If you could only have one hammer?

[Beowulf]

Ok, I would like to buy my son a hammer that he will have for the rest of his life. If possible I'd like it to be a hammer that can do just about anything he will need. Of course not including the dead blow stuff or soft face stuff.

During high school I bought myself a E3-16S. The rip claw 16oz with blue handle. It has done everything I've needed.

However, there are times I've would have liked a 20oz.

I'm thinking of getting him the Estwing 20oz rip claw with leather handle.

But, I figured I'd ask the forum what one hammer they'd buy their son in the hopes that he would be able to use it for just about anything and then maybe hand it down to their sons.

 

[speed bump]

Can't think of just one hammer that would do everything so:

For carpentry and around the house: a 16-20 oz claw hammer I personally like Vaughn but whatever floats your boat. Claw hammers really aren't for anything other than nails and what not due to the hardness of the head so that is as far as it will be useful typically.

For general garage ****: 16 oz ball peen hammer and a 3-4 lb drillers hammer.

 

[Joe B.]

There is no 'one' hammer that will meet his needs. The kid needs lots of hammers! What do you do if the kid hates cars and working on houses but loves rocks.....

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

(So my advice is that you just spend time with the offspring and encourage them to pursue whatever they like. No matter what they love, there is a hammer for it!)

....that said, any hammer with a leather handle is super bad ***.

 

[malibu101]

I really think 2 hammers are needed. Of course more is better.
A claw hammer for wood work and a ball pien for most everything else.

Of course, for various reasons, a curved or straight claw of various weights may be prefered just like a ball peen of various weights.

As to 1 hammer that will see much use throughout a lifetime- A 16 oz claw is a neccesary basic. While it's kinda small for framing and kinda big for finish trim work, it can do both if/when needed.

 

[jjjrmx5]

+1.

16 oz. or 20 oz. claw hammer and a 16 oz ball peen.

If a wood kid, claw hammer first. If mechanic/bicycle work, ball peen.

Or, in typical GJ form, "both." LOLZZZ.

But true.

 

[trout]

well if I could only have one hammer it would be a BFH, perhaps a nice 3lbs club.

 

[bczygan]

Get him a different hammer for each birthday.

Make it a tradition.

Then he could hammer in the morning...hammer in the evening...all over this land.

 

[basspro]

I have a 20oz Estwing rip hammer that I have had for 8 years. Its one of my favorites and will last forever. Eswing makes a nice looking ball peen too. The 24oz feels really nice in my hand, just might have to pick one up.

 

[fitz11]

If I could only keep one of my hammers it would be the 24oz dead blow ball peen

 

[Exceller8]

I have a 20oz Estwing rip hammer that I have had for 8 years. Its one of my favorites and will last forever. Eswing makes a nice looking ball peen too. The 24oz feels really nice in my hand, just might have to pick one up.

That would be the combo that I would go with.

 

[cookefab]

Estwing. One piece of badass steel w/ an idiot-proof handle. Not fancy, not "cool"... yet indestructible, and made in the US!

 

[cburnscrx]

Ok, I would like to buy my son a hammer that he will have for the rest of his life. If possible I'd like it to be a hammer that can do just about anything he will need. Of course not including the dead blow stuff or soft face stuff.

During high school I bought myself a E3-16S. The rip claw 16oz with blue handle. It has done everything I've needed.

However, there are times I've would have liked a 20oz.

I'm thinking of getting him the Estwing 20oz rip claw with leather handle.

But, I figured I'd ask the forum what one hammer they'd buy their son in the hopes that he would be able to use it for just about anything and then maybe hand it down to their sons.

I have been on the receiving side of this exact same situation...

My father got me the Estwing E3-20S, and truth be told, I use that hammer for 90% of anything I do. It's heavy enough to frame and roof, and controlable enough for most anything else. If you told me today I could only use 1 hammer for the rest of my days, that would be it. I am not saying that because it was a gift from my father, I am saying that because it's a darn useful hammer.

*worth noting I own more than 10 hammers (Im not counting, its way too early)

 

[383]

20 0z. Estwing. I have carried the same Estwing hammer every day at work for 18 years, it is indestructible. the guys that use Vaughns with a fiberglass handle replace them occasionally because of damage to the handle. Vaughn hammers are nice, but one overswing on a nail with a fiberglass handle will give it a chip and fiberglass splinters.

I've been a carpenter for 25 years, if you are looking at metal working hammers, I can't help you....lol.

 

[fury9]

I have a stiletto 14oz framing hammer That I really like. I'm also a carpenter. Teach him that you can use the whole hammer for a variety of things, ( use the side of the head in tight spots...)and not just the head.

 

[McFarmer]

For graduations I give the Estwing #B3. Three pound stricking hammer. I can't imagine how that would not last a lifetime. Lost or stolen I guess.

 

[bobcatdan]

Get him a different hammer for each birthday.

Make it a tradition.

Then he could hammer in the morning...hammer in the evening...all over this land.

