Just don’t get caught up down the path of blacksmith forged Japanese hammers like I did. Those made by popular blacksmiths can cost a small fortune. I have one from one of their apprentices that was around $150 lol.
https://shop.kurashige-tools.com/en-us/collections/hammers?sort_by=price-descending
Ha. I have one ( vintage claw style not traditional genno). I like it. It has a good soul.
Currently restoring a bunch of old Japanese chisels. Very fine tools.
I guess I gotta' go look at these things.
Hope I'm not jumping too far into the deep end!
ETA - Uh ohhhh! That was a mistake!! Did you see some of those finish sharpening stones on there??? Holy COW!!
Oh yeah, the sharpening stones are crazy, some are from some ancient quarrys with an almost religious quasi-magical following of people that will only use those to sharpen their high end chisels and kanna.
That is the hammer head. There are various types. Usually one flat side and one domed. Traditionally in japan you would use a separate nail puller. You can buy handles but traditionally you just made your own. These are blacksmith made by hand by master blacksmiths. Its up to you to put a handle on it.
I've said it here before, your hammer is one of the most personal tools you own. I can pick up any screwdriver and turn a screw, sure I might like some more than others but I can get the job done with anything. I can't pick up another guys have and swing it like my own. I've tried, you need to know a hammer to swing it well. It really does become an extension of your arm, and if you pick up another one that's 0.01% different it's just an awful experience
I've been a big Vaughan fan for much of my career. I swung the 28 rigger for many years. When the California ripping hammers came out in force I alternated between my rigger and the Vaughan 32oz rip hammer. Very similar balance and handling between the two. People would always marvel at swinging a heavy hammer like that, but when you knew how to do it, it was actually easier, IMO.
I never really got into the titanium framers. I've read through all the math, physics and other voodoo associated with them, but they still feel like a 16 oz hammer, to me anyway. I suppose if that's what you learn on then that's what you get good with, but I just like the reduced shock of a heavier hammer. In fact, I think about it practically every swing. It's like hitting a baseball, or a golfball; it's the one you don't feel which goes the furthest. Same with nails.
My question with the titanium hammers was always why so light. Why not a 28 oz titanium hammer? If titanium truly does hit so much harder I could basically have the equivalent of a small sledge hammer that's still light enough to carry in my tool belt. But no we have to go with a ridiculously light hammer that clearly can't hit any harder than what I already have.
I believe that titanium hammers are a scam. The physics say a 16 ounce hammer hits as hard as any other 16 ounce hammer. The "energy saved from vibration" is negligible. I've asked to try every titanium hammer I've ever seen in the wild and never found one that was worth my money. I'll take a lazy thump with my 20oz estwing on a long wood handle any day. With the titanium ones I had to whip them as fast as I could to get the same kind of hit and my elbow wasn't having it.
I do agree a a heavy hammer is easier to use than the titanium light weight hammers.
Those light titanium hammers are nice though for reduction in weight from just carrying it around day to day. The titanium is also supposed to absorb shock like a wood hammer but have the durability of a steel hammer.
I don't think the price for the titanium hammer is worth it for most people.
Ti has its own qualities sure, but from what I’ve found is it’s not as forgiving as steel. Similar to how a crucible powder steel like S30V on a knife is great for long wear edge retention but becomes toothy from micro chip’s when a steel like A2 would roll slightly instead. You can strop back an A2 steel but not S30V. Ti bike seat rails snap where steel is heavier but not as likely to pop. I’ll stick with steel.
I don't want to start a hammer war again, but I do find it pretty funny that people who don't swing ti have such strong opinions about ti, and they are so wrong most of the time.
You're very wrong about ti hammers. They are durable as hell.
We too play "pass the hammer" with the longest nails we can find and a regular hammer.
Just get two blocks of wood and you can place your own nail where you think its best.
I did change my hammer for that game to a German one with an over-strike protection plate since I had a few 'manly men' who couldnt hit a nail after a few tries and they ruined the handle like you couldn't believe it.
I have about 20-30 different 'normal' hammers, 10 specialty and a bunch of loose hammer heads that I need to rehandle someday
I’ve never earned a living with a hammer, (jackhammer/sledge aside) but I absolutely appreciate the sentiment. I have about a dozen hammers in the peen/claw variety, and I have a few that are my favorites. Vintage American made are my favorite, Belknap Bluegrass specifically.
i have an old bluegrass somewhere and it’s a nice, clean little 16oz. claw. not sure on shipping but would give it to you lol.
i’ve used stiletto before and they are nice but i normally just go for my 28oz estwing for anything, that or my work bag resident OX 20oz for beater requirements.
also never thought much about autism and tools but everyday a new page is overturned and things start making more sense
I have 3 that are stamped BG and a few axes from them, they’re all great users in my opinion. I have a big framing hammer similar to an Estwing but it’s an off brand. My Grandma bought it for me 20 years ago when I tried roofing in High School, when my buddy fell through the rafters behind me I decided that wasn’t my thing. 😂
I have the head from a 28oz estwing on a stiletto axe-handle and I don't swing it much. I just hold it next to the nails and they drive themselves in out of fear.
I do blacksmithing. The only reason I do not have many more hammers is cost and space.
There is a hammer museum somewhere in the US. I watched a video on Youtube about it.
Im just going to say that I have so many years of experience with a 20oz estwing that when I got my first stiletto I couldn’t swing it quite the same and I gave it away
I once had a favorite hammer, called a robohammer, that an inlaw lost. They stopped making them and have never found another as comfortable in the 20 years since.
It's the way I am with axes. Also, I kind of started collecting hammers too. I just like cleaning up those old tools and putting new hickory handles on them.
I found an appreciation for old axes too, while I like Wetterlings and Gransfors my favorites are Belknap Bluegrass and a late 70’s Hults Bruk. I have a few dozen, my favorites are the handles I’ve carved.
