Hammer thread

R

Rmfcasey

Joined
Jan 15, 2010
Messages
40
The Estwing thread got me thinking about hammers. I'm a builder and have been using framing hammers for years. I am very fond of the wood handle Hart framers. Usually I swing a 25ounce.
I can't see the value in the new mag hammers.
Can anyone explain why stores that sell wood handled tools don't carry replacement handles?

Rmfcasey
 
No clue! I guess most people these days just buy a new Chinese-made hammer when a handle breaks instead. :o

I've got a bunch of miscellaneous hammers I use for a bunch of tasks. I've got 3 cross-peins (one heavy scarred up antique with a short handle I use for heavy hitting, a long handled medium sized one with a polished face I use for metalwork, and a tiny antique one I use for rivet setting or light metalwork) a polished ball-pein I use for riveting, an ancient scarred up ugly Estwing rip claw framing hammer, an Eswing long-handled rock pick, and a few garbage claw hammers that were gifted to me in cheapo tool kits. I keep an eye out for nice hammers when I go antique hunting and pick up a gem on occasion. :)
 
RMF,
You sir have fine taste. Unfortunately Hart hammers have been a sore subject with me for some time now. You see I am missing a 16oz Hart finish hammer. A finer hammer I have not swung. And I have not been able to replace it.
I think FortytwoBlades is correct on why you can not buy handles. Compounded by the fact that its beyond most users skill level to install a new handle.
I will not address your comment on Mag hammers other than assure you that my opinion of them is probably lower than yours.
 
Both the Ace and Arrow lumber by my place have wood handles for sale. Arrow had about 5 different hickory hammer handle types for $5-$10.

For a while I was using an Estwing framing hammer, all steel, heavy son of a gun. A buddy loaned me his titanium framer, MAN that was a great change! It was great having a real nice hammer to use while I was building. Now that Im back to my regular work Im back to using the heavy beast :grumpy:
 
Currently I have two 16's, a 22, a "weight forward" and the sportsmen's hatchet from Estwing. Formerly used for roofing and demolition. A claw on the weight forward is bent and has since been retired.

I've never owned a wood handled hammer.
 
Rmfcasey said:
Can anyone explain why stores that sell wood handled tools don't carry replacement handles?
Click to expand...

No explaination. Why not make your own?

Smallblackcherryhammerhandle1.jpg

Smallblackcherryhammerhandle2.jpg


Split out of a black cherry log from my property.
 
RJ,
Nice looking handle. I would think cherry would be more than serviceable for that hammer. Wonder what it would look like with some wax and BLO? If you do that to your handles I would like to see it.
Take care
 
I have used almost every brand of hammer since I started out in construction 17 years ago...
I have some issues with pain in my hands and forearms, and have fallen madly in love with Vaughan hammers.
They just work for me, I have the tubular 16oz bent claw, the tubular 20 oz straight claw, titanium 16 oz framer, and fiberglass 21 oz california framer, and I love them all....
Something about the balance, weight, and feel of them. I can hammer all day without feeling fatigue or pain what so ever....


Also have the Dead On Tools 23 oz california framer with curved handle for the really heavy tasks, love that one too, (Pluss it looks bad-a... haha)
 
[video=youtube;vIRQf0S3oD0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIRQf0S3oD0[/video]

(Sorry OP...couldn't resist. HeeHee!)
 
Rmfcasey said:
The Estwing thread got me thinking about hammers. I'm a builder and have been using framing hammers for years. I am very fond of the wood handle Hart framers. Usually I swing a 25ounce.
I can't see the value in the new mag hammers.
Can anyone explain why stores that sell wood handled tools don't carry replacement handles?

Rmfcasey
Click to expand...

You beat me to it R. :D
I was going to start a hammer thread to get some of the hijacking off of The Ax Thread.

I LOVE Hart California Specials! If I found an unmolested as new example,
that'd be like Xanadu for me. Last I heard, Dead-On Tools took over production,
but I want an original.

Don't know why stores don't carry replacement handles. Can't help you out there.

Right now, I use Titanium Framing Hammers. I love them.
Because I use guns for everything, they really just act as a back up to the gun.
And thank God for that. Guns extend the life of a hammer immensely.

There was a learning curve to it, but that took a day. Once I got it, I knew I'd never go back
to steel for a framing hammer. I was also developing a Titanium Roofing Hatchet with Stilleto,
but once they were sold to Milwaukee a few years ago, I decided to wait and hold on to my design.
I did test a couple of their prototypes for them which ended up going into production.

I need a new steel framing hammer for demo work. I really like Estwing's Builder Series @ 25oz.

I'm down to 6 hammers left...
Estwing: 20oz claw hammer, 28oz roofing hatchet, 32oz drilling hamer.
Stiletto: 16oz Musclehead Titanium, 14oz Titan Titanium
Generic: Rubber Mallet

(I'm pretty sure I have another claw hammer somewhere and
I'm sure I have another 28oz roofing hatchet somewhere.)
 
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This is the only one of these I've seen (the one without the claws). Maybe for electricians? It's handy in tight spaces.

cWaVhftv
 
Interesting! I've seen plenty without bifurcated claws, but never one without a poll at all!
 
I used to have a whole mess of assorted hammers. I sold them all and bought nothing but Estwing. I bought everything from a small ball peen to an engineers hammer. I love the quality.
 
Estwing steel hammers almost caused a premature end to my carpenter career. I got tendinitis so bad that I actually thought my forearm was broken. Doctor told me it was tendinitis, and that i better start looking for a new career. I switched to wood handled Vaughans, all the way up to a 32 oz framer, and have never had another problem.
Estwings are good for laborers stripping forms, but, in my case, horrible for driving many nails.
 
mcmurphrjk said:
Estwing steel hammers almost caused a premature end to my carpenter career. I got tendinitis so bad that I actually thought my forearm was broken. Doctor told me it was tendinitis, and that i better start looking for a new career. I switched to wood handled Vaughans, all the way up to a 32 oz framer, and have never had another problem.
Estwings are good for laborers stripping forms, but, in my case, horrible for driving many nails.
Click to expand...

Ever try Titanium?
 
I was making walls for my garage yesterday and putting them up - using my old estwing hammer. Continues to perform well just like it always has.
 
SR69 said:
That has to be a modified hammer.
Maybe a cabinet maker?
Click to expand...

Cabinet-making sounds plausible.
My first thought was that someone ground it down. My second thought was that's a lot of grinding. And if it's modified, they modified the eye too. It's tapered to a radius aft.

JmzFfFrL
 
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