You'll destroy more nails using a different type hammer (such as a drilling hammer) but much easier for me at least, just be careful with the final blows for aesthetics or use a nail setter with a smaller face hammer.

Anything one piece is fine (estwing is fine). I like the hart stuff but it's import as far as I know. I think estwing has an import line as well (taiwan?) I've seen them at home depot, I don't think it's significantly cheaper than their us stuff, at that price might as well just get a us made one.

 

[Burgerkong]

Estwing Ultra hammer.

 

[bulletpruf]

Checked out the Stiletto hammers - ouch! Cheaper ones start at $60 or so, but you can drop $250 on their high-end models. That's a bit too much for me.

Estwing Ultra Hammers have a bit too much bling for me, but I do like the looks of their hammers with the leather grip.

Looking on Estwing's website, their framing hammers go up to 30 oz - that's a pretty manly hammer!

Pics and details on Estwing here - http://www.estwing.com/nail_hammers.php

Still think it's going to be Estwing 16 oz claw, a 22 oz rip, and maybe a 24 ounce framing hammer with the milled face.

Thanks for all the input.

Scott

 

[Hogtown]

For the 2x4 and 3/4" plywood type work you describe my preference is 20oz Estwing ripping hammer.

 

[hickfied]

When I worked construction I used a 28oz Estwing.

I try to stick to one hammer for construction. Without fail, if I picked up someone elses 19-22oz hammer, I would miss every time.

 

[BK13]

My hammer uses are a little out of the ordinary... I mainly pound stuff (Mag Nails, P-K nails, 60d nails and 2x2 wood hubs) into the ground (land surveyor) so I like the heaviest Estwing I can find, preferably without the milled face. Not much fun catching a finger when trying to get a small Mag Nail started...

 

[magnumdeke]

!5 years of framing and trim work here, tried em all. Estwing all the way!
I like a 22 oz smooth and a 28 oz hamburger maker. Use a cats paw to get nails started when pulling them and NEVER strike one hammer with another to dig a nail out!
Estwings are balanced they way they are for a reason, proper swing, let the hammer do the work with a loose grip and a elbow/wrist snap, 28 oz sinking 16d nails with a set swing and a finish swing, 40d with a set and two follow ups effortlessly.
Vaughn or the craftsman version would be My only other choice.
As always YMMV

 

[Kingcreek]

This post got me thinking...
When I was 15 years old I went to work for my great uncle doing odd carpentry jobs. 1st day on the job was a steep roof job. I showed up with a tool belt and a curved claw hammer. He asked to see my hammer. He took it over to a saw horse and sawed the handle off and threw it in the trash. He went to his truck and got out a spare straight claw and explained how if you start to slide off a roof, you reverse your hammer and bury it in the roof and hang on.
That was 40 years ago and I haven't had a curved claw since. Mostly Estwings- smooth face but I like my Vaughn framing hammer.

 

[slyonedoofy]

I frame with a Woody.

Yes...it's a hammer. 22 ounces. T-style metal head that goes down into the wooden handle with 3 bolts connecting it. Too bad they don't make them any more.

I could lift a 20 foot wall off the deck without breaking the handle.

I used to use the California Framer 25 Ounce from Hart hammers but I broke too many of those.

Douglas Hammers makes something similar and maybe as good.

Check them out. http://www.douglastool.com/

Shows a picture of the hammer.

 

[GlenC]

the Stiletto tools are the new generation ....

 

[kelpaso1]

This post got me thinking...
When I was 15 years old I went to work for my great uncle doing odd carpentry jobs. 1st day on the job was a steep roof job. I showed up with a tool belt and a curved claw hammer. He asked to see my hammer. He took it over to a saw horse and sawed the handle off and threw it in the trash. He went to his truck and got out a spare straight claw and explained how if you start to slide off a roof, you reverse your hammer and bury it in the roof and hang on.
That was 40 years ago and I haven't had a curved claw since. Mostly Estwings- smooth face but I like my Vaughn framing hammer.