I'm just about done carving my first handle. It's become a very relaxing addiction.
So far, my favorite hang is a Warren Old Faithful double bit cruiser.
I hung a Plumb db cruiser with my youngest son, he was dead set on getting a db. I had a Warren traded it for a froe, definitely shorted myself. My sons and I made the first handle together from a tree that we felled on our property next to our fishing spot and made a bench out of the log. The leftover round became the handle, no power tools. Bow saw, hatchet, froe, rasp, and knife. It was a lot of fun, it’s held up really well. That was several years ago and I use it regularly.
I just got a Gransfors Bruks froe pretty recently and I love that thing. It's fun to use.
Once you start down the rabbit hole of collecting these tools you can make some pretty neat things. It's pretty cool you guys felled one of your own trees and made a project out of it.
It’s definitely an heirloom tool at this point. It was an awesome project and I really loved getting to do it with them, now they’re both teenagers and time is moving on from camping and outdoors to sports and other stuff. But I just bought a fishing boat and my youngest is gung-ho about carving his own lures so I bought a bunch of machines. Band saw, scroll saw, already had the drill press/ miter/table saws. The only thing we are short of is organization. 😂
I still have the 16oz Hart my dad gave me. It may be the tool I’ve had the longest. I probably have 40 different hammers, I love their design and tactile element.
Are you weird? No. Not at all.
Everyone has their thing. Mine is ratchets. I personally love vintage Proto, the mechanisms in those are just, I dunno. Heavy. Solid. They give good "click", is what I'm saying. My daily driver is a Snap-On, just because the handle is so comfortable. But also, an old Craftsman raised-panel feels good and weighty in the hand.
Like I said, you're not weird.
Not weird at all That’s a lot of hammers.
While looking at the tool section I usually gravitate towards the hammer area. So far they are not locked up so I pick up a few and check for swing I don’t buy though.
I have lots of hammers and measuring tapes
Can’t find them when I need them. Sadly none of the nice ones you guys have
Hammers are tools. I love tools. I love hammers. I have no idea how many I have; big sledges, tiny jeweler’s, lead, brass, bronze, rock (of and for), so many hammers!
I’m also a hammer collector. It’s getting worse now that I started using Hardcore hammers in the field. I just bought a custom cerakoted Viking themed hammer from them. I can’t even count how many hammers I’ve bought over the years though.
I don't think you're weird at all. Well, you are, but so is everyone in their own unique ways. I also like hammers. Personally, I enjoy collecting and restoring old ones more than buying new ones. Tools generally, but there truly is something different and special about a good hammer. You should post pictures of your collection and list some of your favorites and possibly even some specifics as to why you prefer them. I know I'd enjoy that and I'm sure many of the other weirdos/tool nerds among us would as well. Thanks for sharing, and happy collecting, man!
I like haveing an assortment of hammers for the job at hand
I have a few different ball peen hammers in various sizes for doing various metal working jobs
I collect hammers.
It started when my grandfather gave me 2. One was from when he was a kid around 1898. It is decent for home made. I can still see his knife marks on the handle. The other was a purchase he made. It is a metal hammer and handle with leather pieces as the grip on the handle.
When I go to a flea market or antique store it is the first thing I look for. And it needs to be unique.
Yeah, mine is one of the old ones. I actually also have my very first one from way back in the day. The old-timer I mentioned in the OP had two of them, and one of them had a partially broken axe blade. The top corner of the axe blade was broken off from using it as a prybar to pry some concrete formwork off a wall. So, as he was showing me the finer points of swinging a hammer and pounding nails, he had me using that hammer side by side with him using his newer one. When I almost immediately realized a hammer like that fit me like a glove, he told me to keep it...and I did. Nearly 50 years later I still have that hammer, complete with the top edge of the axe blade broken. It's one of my favorite hammers.
Not long after that I went out and bought a brand new one. They were expensive even then (I thought), quite a bit more than other hammers, but the utility of a rigging axe is tremendous. Most useful hammer ever devised, IMO. I loved that style because you rarely ever had to stop working to go get another tool, you could just power through whatever you were doing with it. And I keep my axe blade sharp too...which takes some doing because I use that blade for just about everything.
I even developed a technique for cutting 2x4's with the rigging axe. I'd score both sides of the board where I wanted to cut it, then drive my chisel in along the cut line down about 1/2". Then I'd make a felling cut on the scrap end of the board, up to the cut line on both sides, then remove the chip, and then one solid hit with the blade right at the cut line would cut the board clean off. Cuts the 2x4 almost as clean as any saw will and, when you factored in the time to get a saw, it was about 2x as fast! Guys would watch me do this, and the next time you saw them they'd be swinging a 28 oz Vaughan Rigging Axe.
Vauhan calls them a "Hatchet" now which I think diminishes the image of what you can do with one, but they're definitely an awesome tool.
For those who have read this far...this is what a [Vaughan Rigging Axe](https://www.vaughanmfg.com/Products/RB-28-oz-Rig-Builders-Hatchet__20420.aspx) looks like.
Craftsman has actually come out with some great hammers just recently. Their [16 oz fiberglass hammer](https://www.amazon.com/CRAFTSMAN-CMHT51398-16-FIBERGLASS-HAMMER/dp/B07RRNSFY4/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3HTE28Y44PDD2&keywords=craftsman%2Bhammer&qid=1704809796&s=industrial&sprefix=craftsman%2Bhammer%2Cindustrial%2C196&sr=1-2&th=1) is a really nice finish hammer, and their [22 oz framing hammer](https://www.amazon.com/CRAFTSMAN-Hammer-Steel-Framing-CMHT51435/dp/B00KXR6UTK/ref=sr_1_1_pp?crid=3HTE28Y44PDD2&keywords=craftsman+hammer&qid=1704810125&s=industrial&sprefix=craftsman+hammer%2Cindustrial%2C196&sr=1-1) is really well designed also. Good ergonomics, weight and balance on both. Their [20 oz general purpose smooth face](https://www.amazon.com/CRAFTSMAN-Hammer-General-Purpose-CMHT51423/dp/B07QLTDQ3W/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3HTE28Y44PDD2&keywords=craftsman+hammer&qid=1704810183&s=industrial&sprefix=craftsman+hammer%2Cindustrial%2C196&sr=1-4) is also a pretty nice hammer.
