hammers - what do I need

[chappys4life]

Okay still building my box slowly because of funds and I am trying to buy good tools first. Right now I have 16oz craftsman claw hammer. What else do I need to have in the box? Mostly work on older cars, motorcycles, some around the house work.

 

[old salvage]

A couple of ball pein hammers and a big rubber mallet.

 

[Diesel-Mech]

A few dead blows, a few ball peens, a couple mallets and at least one BFH.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

I bought this set of hammers from Sears.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...ame=Hand+Tools,+General+Purpose&sName=Hammers

The only thing I plan to add to it is a dead-blow ball pein and mallet.

 

[goodfellow]

In addition to what's already been mentioned, a 2lb soft face hammer (lead or brass), and a 2lb dead blow hammer. For stubborn jobs, a 3lb mini sledge, drilling or cross pien hammer will do nicely.

 

[chappys4life]

why the different ball pein sizes? Also what is the purpose of a dead blow?

 

[krusty the clown]

some time you need more force......some times less. you can't lightly tap something with a 32oz ball peen and you can't drive a bushing with a 12oz! try a dead blow once and you'll know why!

 

[snapmom]

A 32 oz dead blow is almost a must, best hammer I have ever owned. A couple of body hammers are nice too.

 

[Red Green]

I work on most of the same stuff as you have listed. I would recomend a drilling hammer http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00938527000P?vName=Tools&cName=Hand+Tools%2C+General+Purpose&sName=Hammers Then a dead blow.

 

[Kevin54]

why the different ball pein sizes? Also what is the purpose of a dead blow?

A deadblow will not bounce when it strikes the object. Different sizes of ball peins are for different sizes of jobs. Using an 1/8" pin punch, you wouldn't want a 32 oz. ball pein to strike it. The same as if you were using a large cold chisel, you wouldn't want an 11 oz. ball pein on that. In my job of toolmaking and rebuilding dies I use four different ball peins, a 3 lb. short handled sledge / drilling hammer, and probably 3 different sizes of soft faced deadblows. Also for home carpenter work, I have probably three or four different sizes of claw / framing hammers.
Although I don't own any yet, these Snap-on deadblow ball peins are about the best that I have ever felt. I will be gettin various sizes in them soon

 

[hossmwp]

Hammers all have purposes and then we have our favorites. I have an old Craftsman set thats probably 16 and 24 oz that I got over 15 years ago. I have replaced the handles and they are great. I keep them next to my vise. However for most of my work I find I gravitate to the set of ball pein deadblow hammers. I have 16,24 and a 32. I guess I started using them mainly due to the fact they had more or less indestructable handles. I have a 16 and 32 from mac about 10 years old and they have held up well.

I would get that set thats referenced and see what else you want. I have a drawer filled with random hammers and I have used them all at some point in time.

Just one word of advice. The reason for buying the Mac hammers was due to an incident with a cheap hammer. I was using it and a piece of it came off and burried itself just below my safety glasses. When I got back from getting that yanked out I bought the other hammers as soon as the tool man showed up. Lesson learned dont skimp on things that create projectiles!

 

[chappys4life]

How are the stanley dead blow ball pein? They look pretty nice.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...ame=Hand+Tools,+General+Purpose&sName=Hammers

 

[hossmwp]

How are the stanley dead blow ball pein? They look pretty nice.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...ame=Hand+Tools,+General+Purpose&sName=Hammers

That looks exactly like the two Mac ones I have same color and everything. I have a SO 24 that has a different very comfortable handle. I believe most of the ball pein dead blow hammers will be made by the same company. I notice that most of them all look the same. there is a thread on dead blows thats maybe a week old reffering to a company that probably made them.

 

[rooney00]

That looks exactly like the two Mac ones I have same color and everything. I have a SO 24 that has a different very comfortable handle. I believe most of the ball pein dead blow hammers will be made by the same company. I notice that most of them all look the same. there is a thread on dead blows thats maybe a week old reffering to a company that probably made them.

