vaughn vs. estwing

[PugetDude]

Anyone using the English or Asian pattern hammers? :hitit:

I've tried them both; they felt awkward to me. They probably feel the same about our rip and claw hammers.

 

[dutchgray]

Very few over here use an English pattern, most popular seems to be Estwing, Stanley (probably a hang over from when they made decent tools here), then any other cheap hammer.

I have a couple Estwings for general use, mostly use a 20oz curved, but have a wood handled titanium for all day use driving nails.

 

[Fretters]

What classifies as an English pattern hammer?

 

[dutchgray]

The English pattern curves out smoothly towards the striking face, like this
http://www.estwing.com/nh_claw_english_pattern_hammer.php
American pattern is the normal one
http://www.estwing.com/nh_claw_hammer.php

 

[Rarified27]

I've used both extensively and prefer Vaughan and their wood handles. I grew up using wood handles and they just feel better to me.

However, the Estwing models with the leather wrapped handles feel really nice after they've been used for a while.

 

[unbridledid]

Hey this site is wonderful and I appreciate all the knowledge that you fine folks share.

I seem to have gravitated towards the Vaughan fiberglass and tubular models. I think the
all steel vaughans have a wood plug up on top to mitigate vibration. I often wonder if that plug would be a weak point.

That being said something about the estwing ultra always catches my eye, and I do have a regular 16oz blue handled estwing ripper.

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

Vaughan hammers are some nice stuff. As far as I know they are the only company that still makes the octagon head on their framing hammers. This is more of just a pet peeve if mine than a functionality thing but thats what i grew up using. plumb used to make some of the best hammers back in the day now their stuff looks like the rest of the offshore junk to me.
another good old one thats extinct as well is the blue fiberglass handle stanley/klein hammers.
Now any more though i use a 20 oz estwing. The best thing about them is when theyre hanging from my nailbag and i reach for the hammer is not getting plastic burrs or fiberglass splinters when i grab it by the shaft.

 

[rustyjames]

I always preferred the Eastwing, fiberglass splinters in my hand once is what made me choose them.

 

[74craig]

Eastwing for me always had good luck with them,really like there ball peen hamers!!!


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[Rileysan]

I've used and like both Vaughan and Estwing. I just happened to buy an Estwing framing hammer 25 years ago because it looked like it would last forever and have never looked back. I own 5 different Estwing hammers now (2 framers, a finish, a roofer, and a masonry hammer) and will swear by them until the day I die.

Brian

 

[seber]

Interesting that no one has mentioned the noise factor. Every retired construction person I ever met was hard of hearing. That solid steel shank on Estwing adds an extra ring in addition to the shock. I love my fiberglass Plumbs. My first one was bought before fiberglass was available. I bought that one because I was able to try pretty much every brand in my fathers contracting business and the Plumb just balanced better. That's pure personal preference. Didn't know they had changed in recent years.

 

[davethorik]

Interesting that no one has mentioned the noise factor. Every retired construction person I ever met was hard of hearing. That solid steel shank on Estwing adds an extra ring in addition to the shock. I love my fiberglass Plumbs. My first one was bought before fiberglass was available. I bought that one because I was able to try pretty much every brand in my fathers contracting business and the Plumb just balanced better. That's pure personal preference. Didn't know they had changed in recent years.

I've heard them called Estrings for that reason. My 20oz leather handle rings but my 28oz milled face framer with blue grip doesn't. Both rip claw.

The ring is probably not loud enough to cause hearing loss.

 

[Joeldhammers]

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All my hammers have been steel one piece for over 35 years now. The first 4 are all Estwing 3 are 16 oz, one a 22 oz and the one on right a 20 oz Craftsman. All are rip claw smooth face except for 22oz framer that's a waffler. I found the black leather handled Estwing on the left in a scrap metal drive.



I never see Vaughn much around here I recently bought a new Milwaukee fiberglass handled hammer they own Stilleto I guess...its was supposed to have a lighter head but hit as hard an heavier hammer well of course the handle is a long as as ax!