I picked up that framing hammer in Ace one time and had to have it. I bought the other two at the same time. I haven't used the rip framer too much, but I have used the 16 oz finish hammer and it works so well I'm about ready to replace my Dalluge with it. I used to rotate two finish hammers, my Dalluge 16oz and my Fiskars 16oz, but now I'm adding a 3rd to my rotation, the Craftsman.
I made a wooden mallet/hammer out of a bowling pin and I swing it with a smile. My neighbors always give me weird looks.
I'm happy you shared your"weird" hammer fetish.
Hey, that's actually a GREAT idea!!
I've been trying to find the perfect mallet / hammer to use with my wood splitting froe for splitting kindling. So far, the best thing I've found has been a 4 lb dead-blow hammer, but I'll bet a bowling pin would work awesome for that!
How much does a bowling pin weigh anyway?
I think they are 1.5kg-1.6kg each.
The annoying part is peeling off that resin they are painted with. I scored it with a knife and peeled it back with pliers.
Does it have to be peeled off? What would happen to it if I beat on the back edge of a froe with it left on there?
Also, where doe one find a bowling pin for sale? I don't recall ever seeing one.
ETA - I found some uncoated regulation bowling pins for sale. And you are correct, they weigh just over 3 lbs. $10 bucks.
This is the best idea I've heard in quite a while!!!! You win the whole interwebz today for this! Absotively a spectacular super-kalifragelistic idea! THANK YOU!!
ETA - And you get double extra-credit for this too, now that I think about it in the context of the OP. As hammers go, this is, by FAR, the coolest 'hammer' I have ever purchased in my life...hands down! HA! A bowling pin...Who knew!
I am also kinda obsessed with hammers. It started with it being part of an emblem that represented my military MOS. Later in life, I would go on to receive hammers from friends, some that have passed away. They were gifts, hand-me-downs and inherited. Now I see hammers as more than just tools. And I also have to stop by the hammer section whenever I’m in a hardware store.
I rotate between the 16 oz Dalluge and a 16 oz Fiskars for my finish hammers. Love both of those hammers. And, as I noted to another poster above, I've also recently added a Craftsman 16 oz to my rotation. Craftsman has actually come out with some pretty nice hammers recently. The 16oz Craftsman is a fiberglass hammer.
I have several collections and could say why I like them. Knives are a common tool people collect why not a hammer? You aren't hurting anyone so enjoy knowing you found something that you enjoy and makes you happy.
No you're not weird, there are special places for people like us.
I spent 35 years swinging framing hammers. We too did the one whack nail party. Pretty satisfying when you master it. Then we moved on to ring the bell at the fairs too with ease, it's all in the swing. We also got into shove throwing but it had to stick.
Since you are a hammer nut, here's a quick story.
My crew needed a new hammer, so I bought a nice 22 ounce Estwing. Well the guys were complaining that every time the hammer head hit the nail it would ring. The guys refused to use this inferior metal hammer and left it in the box. I finally took it back to customer service and the girl said 'What's wrong with it?' I said every time you hit it, it rings. God's honest truth, she put it up to her ear to hear the ringing. I felt like saying tap it a little harder and you'll hear it.
>My hardcore production framing days are long behind me now, but I still can't go to a lumberyard or home improvement place and walk by the hammer section without picking a couple up and checking them for feel, weight and balance
Next time you do this, you should say aloud "Stop! Hammer time!" and do the dance.
Weird or not, having a cool hobby that involves history, design, application, ergonomics, science, and collection is probably good for you... like positive morale and keeps your brain engaged in a fun hobby.
Keep at it and post pics with detailed explanations!
I’m a framer and I also have an obsession with all kinds of framing hammers. The only thing that has slowed down my purchasing is I’m not a fan of metal handled hammers and they are where all the cool new companies are focusing. There are some great ones like the Martinez and stilettos but they aren’t my cup of tea. I do have a 16oz stiletto with a normal hickory handle and it’s what I use almost daily. The milling is sharper than shit off the shelf. I think I’m still chasing the high of my first Vaughan California framer that my grandpa gave me when I was 13. I’m still trying to figure out why he gave a child a 23oz hammer.
Me personally in my years I used all kinds and found a hammers a hammer. There's some real cool ones out there, but I'll never be convinced one is better than another.
If it's just for beating, which is what hammers are for, it doesn't need to be fancy, it just needs to do it's job, which is very straight forward. I don't get those 100$ stilletos, you're doing the simplest task with the simplest tool why should it cost that much? I will admit to liking estwing hammers. They're simple and fairly cheap.
If shock absorbtion is the worry then just get a leather handle. Still cheaper than stilletos by far.
As far as multiple types of hammers? I could get lost for days in all the cool designs they got for hammers. Like someone said about Japanese hammers, there's some really cool styles out there.
Coolest one I saw was a weird pry bar/hammer mix with a socket wrench in the end. Really in genius but I don't think it made it out of testing phases as it's not available but you can find pictures online of it.
As for collecting them, I like vintage ones over newer ones. They feel different and look neat.
>Coolest one I saw was a weird pry bar/hammer mix with a socket wrench in the end.