Stanley owns Mac, I'm sure they are the same.

 

[hossmwp]

This is also a little OT but I will post it here since we are talking about hammers. If you plan on using them on punches and chisels do yourself another favor and dont skimp there either. I use hammers and punches often on heavy equipment and I have seen a few fail.

 

[3 at 8]

I"ve got both, ball peins and dead blows but am a litle confused now reading this post. Whats the definition of a dead blow. I am seeing "dead blow ball peins"; would'nt this just be a ball pein hammer with a synthetic handle? Dead blow hammers are reffering to the face/head material right? and how they interact with object there striking.

 

[MAD]

http://www.trustycook.com/about.htm

 

[hossmwp]

Stanley owns Mac, I'm sure they are the same.

You are correct they do own them. I am not sure if they did when I bought my hammers. I believe I got mine in 1996. Our MAC rep changed to Snap On shortly after that and since been buying SO and Matco.

 

[Crawlin]

I"ve got both, ball peins and dead blows but am a litle confused now reading this post. Whats the definition of a dead blow. I am seeing "dead blow ball peins"; would'nt this just be a ball pein hammer with a synthetic handle? Dead blow hammers are reffering to the face/head material right? and how they interact with object there striking.

Dead blows have "shot" in them. I guess thats what its called

 

[garfunkle24]

I"ve got both, ball peins and dead blows but am a litle confused now reading this post. Whats the definition of a dead blow. I am seeing "dead blow ball peins"; would'nt this just be a ball pein hammer with a synthetic handle? Dead blow hammers are reffering to the face/head material right? and how they interact with object there striking.

The 'dead-blow' part refers to the fact that the head is filled with sand, lead shot or some such media. This means more force from the hammer is directed into the work piece rather than just bouncing back. The 'dead-blow' feature is independant of the handle and face material type.

You will find, however, that many people refer to any soft faced hammer or mallet as a 'dead-blow'.

 

[hossmwp]

If you do alot of work with a hammer and its not intricate stuff with small light weight hammers treat yourself to a dead-blow ball pein. I love the 24oz one. I feel that it gets the same amount done as a regular 32 does. BTW, I work on farm equipment so there is lots of use for hammers especially implements.

 

[chappys4life]

okay I am thinking:

SO 32oz dead blow
SO DB ball pein 16oz & 24oz
CM 16oz claw
CM 2 or 3lb engineer/sledge hammer

Whats a good soft face? Does this look good for a all around setup?

**edited ball pein**

 

[Crawlin]

Here is my collection so far.

Snap-On 16oz DB ball peen
Snap-On 32oz DB
Snap-On 56oz DB
NUPLA Small Sledge
NUPLA Dual Face Soft DB
Stanley framing hammer I guess
Northern Tool 16oz Brass DB

I still want another snap on ball peen, like a 32oz and their brass hammer in 16oz. Maybe a rubber mallet too.

 

[hossmwp]

Here is my collection so far.

Snap-On 16oz DB ball peen
Snap-On 32oz DB
Snap-On 56oz DB
NUPLA Small Sledge
NUPLA Dual Face Soft DB
Stanley framing hammer I guess
Northern Tool 16oz Brass DB

I still want another snap on ball peen, like a 32oz and their brass hammer in 16oz. Maybe a rubber mallet too.

That SO brass hammer is great! I really like the shape of the SO hammers the handles are very comfortable and secure. My complaint with the old MAC ones is the handles are slim and made from the plastic that tends to get slippery especially on hot days.

 

[Tallboy]

My current Hammer lineup:

Cman old fashioned Rubber Mallet
Cman 16oz Ballpeen w/ Hickory handle
Snapon 16oz steel Ballpeen dead blow
Snapon 16oz bronze ballpeen dead blow
4oz ballpeen
Armstrong compucast 14oz slimline deadblow ( this has became a go to hammer - damn handy)

 

[chappys4life]

where do you need a bronze tip?

