Went to Harbor Freight for the 30% off sale. Bought a hose nozzle and a Bremen locking pliers. It took me a lot of self control to walk away from the Pittsburgh 32oz ball peen hammer. The hammer looks pretty good. But the price is roughly a fancy drink. Somehow, it feels like the world is not fair to tools.
Tools are too cheap?
- Thread starter qqzj
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vwtrey
Well-known member
You can’t pay more if you want. Tell them to put the excess on my next purchase.
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Their hammers are hard to beat for the money. The way I see it is I don’t need a fancy tool to hit something with lol.
Walkers
Well-known member
It was probably a near miss. I am not sure how, but Harbor Freight has figured out how even a hammer can self destruct.
The Bremen quick release are the same as the Milwaukee, and are a darn good value with that 30% off. I seem to always buy another clamp or two when these coupons come out. Can never have too many clamps!
Cruzan80
Well-known member
Now we found the issue. Quick-release hammers!!!
speed bump
Well-known member
Decent hand tools are cheap. When you start buying other tools it gets expensive fast.
scooby074
Well-known member
I still have the Princess Auto yellow fiberglass handled ball pein set I bought when I was just starting out. It was used professionally and other than some handle damage, it still beats things 
After a while I bought the Snap ON deadblow ball peins, but really they dont do much different than the PA set. When I got out of HD, I kept the PA set and sold the SO, if that says anything.
HF sells the same set as the PA. $22 /5pc. $4.50 ea. How can you beat that?
After a while I bought the Snap ON deadblow ball peins, but really they dont do much different than the PA set. When I got out of HD, I kept the PA set and sold the SO, if that says anything.HF sells the same set as the PA. $22 /5pc. $4.50 ea. How can you beat that?
I hope someone can step up and measure the quality of hammers. And what’s the normal requirement for a hammer. These HF hammer are made just like my favorite Vaughn, at 20% of cost. Next time I will grab one, I think.
Tools quality is hard to measure. Without test, people are free to BS HF breaker bars. But the truth is they are just about as good as those many times more expensive.
BUT, today I saw a Milwaukee 18 inch 1/2 breaker bar. It’s by far the most pretty one I have seen
redwrench60
Well-known member
You’ll feel different when you’re wailing on something and a piece of the head chips off and hits you in the face. The inside of that hammer was full of voids and casting porosity.
It wasn’t my hammer so I did both of us a favor and bought the owner a replacement of the same weight but from Vaughan.
I agree. A hammer is something I'd want from a quality name brand. HF has a tainted reputation when it come to casting quality. There's tons of excellent quality USA hammers at garage sales with real hickory/ash wood handles.
Dakotadadv8
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 30, 2021
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Off topic since OP is talking about ball peen hammers, anyone using Stiletto hammers, Home Depot website has them for $100 to $250. Nice to have good hammers in addition to nail guns for my home renovation and maintenance.
I mean, a good Vaughn is roughly what? $15? And will last what? My lifetime? Yeah, I'll skip the cheap imports. Of course the way @BlakeTheCarGuy blows apart tools, it probably adds up for him. Harbor Freight warranty though. Amiright?
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Walkers
Well-known member
Generally, the quality of the steel, and the harness are usually what is less. Finish grinding is also lesser quality. This is only a problem when hitting hardened tools like punches and chisels. When the hammer dents, you tool doesn't work well anymore.
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I use their hammers on a daily basis. Never broke one. There is no reason to pay extra for them. In my opinion anyway. I know several guys that use them regularly. No issues. I’ve got a few Snap-on hammers aside from the handle material there is not much difference. My Lowe’s got rid of all the ball peen hammers so can’t even get like a Vaughn or anything there anymore unless I go to Rural King or they might have Estwing can’t remember. But either way absolutely no reason to spend tons on a hammer. I’m surprised here some disagree haha. The only hammer I’ve ever broke the head off of was a rubber mallet from the dollar store in school and I had to buy another one for the class lol. Yes I’d never buy one at the dollar store but at HF all day everyday. I replaced the one in class with another dollar store one.
Just giving you a hard time Blake, all in fun.
But seriously, $15 is not a ton. Well to me at least, everyone decides value by their own metrics. I'll gladly pay more for a quality made in USA $15 hammer, that should last a lifetime, over a cheap import. But that's just me. Rock on
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I know lol. I’m truly suprised last time I went to Lowe’s though how they had no more ball peens. When I asked the tool section employee where they all went he said they closed them out because they weren’t big sellers and that Lowes didn’t really cater to a market that used them. I haven’t been to any other Lowes stores recently to check if they still had some or not. Wondering if that was based on the store or what. Or if the employee was just saying that. But there was no ball peens haha.
With some tools it's not about quantity, it really is about quality....
