With Ryan's ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxy_pn55PK60wAV3X_C_RoLS_67mNonoCE plan I was like one taken by the hand and led step by step from start to finish. Thank you very much Ryan!
Hey Scott, I have been remodeling for about 40 years and have had Estwing, Plum, Vaughn, Bostich, Craftsman, and more. I have had Hickory handles, Fiberglass handles, Steel Handles. For the past few years I have used the expensive Stilettos. I have a 10 ounce and an 16 ounce. They are fantastic and are worth the money. Less arm fatigue all day long. I still have all of my old hammers but they are the only two I ever use now. The newest expensive hammer is the Martinez. I have not come up with the dollars to try that one. Love your channel Scott and love your work. Take care, Al from Maryland.
I have bought several steel hammers that look like those 100 dollar steel hammers, and they have all worked fine. . I bought the low priced ones that all cost $5. or less. When I lose one, it does not even bother me. . . Found one under the wood pile, sitting there for years... was a bit rusty, but worked like new... . . Maybe if I did not lose them, I could try one of those expensive ones, but can't tell the difference... i like your video anyway..
@@DocScience2 I have a few hammers but they are all crappy ones. Doesn't matter for me though......as a weekend warrior. If I was a pro I'd get that titanium one and look after it. ✌
Rob and Doc ? Take one of those 6 dollar hammers,, find the correct 16 inch hickory handle, with a nice straight tight grain,, I think the long handles are made for an 'engineers hammer'. You will have to shave, rasp, file it down just a bit to fit well,, but that nice long handle with a 16oz head,,,, is everything you've every wanted in a hammer.
I worked with a new construction wood framer one time who told me "if you're using your hammer then something ain't right. somethings cut too tight or you're prying something apart that you nailed incorrectly". He was intentionally exaggerating but he made a good point. It's fairly true for me because I rarely hand drive a nail. I use my hammer mostly for tapping things into place, prying, and demolition. That being said and taking into account that I do mostly light interior work, I like a 16 or 20 steel handle rubber grip just like his blue handle estwing but with a straight claw instead. It's around $25, The steel will never break, the rubber around the bottom is useful for tapping in finish grade materials(until it wears off as shown by Scott), and straight claw is more commonly useful than a curved claw for me. This is an opinion that you wont hear from old guys, they like huge long handle framing hammers since they have terrible memories of hand driving thousands of nails. That's my opinion Scott thank you very much for the taking the time to make your videos!
The leather is not tightly woven around it has segments of leather held together at the bottom with a steel plate, I changed to a 16 oz years ago saved my forearm ! Started my apprenticeship in 1970 in Auckland and times have changed so I get updates and ideas from channels like yours , most enjoyable...man that is a mother of an apron!
Estwing is a good quality hammer, you won’t go wrong with one. The third one is a lot like the Douglas hammer I bought a few years ago. It’s so nice to swing and having a wooden handle it’s slightly weighted towards the head. I doubt I will go back to a metal handle again. The only complaint I have is it’s a bit nice to be using on site.
I’m a sparky in the uk & the hammer I use is similar to hammer number 2. The reason I like it is the straight claws work really well for chasing out in thermolite or breeze block. Wouldn’t recommend doing a whole house with it but if you e just got to sink 1 or 2 sockets with it its bang on!
I am a proud Builder with more than 50 years experience and having used a grand variety of hammers my favorite is the American Vaughan Incidentally, a good hammer should balance on the claw and should have a dimple in preference to a dome which will bend the nail and leather handles will fall apart doing site work so happy hammering.
Just switched from Estwing Ultra to Titanium Stiletto, has full titanium handle with replaceable steel tipped head, will never go back to a steel hammer now even though I love my Estwing.
Dang even in NZ the blue Estwing is the starter hammer of choice. I started with the 22 oz Estwing and boy was it heavy! I do General Contracting work as well and Ive been using an inexpensive 12 Oz Steel Mig Weld Dewalt hammer for the past few years and it has treated me good so far. Great to see an experienced builder like yourself not buying into the latest fads like the Martinez hammers. (great hammers, but not sure i could ever spend 325 CAD on a hammer when I still have other tools that I need) Really enjoy the videos Scott, the content is great!! Love how you put together the clips too, the songs/tracks you use are fantastic. You must like old school hip hop music. If you ever want to hire a good carpenter from Toronto, I would love to come work with you in NZ! (Kidding mostly lol, but man, New Zealand is so nice!! I am jealous)
Great video. I had an Estwing 16oz hammer long ago that someone walked off with(they must have needed it more than me) so I went to the local hardware store and they were out of Estwing hammers so the owner of the hardware store sold me a Hart 16oz Framer hammer that is just a great hammer and I have been using it for the last 15 years and love it. I did buy another Estwing hammer (which I love) and use it in my basement and not in any other areas. If I really have to bust up some stuff - I never use my good hammers and I use the cheap metal rip ones so I keep my good hammers intact.