I like this idea! When you run out of estwings down the road, there is always nulpa. For me if I only had one hammer, I use my 3 lbs estwing drilling hammer everywhere.

 

[cgv69]

The idea of only having one hammer is blasphemy IMO!

That said, my best general purpose "go to" hammer is my Estwing 20oz. Rip hammer (E3-20S). It was one of the first hammers I bought and I've have used it for almost everything and if I lost all my tools, it would be one of the first ones I replaced. Here is is after a recent cleanup...

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

my first hammer was a 16oz smooth faced claw hammer. you can finish nail, frame nail or use it for mechanical stuff. mine was a husky plastic handle but similar to the one above

 

[woody 73]

Mods this GJ member has created blasphemy, at least take away his man card, take away his garage card and keep a close eye on any future "Hammer postings"...

Only one hammer is like asking a drunk for his last and only drink, asking a women to only buy one purse to last her for the next 30 years, or better yet saying to that women go into the shoe store and pick that very last pair of shoes that you will ever need...

 

[03protege]

I really think 2 hammers are needed. Of course more is better.
A claw hammer for wood work and a ball pien for most everything else.

Of course, for various reasons, a curved or straight claw of various weights may be prefered just like a ball peen of various weights.

As to 1 hammer that will see much use throughout a lifetime- A 16 oz claw is a neccesary basic. While it's kinda small for framing and kinda big for finish trim work, it can do both if/when needed.

Well said.

While my ball pien is by far my most used a claw hammer could do most of the tasks I use it for and still be useful for carpentry.

 

[dandan111]

Get him a 16oz estwing like cgv has in the picture. I need one. I used my dads old estwing in HS. My dad bought it in maybe the early 1960s. It's had a lot of use and I retired it. I use a craftsman wood handle my grandmother bought me one Christmas and its fine but I mis that estwing.
Estwning head is the best in my opinion for pulling nails. I could pull nails when other kids needed cats claws.

 

[dandan111]

I wanted to tell you the leather will wear out way faster than the blue handle. The leather is pretty though.

 

[bczygan]

Another thought.

A hammer, like many hand tools, needs to fit the user. If the child is young and not adult size, a hammer that fits their physiology will be a joy to use. It will encourage the use of tools. As the child grows, more appropriate sized tools are needed. Then he can pass his childhood hammer on to his own child.

 

[davesnothere]

Snapon dead blow ball pein.

 

[jmm]

There is no 'one' hammer that will meet his needs. The kid needs lots of hammers! What do you do if the kid hates cars and working on houses but loves rocks.....

Ha ha ha ha.

My desert island hammer: standard 24 oz ball pein.

 

[Logan W]

My vote is for the Estwing 20oz leather grip like you had stated. My fiance's grandfather gave me one just a few weeks ago. I love everything about it and I'm sure your son will too!

 

[d.mcfarland]

Wood handle ball pein.

 

[BK13]

I bought my son a 12 ounce Estwing claw for his first hammer. Since he's only four, it still might be a touch heavy for him for what we use it for (the Lowes kits made for a kids first project).

I do like the idea of getting him a new hammer for every birthday... That way I can get myself one to match (well, after I get past he ones I already have...)

 

[oldldh]

ONLY ONE!!!

Gasp!!!!!

Buy him ONE a year...as he grows, his hammers will need to grow...

As the man said..."If duct tape won't fix it...get out your big hammer"...

 

[Beowulf]

I actually don't have that many myself. Just one ball pein, one BFG, that 16oz claw, and two dead blows. That's it. Maybe I don't know what I'm missing.

 

[canuckian]

only one hammer?? that's just crazy talk!!

but if you're set on a claw hammer, can't go wrong with an Estwing.

 

[woody 73]

I actually don't have that many myself. Just one ball pein, one BFG, that 16oz claw, and two dead blows. That's it. Maybe I don't know what I'm missing.

My hero:

This is what you are missing...

 

[Outlawmws]

One hammer indeed: Woody got it right!

Seriously, you have to ask yourself what his interests are. if he hates all things Carpentry, a claw hammer of any description is a waste. (Describing my brother here...)

If he hates working on cars, then the BFH or even a ball pein hammer is a waste. (Hmm STILL describing my brother...)

All that said, My dad bought me a fiberglass handled 16 oz. Craftsman (I'm sure Vaughn actually made it) claw hammer, when I was 15 or 16, for Xmas. I still have it; It's been well used, but is far from my favorite hammer. That podium is held by a smaller 12 oz. cross pein hammer I've had for near 30 years, and has done TONS for me (So much so the kids have dubbed it "Dad's Hammer" to differentiate it from all the other hammers.

Take a wander though the "Hammer Time" thread, if you want ideas...

 

[theknurl]

its impossible to have one hammer......

how are you going to get anything done?????

try bee's wax on your wood handled tools;
>water proofs the wood
>makes them non slip
>prevents blisters

OK, not chisels and planes