 

[garfunkle24]

where do you need a bronze tip?

When you don't want to mark the work piece, but need something harder than a nylon or rubber striking face. Also for non-sparking environments, such as around fuel etc.

 

[plinker]

I have;

12oz ball-peen (for tapping stuff you dont want to break)
16oz ball-peen (most used)
24 or 32oz not sure ball-peen (for encouraging)
16oz Estwing rip hammer (for gen. purp. use,construction)
16oz Craftsman multi-tip hammer w/ 4 plastic/rubber tips, homemade brass tip
40oz? Do-it best deadblow hammer (used for woodworking)
el cheapo rubber mallet (not used much)
4lb mall (for lightly beating the **** out of stuff)
8lb mall (for really beating the **** out of stuff)

The ball-peens are older Plumb w/ new handles, except the 16oz is a GRIP brand cheap hammer I've had a long time and like.
I also prefer rip hammer over claw hammers, better for prying.
I prefer crowbars for nail pulling (better leveradge).

 

[georgiadave]

On the rubber mallet, get a white one. It will not leave black marks on wood working projects and the like.

When selecting replacement wooden handles or new wooden handled hammers, get handles with the grain running perpendicular to the striking and nail pulling plane. You are much less likely to break a handle that has it's grain properly oriented.

Clean the handles with some mineral spirits with some beeswax disolved in it. A toilet bowl ring is a cheap source of beeswax.

 

[speed bump]

Lets see here.

3lb Drilling hammer (at something like $15 the Cman is a great deal because of the warrenty)

various size ball pein hammers: I usually buy these used and cheap and they all work pretty well

4-6Lb engineers hammer for when you actually want to beat on stuff, its longer handle makes it more usefull than the drillers hammer

Various Dead blows: I like the cheapies you can get from HF since other than the name and color I couldn't tell the difference between them and the Armstrongs.

Body hammers are nice, rubber mallets and brass hammers are also nice as well.

Heres what I have in my hammer drawer at the moment the rest don't fit.

 

[krusty the clown]

here's what i have..........

it covers most of what i need

 

[goodfellow]

These hammers in my main mechanics box have been collected over 30 years.

 

[Frank Elson]

Sorry guys but I have to tell you my Chinese hammer story.
It's the rubber mallet really.
Apparently they turned up in the £1 shops in the UK early this year and a friend of mine, with a tent, bought one for hammering his tent pegs in.
We were at a show this year and I happily sat with a drink in my hand watching my mate putting up his tent.
After about five pegs he came over and asked if I had a mallet he could borrow.
After just five pegs his £1 mallet head was shredded
I loaned him my ten year old rubber mallet that cost me just a fiver (do the maths, that's 50p per year and still going strong) .

 

[Frank Elson]

Damn, I just thought... we never did smell that mallet of his.

 

[Kevin54]

okay I am thinking:

SO 32oz dead blow
SO DB ball pein 16oz & 24oz
CM 16oz claw
CM 2 or 3lb engineer/sledge hammer

Whats a good soft face? Does this look good for a all around setup?

**edited ball pein**

If you are planning on doing any framing at all, get a 22-24 oz. framing hammer. It wears on you way less than a 16 oz. claw hammer

 

[goodfellow]

Damn, I just thought... we never did smell that mallet of his.

Harbor Freight humor -- I love it

 

[russlaferrera]

Damn, I just thought... we never did smell that mallet of his.

It's better you didn't. Many rubber products in China are recycled rubber products. (wink wink) You never know where or who's it came from.

 

[Frank Elson]

Goodfellow
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Elson View Post
Damn, I just thought... we never did smell that mallet of his.
Harbor Freight humor -- I love it <<<<

we just know this one will run and run don't we

 

[Uncle Buck]

Krusty, I like that piston hammer!

 

[W-Cummins]

Here is my Snap-On collection so far

Of course you need others too, i.e, normal ball pein, and drilling, sledge, framing, roofing etc....

William....