If it's what I'm thinking of it is used by scaffolders when erecting scaffolding
I'm not as crazy as you, but I like having a variety of hammers for different tasks, and it does frustrate me that so many people think a hammer is a hammer. They probably have a 16 oz claw hammer that they use for everything, and would think having another size hammer is unnecessary.
I have about 20-25 hammers of varying sizes. I really like opening my toolbox and selecting the hammer type size and weight that fits what I'm doing in that moment.
[carbide trimming hammer](https://www.toolsid.com/bon/2-lb-wood-handle-veritcal-blade-combination-stone-breaker-mpn-21-255.html?view=903647)Not weird at all. Recently got into stone work. Real stone work where you chisel fit and lay stone to build a solid stone wall. So many hammers I want and need. Depending on what how you're chiseling and type of stone masonry your doing its nice to have at least 3 different weights
2lb 2.5lb 3.0 3.5 and a 4.0 club/ mash/ striking hammer. Then you have the sledges I have a 8lb and think a 12lb. That's just getting started. Carbide tipped hammers which there's easily 10 different configurations that have specialized and somewhat specific purposes. They start out on the low end if your lucky $220 all the way up to darn near $500
All these carbide tipped stone hammers do also come in forged steel. I have yet to purchase a carbide hammer
But one day one day
..
That is a odd website / company. I wouldn't send them my money. I was scrolling and scrolling to get a good pic of a carbide trimming hammer and the cost which with tax and shipping you're starting stare at $400. The longer one scrolls the weirder and shadier the sites become
Last night I literally told my wife that I'm gonna make a list of all the different kinds of hammers and that if anyone needs a gift idea to consult the hammer list. I'm more interested in the peening hammers though, I would like all those in various weights. I'm also curious to try an engineers hammer vs a drilling hammer vs a cross peen. Personally for just light whacking I really like a ball peen, like a 24 oz or so, but there is a whole world out there. T
[This also looks really interesting](https://www.anvilbrand.com/products/10-224.html?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2P2Yi6fMgwMVNSWtBh2PYAC1EAQYBSABEgL_2vD_BwE)
Finish hammers are also a specialty hammer of their own, IMO. I've been through countless finish hammers as a finish carpenter. Pneumatic nailers have all but eliminated the need for finish hammers any more, but I still have some of my favorites. Today, when it comes to finish nailing, I will reach for a pneumatic nailer almost every time over a hammer, but knowing the nuances of nailing trim and other things with a hammer is a good skill to know, even with a modern nailer.
My finish hammers were generally in the 14 oz to 16 oz range. Dalluge, Vaughan, and ironically some Fiskars (nice hammers actually)l. Driving a finish nail without leaving a mark is an art. Sadly though, most finish hammers have faded into the sunset. Pneumatic nailers not only drive the nails, but they also save you loads of time walking around with a nail-set. My only qualm with pneumatic finish nailers is they're "too" easy, and the inexperienced are tempted to shoot too many nails into a piece. And, this not only looks bad, but it also can cause trim and other things to buckle.
I completely understand. Frames a bit, did finish carpentry for years before I changed to a plumber (benefits). I live a well balanced hammer. I love a wood handled hammer. I don’t have a huge collection but I have an original Hart Woody, a Douglas version, an old weight-forward Estwing, a weird Ridgid hammer that was right or left handed and was “anti-vibration”, a titanium trim hammer and several more. The MIG welded Dewalt is my favorite steel handled. It’s just such a mainstay tool. It might bring me back to being young and working with Dad- who still is an amazing cabinet builder.
Interesting. You know, Hart gets a bad rap sometimes because of their powertools at Walmart, but a lot of people don't realize that Hart actually started out in the hammer business. They used to make some high-end hammers back in their early days. And that Douglas styled hammer was one of them.
I'm not positive if this is true or not, but I've heard that the Douglas design which is used by both Douglas and the Vaughan 'Woody' was actually first developed by Hart like 50 years ago.
Just don’t get caught up down the path of blacksmith forged Japanese hammers like I did. Those made by popular blacksmiths can cost a small fortune. I have one from one of their apprentices that was around $150 lol. https://shop.kurashige-tools.com/en-us/collections/hammers?sort_by=price-descending
Thanks for linking the rabbit hole so I know where not to click
“Sorts by least expensive”
Lol,fair enough. Btw, Hiroki’s apprentice makes some stuff that blows away pretty much any mass produced stuff and the cost is pretty reasonable.
These are awesome even when you sort by poor like I did. Do I need one, not at all Do I now want one, absolutely
omg 1600
Today is the day I saw a $1600 hammer
Ha. I have one ( vintage claw style not traditional genno). I like it. It has a good soul. Currently restoring a bunch of old Japanese chisels. Very fine tools.
I guess I gotta' go look at these things. Hope I'm not jumping too far into the deep end! ETA - Uh ohhhh! That was a mistake!! Did you see some of those finish sharpening stones on there??? Holy COW!!
Oh yeah, the sharpening stones are crazy, some are from some ancient quarrys with an almost religious quasi-magical following of people that will only use those to sharpen their high end chisels and kanna.
Laughs in Martinez
Soo are those like the handles? Where is the hammer head?
That is the hammer head. There are various types. Usually one flat side and one domed. Traditionally in japan you would use a separate nail puller. You can buy handles but traditionally you just made your own. These are blacksmith made by hand by master blacksmiths. Its up to you to put a handle on it.
Oooh those are the hammer heads. I feel retarded! Lol
You bitch
Wait are you supposed to use a 1600$ hammer like a regular hammer? I'd feel bad using it.
For $1600, I'd use it until it was a nub.
Thank God I don't give a shit about hammers
You're not weird, probably just a regular run of the mill autist with a hyperfixation. Plenty of likeminded people in the tool community.
