Which is more versatile?

[eschoendorff]

I am gonna finally buy me one of these:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1047&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

But I cannot decide between the 24 and 32oz models. I want the most versatile and usable choice for a variety of circumstances. What says the GJ wisdom????

Oh... and I am getting together a grocery list for teh Snap On man. Help me remember some of the items that I've been meaning to pick up...

 

[dxdexter]

I want the most versatile and usable choice for a variety of circumstances.

Out of curiosity what are the circumstances.

I have a few different weights of dead blow hammers and would not part with any size. They all have there use.

 

[Spookrider]

Bigger the better. 32 for me.
But since it is a dead blow I go for the 24oz since the dead blow would add up in the end. If you do the math.

 

[chad s]

For basic automotive work with center punches, pin punches, smaller chisels, driving pins, etc, I prefer the 24 oz myself. I have some of the larger ones, and I rarely use them. The 24 oz ball peen, along with a 32 oz soft face are the 2 dead blows that I keep on the back of my toolbox riser for constant use.

Since your going to the truck to get them, I'd just ask to see both, and see which weight feels best in your hand when you swing.

For when I need to really move something, I prefer a non marring setup anyway, and I generally use my 48 oz soft face, and sometimes a piece of a 2x4 between the hammer face and the target, to protect the soft face of the hammer, and spread out the blow.

 

[Deafautotech]

73 dollars for that hammer??

what is wrong with craftsman hammers? tired of break the wood handles??

I am curious...

 

[eschoendorff]

73 dollars for that hammer??

what is wrong with craftsman hammers? tired of break the wood handles??

I am curious...

No... nothing at all wrong with Craftsman hammers. I just want a dead blow ball pein. And I really like the Trusty-Cook design. SK sells the same hammer, but the Snap On guy comes right to town. After shipping and all, they will end up costing about the same anyway.

I have a couple 2 and 3 pound sledges and drilling hammers.... but I would like a versatile ball pein dead blow and was just wondering which weight everyone likes the best. it sounds like the 24oz might be the ticket....

 

[Danglerb]

Starting with the hammer is a good idea.

 

[Fedwrench]

What other size hammers do you have? How big is whatever you want to beat into submission? To me less is more so, I would probably go for the 24oz. However, if you want to smash something bigger is better.

 

[eschoendorff]

What other size hammers do you have? How big is whatever you want to beat into submission? To me less is more so, I would probably go for the 24oz. However, if you want to smash something bigger is better.

I have other hammers.... here are just a few:

I have plenty of hammers to beat stuff into submission (a couple more drilling hammers, a couple standard ball peins (24-32oz), a few sledges 3-10#). That ain't the point. What i would like is to hear from someone who uses these dead blow ball peins in general service on a day-to-day basis and see what weight they reach for first for most jobs...

TNToy, nissan crawler, kart... you guys listening?

 

[Fedwrench]

I have other hammers.... here are just a few:

I have plenty of hammers to beat stuff into submission (a couple more drilling hammers, a couple standard ball peins (24-32oz), a few sledges 3-10#). That ain't the point. What i would like is to hear from someone who uses these dead blow ball peins in general service on a day-to-day basis and see what weight they reach for first for most jobs...

TNToy, nissan crawler, kart... you guys listening?

Merkava, are those your hammers with the price tags still on?

Seriously, I don't like deadblow hammers for real heavy pounding so, I would opt for the 24oz. I have the complete assortment of the Snap on dead blow hammers at work. Whatever weight of hammer you reach for the most now will be the same in deadblow. For me, that's 16 and 24 oz unless persuading front end work, then it's the 40 oz model. You'll just feel so much better pounding something with a Snap on deadblow hammer.

 

[gotmud13613]

I was going to get the SO deadblow ballpein until I found these Astro hammers at toolrage, I got all 3 for less than the price of one from SO. They are not quite as fancy but they do there job.

 

[Deafautotech]

one tech at my work own 32oz ball pein hammer and that it. he used it to beat almost everything...

other tech own 6 lbs hammer and he used it a lot to loose the brake drums or disc but sometime he cracked it... i own about 4 or 5 hammers(include rubber and mallet hammers) but most of time i grab bigger (48oz) to break loose something... i dont see why i need each of small ounce hammer to 50 ounces hammers... so i only buy what i need to do fix the job...

 

[Merkava_4]

I've never used a dead-blow hammer; what am I missing?

 

[Spookrider]

I've never used a dead-blow hammer; what am I missing?

It is weight multiplier and it don't bounce as much. When you hit some thing with a dead blow, all or most force goes into what you are hitting. Non-D-B hit bounce and loose blow hit power.

 

[ratchet_gear]

Can you mess up the faces of these hammers pretty easily?

Reason I ask is because does one have to worry about hitting something so hard that all the pellets (or what ever is in them) come flying out at you, or are they made to hold up to that kind of abuse?