I'm only DIY when it comes to wood work and framing. I had always used 16-20 oz curved claw hammers my whole life. about 10 years ago someone gave me an old fiberglass handle 32 oz straight claw hammer and I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I had never used this style of hammer before and was amazed at how more versatile it is. It is my favorite hammer. Great for demolition and framing.

Then..... I lost it. It went missing 5 years ago when I moved into this house and put a wood stove in the garage. Well since I'm just a DIY'er and didn't know **** how to install a wood stove chimney I enlisted the help of my carpenter/contractor neighbor to basically install it.

After the job was done a few days later I noticed my favorite hammer was missing. I looked everywhere for day's and couldn't find it. I went to my neighbour and jokingly accused him of stealing it. We looked through his tool boxes and truck and couldn't find it. I was bummed

This year I found it I took apart the chimney to clean it and was up in the attic where the pipe goes through the ceiling and up to the roof. And there it was right on top of the insulation where the framing in the ceiling to hold the pipe was built. My neighbor was the one who did that job and so I said, well I guess you didn't steal it, you just lost it for 5 years. Heheh, we had a good laugh over that

 

[theknurl]

22oz California Framer milled face, wood handle, thinned claws, easier to pick things up with a sharp claw and sharp notch

home made T slot holds 8s, 10s and 16s

handle reshaped into a flatter oval......easier to steer nails that way

and bee's wax on the handle always......no slipping and never a blister

pulling nails???? are you kidding? a Vaughan's Bear Claw Nail Puller BC12 pulls air driven vinyl coated 16s out of 1 1/8 plywood like there was someone pushing from the other side

 

[rick carpenter]

I've got a two rip hammers, an Estwing and an Estwing's Craftsman, as my go to's. They have the narrow, slightly diamond-shaped cross section steel shank. I have a milk crate full of steel- and wood-handled claw hammers collected over the years that I don't use.

 

[nicksnothereman]

the Stiletto tools are the new generation ....

What do they do that's different?

 

[Fcvapor05]

What do they do that's different?

They're titanium.

 

[GlenC]

What do they do that's different?

"WHY STILETTO TITANIUM HAMMERS?

MORE PRODUCTIVITY
Titanium delivers 97% of your swing energy to the nail compared to 70% with Steel hammers. Get more done with less effort!

LESS ARM PAIN
Titanium provides 10 times greater dampening of damaging recoil shock vibration than Steel. Less recoil means less pain.

LESS FATIGUE
Titanium weighs 45% less than a Steel hammer of similar size. Less weight means less fatigue at the end of a long workday.
PATENTED TECHNOLOGY

Stiletto Titanium Tools are designed to reduce the harmful effects that nailing and prying can have on your body. Stiletto has combined the latest materials, patented technology & design innovations like our Replaceable Steel Faces, 180 Side Nail Pullers, the Dimpler, & our Staple Puller to create new tools that enable you to work safer, faster and to feel better afterwards."

 

[PBCampbell]

No love for dead blows?

 

[bulletpruf]

I ordered a three hammers; all Estwing -

12 oz rip.

20 oz rip.

30 oz framing with milled face.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[sl954]

When I was a framing carpenter I started with a 22oz Estwing, I then switched to a 24oz Vaughn with a fiberglass handle. I liked it better than the all steal Estwing. Both had milled faces, the Vaughn didn't seem to give me the shock that the steel hammer did.

For trim I used a curved claw 16oz smooth faces Vaughn

 

[justme-]

TLDR; Been using the same Stanley fiberglass handle 16oz clar hammer for over 15 years, and I have ( and love) a Pop mechanics glass handled 245oz waffle rip hammer over 10 years. Nopt a pro carpenter, but have done lots of that kind of work and have been working as a handy man for over a decade on the side.

claw hammers are for pulling nails, hence the curve. Rip hammers are for separating wood and do a terrible job pulling nails. all you need is those and you're covered. When I need to drive spikes or something bigger (like rebar spikes into rr ties for landscaping walls I use a 4lb engineering hammer or a full sledge. everything else is those 2 hammers. I have a few other hammers, tried many more including those newer styles, but I keep going back to those 2.

