School me on hammers

[King Nothing]

So I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m 42 years old and never owned a good hammer. I realized this while walking by the hammer section at Lowe’s tonight then got overwhelmed at the selection. If I’m just a regular homeowner and I was to buy just one hammer, what type and weight should I buy? What if I was to buy 2, or 3?

 

[Finance Guy]

12-oz claw
16-oz ball pein
24-oz framer (smooth or milled)

Estwing or Vaughan across the lot ... though Milwaukee and Dewalt both seem to make nice hammers as well.

 

[qqzj]

Just get a cobalt or husky claw hammer for now. There's an old saying. If you don't know a tool, you probably don't need it

 

[MarvinBerry]

Standard hammer is a 16oz claw... I prefer a straight rip style vs claw but have both. Something with a fiberglass handle should basically last forever.

Next most used is an 8 or 10oz finish claw... basically a smaller version of the above. I also use an 8oz ball peen quite a bit...

Also worth having a rubber mallet for things that need a bigger whack and or no marks from a steel face.

I have a lotta other hammers but those 3 styles cover 97% of around the house hitter tasks.

Biggest thing in choosing a hammer is to grab a bunch and see how they feel & balance in your hand. Many look similar but the grip & balance can be radically different.

 

[ive]

See what feels good in your hand. If possible, support local manufacturing.

 

[Bubba Fett]

Estwing and Vaughan are my favorites. Estwings will last longer than you will, since they are all ones piece of forged metal, but some people don't like the way they feel. Wood handles generally absorb shock a little better, but the handles do eventually wear out. Both brands offer fiberglass-handles, but I'm not a big fan, except for smaller hammers for hanging pictures, etc.

If you want to know more about hammers in general, this video is invaluable...

 

[mike93lx]

If you aren't doing framing, there is no reason to buy a framing hammer. They are too heavy for anything else and are big.

Just get a 16 Oz smooth faced claw (I like straight claw, not curved) in the color you like. Not much more to that. I recently grabbed a Dewalt for a new house-hammer and like it a lot

For the shop, the next hammer should be a dead blow. Then ball pein and a rubber mallet.

 

[Bubba Fett]

A couple more videos that you may find informative...

 

[Neggy]

are we talking carpentry/framing hammers or Ford Wrenches?

Ball peen
dead blow
plastic faced
bronze
metal working/body work hammers?

 

[JradM]

Just one? I'd choose the 20oz smooth face Estwing. Upgrade that to the Dewalt mig weld if there's budget (though I would choose the Estwing and a second hammer first).

I realize everyone else just said 16oz claw - I just don't think you need a "nice" one of those until you're several hammers deep. The 20oz is a nice all-rounder. Hang a picture or do a little framing. It will work (whereas driving a 3.5" ardox with a 16oz would be a chore).

Second hammer would depend a little on your typical tasks. I would choose a deadblow. Nupla power drive if there were mechanical tasks, maybe a Halder if it was most house and furniture stuff. Halder lets you switch faces, so arguably more versatile - but I really like having a large Nupla.

Third hammer... hmm. Things get tricky without knowing what you plan to do. My next most-used hammer is a engineers hammer, then a ball pein but I do lots of mechanical stuff (go with an Osca for the engineers hammer, Proto anti-vibe for the ballpein (or Estwing to save some money)).

If you have home tasks in mind instead, this is where you might want a lightweight claw - 10oz or 12oz. I don't think you need to spend much money on one if these. Just get a hickory handle.

 

[Kscardsfan]

A smooth face 16 oz will hang pictures and do home repair until your grandkids are grown. What are you wanting to do with it might be the better question?

 

[dimichele]

Around the house, I use 16 oz claw the most.

 

[Shiftless]

This is GJ
How can anybody get by with only one hammer? Or one of just about any tool?

I too am just a DIY guy. I use a 16 oz. claw hammer for the few times I’m driving nails instead of screws. I have a 20 oz. framing hammer with a cross cut face that was a gift and I’ve never used it. I use a Dupla dead blow hammer a lot. One side steel, the other side hard rubber.
But I have 5 ball peen hammers, a 3 pound engineers hammer, a narrow tack hammer and probably 2-3 others I can’t recall right now.

 

[subroc]

1 hammer? Maybe a 16 oz ball peen. Maybe a 16 oz Estwing straight claw.

3 or 4 hammers? (1) 20 or 24 oz ball peen, (2) 16 oz Estwing straight claw, (3) some sort of soft face hammer (maybe a dead blow hammer or a replaceable face hammer, etc.) (4) Maybe a non sparking brass or lead hammer could be an option.

 

[qqzj]

This is GJ
How can anybody get by with only one hammer? Or one of just about any tool?

I too am just a DIY guy. I use a 16 oz. claw hammer for the few times I’m driving nails instead of screws. I have a 20 oz. framing hammer with a cross cut face that was a gift and I’ve never used it. I use a Dupla dead blow hammer a lot. One side steel, the other side hard rubber.
But I have 5 ball peen hammers, a 3 pound engineers hammer, a narrow tack hammer and probably 2-3 others I can’t recall right now.

I have more than twenty hammers. I only use the one I got from a set from Kmart 20 years ago. That set with many tools cost me $10. Hahahahahaha.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

Gotta have a small sledge hammer. I don't know how you get anything done without a bit of persuading.

 

[seber]

A 16 ounce claw will cover 90% of everything. Steel shank will last forever. Wood shank will be easier on your ears and your joints. Fiberglass is a compromise on both. But fiberglass if not abused will also last forever. The most important thing is that it fits your hand. If it is too thick, it will swing like a club and you won't be able to control it. Too thin and it will be uncomfortable to use.