I have worked carpentry my whole life, and use Plumb and Vaughan 16 and 13 Ounce Plumb for trim and 20 ounce Vaughan for framing, have 2 plumb that ore over 35 years old and still use one of them every day, in my home shop ...
UK chippy here. Been a user of a titanium hammer for 10 years now. The difference is steel absorbs energy including your arm and titanium repels energy. Also you don't pull a nail out the traditional way with the claw. You pull the nail out by rocking the claw from left and right , bending the nail and sliding the claw done a bit and repeat, 90 degrees from the direction of head/claw. That's probably why you're getting through handles quicker. You get less fatigue from titanium so can swing them longer. Worked a bit on the South Island in the 00's as well.
I note that the demonstration nail you use is one extracted from nail gun clip. Lost track of my 28 oz. Estwing for 20 years after we bought a nail gun. Who needs big framing hammers with pneumatic tools. Hammers are for finishing proud nails and drifting studs to marks. For careful deconstruction I rely on a Granfors pry bar paired with my 13 oz. Plumb. These new top shelf framing hammers are similarly light but with long handles which ups the speed.
you should try the stilleto hammer its the gem of the hammers 14oz hits like a 28oz. its a beast doesnt break and you can try to brake it but i havent been able and i have gone through 5 eastwing, two stanleys and still have my stilleto hamer 15oz
Vaughan Hammers are very good, much less shock than other hammers and therefor far less likely to cause tendon strain. I have used them for 17years, replacing Estwing.
Another great vid friend! I have mainly been using estwing hammers for the large portion of 25 years, and only recently started using Vaughn’s. I’m going to look into heir titanium model. Cheers from eastern Pennsylvania again!
Great info bro... trouble with the Blue handle Estwing like you say is it's so damned unbreakable and sturdy, you never need to replace it... it's only ever going to be an "upgrade" to change it. I've had mine for 23 years, and it's still as good as ever.... give it a wipe over with a piece of steel wool every now and then and it's good to go.. :-)
Cheers mate. Good video. I'm a GC (frame to finish custom home builder/renovator) in coastal New England, USA. I agree with your talking points for sure. Around here the gold standard has been the 22oz Estwing framing hammer though many builders, young and old, are trading those in for Stiletto 14oz titanium hammers. I would have done the same too, but while searching for a replacement to my Hart 22oz years ago, I also stumbled across the Dalluge 16oz titanium. I've never looked back and can attest to its value. It drives spikes just as well as a steel framer but with half the effort AND vibration. The side nail puller is incredibly useful when pulling out duplex nails (used when cleaning up after the forms workers are done with the foundation and when disassembling temporary staging). Further more, in 4 years of continuous use, I have yet to break the haft and even if I did, they sell replacements for $20USD. Alas though, it does have an Achilles heel - the magnet in the nail starter fell out of mine in the 1st 6 months. NBD, I never used it any way.
Here in NZ builders are wankers. They are so snooty and narrow minded. Im an adult apprentice, and my dad gave me his most prized tool, a 14oz Dewalt hammer, and those bastards made me buy an Estwing because "thats a framing hammer, you can't use that on cladding" I'm pretty angry that I spent the money on the Estwing, it's crap. My Dewalt is a dream to use on absolutely any nail, and it never marks material. It's faster, less effort, I miss less often, and if I do it doesn't do much damage.
I have used for 25 plus years the first hammer you showed....but in A 20oz. Straight claw...and I use it for everything..I have tried the Titanium hammers and just can't get used to the lightness...too old To change I guess!
Sup. Like your video. Keep up the good work. Wood handle is probably the only handle i go for while framing. With proper usage and care it should last a long time. Don't use for heavy concrete work as it is not gonna stand for that kind of abuse. Balance for it are great as center of gravity is toward the head of hammer. When buying replacement handle, choose the handle with tighter grain. One thing you have to be careful of is having a hammer at your back is even a minor fall, your hammer is at the prime spot to deal a major damage to your spine.
I've been using a Douglas 20 Oz finish hammer for the pat 10 years or so, it's funny you mentioned making your own handle, I did that exact thing... 5 alternating lamination of purple heart and Birdseye maple... It's a conversation starter for sure...
You might also take a look at Douglas hammers. The titanium hammer you're swinging is a Dalluge who is now owned by Vaughan. They are licensed from Douglas to use the Douglas pattern head. Douglas had gone out of business for a while but is now coming back. They make some super sweet hammers with steel heads and wood handles in the states. They also have plans to add finish hammers to their inventory of framing hammers.The Dalluge titanium from Vaughan used to be made in the states but now all of their titanium hammers are made in China.