It's just allright, over priced piece of Chinese ****. My blue handle 16 oz Estwing and the 20 oz craftsman are my daily users.

I have that Craftsman. It's made by Vaughan.

 

[Wyoming09]

Estwing preferred here. We are not allowed to have wooden handles at work due to cGMPs.

 

[qqzj]

I prefer Vaughan, mostly because I have 20 Craftsman hammers and they are all made by Vaughan. I also have a vintage Hart and Vaughan bought Hart, at least the designs, later. I even have a Hart made for Walmart. So most my hammers are under one roof now. I still have half a dozen Estwing. I bought them at yard sale, most $5 a piece, mint condition. I like enough to buy them. But I don't really like them. All steel construction seems like made for brutal work. Vaughan better conveys craftsmanship.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

I like estwing because I don’t use my tools as often as a pro. Im more of a hobbyist and a handyman. The downside to the steel bodied hammers is lack of vibration absorption. Improbably swing a hammer on average a dozen times per month. I’m not going to get hurt. So I take the higher durability longer lasting tool.

If I went with a wooden handle it would break down and need to be replaced eventually just because it’s wood and I’d barely get any benefit from the absorbent properties.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

This got me thinking I haven’t seen my 12 oz. leather wrap Estwing for awhile now. Wonder where that went.

 

[dchawk81]

ive only used estwing hammers and i love them but how are vaughn's. which are better

I can hit my thumb just as hard with either brand.

 

[dnschmidt]

I prefer Martinez for framing hammers and the Estwing for ball peen for things I want to beat the **** out of and Vaughn for wooden handled ball peen. The best welding chipping hammer is without a doubt the Estwing.

 

[joel63]

I can hit my thumb just as hard with either brand.

Ouch!!!!

 

[Robinson1]

They both make great hammers and I own a handful from both makers. That said I’m not a big fan of the California framer Vaughan with the curved handle. I imagine if that’s what you started with it would be great but it’s hard to retrain muscle memory and that curved handle doesn’t balance well for me.

A 22 oz milled face and a 16 oz smooth face make a great combination from framing to finish. Pick your favorite maker what it basically comes down to is wood or steel handle

 

[pelletman]

I used to have a long 20ish ounce Vaughn with a black grip and a chrome and wood filled (I think) handle. I loved that thing, I wish I knew where it went

 

[dutchgray]

They both make great hammers and I own a handful from both makers. That said I’m not a big fan of the California framer Vaughan with the curved handle. I imagine if that’s what you started with it would be great but it’s hard to retrain muscle memory and that curved handle doesn’t balance well for me.

A 22 oz milled face and a 16 oz smooth face make a great combination from framing to finish. Pick your favorite maker what it basically comes down to is wood or steel handle

I do prefer a straight handle but I have a couple with curved handles, you do get used to them reasonably quickly.
I am currently using a 20oz curved steel Estwing for general purpose work, and Vaughan 21oz curved handle for framing, with most of the waffles filed off, with a rig builders hammer for the heavy work (which sees the most work nowadays for bashing lumber into place and nails over the 4" that the gun won't take)

Not that anyone doing framing hand nails very much anymore, I do the odd bit by hand just to keep my arm in.

 

[dnschmidt]

The best framing hammer is made by Hitachi (If you get my drift).

 

[dchawk81]

The best framing hammer is made by Hitachi (If you get my drift).

I got myself a Skil auto hammer that runs on a battery because I **** so bad with a real hammer.

I'm not a carpenter. I just need to not bust up my hands when I'm doing mundane tasks around the house.

 

[guitarbutt]

I only use estwing because they simply work. They're indestructible, affordable, and American. I have about a dozen of different hitting things by them. Their rock collecting tools are great too

 

[neophyte]

who the heck is vaughn? do you mean Vaughan?

It sometimes gets spelled Vaughn accidentally.