 

[bassJAM]

16 oz claw like most have said is important though I rarely use mine anymore because I'm generally using an air nailer if I'm driving nails or a pry bar if I'm removing them.

Need depends on what you do. I use a lightweight (like 6oz) double faced mallet the most when I'm working on guns. Followed by that would be my 3lb engineers hammer when I'm doing yard work or projects like building decks or dropping trees, then a 16oz rubber mallet, finally the 8oz ball peen (which I like for indoor tasks like hanging pictures). Back when my cars were older and more rusty a deadblow hammer got a lot more use.

 

[dr_clyde]

The kind of hammer you want is highly dependant on what you intend to do with it.

Pounding occasional nails and general "tappy tap" type jobs? 16 oz claw.

Striking punches, chisels, and general metal shop hammering? 12-16 oz ball pein

Loosening stuck rotors, driving large ground rods or stakes, a 3lb drilling hammer/sledge

Adjusting or aligning sensitive/damagable things? 32oz deadblow.

Framing a house/general construction? 16-20oz framer.

The list goes on. Hammers are just like any other tool, there exist the variety for a reason. You wouldn't want to do body work with a faming hammer, and you wouldn't want to align vises on a mill with a claw hammer. Hard to hang a picture with a rubber mallet.

In my shop, I have dozens of hammers, all of which see use.

At home I have a 16oz smooth claw, a 20 oz waffle head framer, a 3lb drilling hammer and a 32 oz deadblow. I like Estwing.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

16oz smooth face claw is probably the most universal hammer you can have. Remodeling to hanging pictures to working on cars

 

[KnurledNut]

Give it a few more years here...
You'll be asking how to store all your hammers.

 

[PugetDude]

Estwing-
12 ounce rip claw hammer for delicate work
20 ounce rip claw for general use, demo, framing, etc.
16 ounce ball pein for striking.
16 ounce rock pick for welding, digging, masonry, outdoor demo

Any other brand:
24 ounce rubber mallet
32 ounce hand sledge or Engineers hammer.

Buy a cat's claw for digging out/ removing buried nails.


I probably own 30 different hammers, majority are Estwing.

 

[Kscardsfan]

Gotta have a small sledge hammer. I don't know how you get anything done without a bit of persuading.

Everyone needs a BMFH.

 

[Ton ton]

I don't believe you can have too many hammers. It's kinda like having too much money.

 

[vrinner]

Whenever I am at a garage sale or thrift store I look for cheap hammers (and tape measures) to just get and spread out in the garage.

 

[King Nothing]

If you aren't doing framing, there is no reason to buy a framing hammer. They are too heavy for anything else and are big.

Just get a 16 Oz smooth faced claw (I like straight claw, not curved) in the color you like. Not much more to that. I recently grabbed a Dewalt for a new house-hammer and like it a lot

For the shop, the next hammer should be a dead blow. Then ball pein and a rubber mallet.

Thanks. I was looking at a few today at HD. DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Estwing.I do already have a couple different rubber mallets and a drilling hammer that I use as my “persuader”. I do have a couple random cheap crappy hammers but I’d like to get something nice

 

[King Nothing]

are we talking carpentry/framing hammers or Ford Wrenches?

Ball peen
dead blow
plastic faced
bronze
metal working/body work hammers?

Mostly talking about carpentry/framing. I have a couple rubber mallets and a baby sledge that’s my “persuader”.

 

[King Nothing]

Gotta have a small sledge hammer. I don't know how you get anything done without a bit of persuading.

I’ve got one of those. Old craftsman that’s done my persuading for 20 plus years

 

[Bubba Fett]

I have Popular Mechanics hammer that I bought from Wal-Mart when I was starting out. It's all once piece, and I suspect it's a rebranded Estwing, as the handle is similar, but orange. The handle does have a different texture, and because of the color, it's easy to find.

 

[doctordirt]

Let's not forget a tire hammer, I have three of those in my 35 hammer collection. Great to break down beads on tires no matter there size. That is why I have three. Big one gets used on 25.5x 20.5 loader and earth mover tires.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Everyone needs a BMFH.

^^^ An invaluable technical term.

Sorta like an RCH for calling out measurements.

 

[ZRX61]

I'm the wrong person to ask, I have 70 hammers.... & only one of them is a claw hammer.

 

[ZRX61]

Everyone needs a BMFH.

11in handle, 10lb head...

 

[PugetDude]

Bet that's well-balanced...

 

[Indexmill]

Don't ever use a claw/framing hammer to pound on a chisel or punch. Always use a ball pien for those jobs.

 

[Kscardsfan]

11in handle, 10lb head...

Damned straight

 

[ZRX61]

Bet that's well-balanced...

LOL! It's more than a bit unwieldy...

 

[Cheepbeer]

11in handle, 10lb head...

Damn!!! Mine's only 8#

 

[jives]

Let me add my 2 cents. The 16 oz straight claw hammer is your best bet (20 oz if it feels okay). I would get a metal handle (Estwing, Stanley FaxMax, DeWalt, etc.) because it will outlast you and be used for EVERYthing. Demo, crowbar work, digging, rock work, etc. A hammer is not the best tool for all of this, but it may be the only tool. The hammer and flathead screwdriver are the two most versatile tools you can own, and the tools that may be use more often for their non-intended purposes. Cannot remember the last time I actually hit a nail.

Aside from a tiny claw hammer I own, I won't use another wood handled hammer. I've broken way too many. Yes, misuse for sure. . . but it is a hammer for crying out lout. Hammer with it.

 

[qqzj]

Why a straight claw? Isn't it a curved claw more useful? A straight one does look cooler.