You will find me largely in agreement. I've been swinging hammers now for 60 years. I have owned them all, heavy light, wood, steel, fiberglass,, and I have learned. First,, just like a golf club,, the head could be titanium, steel, wood, or hard frozen water,,, what swings the gold club or the hammer is the shaft. AND the thing that swings that shaft is your hand and arm. A 14 ounce hammer can sink a large nail just as fast as a 28 ounce framing hammer. The 28oz can move a wall over better. Also, especially as I have aged,, hammer handles hit back. Steel or fiberglass can cripple your hand, astoundingly painful. Long wooden, preferably ash or hickory,, my favourite is old school, a 16oz, curved claw, with a 16 inch wood handle. For big stuff, I use a curved claw 20oz,, again, on a 16 inch wooden handle. You pull nails with a bar. My handles cost 6 bucks. The best, frozen water head I have bumped into,, is the NASA developed Beryllium/copper alloy,, I think that is correct. Your titanium may be similar. Steel bounces,, not all the energy of te blow is delivered,,, it bounces. The B/C hammer head delivers an astonishing dead blow,, it bounces very little. Does not make mch difference on small nails,, finish work,, but on driving framing nails ? Oh baby, a 16 ounce hammer of B/C,, tap and two blows,, the nail runs away into the wood. I'd bet your titanium has similar? I'll have to fund one and try.
@@needaman66 titanium is a harder metal, it delivers more force at the point of impact with less weight. And America is the greatest country there ever was, two time undefeated world war champs bitch
If your hammer is bouncing off of nails, you need to hit them harder. HA! B/C is an awesome material. Just don't sand or grind it without a space suit on.
I swung a hammer for 35 years. After having several I finally settled on a Vaughn 20 oz. with a fiberglass shaft. I could sink nails all day and not have a fatigued forearm. I still have that hammer.
I have quite a few hammers . I've been a Carpenter/joiner for 30 years now , and my go to , is my dad's old 20oz curved claw Estwing . It's just over 50yrs old and still knocks nails in , and pulls them out with relative ease . The handle is actually a dark green colour and on the side where they now say , warning , wear safety goggles , it says . Safe T shape . I also have a 15 Oz ultra and a regular 20oz straight claw , which are handy , but I prefer the curved claw for general work .
Saw this vid earlier this year and Was pretty much sold on the Vaughn Hammer. But I ended up buying the Martinez M1 on Amazon. First impression was ‘damn this thing is heavy’. After 2 days installing linear cladding and I’m very happy with it. Would love to try the Vaughn one day though
I've had the last 2 hammers you show and I totally agree with your review. Love the side nail puller because it has so much leverage and then you can finish pulling with the claw. Only downside I've found to the titanium heads ( I have a stilletto titanium too) is that they mush in around the edges way faster than steel. Some titanium hammers have faces that are replaceable though. Really enjoying your channel!
Stacked leather Estwing is what I use to demo walls. Nothing rips through plaster and lath quicker. Not a fan of driving nails with it though, always a job for something with a wood handle.
I use a 20 Oz Stainless Douglas. Looks like that Dalluge. It has a smooth face. I would like to have a go with a titanium dalluge. Nail pulling with the Douglas is best done with the face puller. It gives 3 different leverages. Do they make a dalluge with a smooth face?
The Vaughan dalluge style hammers are a revelation. I got the 18oz steel version of the one seen in the video here. Cost me 80 quid rather than 145 for the titanium here in the UK. Still consider the blue handle claw Esty to be one of the best work-a-day hammers going. The thing never quits. I'm surprised you've been a carpenter for 15 years and only have 3 hammers!? Makes sense if you're a framer I suppose. I work in joinery, carpentry and boat building and have around 20 hammers to meet the varying needs!
Hey man haven't seen your videos but here in Canada they call the hammer you have now a daluge or something like that. Been framing almost 10 years and have a 14oz stiletto vest hammer I ever owned. On my 3rd all titanium from head to shaft. Dow fall is after about 2 or so years got to re grip it
HANDLE TIP: I doubt you'll ever see this, but what I do with blacksmithing hammer handles, is strip the varnish off a new handle, and soak in a light oil for a couple weeks. Boiled linseed oil doesn't really leave an oily residue, but it prevents your handles from cracking on missed strikes, and it'll prevent them from swelling and shrinking if it wasn't previously stabilized. After that week or two of soaking, let it sit out in the air for a bit.
So I couldn't help but notice how both your newer hammers go more and more towards a "german" latthammer. Ever since I traded in my regular old clawhammer for a latthammer I haven't looked back. Personally I find that latthammers have the most versatile head. I'm a carpenter who does furniture mostly and people look at me like I'm crazy for using a latthammer as it's more seen as a timber framer's hammer around here.
I’ve been using the leather handle estwing for years now(20+) the only problem with it is that the accent rings break up and you have to tighten them up every now and again, in my workshop/ shed/ dump I use a little old no name wooden handled 16oz.love it !! I just had to use a Stanley Steelmaster for a day and remembered why I hated the things, we used to use them till the handles broke up or they bent and they always felt wrong,used to cause blisters too ! But my favourite finishing hammer has always been the Stanley Warrington pattern, they have amore compact head than most.
