Snap-On Hammers

[jmscollinsiii]

Interested in picking up a couple of the Snap-On dead blown ball peen hammers. My question is what makes them better than a regular wooden handle ball peen and worth the average $80 to $90 a piece. Not looking for a HF vs. Snap-On thread!

 

[robe5000]

Meh, check out wilton

 

[CAOS]

A ball peen isn't a precision instrument, I do not believe you would be gaining anything with a Snap On labelled one over a quality hammer for a third of the price.

 

[ny1]

The dead blow part and the name I guess. I was actually thinking of getting one also. I use my plastic dead blow hammer all the time to "seat" stuff and I love it.

 

[Snapped-off]

The plastic Snap-on hammers are made by Trusty Cook, usually half the price of the Snap-on counterpart.

My dealer will warranty hammers, so that's why I have one, also partly because he had a promo going on them.

 

[ny1]

Are the Wilton's dead blows? All I can find are regular ball peens.

 

[Black89LX]

 

[fivespdcat]

I hate you! After watching this video I feel the sudden need to replace all of my ball peen hammers with SnapOn's or at least a cheaper semi equivalent from trusty cook or one if it's rebrands.

Regarding the original question of SO vs. Regular Ball Peen. This is actually a dead blow ball peen so there is no "bounce back" on these at all. I haven't used them but would think that this would allow for more accurate re-strikes as opposed to a bouncy hammer. Additionally, you would probably see less fatigue for extended use. Finally, there are other variations of this design but none that I have found to be exactly the same as SO. The Trusty Cook (SK, Armstrong, etc.) do not have the soft rubber grip but are also 1/2 the price and do not have the truck service which is important to Techs.

 

[wise]

I've never had a problem with hickory handle ball peins, until I used deadblow ones. They deffinitly hit harder, and you get a bit more control if you're doing delicate driving work (such as un-seating bushings inside Hydraulic Cylinder Heads where you musn't damage the bore where the new bushing will sit). I've used the Snap-On's and the Armstrongs and I'd say they have one major difference. The Snap-On is very **** looking for a hammer, and they come in different colours if you want to be stylish and have a nice looking Hammer Drawer... other than that there really isn't a point. The poly wrap around the snap-on's head is quite a bit thicker than the armstong ones my shop has, but they both hold up extremly well under heavy use.

 

[Rezeppa]

I have a snapon 8oz and a Mac 24oz both deadblow and I have to say I prefer the Mac I know it is a Stanley. I know they are not apples to apples because of the size difference but I like the feel and slimmer head design on the MAC.

 

[Armstrong1720]

Your cruel. I dont which i want more the hammer or the ford !!

 

[purplezr2]

The plastic Snap-on hammers are made by Trusty Cook, usually half the price of the Snap-on counterpart.

My dealer will warranty hammers, so that's why I have one, also partly because he had a promo going on them.

At one time trust cook made snap on hammers, that is no longer the case. I'm not sure who makes them but its not trusty cook. Has been discussed before here.

 

[CWP1616L]

At one time trust cook made snap on hammers, that is no longer the case.

What makes you think they're not made by Trusty-Cook anymore?

 

[gsmornot]

Why pick? Get both. I like my wood handle ball peins but would like to look into a few dead blow versions. I don't know, might change my impression over time.

 

[BTG]

I was told this by the owner, Joel Trusty. They do make some of the Bluepoint dead-blow sledges though. None of their molds are like the newer snap-ons.

 

[Murphy4570]

I have 3 of Snappy's hammers. They are expensive, but worth the money. They are bad *** to the max. Best hammers I've ever used.

 

[85camaro]

I just watched the video and then tested my Blue Point, fiber glass ball peen by lightly striking it against the vise (without safety glasses). That sucker bounced all over the place.

 

[Snapped-off]

Well they look identical enough to my Snap-ons, without the over-molded grip on the handle.