A cheap hammer isn't good and a good hammer isn't cheap, I value my vision and flying pieces from a poor manufacturing process does not compare to the value I place on the ability to see.
Shop-hound
Well-known member
I’ve had cheap ball peen hammer faces chip off and it’s a risk for sure (threw them all out the next day).
The other thing I find I really like about the Snap on DBBP’S is their ability to absorb the shock to your elbow and shoulder when swinging it all day. This is most helpful in the larger hammers (my 40 oz is favorite for knocking off rotors or even demo of an old deck with the help of a striking cap prybar.
Maybe I’m just getting older, but I really appreciate not feeling like I’ve been run over by a bus the next day
The other thing I find I really like about the Snap on DBBP’S is their ability to absorb the shock to your elbow and shoulder when swinging it all day. This is most helpful in the larger hammers (my 40 oz is favorite for knocking off rotors or even demo of an old deck with the help of a striking cap prybar.
Maybe I’m just getting older, but I really appreciate not feeling like I’ve been run over by a bus the next day
I have a lot of hammers, the vast vast majority of them I bought new.I’ve had cheap ball peen hammer faces chip off and it’s a risk for sure (threw them all out the next day).
The other thing I find I really like about the Snap on DBBP’S is their ability to absorb the shock to your elbow and shoulder when swinging it all day. This is most helpful in the larger hammers (my 40 oz is favorite for knocking off rotors or even demo of an old deck with the help of a striking cap prybar.
Maybe I’m just getting older, but I really appreciate not feeling like I’ve been run over by a bus the next day
I bought the vast majority of them before I had a good grasp of the secondary market.
I would have no problem, if I needed one, spending money on dead blow mallets or dead blow ball peens… I have a mix of Trusty Cook, Snap-on, and HF.
I do not feel this way, at all, anymore, about other hammers…I would not buy common tools at retail if I had it to do over. I went to two estate sales this week… both second day… and they both still had lots of ball peens and other common tools (SAE hardline, extensions, Channellocks, steel pipe wrenches, files, punches, chisels…). I would spend my budget on the tools that one cannot find used in good condition for cheap (metric tools, aluminum pipe wrenches, high tooth count ratchets, top of the line pliers…).
Point being… I would never have bought my ball peens used if I knew I would be seeing them for sale for $.50-$2 so damn often.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Sounds like no one knows if these hammers are any good or not, but since they are inexpensive, will just assume they are not.
Seems to have a familiar ring.
IMO they're serviceable. Handle seems to soak in a lot of grease and grime. Being that it is wood, I prefer it for greasy and grimy jobs.
Shop-hound
Well-known member
That’s a really good point. I have bought almost all my Snap on hammers used for <50% of new (admittedly still expensive for a hammer).
When in doubt make sure you have your safety glasses on with side shields!
jonesg
Well-known member
the only thing worse is a cheap anvil.
I think they're blow molded.
Eh, I bought one of those fancy Proto Antivibe hammers recently and the face of the head started chipping on the first use. I won't be buying anymore of them.
I'd assume hammers are mostly forged, would that be an incorrect assumption?
Safety glasses not a thing in your world?
They certainly are, but like a motorcycle helmet there's no guarantee..
Easy solution. Don't ride a motorcycle while hammering with a harbor freight mallet.They certainly are, but like a motorcycle helmet there's no guarantee..
HF only says its hammer is tampered. But I don’t think any hammer is cast nowadays. Anyone knows? Here’s something that project farm and others can do. Measure each hammers weight and volume to check for density. That’s pretty fun to do
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
Estwing and Vaughan are not that expensive, and will likely last longer than you will.
Sure, a cheap hammer might have a warranty so it can be replaced when it breaks, but if it does break, then you may not be able to finish the job until you have to get a replacement. That's if you are lucky. I'd rather spend a little more to get one that won't cost me thousands in medical bills. Not to mention the long term effects of using a poorly designed hammer.
Sure, a cheap hammer might have a warranty so it can be replaced when it breaks, but if it does break, then you may not be able to finish the job until you have to get a replacement. That's if you are lucky. I'd rather spend a little more to get one that won't cost me thousands in medical bills. Not to mention the long term effects of using a poorly designed hammer.
I don't know anyone that has ever not been able to finish a job because of a frickin' hammer...just use a bigger or smaller or different style one.
I've got a bunch of cheap hammers including a princess auto set, I've never had them break or chip or any other issues at all. Would a nicer hammer be nicer? Maybe? Hammers don't really have a precision aspect, it's not like a socket or screwdriver or pliers where there's moving components and precision fits.
Debcrow
Well-known member
Why would anyone buy a HAMMER that is "HARD TO BEAT"????
d.mcfarland
Well-known member
SAFETY SQUINT works in a pinch.
it is over. don't bother. under $10 for mortals. under $20 for elite human being classified as Inside Track members.