I swing a Stiletto 15oz Ti-bone. Great hammer! I also run with the green oxy nylon bags. I ended up taking off the rear hammer loop because I found my hammer kept hitting the back of my legs and also the long handle on the made it difficult to remove. Great channel - Keep it up!
In Denmark I'd say most carpenters use a spikedhammer - type "laegtehammer" into google picturesearch - the cool thing is you can stick it into a roofbeam or 2x4 or whatever and then grab it again when you need it. Just don't do it with people working underneath because it could come lose and drop. Not really for finer work, but framing and most carpentry it's great for. Also it's square so you can hit smaller areas with just the corner.
I reckon you could modify the handle of the Vaughan so it wouldn't wear out so quickly. But let's face it, if I bought a Vaughan at age 56, it would still be shiny when I die. :P I just restored my late Dad's Estwing stacked-leather handle splitting hatchet, and even after 35 years of neglect it came up beautifully, and it is a wonderful little kindling splitter - very delicate. I love the fact they still make the same hatchet today. You have to love a company which knows it got it right, and doesn't mess with it.
Scott, non hammer post here, love Estwings though...those cedar boards behind you look amazing, as do the other cedar claddings vids I've seen on your channel. I don't know how the Kiwi Carpentry apprentice/training system works, but it's doing something right as the level of attention to detail and pride of work you guys display is outstanding...best I've seen. Almost wish I was 18 again so I could emigrate to NZ and start again, ( probably a bit too cold for me though haha)
My 16oz eastwing rubber handle is half broken, showing the 1976 year on it, still using it every day ! I have a titanium vaughan that i use when its hammertime but in general, i dont use a hammer enough to justify carrying a long handle hammer around
Still rocking with my 28oz curved claw estwing 20 years later. Started off nailing timber frame kits and the toffee hammer my boss gave me on the first day just couldn't drive those nails in
I love my estwings, but prefer the feel and balance of a good wooden handle. Also you can choke up on a wooden handle when necessary. I used to work a lot with wire rope, and the the Estwings were great for putting on serving sleeves (the bit of bent metal that holds the tail of the wire in place), since you can use the thin steel upper handle to slide along the wire and tap the serving sleeve on or off.
I started with a 24oz estwing then went on to a 30oz framer that was fast but took a lot of swinging after 20 years my elbow feels if I use a steel handle hammer now. Can’t justify titanium hammer for the amount of nails I drive as a lot are gun nails now. So I settled for Vaughn Californian framer 23oz have to say I don’t use any estwings now even on the occasional form work of fencing I do. My elbow stopped swelling and hurting straight away.
carpenter since 1969 ,still use my 24 oz estwing but also the same year bought a stanley 20 oz for second fix too light for framing or roofing and the grip is stuffed now .no need to replace them yet
Hi I sought like the hammer explanation, but to do justice to estwings which are a tradesman hammer ,used for removing cement and material from edges of formwork, is a reason why they have metal throat necks ,the hammers designed for a number of uses, I no why your saying timber titanium head is best but when your working on a frame like hardwood or cypress and need to drive a 4inch spike in I take the estwing as there weighted to get nails in compared to 16oz
Hey Scott, keen on the Dalluge but just wondering if you could answer a few questions now you've run it for a while. How often do you replace handles? Do both the claw and side puller function well enough when pulling nails? And what is the actual overall length? 16 or 17" conflicting info on the net. Cheers 🤘
My oldest Estwing is 50 years old and belonged to my father . I'm a carpenter also and love Estwings . I currently own 6 different models , from that old 20oz curved claw , to a modern 15oz Ultra straight claw . I do like the look off that Dalluge although generally I think wood handles look outdated . It's roughly £120 here in the UK but that's as far as I would go . Most off the time now we're using nail guns and I have swung a hammer for 30years and have no issues with carpal tunnel etc... The likes of the Martinez are way overpriced when you consider a head costs £70 alone. Whilst an Estwing cost £30 . You are being conned folks .
Great vid! I have been looking at the leather handled estwing hammers, but heard some ppl say the leather wrapping wears and loosens over time. How had yours held up? Would you buy it again?
Yeah, I use to work with a guy who got a similar one from America custom made, thought it was the same at that price! Will stick with the eastwing 4 now I think
Do you notice at the end of the day that there's less vibration transferred into your arm with wood handled hammers vs metal handled hammers? Love the siding on that house btw!
Well he is in New Zealand. With the exchange rate 30 bucks usd is about 60 bucks nzd. You can buy them here for between 70-100 bucks nzd. So about 35-50 usd. So basically the same price as you but a little extra for being shipped to the other side of the planet. Kinda like when you buy our wine or lamb it's more expensive than what we pay. Pretty obvious really
Around here(Canada) a 14oz Stiletto is the way to go. I've had my Stiletto less than 10years but, I've lost track of how many times I've replaced the handle. Don't lend your hammer folks! One time, I lent it to someone, I hear "pinging" noises outside and found the fella trying to bust up a concrete walkway with it!! lol
Hey mate love the videos. One question does the vaughn hit you in the back of the knees when you walk? I have it and had to move my holder to the side because it was bruising the back of my knees...love the hammer though I cop alot of comments on site too from team estwing 😊
It hits me on the the leg sometimes but it isn't too bad. The hammer is so light and having a timber handle helps too. Always good to try new tools eh mate
i have at least a dozen hammers of varying weight n styles lying ard e house, straight claw, rip claws, curved claw or no claw u name it...its really an eye opener for me to see hammers tt cost more than multiples of all my hammers combined.
