Let's see your favorite claw hammers

That 20 oz. Estwing straight claw is the preferred hammer for commercial concrete form setters in the Pacific Northwest. I still have mine. They are very durable but you can't use them top pull nails by levering to the side like you do with a wood handled straight claw hammer. Those steel necks will warp. They are also harder on your hand and wrist. You'd rather use wood handled hammers.

But form setting in the PNW is a harsh environment for a hammer (or a carpenter) and only the tough survive for long. I had the good sense to get out of that work.
 
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Square_peg said:
That 20 oz. Estwing straight claw is the preferred hammer for commercial concrete form setters in the Pacific Northwest. I still have mine. They are very durable but you can't use them top pull nails by levering to the side like you do with a wood handled straight claw hammer. Those steel necks will warp. They are also harder on your hand and wrist. You'd rather use wood handled hammers.

But form setting in the PNW is a harsh environment for a hammer (or a carpenter) and only the tough survive for long. I had the good sense to get out of that work.
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I agree with this, I used a 20 oz Estwing for much of my career along with their framing and finishing hammers. I’m now retired and going in for my second carpal tunnel surgery and surgery on my elbow as well. I wish I’d switched to wood handles sooner.
 
I like to describe Estwing as being a good "off-road" hammer. Good for when you need it to hold up through some rough-and-tumble abusive work, but not the ideal choice as your go-to for actual hammer work.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
I like to describe Estwing as being a good "off-road" hammer. Good for when you need it to hold up through some rough-and-tumble abusive work, but not the ideal choice as your go-to for actual hammer work.
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They have seemed like an ideal choice for many people, until it's too late anyways.
I hear more and more stories all the time from people whose arms and elbows really wish they hadn't spent decades swinging one.
My biggest thing is just the grips that feel like they're going to blister my hands, if the grips didn't feel this way I too might have become one of those people who thought they were an ideal choice and would probably be using one until it's too late.
 
To my mind it's a matter of "are you literally only going to do this particular task ONCE or is it a repeat job?" -- if it's a one-off job liable to chew up a wooden handle, I'll go with the Estwing. If it's a repeat job I'll go with with a wooden handled model. I use my Estwings in the mud and dirt and places where they're likely to get banged around, but wooden handled hammers everywhere else.
 
Is it considered a Sin in the community to rehang an old hammer head? I'm new to the game but I remember my grandmother who was into buying and selling antiques always said to "Never mess with refinishing wood and Never polish off a patena".
 
If you can preserve the original handle, that’s best. But, if you must replace it, do so, if, it isn’t of some kind of significance to the piece.
 
Night Rider said:
Is it considered a Sin in the community to rehang an old hammer head? I'm new to the game but I remember my grandmother who was into buying and selling antiques always said to "Never mess with refinishing wood and Never polish off a patena".
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Only if you're keen on preserving historical significance of some kind. That is to say, that much of the value of an antique AS an antique includes its patina and provenance, as things like the particular handle, tooling marks, damage or scuffs, and so on all help describe a "story" of the piece and its origins. However, if it's a common piece or one that's unmarked or beaten up and "user grade" rather than a piece you need to preserve for historical purposes, you can re-handle it and use it without remorse. In general, MOST hammers you come across are probably fair game, but before starting in on a restoration I usually will do a quick analysis of whether or not it's a good candidate for use or if it should be kept as a collector piece. They are usually users.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
To my mind it's a matter of "are you literally only going to do this particular task ONCE or is it a repeat job?" -- if it's a one-off job liable to chew up a wooden handle, I'll go with the Estwing. If it's a repeat job I'll go with with a wooden handled model. I use my Estwings in the mud and dirt and places where they're likely to get banged around, but wooden handled hammers everywhere else.
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That's exactly what the Estwings are for.
 
I’m not a hammer aficionado but I bought this over the weekend due to the octagon handle and the OVB stamp like I’ve seen on plenty of slipjoints, I wasn’t leaving that antique mall without something so the knife content crossover was all I needed! The hang is still tight and the grimy dust and surface rust cleaned off real fast with a little penetrant and fine steel wool, I oiled the handle up good too which brought a lot of color out.

From some quick reading I saw these had a mirror finish as an option when new which explains the glow the head has behind the patina.


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I was at the lumber yard a couple weeks ago and found they still had some NOS Vaughans. I bought a 20oz straight claw rip and a 19oz waffle framer. Last users I’ll ever need.
 
Square_peg said:
I was at the lumber yard a couple weeks ago and found they still had some NOS Vaughans. I bought a 20oz straight claw rip and a 19oz waffle framer. Last users I’ll ever need.
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are you sure they were NOS ?
The buyout went through and V&B is still in operation as part of Marshalltown.
They don't have their own website anymore though, it's all on Marshalltowns site.
marshalltown.com

VAUGHAN Tools - MARSHALLTOWN®

Marshalltown offers a full lineup of masonry, brick, drywall, plastering, concrete, mixers, asphalt, paint, tile, flooring, equipment, and other quality tools.
marshalltown.com marshalltown.com
 
Hickory n steel said:
are you sure they were NOS ?
The buyout went through and V&B is still in operation as part of Marshalltown.
They don't have their own website anymore though, it's all on Marshalltowns site.
marshalltown.com

VAUGHAN Tools - MARSHALLTOWN®

Marshalltown offers a full lineup of masonry, brick, drywall, plastering, concrete, mixers, asphalt, paint, tile, flooring, equipment, and other quality tools.
marshalltown.com marshalltown.com
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I'm not sure. I wasn't aware that Marshalltown had acquired them. That's very good news. Marshalltown makes the best trowels.
 
Square_peg said:
I'm not sure. I wasn't aware that Marshalltown had acquired them. That's very good news. Marshalltown makes the best trowels.
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At your local lumber yard I'd bet the tools move a bit slowly like most, so they very well could have been on the peg for a year.
I will have to buy a new V&B here soon to see what might have changed.
On the Marshalltown website I see some are just painted all blue like a Grayvik and I wonder if they're potentially getting rid of Grayvik in favor of just laxing on F&F standards.
 
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