What do you like your hammer handles made of?

[dwasifar]

I have two very comparable hammers with different handles:

- 16oz curved claw with fiberglass handle and rubber grip.
- 16oz curved claw with hickory handle and chevron grip stamped into the wood.

These two are general purpose around-the-house hammers, both Craftsman. I do not know how I came to have the fiberglass one; I think it might have been a found object at some point. But I do remember buying the wood handled one, probably 35 years ago. Both are still made today.

Those two are probably about as close a comparison as you can make. They're both in decent shape, they seem about the same age, and I think they may actually have the same head. I generally use whichever one comes to hand first, but I tend to prefer the wood handled hammer to the fiberglass, and I'm trying to figure out why I do. I can't quite explain it.

Given the choice between hickory or fiberglass for a general purpose handle, which do you prefer and why?

In a related question, replacing a perfectly good hammer has not been high on my priority list, but if there's a reason I should want to replace my 1980s claw hammers I'd be interested in hearing it.

 

[The Cobbler]

I like the estwig hammers with steel shank & rubber grip

 

[DFB]

Steel with rubber grip is my preference also

Have 16 oz Estwings and a 20 oz Craftsman for decades.

Fiberglass is ok but cheap ones can chip or eventually break. My Milwaukee fiberglass seems does seem a bit different than some others.

I want to try out a carbon fiber composite sometime

But a wood handle is preference of many carpenters and framers still to this day!

 

[LXCam]

I honestly prefer wood or any type of composite for everything up to a 32oz. A good hickory handle just seems to have a better feel of control and dampening even though I have a complete collection of trusty cook BP I rarely reach for them. But once past the realm the small stuff I have preferred composite for a single jack and up. And I've busted a hell of a lot concrete to know what I like in a big sledge. That's where there seems to be a better transfer of energy with less fatigue to the operator. Not to mention the benefits of a missed swing on something that would damage a wood handle.

 

[Spiffers]

I like the estwig hammers with steel shank & rubber grip

This all day long!!!

 

[Stooge]

Most of my hammers are for body work/ sheet metal, but I have a few for carpentry and demolition as well, but my preference is always a wooden handle, especially if I'm buying a new one. Wood> fiberglass > steel

 

[JUNK-MAN]

I like wood handles. All my ball peens, sledge hammers and body hammers are wood. Though I do like the Estwing design, for a claw hammer, but mine is pretty old so I don't know if I still would like them.

 

[R_einan]

I’m ok with a steel claw hammer, but prefer hickory on most everything else. One of my winter projects this year is to clean up and re handle all my ball peen hammers, they are getting rough and heads starting to loosen.

 

[seber]

Generally speaking wood, but Plumb made fiberglass handles that balance exactly the same as wood. I only have one but it is definitely my favorite. I also have Vaughn and Estwing but I avoid them like the plague. The shock to the arm and wrist makes my arm go numb after a day of hammering. Not to mention the additional volume from the strike. I'm pretty sure that's what took my carpenter fathers' hearing.

 

[jimkinney]

Wood.

 

[rick carpenter]

I like wood handles for ball peins, normal duty rip claws, and sledges/mauls/axes. For demolition work I like Estwing or Craftsman steel handle rip claw hammers.

 

[dnschmidt]

Hickory.

 

[Davefr]

Old Hickory

 

[Robert Haas]

I like Ash, tough to find

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I love the titanium stiletto! +1 on the Estwings too!

 

[Cooter Brown]

If it ain't hickory, it ain't a hammer handle. Or an axe handle either.

When I was in school I worked on a framing crew and after a week my elbow hurt like hell. My buddy told me to keep the Estwing for breaking bricks and get a Vaughn for drving nails. In a few days my elbow felt fine and I haven't looked back.

 

[Gummi Bear]

My number one favorite is anything Estwing. I have several. 20oz framer, a couple of 28 oz framer, 3 lb engineer hammer and probably a couple others.

Most of the rest of my hammers all have hickory handles: ball pein, masonry, mini sledge, upholstery, and a box full of auto body hammers.

My sledge, maul, and axe all get the fiberglass handles once the wood one breaks.



I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

 

[bczygan]

Old Hickory.

 

[BK13]

I used to love Estwings, until one summer of driving many thousands of 60d nails in to compacted gravel (about a quarter concrete treated gravel) my wrist said "screw you jerk". Now I prefer wood, but will use fiberglass.

 

[engineer2]

I have two DeadOn investment cast framing hammers. I actually like the straight handle better than the curved, especially in tight areas.