I started with a 30 year old 20oz Estwing that was a little bent out of shape, but it did the job. Moved on to a 22oz Maximum framing hammer. Horrible tool in my opinion. Very heavy and unbalanced, put a lot of stress on the elbow. Got a 20oz Vaughan just like yours, except steel, and broke the handle after a few months. Great hammer, but leave the prying to the bars with this one. Upgraded to a 23oz Vaughan California Framer, since it was cheaper than a new handle. Another great hammer, has an awesome handle and swings hard. I tried a 16oz Fiskars once I got more into finishing. Good little hammer, but it's pretty heavy overall for it's size. Now I'm back to the tried and true 20oz Estwing ripclaw for general use, and I love it. Would definitely go for a 19oz Vaughan Cali if I did more framing. Love everything about the 23oz, but she's a little heavy for me to swing all day. Great for foundations/below the waste work, or driving heavy spikes.
How do the handles break? Ive been looking at changing to wooden handle for a while now and people keep talking about them only lasting x amount of time under heavy use. Are they snapping from mis hitting them?
18oz stock woody long handle Vaughn, replaced the handle after a few good years on the job and gave it some custom woodburning for cool factor. If your aim is good then the wood lasts longer. Thought Estwing was cool till I owned those same two games but in 22 and 20oz, not a big fan, got the woody and never looked back
That Vaughan is sold as a "Dalluge" but was actually invented by a Company called Douglas that sold them thee Design, so if you want a ocd crazy quality one the polished Douglas is the one to get for 180usd instead of 150usd.
My late uncle was a carpenter for over thirty years. He always wore carpenter's jeans and carried his hammer in the hammer pocket that has a loop of cloth above it to hold the hammer in place. He told me the reason he didn't like steel handled hammers was because the narrow steel neck of the hammer tended to tear out that loop in his jeans. He always carried a fiberglass handled hammer, at least from the time I was old enough to notice, care, and talk to him about such matters.
Hey mate loving the videos! I’m a builder down in Christchurch and I’m keen to get my hands on a Vaughan hammer like yours. Did you get it locally or online? Cheers
Hey man, I picked mine up at Placemakers off the shelf. Just found it online, cost a bit more though. Maybe ask the Placemakers near you they may know he distributer in NZ ? snappy.co.nz/products/vaughan-16oz-titanium-dalluge-hammer
Home depot's "Husky" brand is sufficient for starters. Theyre solid and swing great. Both finish and waffle face framing hammers. Vaughn's "California Framer" 20oz is awesome and super reliable too. Steel hammers can vibrate too much. Fiberglass break easily. Wood is always the way to go.
Having weight in the head assists driving nails in. The handle needs to be that much longer to compensate for a lack of weight in titanium = speed instead of force. I still use an all steel Redback with a curved shank to work over & around beams without the shank bottoming out first.
Videos like these make me jealous of other trades. Working as a heavy mechanic I've got 4 hammers worth $250 combined, while most end up with 8 or 9 different hammers for different shit. Most have 10 - 15k worth of tools in there boxes and another 10k at home.
Bought the Vaughan framing hammer last year, cost me about £130, but damn I notice the difference in my elbows after using it all day! Lot of money for a hammer but totally worth it
I prefer my MC Hammer, other manufacturers have tried but they just can’t touch it
Hahahah
I got a good laugh out of that.
Ahahahah pretty slick that one 👍
Ya make it smooth
They’re too legit to quit
you got me! googled it before it sank in.
With Ryan's ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxy_pn55PK60wAV3X_C_RoLS_67mNonoCE plan I was like one taken by the hand and led step by step from start to finish. Thank you very much Ryan!
Hey Scott, I have been remodeling for about 40 years and have had Estwing, Plum, Vaughn, Bostich, Craftsman, and more. I have had Hickory handles, Fiberglass handles, Steel Handles. For the past few years I have used the expensive Stilettos. I have a 10 ounce and an 16 ounce. They are fantastic and are worth the money. Less arm fatigue all day long. I still have all of my old hammers but they are the only two I ever use now. The newest expensive hammer is the Martinez. I have not come up with the dollars to try that one. Love your channel Scott and love your work. Take care, Al from Maryland.
Damn - there's another $300 thing that I don't even need that I suddenly "need".
Lol! It's even worse when you can call it a business expense 😂
I have bought several steel hammers that look like those 100 dollar steel hammers, and they have all worked fine. . I bought the low priced ones that all cost $5. or less.