But if they're not made by them then I guess they're not made by them

 

[nodoor]

http://www.trustycook.com/equivalent-parts.php

 

[amlv20]

I have three snap ons and also the complete rubber one. All in green of corse, get the snap on one. You'll never look back and have a smile on your face the first time you use it., I know I did.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I have a snapon 8oz and a Mac 24oz both deadblow and I have to say I prefer the Mac I know it is a Stanley. I know they are not apples to apples because of the size difference but I like the feel and slimmer head design on the MAC.

Damn...why are you only saying this now...I LOVE my MAC guy, seen & played with the MAC hammer on the truck...dont even have a snappy guy at the moment in the area, but I just ordered the 16/24 AND 32 oz Snappy's thru a friend....
I've used the SnapOn's before, they werent mine, but I did like them whileI was useing them.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Interested in picking up a couple of the Snap-On dead blown ball peen hammers. My question is what makes them better than a regular wooden handle ball peen and worth the average $80 to $90 a piece. Not looking for a HF vs. Snap-On thread!

First, HF does not make dead blow ball peens.

Second, I have found Dead blow ball peens come in handy if working on thick metal or large metal parts where striking the metal hard requires little hammer kickback.

I think you need to understand the needs and uses of any dead blow type hammer and you will have then answered your own question.

If not Snap-On , I suggest the Trusty Cook line.

If you can't afford them, then buy what you can afford, but a std. ball peen hammers is NOT a dead blow ball peen.

 

[buco]

Gotta say I won't one.

Here's the 24oz in Cdn pricing.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...2583&group_ID=675296&store=canada&dir=catalog

 

[TAMPAGT07]

My buddy has had three of my SO's for the last three months..He has a regular SO guy that comes to his shop....All of the rubber handles fell apart....two of them had the plastic ends and one has the brass ends...I guess they are on backorder...

 

[Reality Sucks]

Been using a 20 dollar hammer from Walmart for years It's a 3 lb with plastic handle. Love it. I personally hate so hammers. They are very flimsy as you strike your abject the hammer head moves either left or right from the force. maybe a feature of them but I hate them, its like using a hammer with a swivel on it

 

[Rezeppa]

Do not get me wrong the Snapon hammers are top notch. I absolutely HATE dealing with Mac compared to any other tool company. I love my Mac 24oz hammer but if it were to break tmrw I would rather buy a Snapon before trying to replace it.

 

[Rezeppa]

I will say this deadblow ball peens are **** but I have NEVER accomplished anything I couldn't with my old hammer. Also I don't think it has ever saved me time. They are more comfortable and they save my elbows.

 

[Motor-Mechanic]

I bought a 24oz dead blow ball pein from my dealer last month, 1/3 off the price. Awesome hammer.

 

[N.I.]

These hammers make me laugh.

Generally it is you folks over the water going on about European products being over engineered, but it is certainly the other way around in this case.

These hammers are a bit like the Wera Joker Wrenches, but 10 times worse considering anything will function as a hammer when you are in a jiffy.

The moulding of the polymer grip around the head of a steel faced hammer is borderline maddness. I can imagine it will get destroyed in no time. Plenty of people here complain about soft grip ratchets and screwdriver, yet it is seemedly ok on a steel hammer?

The promotional video is a real piss take.

"The shank is as strong as steel, and unlike steel this shank always retains its shape". I recently treated myself to an Eastwing hammer with a steel shaft. Now I can not imagine it ever losing its shape??????

The bounce test for a steel hammer is a bit silly. In the majority of cases the rebound can be used to your advantage and means less energy input for the next blow. If you know how to hold and use a hammer correctly the force/ vibration transmitted to your hands during the rebound should be minimal.
All the lead shot bouncing around wastes energy. There is a reason why blacksmiths don't use a dead blow.

I'll not bring up price.

 

[Brownsfan]

I have a couple Cornwell dead blow ball pein hammers. Anyone know who makes them? I think they were around 50-60 and say USA. They look similar to the snap on and perform great. And less money.