 

[BFHtime]

Stiletto is kind of like Snap-On. If have the opportunity to try it you will like it. I remember the first time I tried a Stiletto I was working and needed to nail something quick, it was wall bracing or something like that it was a big house with big walls, so I grabbed the carpenter's hammer and it was like ***. Or at least as close to it as one could get while driving a nail, on the job.

 

[bulletpruf]

Here they are - 30 oz framing with milled face, 20 oz rip, 12 oz rip. The 30 oz hammer is a BIG mother.

 

[TomB19]

For the 2x4 and 3/4" plywood type work you describe my preference is 20oz Estwing ripping hammer.

I love mine. If I could only have one hammer, it would be this. Mine is rubber coated handle with steel throat.

I also have the 28oz version. It's awesome. I've driven some major spikes with it but it would shred my tendons if I were to use it all day. I have a tennis elbow from 30 years ago that never healed and it tells me that hammer is the domain of Thor, not an IT worker in his 50s.

 

[BFHtime]

A consideration may be how long you intend to use the hammer. A couple hours or 10 hours back nailing sheathing or overhead nailing. If you are using a nail gun, or only nailing by hand, for long periods of time.

 

[pauls_workshop]

I'm a bit late to chime in here, but as a DIY and Woodworker type, 6' tall, I find I like just a few choices to cover most needs. I like one big long California Framer type, about 22-23 Oz for big jobs, milled face. I like one steel or fiberglass rip claw in about 20-21 Oz, a little less length than the California Framer and flat face. And I like a 16 Oz, wood or fiberglass, flat face, claw. I like Vaughan/Grayvik and Daluge. Estwing is fine too. You can get some of these in Sears Craftsman made by Vaughan - all excellent, US made. I'd say 3 is about a minimum. Of course, everyone needs a ball peen or two and a deadblow or two also. Many would also want a bigger driving type hammer or sledge hammer for big jobs. I do also have an Estwing 48 oz drilling hammer and an old Estwing axe, so I know about Estwing too. Just like Vaughan the best. Much is personal preference. ALSO, the Stanley AntiVibe ones really feel great, but not made in USA anymore there. They rust like crazy though so if you get one of those, paint it fast! - Paul

 

[Cope]

Primarily 20 oz. and 13 oz. Plumb wood handle, but I have a Plumb 16 oz. and a couple of Vaughn 10 oz. Funny thing, the Vaughn's have rip claws.

 

[wild cowboy]

who the hell uses hammers in carpentry any more? - every carpenter I know switched to screws and cordless drills LONG ago!

 

[dutchgray]

I use my Estwing E3 20c the most for general work, over here almost every one still uses a curved claw for a lot of work, and its definitely better than a rip in tight spots.
I have lots of others but use a Vaughan V5 for demo, Stilleto 12oz for trim and the Douglas style Dalluge titanium for framing, but its a bit light really.

 

[vincentshumai]

I own a 22oz estwing and a 16oz estwing. Covers everything I need. Stiletto is too rich for my blood

 

[bulletpruf]

Of course, everyone needs a ball peen or two and a deadblow or two also. Many would also want a bigger driving type hammer or sledge hammer for big jobs. I do also have an Estwing 48 oz drilling hammer and an old Estwing axe, so I know about Estwing too. Just like Vaughan the best. Much is personal preference. ALSO, the Stanley AntiVibe ones really feel great, but not made in USA anymore there. They rust like crazy though so if you get one of those, paint it fast! - Paul

Oh, I have lots of other hammers - full set of Snap On dead blow ball peens - maybe 5? And HF dead blows. And a complete set of Estwing ball peens. Along with several Thor rawhide/copper hammers. Have some smaller sledges too.

 

[bulletpruf]

who the hell uses hammers in carpentry any more? - every carpenter I know switched to screws and cordless drills LONG ago!

That's usually what I use. Still need hammers, too.