When I lose one, it does not even bother me. . . Found one under the wood pile, sitting there for years... was a bit rusty, but worked like new... . .
Maybe if I did not lose them, I could try one of those expensive ones, but can't tell the difference... i like your video anyway..
@@DocScience2 I have a few hammers but they are all crappy ones. Doesn't matter for me though......as a weekend warrior. If I was a pro I'd get that titanium one and look after it. ✌
Rob and Doc ? Take one of those 6 dollar hammers,, find the correct 16 inch hickory handle, with a nice straight tight grain,, I think the long handles are made for an 'engineers hammer'. You will have to shave, rasp, file it down just a bit to fit well,, but that nice long handle with a 16oz head,,,, is everything you've every wanted in a hammer.
Cheers Sailor - something to think about.
I worked with a new construction wood framer one time who told me "if you're using your hammer then something ain't right. somethings cut too tight or you're prying something apart that you nailed incorrectly". He was intentionally exaggerating but he made a good point. It's fairly true for me because I rarely hand drive a nail. I use my hammer mostly for tapping things into place, prying, and demolition.
That being said and taking into account that I do mostly light interior work, I like a 16 or 20 steel handle rubber grip just like his blue handle estwing but with a straight claw instead. It's around $25, The steel will never break, the rubber around the bottom is useful for tapping in finish grade materials(until it wears off as shown by Scott), and straight claw is more commonly useful than a curved claw for me. This is an opinion that you wont hear from old guys, they like huge long handle framing hammers since they have terrible memories of hand driving thousands of nails. That's my opinion
Scott thank you very much for the taking the time to make your videos!
You know, seeing those hammers it reminded me of my late grandfather’s last words, “What are you doing with that hammer”.........
😂
The leather is not tightly woven around it has segments of leather held together at the bottom with a steel plate, I changed to a 16 oz years ago saved my forearm ! Started my apprenticeship in 1970 in Auckland and times have changed so I get updates and ideas from channels like yours , most enjoyable...man that is a mother of an apron!
Estwing is a good quality hammer, you won’t go wrong with one. The third one is a lot like the Douglas hammer I bought a few years ago. It’s so nice to swing and having a wooden handle it’s slightly weighted towards the head. I doubt I will go back to a metal handle again. The only complaint I have is it’s a bit nice to be using on site.
I’m a sparky in the uk & the hammer I use is similar to hammer number 2. The reason I like it is the straight claws work really well for chasing out in thermolite or breeze block. Wouldn’t recommend doing a whole house with it but if you e just got to sink 1 or 2 sockets with it its bang on!
I am a proud Builder with more than 50 years experience and having used a grand variety of hammers my favorite is the American Vaughan Incidentally, a good hammer should balance on the claw and should have a dimple in preference to a dome which will bend the nail and leather handles will fall apart doing site work so happy hammering.
I’ve got the same Dalluge, had it for close to two years now and I love it
Just switched from Estwing Ultra to Titanium Stiletto, has full titanium handle with replaceable steel tipped head, will never go back to a steel hammer now even though I love my Estwing.
Dang even in NZ the blue Estwing is the starter hammer of choice. I started with the 22 oz Estwing and boy was it heavy! I do General Contracting work as well and Ive been using an inexpensive 12 Oz Steel Mig Weld Dewalt hammer for the past few years and it has treated me good so far. Great to see an experienced builder like yourself not buying into the latest fads like the Martinez hammers. (great hammers, but not sure i could ever spend 325 CAD on a hammer when I still have other tools that I need)
Really enjoy the videos Scott, the content is great!! Love how you put together the clips too, the songs/tracks you use are fantastic. You must like old school hip hop music. If you ever want to hire a good carpenter from Toronto, I would love to come work with you in NZ! (Kidding mostly lol, but man, New Zealand is so nice!! I am jealous)
Great video. I had an Estwing 16oz hammer long ago that someone walked off with(they must have needed it more than me) so I went to the local hardware store and they were out of Estwing hammers so the owner of the hardware store sold me a Hart 16oz Framer hammer that is just a great hammer and I have been using it for the last 15 years and love it. I did buy another Estwing hammer (which I love) and use it in my basement and not in any other areas. If I really have to bust up some stuff - I never use my good hammers and I use the cheap metal rip ones so I keep my good hammers intact.
I have worked carpentry my whole life, and use Plumb and Vaughan 16 and 13 Ounce Plumb for trim and 20 ounce Vaughan for framing, have 2 plumb that ore over 35 years old and still use one of them every day, in my home shop ...
UK chippy here. Been a user of a titanium hammer for 10 years now. The difference is steel absorbs energy including your arm and titanium repels energy. Also you don't pull a nail out the traditional way with the claw. You pull the nail out by rocking the claw from left and right , bending the nail and sliding the claw done a bit and repeat, 90 degrees from the direction of head/claw. That's probably why you're getting through handles quicker. You get less fatigue from titanium so can swing them longer. Worked a bit on the South Island in the 00's as well.
