Stiletto Framing Hammer?

Zulu

Just my general use bags; When I’m doing trim, cabinets etc I have one single pouch I clip on my belt that holds a tape, pencil, scribe, small combo sq, the rest of my tools are on the work station or scattered all over the floor! or in one of the cabinet drawers! [where did I put that drill bit] sorry I know the OP was about hammers but the post showing the tool belt got me thinking about hand tools pouches etc BTW Stanley tools are not over priced Marlboros are I gotta quit...... soon

TempestV

I don't know what I would do without a hammer. Oh, and $100 is cheap, the ti-bone like I use is $250 new. Personally, I got mine used for $75, and while it was definitely worth that much, I don't know if it was worth $250. It's certainly close though. My Ti-tech was 20 bucks used, and I would say it's worth about $80-90, which is pretty close to the new price.

I was working with a guy this summer that used a ti-tech. He claims that he flat out couldn't work with out it. In fact, his doctor recommended he get it after he broke his wrist. Using a regular hammer apparently would do his wrist in, but the ti-tech works just fine.

There are a lot of other advantages to the titanium hammers as well. I noticed the difference in weight the first time I took out my 20 oz steel hammer and dropped in my Ti-tech. The Ti-bone is even lighter. The titanum handle on my ti-bone is as far as I can tell, stronger than a steel handle for prying, yet feels more like a wood handle while hammering, so it doesn't mess up my wrist like a steel hammer does.

As for using a hammer, I still pound a lot of nails. Sometimes you need a couple 16's when the gun is loaded with 8's. I'm not going to unload the gun and load it again, shoot 2 or 3 nails, and then swap out the nails again.
Also, sometimes you need to tack something when the gun is on the other side of the building. With the nail in the nail starter, I have way more reach to tack something than I do with the gun.

I think it's telling that very very few people regret dropping $100 or even $250 on a hammer after using it for a short time.

KennMacMoragh

^^ Which one are you talking about? This one?

TempestV

That is a ti-tech by Vaughn. They cost about $100, although I got mine used for $20. Mine looks more like the one that Hughjazz posted a picture of:

Except that the hockey tape is black instead of camo, and it covers the entire handle.

This is a ti-bone, by Stiletto, which costs $250, and is what I use now.



Mine is an older model, without the nail puller on the side of the head, and with a straight handle instead of the axe handle in the picture.

KennMacMoragh

Are you sure that Stiletto wouldn't put the same wear and tear on your joints as the Estwings?

TempestV

Absolutely. I've used a steel hammer before, can't stand them. For me at least, the ti-bone doesn't feel any different than a wood hammer as far as vibration.

woodworkbykirk

hows it feel on your foot. thanks for showing off your narly toes btw

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john5mt

Lol

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TempestV

For the record, those aren't my feet. Go to page 3, where Hughjazz posted those pics originally. He might have some ugly feet, but he happens to have the same hammers I do, so I used his pics again as reference.

kyle_dmr

Am I the only one to of snapped a Ti-bone in half? Was a sad sad day. I have since then replaced it with another.







And it was broken by accident. When it fell into the carriage of my boom and got snapped.

wallmaxx

THOR will be most displeased with your careless regard for his finely crafted weapon of nail destruction. Beware of storm clouds......the next lightning bolt has your name on it.

A-RON

You are right!

I have had nothing but great success.

My suggestion, use a small headed hammer.. use it for 5 months (for hell). Then buy the Vaughan Cal. Framer. You will rarely miss / bend a nail! A 12D is a one swing at the correct leverage for me.

2ndGen

Anybody here drop from a 16oz Musclehead Stiletto to a 14oz Titan Stiletto?

For me, I noticed a huge difference.

At first I didn't, but once I got used to using the 14ozer all the time,
once I picked up a 16ozer, it felt (gasp) heavy!



Imagine that? A 16oz Ti Framer feeling heavy?

AND!

I can put in the same work with the 14ozer that I do with the 16ozer!

__________________
"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

Inner10

I still haven't put a new handle on my 14oz and I've been using an old eastwing.

A dozen dealers in the city and no one has a handle in stock, thoes that I asked to get me one have yet to call back....now I'm at a fork do I order one online just to have it break in 2 months? Do I get the Ti-bone and keep the other far a backup or get something different?

I called TTI US and the guy told me they can bond a poly-fiber handle to my head if I send it in, her refered me to TTI Canada. Called TTI Canada and they said that I can't put a poly handle onto a 14Oz head because it takes the tear-drop not the square end....but it looks like they have them on the website??

So I asked TTI if I can trade in my 14oz for a partial credit towards a Ti-Bone. The lady said "sorry we don't have any promotions like that at this time". C'mon, I'm willing to spend money to have this fixed and they won't throw me a bone (no pun intended)?

Makes a nice 14oz Paperweight.

2ndGen

That sucks.

Personally, I've only used my Stilettos for nailing.

For any heavy duty work, I've used my Estwings.

Did you try just sending them the handle and letting them check it for defects?

It shouldn't cost you anymore than a buck.

I'd try that.

__________________
"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

Inner10

Gen, I don't have to send it back to check for defects, the defect is the F**cking end snapped of the POS.

This was the response from one the the local tool stores:

Me: I broke it again.

Salesman: Well when you pull a nail twist the hammer from side to side then pull it straight back bla bla bla.

Me: Thanks I didn't know how to pull a nail out now all my problems are solved. It broke when I was ripping a board off, not pulling a nail...this time.

Salesman: Well maby you should get a different hammer for ripping boards down.

Me: If I can't flip a hammer around and pull something out with it as far as I'm concerned its as usless as tits on a bull...much like this hammer is now, espicially since you don't have any handles in stock.

...I've got alot of great suggestions from think-tanks like the above salesman but the bottom line is the hammer can't take the abuse I want to throw at it....answer: new hammer.

2ndGen

I use pry bars to pry boards (or anything else).
I don't even really use the Stiletto to pry fully depressed 16D nails.
I use their cat's paw (which is great).


Their replacement handles are only $21.85-$22.40 (w/S&H).
http://store.stilettotools.com/Detail.bok?no=11
http://store.stilettotools.com/Detail.bok?no=70


Stiletto warns of using their wood handled hammers for prying.

I may have written this before, and excuse me if I am repeating myself, but I remember reading Stiletto instructions that stated that they strongly suggested that their wood handled hammers be used for nailing only and that task specific tools (i.e. pry bars, cat's paws, etc...) be used for prying duties.

Even with my wood handled steel hammers, I never used them for prying.
I just don't trust wood for that type of stuff.
For that, all steel.



Tell you what, if you're that fed up, I'd GLADLY take that hammer head off of your hands.

__________________
"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

Tinstaafl

You just destroyed any temptation I might have had to try one. It's got a frikkin' claw on it, right? So what's that for, picking your nose?

Sheesh.

2ndGen

Use one.

Save your arm.

It's not too much to have 2 hammers (one for basic work, one for demo).

Trust you me, very few turn away once they come over to the Dark Side!



(Besides, demoing is better with proper tools like pry bars...like Stanley's FUBAR)

__________________
"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

Tinstaafl

Well, certainly more efficient. Nevertheless, a well designed tool should have the proper strength factors, and be self-limiting when used normally. In this case that would be a shorter claw or a stronger handle.

As for saving the arm, that's where modern air tools come in. I probably use my hammer more for nudging stuff into place and demo than actual nailing.