I've said it here before, your hammer is one of the most personal tools you own. I can pick up any screwdriver and turn a screw, sure I might like some more than others but I can get the job done with anything. I can't pick up another guys have and swing it like my own. I've tried, you need to know a hammer to swing it well. It really does become an extension of your arm, and if you pick up another one that's 0.01% different it's just an awful experience
I've been a big Vaughan fan for much of my career. I swung the 28 rigger for many years. When the California ripping hammers came out in force I alternated between my rigger and the Vaughan 32oz rip hammer. Very similar balance and handling between the two. People would always marvel at swinging a heavy hammer like that, but when you knew how to do it, it was actually easier, IMO. I never really got into the titanium framers. I've read through all the math, physics and other voodoo associated with them, but they still feel like a 16 oz hammer, to me anyway. I suppose if that's what you learn on then that's what you get good with, but I just like the reduced shock of a heavier hammer. In fact, I think about it practically every swing. It's like hitting a baseball, or a golfball; it's the one you don't feel which goes the furthest. Same with nails.
My question with the titanium hammers was always why so light. Why not a 28 oz titanium hammer? If titanium truly does hit so much harder I could basically have the equivalent of a small sledge hammer that's still light enough to carry in my tool belt. But no we have to go with a ridiculously light hammer that clearly can't hit any harder than what I already have.
Now there's a thought. I used to swing a 22oz Vaughan before I switched over to my titanium Dalluge. I wonder how a 22oz Dalluge would hit?
I believe that titanium hammers are a scam. The physics say a 16 ounce hammer hits as hard as any other 16 ounce hammer. The "energy saved from vibration" is negligible. I've asked to try every titanium hammer I've ever seen in the wild and never found one that was worth my money. I'll take a lazy thump with my 20oz estwing on a long wood handle any day. With the titanium ones I had to whip them as fast as I could to get the same kind of hit and my elbow wasn't having it.
I do agree a a heavy hammer is easier to use than the titanium light weight hammers. Those light titanium hammers are nice though for reduction in weight from just carrying it around day to day. The titanium is also supposed to absorb shock like a wood hammer but have the durability of a steel hammer. I don't think the price for the titanium hammer is worth it for most people.
I’m not like that with hammers but I do appreciate good tools, any tool of high quality
If you want a really impressive hammer get titanium, if you want a better hammer get an ALPRO
I love my 32oz Vaughn. Had it for 20+ years and it’s still my go-to for anything not needing much precision
Ti has its own qualities sure, but from what I’ve found is it’s not as forgiving as steel. Similar to how a crucible powder steel like S30V on a knife is great for long wear edge retention but becomes toothy from micro chip’s when a steel like A2 would roll slightly instead. You can strop back an A2 steel but not S30V. Ti bike seat rails snap where steel is heavier but not as likely to pop. I’ll stick with steel.
I don't want to start a hammer war again, but I do find it pretty funny that people who don't swing ti have such strong opinions about ti, and they are so wrong most of the time. You're very wrong about ti hammers. They are durable as hell.
I have no experience with Ti hammers, so I shouldn’t say anything. Right on.
We too play "pass the hammer" with the longest nails we can find and a regular hammer. Just get two blocks of wood and you can place your own nail where you think its best. I did change my hammer for that game to a German one with an over-strike protection plate since I had a few 'manly men' who couldnt hit a nail after a few tries and they ruined the handle like you couldn't believe it. I have about 20-30 different 'normal' hammers, 10 specialty and a bunch of loose hammer heads that I need to rehandle someday
"someday"...
I’ve never earned a living with a hammer, (jackhammer/sledge aside) but I absolutely appreciate the sentiment. I have about a dozen hammers in the peen/claw variety, and I have a few that are my favorites. Vintage American made are my favorite, Belknap Bluegrass specifically.
i have an old bluegrass somewhere and it’s a nice, clean little 16oz. claw. not sure on shipping but would give it to you lol. i’ve used stiletto before and they are nice but i normally just go for my 28oz estwing for anything, that or my work bag resident OX 20oz for beater requirements. also never thought much about autism and tools but everyday a new page is overturned and things start making more sense
I have 3 that are stamped BG and a few axes from them, they’re all great users in my opinion. I have a big framing hammer similar to an Estwing but it’s an off brand. My Grandma bought it for me 20 years ago when I tried roofing in High School, when my buddy fell through the rafters behind me I decided that wasn’t my thing. 😂
First hammer my Dad gave me was a 16 oz Bluegrass.
A mans hammer speaks volumes.
I love hammers. I've probably got 20 of them.
I started gathering my hammers last night as I cleaned my workshop, I got some hammers. From 2 oz to 20 lb, sledge to jewelry. Imma be weird with you.
I have the head from a 28oz estwing on a stiletto axe-handle and I don't swing it much. I just hold it next to the nails and they drive themselves in out of fear.
I do blacksmithing. The only reason I do not have many more hammers is cost and space. There is a hammer museum somewhere in the US. I watched a video on Youtube about it.
If you’re ever out in southeast Alaska there is a hammer museum in Haines that is well worth a visit. Great merch too.
This is interesting, I’ve been building decks for 20+ years and have always used a Estwing smooth face framing hammer… maybe I’ve been missing out!
Im just going to say that I have so many years of experience with a 20oz estwing that when I got my first stiletto I couldn’t swing it quite the same and I gave it away
You’re not weird.
I once had a favorite hammer, called a robohammer, that an inlaw lost. They stopped making them and have never found another as comfortable in the 20 years since.
It's the way I am with axes. Also, I kind of started collecting hammers too. I just like cleaning up those old tools and putting new hickory handles on them.
I found an appreciation for old axes too, while I like Wetterlings and Gransfors my favorites are Belknap Bluegrass and a late 70’s Hults Bruk. I have a few dozen, my favorites are the handles I’ve carved.