 

[KnurledNut]

I prefer Martinez for framing hammers and the Estwing for ball peen for things I want to beat the **** out of and Vaughn for wooden handled ball peen. The best welding chipping hammer is without a doubt the Estwing.

$285 is tough to stomach though...

 

[dnschmidt]

$285 is tough to stomach though...

So is carpel tunnel. Odd that a manual hammer cost significantly more than a pneumatic one isn't it. For any pro the titanium hammers are the only way to go if they want to stay in the trade. For homegamers not so much.

 

[KnurledNut]

So is carpel tunnel. Odd that a manual hammer cost significantly more than a pneumatic one isn't it. For any pro the titanium hammers are the only way to go if they want to stay in the trade. For homegamers not so much.

Agree, carpal tunnel *****.
Disagree, that titanium is mandatory.

BTW, I worked directly with Mark on troubleshooting an early issue with these hammers.

 

[PugetDude]

Started my Estwing love affair with a rock pick for a geology class 45 years ago.
Now have 20+ Estwing hammers from an 8 ounce ball peen up to a 4 pound long handled hand sledge.
They've never let me down.

Nice thread bump, BTW.

 

[dutchgray]

So is carpel tunnel. Odd that a manual hammer cost significantly more than a pneumatic one isn't it. For any pro the titanium hammers are the only way to go if they want to stay in the trade. For homegamers not so much.

I have had titanium hammers (still own a Martinez) they are not as good for vibration as a good hickory handled hammer. IMHO
More durable definitely, but you can buy several nice 21oz or 25oz framers and some spare handles for the same cost.

You can also put them down on the site somewhere and they don't get stolen within 10 minutes like the high end hammers do.

It's interesting that these high end hammers have all came to exist in the era immediately after everyone stopped hand driving nails all day.

 

[Bubba Fett]

I like both. Estwings will last longer than you will, and you generally never have to worry about the head coming off. I would say they are great for demo work. Some people don't like the vibration and ringing soud.

Which is why Vaughan is also a great choice. Wood absorbes vibration better, but over time, the handle can wear out, or the head can get loose. I also like fiberglass handles, but mainly for lighter duty. I wouldn't used fiberclass handled hammers for demo work, since fiberglass splinters are not fun.

I also like Plumb, and old Stanley hammers that have a steel tube handle with a thick rubber grip.

 

[KnurledNut]

I have had titanium hammers (still own a Martinez) they are not as good for vibration as a good hickory handled hammer. IMHO
More durable definitely, but you can buy several nice 21oz or 25oz framers and some spare handles for the same cost.

You can also put them down on the site somewhere and they don't get stolen within 10 minutes like the high end hammers do.

It's interesting that these high end hammers have all came to exist in the era immediately after everyone stopped hand driving nails all day.

Truth.
Wood is good.
Titanium doesnt resist abrasion as well as steel, thus the benefit of going with a steel head on a Ti handle.
The smoking gun for titanium hammers is their density, giving a power to weight advantage. And handle strength vs wood.

Which model do you have?

 

[dutchgray]

Truth.
Wood is good.
Titanium doesnt resist abrasion as well as steel, thus the benefit of going with a steel head on a Ti handle.
The smoking gun for titanium hammers is their density, giving a power to weight advantage. And handle strength vs wood.

Which model do you have?

M1 smooth face.
One of the things with titanium is it transfers energy better than steel during the strike, that's partly why the lighter titanium heads work so well, that and they are lighter so swing faster more easily (but everyone now makes all steel hammers where they have taken weight out the head and handle for much the same effect)
Which you don't get with a Martinez as its a steel head, I just never got on with the thing, would rather stick to a more traditional california framer style hammer. I do like that the Martinez are fully replaceable parts wise, really makes it hard to choose one of the Stilletto Ti bones over it.
I have tried a lot of hammers over the years.

The basic black, titanium, black Martinez M1 or M4 are £330 here in the UK now, more if you have colour options.