07travis
Active member
I have a snap on dead blow and ball peen dead blow. Best hammers I've ever used period.
the Trusty family invented the polyurethane dead blow hammer. under the name of Comp-Cast, they made them for everybody back then included Snap On. in 1980, Stanley bought out Comp-Cast along with their patten rights.
later on, the younger Trusty's restarted making their own hammers, with improved design(1-piece machined hammer head vs. the original 2-piece head). the new design is much stronger, compares to the old one, the warranty rate dropped from 13% to <2%.
yes, they are 15 minutes from my house. I've been to their factory and given a tour by the owner. guess I'm a geek.
the Trusty family invented the polyurethane dead blow hammer. under the name of Comp-Cast, they made them for everybody back then included Snap On. in 1980, Stanley bought out Comp-Cast along with their patten rights.
later on, the younger Trusty's restarted making their own hammers, with improved design(1-piece machined hammer head vs. the original 2-piece head). the new design is much stronger, compares to the old one, the warranty rate dropped from 13% to <2%.
yes, they are 15 minutes from my house. I've been to their factory and given a tour by the owner. guess I'm a geek.
You and your buddy are drivng a master pin out on a hoe, processor, whatever, 4 hours down a logging road and you break your fancy dancy Wilton or whatever, you going need tha 1000 bucks alright to recoupe your cost. Sure, you probally got another sledge. But. I can carry a spare handle, even be realy hilly billy and make one handle out of wood and keep going.
No disrespect to you, I know what you mean. Just like to keep it simple. Think we as a whole soseity are getting away from pure basic and the kiss theroy. Again, didnt mean to step on your toes.
$70 when you could get an Estwing or Vaughn for significantly less?
I'll be waiting for the Snap-on guys to say how much more soothing swinging a Snap-on hammer is over an Estwing.
back to OP's question, yes, it's worth it.
as for warranty, it depends. I was told by a Snap On dealer right in my face: Snap On doesn't have lifetime warranty anything plastic or wood. guess who didn't get my money.
on the other hand, my boss is a sucker of Snap On. he's been buying off the truck for 40 years, there's nothing he can't get replaced, even broke taps and drill bits.
now for Trusty Cook, I remembered there's a thread couple years ago, a fellow GJ member wasn't really happy with his hammer, he called. the owner of TC sent him a new one free with hand written note thanking him.
I've compared my Trusty and my boss' Snap On, hands down the Snap On has better finish, the handle rubber inserts are softer, won't give you many blisters after a whole day of heavy hitting. Trusty is small family business, they make everything in house, including all the dies and molds. it's not as fancy, but all they care is about functionality. the head is cnc machined in house with American made raw steel, stell handle is pressed in and welded. and urethane shell is hat cast, they bound very well to steel.
I can't say anything bad about either one.
back to OP's question, yes, it's worth it.
as for warranty, it depends. I was told by a Snap On dealer right in my face: Snap On doesn't have lifetime warranty anything plastic or wood. guess who didn't get my money.
Really? The hammers are lifetime plastic or not and taps and dies are covered also. I bought a dead blow (the kind with the shot inside) at the flea market and it was pretty beat up. I used it no lie 1 time and the plastic pretty much exploded off exposing the metal can. Snap on truck came and I got a brand new one.
They do not make any SO branded hammers anymore. I'd rather deal with them directly than the others. www.trustyhammers.com. Support good American small business!
You and your buddy are drivng a master pin out on a hoe, processor, whatever, 4 hours down a logging road and you break your fancy dancy Wilton or whatever, you going need tha 1000 bucks alright to recoupe your cost. Sure, you probally got another sledge. But. I can carry a spare handle, even be realy hilly billy and make one handle out of wood and keep going.
No disrespect to you, I know what you mean. Just like to keep it simple. Think we as a whole soseity are getting away from pure basic and the kiss theroy. Again, didnt mean to step on your toes.
now you understand how I feel about Snap On dealers.

When your wood handle breaks and sends the head through the windshield of the backhoe, your going to lose alot more than $1000. Point is, wilton is so confident in their product, they are willing to bet you roughly 20:1 odds that you CAN'T break it.
Well it's a franchise. I don't hate all Mcdonald's restrants because the one close to my house didn't put a package of sweet N sour in the bag when I ordered a 10 pc nugget meal.![]()
I'll take that challenge if it's made in the USA![]()
Unfortunatly there not there made in mexico or south africa. If your only intent is to break it its probley possible otherwise I wouldnt count it. Another plus is there bitchen green and look good with the snap on green tool ****
Heres a video on them
I think I'll stick with US made Snap on and Vaughn then. I haven't broke any ball pein hammers yet
Trusty cook makes their dead blows. The one you linked to. They can be had cheaper for the exact same summer minus the snap on logo.
http://www.trusty-cook.com/products_hammers.htm
Edit
42 from manufacturer or 69 from snap on. Only worth it if the truck comes to you.
http://www.trustyhammers.com/dead_blow_ball_pein_hammers_s/1828.htm