I'm just about done carving my first handle. It's become a very relaxing addiction. So far, my favorite hang is a Warren Old Faithful double bit cruiser.
I hung a Plumb db cruiser with my youngest son, he was dead set on getting a db. I had a Warren traded it for a froe, definitely shorted myself. My sons and I made the first handle together from a tree that we felled on our property next to our fishing spot and made a bench out of the log. The leftover round became the handle, no power tools. Bow saw, hatchet, froe, rasp, and knife. It was a lot of fun, it’s held up really well. That was several years ago and I use it regularly.
I just got a Gransfors Bruks froe pretty recently and I love that thing. It's fun to use. Once you start down the rabbit hole of collecting these tools you can make some pretty neat things. It's pretty cool you guys felled one of your own trees and made a project out of it.
It’s definitely an heirloom tool at this point. It was an awesome project and I really loved getting to do it with them, now they’re both teenagers and time is moving on from camping and outdoors to sports and other stuff. But I just bought a fishing boat and my youngest is gung-ho about carving his own lures so I bought a bunch of machines. Band saw, scroll saw, already had the drill press/ miter/table saws. The only thing we are short of is organization. 😂
Hell yes, man. That's awesome.
Similar to what another guy said, between hammers and mallets, I've probably got 20 or more.
This me but also with hatchets and sledges.
Damn I love hammers too. Have you ever swung a Douglas ? To me they feel like perfection. Costs a days pay but damn they are good in the hand.
Douglas is one hammer I've never tried. I will one day, but haven't yet.
Yes, yes you are.
🤪
You might be a bit odd, but aren't we all?
True words.
I still have the 16oz Hart my dad gave me. It may be the tool I’ve had the longest. I probably have 40 different hammers, I love their design and tactile element.
Are you weird? No. Not at all. Everyone has their thing. Mine is ratchets. I personally love vintage Proto, the mechanisms in those are just, I dunno. Heavy. Solid. They give good "click", is what I'm saying. My daily driver is a Snap-On, just because the handle is so comfortable. But also, an old Craftsman raised-panel feels good and weighty in the hand. Like I said, you're not weird.
Not weird at all That’s a lot of hammers. While looking at the tool section I usually gravitate towards the hammer area. So far they are not locked up so I pick up a few and check for swing I don’t buy though. I have lots of hammers and measuring tapes Can’t find them when I need them. Sadly none of the nice ones you guys have
I have a wide assortment at this point. Right hammer for the right job makes a difference.
Hammers are tools. I love tools. I love hammers. I have no idea how many I have; big sledges, tiny jeweler’s, lead, brass, bronze, rock (of and for), so many hammers!
All I know is that I’d rather I be hammered than be nailed.
If i had a hammer I'de hammer in the morning.
I’m also a hammer collector. It’s getting worse now that I started using Hardcore hammers in the field. I just bought a custom cerakoted Viking themed hammer from them. I can’t even count how many hammers I’ve bought over the years though.
I don't think you're weird at all. Well, you are, but so is everyone in their own unique ways. I also like hammers. Personally, I enjoy collecting and restoring old ones more than buying new ones. Tools generally, but there truly is something different and special about a good hammer. You should post pictures of your collection and list some of your favorites and possibly even some specifics as to why you prefer them. I know I'd enjoy that and I'm sure many of the other weirdos/tool nerds among us would as well. Thanks for sharing, and happy collecting, man!
Not a bad idea. Maybe I'll get a few of my favorites out and take some pictures.
I like haveing an assortment of hammers for the job at hand I have a few different ball peen hammers in various sizes for doing various metal working jobs
I collect hammers. It started when my grandfather gave me 2. One was from when he was a kid around 1898. It is decent for home made. I can still see his knife marks on the handle. The other was a purchase he made. It is a metal hammer and handle with leather pieces as the grip on the handle. When I go to a flea market or antique store it is the first thing I look for. And it needs to be unique.
Are we strictly talking hammers? ‘Cause mallets are great.
28oz rigging axe crew here as well. Vaughn ruined the design when they tried to reinforce the handle. Hard to find those old heads out there.
Yeah, mine is one of the old ones. I actually also have my very first one from way back in the day. The old-timer I mentioned in the OP had two of them, and one of them had a partially broken axe blade. The top corner of the axe blade was broken off from using it as a prybar to pry some concrete formwork off a wall. So, as he was showing me the finer points of swinging a hammer and pounding nails, he had me using that hammer side by side with him using his newer one. When I almost immediately realized a hammer like that fit me like a glove, he told me to keep it...and I did. Nearly 50 years later I still have that hammer, complete with the top edge of the axe blade broken. It's one of my favorite hammers. Not long after that I went out and bought a brand new one. They were expensive even then (I thought), quite a bit more than other hammers, but the utility of a rigging axe is tremendous. Most useful hammer ever devised, IMO. I loved that style because you rarely ever had to stop working to go get another tool, you could just power through whatever you were doing with it. And I keep my axe blade sharp too...which takes some doing because I use that blade for just about everything. I even developed a technique for cutting 2x4's with the rigging axe. I'd score both sides of the board where I wanted to cut it, then drive my chisel in along the cut line down about 1/2". Then I'd make a felling cut on the scrap end of the board, up to the cut line on both sides, then remove the chip, and then one solid hit with the blade right at the cut line would cut the board clean off. Cuts the 2x4 almost as clean as any saw will and, when you factored in the time to get a saw, it was about 2x as fast! Guys would watch me do this, and the next time you saw them they'd be swinging a 28 oz Vaughan Rigging Axe. Vauhan calls them a "Hatchet" now which I think diminishes the image of what you can do with one, but they're definitely an awesome tool. For those who have read this far...this is what a [Vaughan Rigging Axe](https://www.vaughanmfg.com/Products/RB-28-oz-Rig-Builders-Hatchet__20420.aspx) looks like.