And last but not least, are these hammers under warranty or are they throw aways and buy yourself a new one once they break?

 

[kartracer55]

I use 32's and 12's both at home and work

 

[chad s]

Can you mess up the faces of these hammers pretty easily?

Reason I ask is because does one have to worry about hitting something so hard that all the pellets (or what ever is in them) come flying out at you, or are they made to hold up to that kind of abuse?

And last but not least, are these hammers under warranty or are they throw aways and buy yourself a new one once they break?

The shot inside is contained in a metal casing, I believe.

The snap on soft face hammers can be messed up pretty easily. You see guys using some that are very torn up on the faces. Thats why I use a piece of a 2x4 between the hammer and the subject, if the subject isnt a large flat surface. But beating on the head of a bolt will tear up the face of a snap on soft face dead blow very easily.

 

[chad s]

This is what I want for driving metal parts that you dont want to marr.

It looks like a dead blow, but I dont believe it is.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1043&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[ratchet_gear]

The shot inside is contained in a metal casing, I believe.

The snap on soft face hammers can be messed up pretty easily. You see guys using some that are very torn up on the faces. Thats why I use a piece of a 2x4 between the hammer and the subject, if the subject isnt a large flat surface. But beating on the head of a bolt will tear up the face of a snap on soft face dead blow very easily.

Thanks chad s.

Is this going to be the same for the metal capped hammers or can you use this style to beat the **** out of anything?

 

[wrenchr]

I would go with the compo cast ones you can get from mac stanley matco cornwell, the rubber cover is alot more durable on these then that snappy, I have both so I'm talking from the use I have from them.

 

[wrenchr]

I've never used a dead-blow hammer; what am I missing?

I love them!!!! get one.

 

[wrenchr]

I have a 32 oz blue point ball pein a 24 oz matco dead blow ball pein, cornwell 16 oz db bp, snappy 16 oz db bp.

 

[wrenchr]

I was going to get the SO deadblow ballpein until I found these Astro hammers at toolrage, I got all 3 for less than the price of one from SO. They are not quite as fancy but they do there job.

That is the ones I like, I'm willing to bet those are stanley made.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I don't have a dead blow ball peen. I don't think it's as "sensitive" for the sheet metal work I do. When you're pounding a .050" deep dent that's 3" in diameter out of .032 aluminum and have to have it 100% perfect so they polished side doesn't reflect light weird, you need great accuracy.

My other gripe is that a coworker has all snap-on ball peens and is always borrowing my craftsman because the snap-ons have the plastic **** around the head and you can't use the side of them in close quarters. That alone is enough for me to not buy them, personally.

 

[83diesel]

I generally go for the 24 oz bp dead blow. For regular dead blows I have a 24 oz and 60 oz. For big jobs I have 4 lb sledge and 12 lb sledge. I use the 12 oz bp the most out of all the hammers. The 32 oz bp db seems awkwardly heavy to me. I'd rather use the 4lb sledge instead. Just my opinion.

 

[eschoendorff]

Okay... so the general consensus seems to be taht either the 32 or the 24 would be just fine for general service. I think I'm gonna go for the 24. I have plenty of other hammers to call on when I need something bigger, but it seems like the 24 will have the most versatility in this style of hammer. Thanks guys...

 

[W-Cummins]

I find I use the 8 and the 40 the most, but why limit your selection just get them all

William...

 

[Zeroek]

Wow! Jealous!!!!! oh man am I jealous. W-Cummins you are the snap on hammer god! I love the Snap on Dead blow hammers. I own just one and it's a 24oz deadblow ballpeen. I pretty much don't even want to use anything different. Matter of fact I'm gonna going to get the 32oz here in the near future as well.

 

[Kevin54]

what is wrong with craftsman hammers? tired of break the wood handles??

Swing one of those Snap-on's and you'll throw the Craftsmans away!!!

 

[Jbullfrog]

I pulled a 32oz Matco dead blow ball pein out of the misc tool bin at a pawn shop and the girl behind the counter said "that is neat looking, how about $3?" I paid for it and then continued browsing. To the complete idiot, they do look like a big toy hammer.

 

[Deafautotech]

Swing one of those Snap-on's and you'll throw the Craftsmans away!!!

i did borrow the snap on hammer from tech friend once and it had lot of flex on handle... it feel like i hit the baseball plastic bat with real baseball ball not like what Pro baseball team used wood bats...

 

[krusty the clown]

and the flexing kept the vibration out of your elbow.........thats what they are made for!

i have a 16oz and a 32oz dead blow ball peen, i was going to get a 24oz also but the two i have covers most everything i need.

 

[jimmycrackcorn]

Shot realy makes a difference when it comes to hammers, i have ball peens and have never stepped up. One day i'll get a set, but i have used them and you don't have to swing it as hard to get the same impact as with the wooden handle peens....