Hammer?

TempestV

The blue max is a pretty good hammer as far as steel hammers go, it actually feels a lot like my Kobalt.
Titanium hammers on a different level, at least as far as the head is concerned. The wood handle is the same as a wood handle for a steel hammer, so as far as prying goes, they should be about the same.

2ndGen

I remember using the neck of my Estwing 30oz Framing Hammer to literally chop wood to "persuade it" into place! I used that brute for everything. Had it for a good 7 years before it grew feet and walked away.

__________________
"I've been up on the roof. I know what those guys go through.
My whole life has been about making that profession respectable."
Ken Hendricks
www.SolutionsRoofing.com

hughjazz

I had a funny thought this morning.
Jim the butcher works in a pork salughter house. As he arrives at work he walks in the door with his buddy Bill. As they get dressed Jim and bill talk about the weekend coming up. As they head out to the work station. Jim sees a box on his bench. He opens the box and sees a new meat cleaver inside. It was the one he had recently ordered. The old one had a cracked handle.
Barely able to contain his excitement He yells "Bill you gotta come over here and see my new "Hammer"
Get it? "HAM" mer


Man I laughed at that....

Quinn

Ive got a 14oz Stilleto. The sales man said it has the same impact as a 24oz steele hammer.I dont know if thats true but it definetly makes a day of framing nicer.

suzuki0702

i love my douglas. right now its down because the handle broke. only problem with it is finding the handles. when u get em get two! western tool supply.com usually has em in stock. ive been using it for over 3 years now and no rust!

pfloyd

Ive got an 18 ounce stiletto. Awesome. It beats a 24.For too many years I thought bigger is better for framing and it just aint. You dont need much hammer weight for three inch nails. Before that, I always had California Framers. The final straw was a 24 ounce CF with fiberglass shank that eventually gave me tennis elbow, everyday at around 2 , I couldn't bend my arm anymore. It's the fiberglass, it amplifies vibration and the head weight was too heavy. Think about it, all the weight you drive down has to be pulled back up, and its all on your tendons. After 15 years of fighting that weight you will have problems. Stay light.
The only drawback with titanium is it chips and sparks, dont use around vapours or any flammable gas. Man, Ive seen it really firework off concrete!

2ndGen

Painted hammer handles...why?
Blue, black, whatever...why have manufacturers decided to make hammers "less" safe? Why is color more appealing than safety?

When I've used painted hammers, after a while, when my hands are sweaty, I can't get a good grip and they tend to slip more. Why why why!

Grrr!

(oh, that's right, I don't "have to" buy them! )

__________________
"I've been up on the roof. I know what those guys go through.
My whole life has been about making that profession respectable."
Ken Hendricks
www.SolutionsRoofing.com

TempestV

Varnished is just as bad though.

Soon after I bought my Kobalt, it got misplaced at the job, and left out in the rain. I got there the next day, and found that the paint had taken quite a beating, and wore off very quickly after that. No Varnish and no paint is the way to go. Now I tape my hammer handles like a hockey stick as soon as I buy them, and that works great.

2ndGen

I was considering wrapping my handle with road bicycle hadlebar tape. It's expensive, but a roll should last you for a few hammers. I wanted to get the leather tape.

But first, I wanted to strip any finish my handle has on it then stain and clear coat the handle (from the grip up). Before applying the finish, I was thinking about scribing in some sort of design, then staining it a nice dark mahogany-like color.

I picked up a tip on strengthening the neck...wrap it right below the head about one inch with tape (electrical, duct, whatever). I added on to that by first wrapping the neck with wire.

Another buddy of mine cuts the handle down to about 10" for his own personal preference. Then, he saws grooves into the handle for grip. Not too deep, but just enough to cause some sort of friction.

I've seen handles with holes drilled in them (I guess for circulation) where the handles is held by the hand, but I can't see that as safe. I can imagine it breaking under stress real easy.

__________________
"I've been up on the roof. I know what those guys go through.
My whole life has been about making that profession respectable."
Ken Hendricks
www.SolutionsRoofing.com

TempestV

I've worked with a guy that used the bicycle grip tape. I borrowed his hammer a few times, and it seemed to work pretty well.
on the job I'm on now there is a guy that carved a spiral groove into his hammer handle for grip.
I take athletic tape and twist it to make kind of a rope, then wrap it around the handle about once an inch, then wrap over that with tape. I wanted more grip on my hammer, and one of the guys I work with wraps his handle with athletic tape, and it seemed to work except that every so often, he would rip off the tape and replace it. I've never had a grip on a hockey stick wear out, so I did it the same way on my hammer, and it works great.

2ndGen

+ YouTube Video

__________________
"I've been up on the roof. I know what those guys go through.
My whole life has been about making that profession respectable."
Ken Hendricks
www.SolutionsRoofing.com

john5mt

Well i did it... I went out and got the tibone. I will report back once i get to use it a little.

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1st Gen tradesman
My summer job in college became my profession

TempestV

I came across a deal- a vaughn ti-tech for $20, so I figured that it was a good chance to see if a titanium hammer was worth it. The more I use the thing, the more I like it. It's got a straight handle on it, When I find a store that stocks California handles to fit it, I'm going to cut off the old handle and replace it, and I'll probably like it even more. I cut a leather pad to go in the head, it was a little thicker than the original rubber one, so I ended up having to drive the bolt in till it reached the threads, put red loctite on the threads, and tightened it till I thought it was going to strip, and the head hasn't loosened up yet.

john5mt

you know how everyone is always complaining about the bolt coming loose on the tibone? i was reading in the instructions and they tell you to put thread locker on it.

__________________
1st Gen tradesman
My summer job in college became my profession

john5mt

Pretty sure i am loving this ti bone. Takes a little gettting used to. But i think it swings way better than wood handled stiletto

__________________
1st Gen tradesman
My summer job in college became my profession

the specialist

I use the Ti-tech. I love it, the hammer is light and powerful. I have no problems with the steel head or caps coming loose. I like the dalluge and the stilletos also but the titanium is not durable enough for the price.

Dirtywhiteboy

I've got one too it sits in my truck and the 21oz. vaughn dose all the banggin unless I've got small stuff goin on I do like the changable head, untill I'm up top banggin facshia and it comes loose

Dirtywhiteboy

I take a strip of gun nails fold em in half and use im like a rasp on the handle

Dirtywhiteboy

I tried locktight and it still came loose

KennMacMoragh

Another non-Titanium fan, I don't like the feel of them either. Everyone claims you get the same striking power, I can notice a difference though, and you do not, unless you swing a lot faster.

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