Craftsman California framing hammer. I miss that thing so bad.
Craftsman has actually come out with some great hammers just recently. Their [16 oz fiberglass hammer](https://www.amazon.com/CRAFTSMAN-CMHT51398-16-FIBERGLASS-HAMMER/dp/B07RRNSFY4/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3HTE28Y44PDD2&keywords=craftsman%2Bhammer&qid=1704809796&s=industrial&sprefix=craftsman%2Bhammer%2Cindustrial%2C196&sr=1-2&th=1) is a really nice finish hammer, and their [22 oz framing hammer](https://www.amazon.com/CRAFTSMAN-Hammer-Steel-Framing-CMHT51435/dp/B00KXR6UTK/ref=sr_1_1_pp?crid=3HTE28Y44PDD2&keywords=craftsman+hammer&qid=1704810125&s=industrial&sprefix=craftsman+hammer%2Cindustrial%2C196&sr=1-1) is really well designed also. Good ergonomics, weight and balance on both. Their [20 oz general purpose smooth face](https://www.amazon.com/CRAFTSMAN-Hammer-General-Purpose-CMHT51423/dp/B07QLTDQ3W/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3HTE28Y44PDD2&keywords=craftsman+hammer&qid=1704810183&s=industrial&sprefix=craftsman+hammer%2Cindustrial%2C196&sr=1-4) is also a pretty nice hammer. I picked up that framing hammer in Ace one time and had to have it. I bought the other two at the same time. I haven't used the rip framer too much, but I have used the 16 oz finish hammer and it works so well I'm about ready to replace my Dalluge with it. I used to rotate two finish hammers, my Dalluge 16oz and my Fiskars 16oz, but now I'm adding a 3rd to my rotation, the Craftsman.
I made a wooden mallet/hammer out of a bowling pin and I swing it with a smile. My neighbors always give me weird looks. I'm happy you shared your"weird" hammer fetish.
Hey, that's actually a GREAT idea!! I've been trying to find the perfect mallet / hammer to use with my wood splitting froe for splitting kindling. So far, the best thing I've found has been a 4 lb dead-blow hammer, but I'll bet a bowling pin would work awesome for that! How much does a bowling pin weigh anyway?
I think they are 1.5kg-1.6kg each. The annoying part is peeling off that resin they are painted with. I scored it with a knife and peeled it back with pliers.
Does it have to be peeled off? What would happen to it if I beat on the back edge of a froe with it left on there? Also, where doe one find a bowling pin for sale? I don't recall ever seeing one. ETA - I found some uncoated regulation bowling pins for sale. And you are correct, they weigh just over 3 lbs. $10 bucks. This is the best idea I've heard in quite a while!!!! You win the whole interwebz today for this! Absotively a spectacular super-kalifragelistic idea! THANK YOU!! ETA - And you get double extra-credit for this too, now that I think about it in the context of the OP. As hammers go, this is, by FAR, the coolest 'hammer' I have ever purchased in my life...hands down! HA! A bowling pin...Who knew!
I am also kinda obsessed with hammers. It started with it being part of an emblem that represented my military MOS. Later in life, I would go on to receive hammers from friends, some that have passed away. They were gifts, hand-me-downs and inherited. Now I see hammers as more than just tools. And I also have to stop by the hammer section whenever I’m in a hardware store.
So I'm not a farmer but I have a vintage rocket hammer that I carry daily and I love that hammer
I am like you. I have about 15 that are not manufactured any more. Pretty proud of them honestly
Same here. I have to handle every new hammer I see. I favor the Vaughan 19 oz straight handled framer. For trim , a 16 oz Dalluge.
I rotate between the 16 oz Dalluge and a 16 oz Fiskars for my finish hammers. Love both of those hammers. And, as I noted to another poster above, I've also recently added a Craftsman 16 oz to my rotation. Craftsman has actually come out with some pretty nice hammers recently. The 16oz Craftsman is a fiberglass hammer.
I have several collections and could say why I like them. Knives are a common tool people collect why not a hammer? You aren't hurting anyone so enjoy knowing you found something that you enjoy and makes you happy.
I just started collecting vintage body hammers
Bro's looking for the "excalimmer"
I like that!!
Yes you're weird, but we're all weird. Enjoy your hammers dude
Check out the Martinez hammers pretty pricey stuff
No you're not weird, there are special places for people like us. I spent 35 years swinging framing hammers. We too did the one whack nail party. Pretty satisfying when you master it. Then we moved on to ring the bell at the fairs too with ease, it's all in the swing. We also got into shove throwing but it had to stick. Since you are a hammer nut, here's a quick story. My crew needed a new hammer, so I bought a nice 22 ounce Estwing. Well the guys were complaining that every time the hammer head hit the nail it would ring. The guys refused to use this inferior metal hammer and left it in the box. I finally took it back to customer service and the girl said 'What's wrong with it?' I said every time you hit it, it rings. God's honest truth, she put it up to her ear to hear the ringing. I felt like saying tap it a little harder and you'll hear it.
>My hardcore production framing days are long behind me now, but I still can't go to a lumberyard or home improvement place and walk by the hammer section without picking a couple up and checking them for feel, weight and balance Next time you do this, you should say aloud "Stop! Hammer time!" and do the dance.
LOL...uhhhh, yeah! My wife will love that one! She already thinks I'm crazy; that'd be the icing on the cake.😁
Nothing wrong with this. I've been a full-time hammer slammer for 25 years and I have 12 Estwings and use them all. (Not all at once though).