 

[dutchgray]

Wood if driving a lot of nails or most of my ball peins or a Forged steel, (Estwing or Vaughan) for durability for demo work, concrete shuttering etc.

 

[JR 42]

Wood for real hammer use (nails, nail sets, gentle tapping), steel (Estwing or Vaughan/ Craftsman, I have and like both) for demo/ hammersmashing/ monkey business.

 

[Professional Tool User]

I prefer fibreglass. It tends to dampen the shock the best.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Depends on the type of hammer. For soft blow and ball peen, I like the Snap On cushion grip. For claw hammer, I like fiberglass.

 

[Sloper0204]

Hickory. Hand turned, dipped in bees wax, non-GMO and organic only.

 

[AA/FC]

I like the estwig hammers with steel shank & rubber grip

I completely agree! It's hard to beat good old made in the USA Estwing goodness!

 

[beamrider]

Hickory is my 2nd preference, but #1 on my list is a groot wood handle. They are quite rare, tho.....

 

[jeffmoss26]

wood

 

[wolf_from_wv]

There's nothing like a good piece of hickory...

 

[davethorik]

Steel- Estwing claw and drilling hammers
Wood- ball pein, Lixie dead blows
Fiberglass- Nupla all the way, dead blows and drilling hammers

 

[plinker]

I like wood handles, but the leather Estwing handles are very nice. For wood handles I would drill 1/4" shallow holes around the grip for better grip.

I did switch over to plastic molded hammers, mainly at work, mostly Trusty-cooks. I have an older pre anti-vibe Snap-on ball peen that I really like as well.

The newer style Snap-on and the Estwing blue anti-vibe handles are spongy feeling and actually bother my wrists is used any real amount. Not sure why.
The Wilton/Matco indestructible 8lb sledge & 4lb'er dont bother my wrists

 

[PugetDude]

Estwing steel handle.
I own about 25 of them, from a 5-lb hand sledge down to a 12 ounce claw hammer- including framers, rock picks, drywall hammers, rigging axe, ballpein, etc.
But my favorite trim hammer is a little hickory-handled Vaughn 10 ounce rip hammer.

 

[MrDeerHunter]

I really like estwings. I think they really are the standard..

If you are interested in burning a hole in your wallet. The stilletto hammers are incredible. My brother has one and they live up to their claims.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[anndel]

I have plastic - Trusty Cooks, metal - Estwing but I prefer wood - Vaughn's and Grayvik.

 

[catron44]

Estwing steel handle.
I own about 25 of them, from a 5-lb hand sledge down to a 12 ounce claw hammer- including framers, rock picks, drywall hammers, rigging axe, ballpein, etc.
But my favorite trim hammer is a little hickory-handled Vaughn 10 ounce rip hammer. [emoji106]

I 2nd all of this! makes me feel normal too because everyone that sees my hammer drawer asks what I need all of those hammers for. they dont realize they all have different functions.

the only difference is my 10oz rip claw is a hickory handled craftsman.

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[Empty Pockets]

Hickory

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[Rarified27]

To offer an alternative, but very relevant perspective, I'm a music teacher, primarily a percussionist, who's been performing for over 3 decades and involved in the design, prototyping and production of products.

I can state, unequivocally, there is no better wood for beating things than white hickory.

After using dang near everything you can dream up, many have their place for certain applications, but there's a reason Vic Firth, Innovative, Pro Mark, Zildjian, Vater, Regal Tip, etc... all use white hickory as their primary material. Maple, birch and even rattan have their uses, but again; hickory is king.

Hammer technique is also equally important as the approach to an instrument, as they will both shred implements (hammers or drum sticks) at an accelerated rate, should you hit or play more like Animal from the Muppets than someone skilled at their craft or trade.

Side note- Hickory is a terrible wood for drum shells ;-)

 

[Moose Legs]

I love my Mac anti-vibes but beyond that I prefer wood handles, I cut grooves into the handles for better grip

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I have 2 framing hammers one is a Craftsman Fibreglass and an Estwing steel rubber grip.
Prefer the Estwng.
A number of wood and steel handled standard size hammers. But like my Estwing with the leather wrap. But have to admit pretty well use the Estwing Framing hammer 90% of the time.

 

[Plumbermike]

In my line of work hammer isn't one used often. But I've got an attraction to hammers for some odd reason.. I've got about close to 20 hammers waffle, smooth face,wood, metal,handles, dead blow,poster,ballpean ,brick hammers, found few under houses, lost one behind a tub..
I like wood handles..