I'll try that out mate , cheers
I note that the demonstration nail you use is one extracted from nail gun clip. Lost track of my 28 oz. Estwing for 20 years after we bought a nail gun. Who needs big framing hammers with pneumatic tools. Hammers are for finishing proud nails and drifting studs to marks. For careful deconstruction I rely on a Granfors pry bar paired with my 13 oz. Plumb. These new top shelf framing hammers are similarly light but with long handles which ups the speed.
you should try the stilleto hammer its the gem of the hammers 14oz hits like a 28oz. its a beast doesnt break and you can try to brake it but i havent been able and i have gone through 5 eastwing, two stanleys and still have my stilleto hamer 15oz
Vaughan Hammers are very good, much less shock than other hammers and therefor far less likely to cause tendon strain. I have used them for 17years, replacing Estwing.
Good investment then! Thanks
where do i go to get one of these ?
Lucas Richard Stephens fcdssasqqqaaasaaa. 🐂🐃🐊🐆🐟🐟
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Another great vid friend! I have mainly been using estwing hammers for the large portion of 25 years, and only recently started using Vaughn’s. I’m going to look into heir titanium model. Cheers from eastern Pennsylvania again!
Great info bro... trouble with the Blue handle Estwing like you say is it's so damned unbreakable and sturdy, you never need to replace it... it's only ever going to be an "upgrade" to change it. I've had mine for 23 years, and it's still as good as ever.... give it a wipe over with a piece of steel wool every now and then and it's good to go.. :-)
Cheers mate. Good video. I'm a GC (frame to finish custom home builder/renovator) in coastal New England, USA. I agree with your talking points for sure. Around here the gold standard has been the 22oz Estwing framing hammer though many builders, young and old, are trading those in for Stiletto 14oz titanium hammers. I would have done the same too, but while searching for a replacement to my Hart 22oz years ago, I also stumbled across the Dalluge 16oz titanium. I've never looked back and can attest to its value. It drives spikes just as well as a steel framer but with half the effort AND vibration. The side nail puller is incredibly useful when pulling out duplex nails (used when cleaning up after the forms workers are done with the foundation and when disassembling temporary staging). Further more, in 4 years of continuous use, I have yet to break the haft and even if I did, they sell replacements for $20USD. Alas though, it does have an Achilles heel - the magnet in the nail starter fell out of mine in the 1st 6 months. NBD, I never used it any way.
Here in NZ builders are wankers. They are so snooty and narrow minded. Im an adult apprentice, and my dad gave me his most prized tool, a 14oz Dewalt hammer, and those bastards made me buy an Estwing because "thats a framing hammer, you can't use that on cladding" I'm pretty angry that I spent the money on the Estwing, it's crap. My Dewalt is a dream to use on absolutely any nail, and it never marks material. It's faster, less effort, I miss less often, and if I do it doesn't do much damage.
I've got that same tool belt. Love Occidental Leather
I have used for 25 plus years the first hammer you showed....but in
A 20oz. Straight claw...and I use it for everything..I have tried the
Titanium hammers and just can't get used to the lightness...too old
To change I guess!
I have had a Vaughan hammer for years and love it!
August 2019 the Eastwing Leather 20 Oz on Amazon UK is £38. that's 70NZD 46USD
The Yughan £130 241NZD. I wonder over time how the prices change.
Sup. Like your video. Keep up the good work. Wood handle is probably the only handle i go for while framing. With proper usage and care it should last a long time. Don't use for heavy concrete work as it is not gonna stand for that kind of abuse. Balance for it are great as center of gravity is toward the head of hammer. When buying replacement handle, choose the handle with tighter grain. One thing you have to be careful of is having a hammer at your back is even a minor fall, your hammer is at the prime spot to deal a major damage to your spine.
I've been using a Douglas 20 Oz finish hammer for the pat 10 years or so, it's funny you mentioned making your own handle, I did that exact thing... 5 alternating lamination of purple heart and Birdseye maple... It's a conversation starter for sure...
You might also take a look at Douglas hammers. The titanium hammer you're swinging is a Dalluge who is now owned by Vaughan. They are licensed from Douglas to use the Douglas pattern head. Douglas had gone out of business for a while but is now coming back. They make some super sweet hammers with steel heads and wood handles in the states. They also have plans to add finish hammers to their inventory of framing hammers.The Dalluge titanium from Vaughan used to be made in the states but now all of their titanium hammers are made in China.
You will find me largely in agreement. I've been swinging hammers now for 60 years. I have owned them all, heavy light, wood, steel, fiberglass,, and I have learned. First,, just like a golf club,, the head could be titanium, steel, wood, or hard frozen water,,, what swings the gold club or the hammer is the shaft. AND the thing that swings that shaft is your hand and arm. A 14 ounce hammer can sink a large nail just as fast as a 28 ounce framing hammer. The 28oz can move a wall over better. Also, especially as I have aged,, hammer handles hit back. Steel or fiberglass can cripple your hand, astoundingly painful.