 

[Brownsfan]

Well it looks like trusty cook makes them for Cornwell. Like I said I have a couple and they are awesome. Anyone that has used them always comments on how good they are And wants to know where I got them.

 

[tjmonsen5]

Snap-on makes their own dead blow ball pein hammers in their Elkmont, Alabama plant.

 

[Adam.C]

Lixie!

 

[Dale]

I found a 6 pound dead-blow at Harry Epsteins for a very good price.
It was made by Garland Manufacturing of Maine.
http://www.garlandmfg.com/mallets/deadblow_standard.html

 

[cundifc]

That hammer is nothing like a ballpeen deadblow

 

[TheGrooveking]

Exactly.

IMO exactly wrong, when I am swinging a hammer I'm doing so because I need something to move. By using a dead blow I am applying more direct force which results in less swings to impact more force. From an ergonomics standpoint is that you will find you use more energy trying to control the jounce from a non-dead blow hammer, plus the much greater chance of glancing blow resulting in other items getting hit or injury.

TheGrooveking

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Every thread where a tool is available cheaper elsewhere turns into this type of topic...pretty sad. As someone else here elegantly put it "Of course if they look the same they must BE the same"

SO Hammers are nice...if you can afford em and want em, get em! If you want to use a Walmart or HF hammer, Go for it!
The more I talk about it, the more I cant wait to get my SO Ball Peens...

 

[kythri]

These hammers make me laugh.

Generally it is you folks over the water going on about European products being over engineered, but it is certainly the other way around in this case.

These hammers are a bit like the Wera Joker Wrenches, but 10 times worse considering anything will function as a hammer when you are in a jiffy.

The moulding of the polymer grip around the head of a steel faced hammer is borderline maddness. I can imagine it will get destroyed in no time. Plenty of people here complain about soft grip ratchets and screwdriver, yet it is seemedly ok on a steel hammer?

The promotional video is a real piss take.

"The shank is as strong as steel, and unlike steel this shank always retains its shape". I recently treated myself to an Eastwing hammer with a steel shaft. Now I can not imagine it ever losing its shape??????

The bounce test for a steel hammer is a bit silly. In the majority of cases the rebound can be used to your advantage and means less energy input for the next blow. If you know how to hold and use a hammer correctly the force/ vibration transmitted to your hands during the rebound should be minimal.
All the lead shot bouncing around wastes energy. There is a reason why blacksmiths don't use a dead blow.

I'll not bring up price.

Right tool for the right job.

Yeah, there's a reason blacksmiths don't use dead blows. And there's a reason why non-blacksmiths do.

 

[kythri]

Every thread where a tool is available cheaper elsewhere turns into this type of topic...pretty sad. As someone else here elegantly put it "Of course if they look the same they must BE the same"

SO Hammers are nice...if you can afford em and want em, get em! If you want to use a Walmart or HF hammer, Go for it!
The more I talk about it, the more I cant wait to get my SO Ball Peens...

Dude, nobody is suggesting HF here. Get off your horse.

People were discussing the Trusty-Cook stuff, because, at one time, they DID make the Snap-on dead blows, and they still do for other truck brands.

Chill out.

 

[cgv69]

Exactly.

Exactly my ***. You know what makes me laugh? Its Internet know-it-alls who **** on products they clearly have no first hand experience with

I've used dozens of different hammers over the years for hundreds of different purposes and you know what I've learned? No 1 hammer rules them all. That's why there are so many different types out there and almost all of them have a purpose. I find it hard to believe anybody who has actually used a dead-blow hammer (soft or hard faced) would mock them or imply that they are gimmicky. I they obviously do not completely replace standard hammers but quite often they are the superior tool for the job.

The plastic Snap-on hammers are made by Trusty Cook, usually half the price of the Snap-on counterpart.

That hasn't been true for a long time. Trusty Cook does make the dead blows for some other tool companies such as Matco, SK, Armstrong and Estwing to name a few. The Snap-On version does have a few small advantages but I'd say the TC version is at least 95% as good for ~50% of the price.