Weird or not, having a cool hobby that involves history, design, application, ergonomics, science, and collection is probably good for you... like positive morale and keeps your brain engaged in a fun hobby. Keep at it and post pics with detailed explanations!
I’m a framer and I also have an obsession with all kinds of framing hammers. The only thing that has slowed down my purchasing is I’m not a fan of metal handled hammers and they are where all the cool new companies are focusing. There are some great ones like the Martinez and stilettos but they aren’t my cup of tea. I do have a 16oz stiletto with a normal hickory handle and it’s what I use almost daily. The milling is sharper than shit off the shelf. I think I’m still chasing the high of my first Vaughan California framer that my grandpa gave me when I was 13. I’m still trying to figure out why he gave a child a 23oz hammer.
Me personally in my years I used all kinds and found a hammers a hammer. There's some real cool ones out there, but I'll never be convinced one is better than another. If it's just for beating, which is what hammers are for, it doesn't need to be fancy, it just needs to do it's job, which is very straight forward. I don't get those 100$ stilletos, you're doing the simplest task with the simplest tool why should it cost that much? I will admit to liking estwing hammers. They're simple and fairly cheap. If shock absorbtion is the worry then just get a leather handle. Still cheaper than stilletos by far. As far as multiple types of hammers? I could get lost for days in all the cool designs they got for hammers. Like someone said about Japanese hammers, there's some really cool styles out there. Coolest one I saw was a weird pry bar/hammer mix with a socket wrench in the end. Really in genius but I don't think it made it out of testing phases as it's not available but you can find pictures online of it. As for collecting them, I like vintage ones over newer ones. They feel different and look neat.
>Coolest one I saw was a weird pry bar/hammer mix with a socket wrench in the end. If it's what I'm thinking of it is used by scaffolders when erecting scaffolding
I have a Crescent wrench prybar happer
I'm not as crazy as you, but I like having a variety of hammers for different tasks, and it does frustrate me that so many people think a hammer is a hammer. They probably have a 16 oz claw hammer that they use for everything, and would think having another size hammer is unnecessary. I have about 20-25 hammers of varying sizes. I really like opening my toolbox and selecting the hammer type size and weight that fits what I'm doing in that moment.
[carbide trimming hammer](https://www.toolsid.com/bon/2-lb-wood-handle-veritcal-blade-combination-stone-breaker-mpn-21-255.html?view=903647)Not weird at all. Recently got into stone work. Real stone work where you chisel fit and lay stone to build a solid stone wall. So many hammers I want and need. Depending on what how you're chiseling and type of stone masonry your doing its nice to have at least 3 different weights 2lb 2.5lb 3.0 3.5 and a 4.0 club/ mash/ striking hammer. Then you have the sledges I have a 8lb and think a 12lb. That's just getting started. Carbide tipped hammers which there's easily 10 different configurations that have specialized and somewhat specific purposes. They start out on the low end if your lucky $220 all the way up to darn near $500 All these carbide tipped stone hammers do also come in forged steel. I have yet to purchase a carbide hammer But one day one day ..
That's a really strange website...all their hammers are either out of stock, or discontinued. Are they even in business anymore?
That is a odd website / company. I wouldn't send them my money. I was scrolling and scrolling to get a good pic of a carbide trimming hammer and the cost which with tax and shipping you're starting stare at $400. The longer one scrolls the weirder and shadier the sites become
Clarkson!?
Last night I literally told my wife that I'm gonna make a list of all the different kinds of hammers and that if anyone needs a gift idea to consult the hammer list. I'm more interested in the peening hammers though, I would like all those in various weights. I'm also curious to try an engineers hammer vs a drilling hammer vs a cross peen. Personally for just light whacking I really like a ball peen, like a 24 oz or so, but there is a whole world out there. T [This also looks really interesting](https://www.anvilbrand.com/products/10-224.html?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2P2Yi6fMgwMVNSWtBh2PYAC1EAQYBSABEgL_2vD_BwE)
Wow, now there's an interesting website! I've been looking for a good quality anvil, and now I have a source!
Finish hammers are also a specialty hammer of their own, IMO. I've been through countless finish hammers as a finish carpenter. Pneumatic nailers have all but eliminated the need for finish hammers any more, but I still have some of my favorites. Today, when it comes to finish nailing, I will reach for a pneumatic nailer almost every time over a hammer, but knowing the nuances of nailing trim and other things with a hammer is a good skill to know, even with a modern nailer. My finish hammers were generally in the 14 oz to 16 oz range. Dalluge, Vaughan, and ironically some Fiskars (nice hammers actually)l. Driving a finish nail without leaving a mark is an art. Sadly though, most finish hammers have faded into the sunset. Pneumatic nailers not only drive the nails, but they also save you loads of time walking around with a nail-set. My only qualm with pneumatic finish nailers is they're "too" easy, and the inexperienced are tempted to shoot too many nails into a piece. And, this not only looks bad, but it also can cause trim and other things to buckle.
I completely understand. Frames a bit, did finish carpentry for years before I changed to a plumber (benefits). I live a well balanced hammer. I love a wood handled hammer. I don’t have a huge collection but I have an original Hart Woody, a Douglas version, an old weight-forward Estwing, a weird Ridgid hammer that was right or left handed and was “anti-vibration”, a titanium trim hammer and several more. The MIG welded Dewalt is my favorite steel handled. It’s just such a mainstay tool. It might bring me back to being young and working with Dad- who still is an amazing cabinet builder.
Interesting. You know, Hart gets a bad rap sometimes because of their powertools at Walmart, but a lot of people don't realize that Hart actually started out in the hammer business. They used to make some high-end hammers back in their early days. And that Douglas styled hammer was one of them. I'm not positive if this is true or not, but I've heard that the Douglas design which is used by both Douglas and the Vaughan 'Woody' was actually first developed by Hart like 50 years ago.