Milled Head Vs. Smooth Head

jcalvin

Like to hear everyone ring in on milled or smooth hammer heads. What do you use and why you like it.

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Cal


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neolitic

Are we stuck with a one-size-fits-all
hammer?
Then smooth.
I'd be forced to shoot a guy
hanging C grade cedar lap
with a 32oz waffle head.
A like fate would be justified were
the same hammer used on a
four piece crown molding job.

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Teetorbilt

What Neo said. I've never owned one of those waffle thingies.

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Kingfisher

Milled/waffle for framing and smooth for all else is all ways what I was taught

jcalvin

let me play dumb and ask why the waffle/milled for framing. I have used them and cannot see a large difference, except for the crummy looking pattern it leaves on the wood.

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KillerToiletSpider

Ball pein hammers are all smooth face, I don't own a claw hammer.

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CJ Handyman

The waffle face is to help those who can't swing straight.

Teetorbilt

CJ, If you're saying that they won't bend nails I'm out the door!

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CJ Handyman

No, I'm saying it helps keep the head from slipping off of the nail because they can't hit square. And that will certainly bend a lot of nails.

BuiltByMAC

Not sure I understand the reasoning behind the question... dif. faced hammers are used for dif. applications. That's like asking which you like better, pliers or tin snips.
As mentioned above, smooth face are good for finish applications (siding, interior molding), waffle face are a better choice for rough framing applications.

Mac

Edit to add: Framers are more likely to find themselves in a position where it's more difficult to swing straight at the nail (hanging over a rafter tail, in the middle of trusses, hanging off a ladder 20' up) - any help from the hammer head is great...

jcalvin

Thanks Mac. That makes since about not being able to swing straight on all the time. I may have to put the ol 21oz Hart back in the tool box now.

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TempestV

I've always preferred smooth face- I've never really seen any advantage to waffle face hammers, only downsides.
That being said, my framing hammer was a waffle face because when I needed a new hammer, I couldn't find a decent framer in smooth face. Was refers to the fact that there isn't much waffle print left.
My finish hammer is actually an old hart smooth face framer with a really short California framer handle on it.

2ndGen

Milled head (always when possible).
Best nail grip.

Smooth for finish work.

straight line

Milled face hammers are nice for coated nails "sinkers".

Teetorbilt

Dad taught me how to grind a hammer face for finish work, use it too. Not a lot of dimples in my work.

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Michaeljp86

Ive never used the waffle hammer, I never had any problems running nails in even hanging off a ladder.

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RobertCDF

Both. But I prefer my waffle (now mostly smooth) it seems the smooth have are a little more convex and the waffle faces seem to be a little flatter. It could just be the differance in the manufactures.

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FramingPro

right now i use a 16 oz smooth face for everything but i do alot of framing in the summer so i want a heavier one with a milled face so im thinkig the 22oz wavex or the 22oz fat max wooden hammer

pinwheel

In my early 20's, I bought the heaviest waffle head estwing made. New to the trade with a lot to prove (so I thought) I didn't think I'd make it through that first 3 months of framing. My thumb joint was constantly hamburger. Bout the time it would just about heal up, I'd smack that sumbitch again. But I was a tough pup, I never let em see me cry......I'd slink off to the porta pot to do that.

brendanstl

Milled= Framing Smooth= Finish.... My milled face is now worn down smooth anyway but its a vaughn and they are removable.