Over at the ToolGuyd site – Stuart just had two posts about a new Estwing forged aluminum deadblow faming hammer that will be on sale sometime soon (?)
Anyway I got me to thinking about my favorite claw hammers:
Douglas DFI18S14CX – 18 oz. Finish Nailer - no longer available
Stanley OH-2 (51-350) – 13oz. – a few still around on eBay etc.
I also thought about some of the other hammers that I’ve used over the years for specific and/or oddball tasks. Many of my hammers are so old as to be no longer available – but I did some Googling and found some examples for some of the hammer types (more or less in alphabetical order)
I don’t really have a favorite hammer… I was joking with the guys the other day “When was the last time you actually used your hammer to bang a nail?” they all scratched their heads.
I have two primary hammers. One is a steel head Stilletto framing hammer and the other is a wood handle Craftsman hammer. I actually really like the Craftsman but it just isn’t heavy enough to pound in the big nails used for framing. I don’t know what it is about my Craftsman. Maybe it’s because my Mom got it for me as a gift. Either way, it just feels right.
One class of hammers that I did not mention was those designed for auto body work. When I was a kid – then a teenager there seemed to be lots of cottage industries assembled around auto repair, tune-up, hub-cap replacement and body work. I guess that the more skilled – used hammers and dolly blocks to bang out dents and body filler to do the rest. Today – with a lot of fiberglass body panels – and skilled labor costs so high – it seems that more parts just get replaced rather than hammered back into shape. Nonetheless, I se that body hammers from folks like Martin Tools (Fairmont) are still sold – to what I guess is the auto restoration market.
Actually only the 2 claw hammers that I listed at the top of the post. These are ones that I reach for most often.
And, while I have quite a few hammers - my list above was a compilation of the various types that I could links to on Amazon and elsewhere - rather than a compendium of what I have in my shop.
This Estwing, mine is an older version, but I’ve had it about 10 years now from when was working in framing. I use it mostly for demo work or the little bit of framing I have to do when remodeling my house.
I use this for anything and everything really that I don’t want to ding, dent, demolish or pound a nail into. I actually have an older maller with the same double head concept, but it is a cheaper one, and has seen a bit more wear and tear, so I use them interchangeably.
Great for bench work, or finish work, glue ups and dry fitting, etc.
This was a more recent buy, at least I think it is this model, just a couple years older with an orange handle. I use this when hand driving framing nails, as it has the magnetic nail set holder, and a waffle faced head. It is still pretty heavy and is a bit more stout than the estwing.
I actually have one of those crate hammers and a couple of wonder bars that always come out for demo work. Never heard it called a crate hammer before. Mine is slightly differently that the one you posted in that instead of a two sided head, it has a single claw on one side.
My old trusty Ace 16oz Claw Hammer with hickory handle.
Say does anybody have any hammer recommendations for the above situation. Sure I can bang with the side of the hammer like a caveman, but would something like the cross peen @fred listed work?
I was thinking the very same thing as I was driving 5 finish nails that way “Hmmm, a short trip to Home Depot or Menards (and waste the rest of the day) or soldier through and get something done?”
Warrington Hammers aka cross peen hammers are more often used for starting small brads. They are also sometimes called Joiner’s hammers. The London Pattern hammer that I showed - has a similar use.
Naturally we, as tool aficionados, would never use the cheek of a claw hammer to drive a nail. Ha Ha - there is a repeated line in the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta HMS Pinafore that asks "what never? what never ? - and the reply comes: “well hardly ever!”
For driving small tacks under radiators and toe-kicks - flooring guys sometimes use this"