Long wooden, preferably ash or hickory,, my favourite is old school, a 16oz, curved claw, with a 16 inch wood handle. For big stuff, I use a curved claw 20oz,, again, on a 16 inch wooden handle. You pull nails with a bar. My handles cost 6 bucks.
The best, frozen water head I have bumped into,, is the NASA developed Beryllium/copper alloy,, I think that is correct. Your titanium may be similar. Steel bounces,, not all the energy of te blow is delivered,,, it bounces. The B/C hammer head delivers an astonishing dead blow,, it bounces very little. Does not make mch difference on small nails,, finish work,, but on driving framing nails ? Oh baby, a 16 ounce hammer of B/C,, tap and two blows,, the nail runs away into the wood. I'd bet your titanium has similar? I'll have to fund one and try.
58 and still using my 24oz steel curled claw hammer. I think Americans are made of jelly
@@needaman66 titanium is a harder metal, it delivers more force at the point of impact with less weight. And America is the greatest country there ever was, two time undefeated world war champs bitch
If your hammer is bouncing off of nails, you need to hit them harder. HA! B/C is an awesome material. Just don't sand or grind it without a space suit on.
@@mikemorgan5015 Thank you !! I did not know of the toxicity of beryllium. I looked it up and you are spot on.
I swung a hammer for 35 years. After having several I finally settled on a Vaughn 20 oz. with a fiberglass shaft. I could sink nails all day and not have a fatigued forearm. I still have that hammer.
I have quite a few hammers . I've been a Carpenter/joiner for 30 years now , and my go to , is my dad's old 20oz curved claw Estwing . It's just over 50yrs old and still knocks nails in , and pulls them out with relative ease . The handle is actually a dark green colour and on the side where they now say , warning , wear safety goggles , it says . Safe T shape . I also have a 15 Oz ultra and a regular 20oz straight claw , which are handy , but I prefer the curved claw for general work .
Saw this vid earlier this year and Was pretty much sold on the Vaughn Hammer. But I ended up buying the Martinez M1 on Amazon. First impression was ‘damn this thing is heavy’. After 2 days installing linear cladding and I’m very happy with it. Would love to try the Vaughn one day though
I used the Martinez M1 hammer. Really love it! Lighter handle heavier head!
I've had the last 2 hammers you show and I totally agree with your review. Love the side nail puller because it has so much leverage and then you can finish pulling with the claw. Only downside I've found to the titanium heads ( I have a stilletto titanium too) is that they mush in around the edges way faster than steel. Some titanium hammers have faces that are replaceable though.
Really enjoying your channel!
Thanks, I didn't consider that! I'll hang on to the estwing for the rough stuff
Exactly. The old estwing always has a hard job to do
Try buying a hammer from your local blacksmith. It’s so worth the extra money if they’re good! Best damn hammer you’ll swing.
Stacked leather Estwing is what I use to demo walls. Nothing rips through plaster and lath quicker. Not a fan of driving nails with it though, always a job for something with a wood handle.
I use a 20 Oz Stainless Douglas. Looks like that Dalluge. It has a smooth face. I would like to have a go with a titanium dalluge. Nail pulling with the Douglas is best done with the face puller. It gives 3 different leverages. Do they make a dalluge with a smooth face?
The Vaughan dalluge style hammers are a revelation. I got the 18oz steel version of the one seen in the video here. Cost me 80 quid rather than 145 for the titanium here in the UK. Still consider the blue handle claw Esty to be one of the best work-a-day hammers going. The thing never quits. I'm surprised you've been a carpenter for 15 years and only have 3 hammers!? Makes sense if you're a framer I suppose. I work in joinery, carpentry and boat building and have around 20 hammers to meet the varying needs!
Another few hours of your videos that I've binge watched. I'm getting there.
Hey man haven't seen your videos but here in Canada they call the hammer you have now a daluge or something like that. Been framing almost 10 years and have a 14oz stiletto vest hammer I ever owned. On my 3rd all titanium from head to shaft. Dow fall is after about 2 or so years got to re grip it
HANDLE TIP: I doubt you'll ever see this, but what I do with blacksmithing hammer handles, is strip the varnish off a new handle, and soak in a light oil for a couple weeks. Boiled linseed oil doesn't really leave an oily residue, but it prevents your handles from cracking on missed strikes, and it'll prevent them from swelling and shrinking if it wasn't previously stabilized. After that week or two of soaking, let it sit out in the air for a bit.
I just ordered the 20 oz leather estwing. It looks awesome In this video. Im glad I decided to go ahead and buy it. I can’t wait for it to get here
So I couldn't help but notice how both your newer hammers go more and more towards a "german" latthammer. Ever since I traded in my regular old clawhammer for a latthammer I haven't looked back. Personally I find that latthammers have the most versatile head. I'm a carpenter who does furniture mostly and people look at me like I'm crazy for using a latthammer as it's more seen as a timber framer's hammer around here.
That Vaughan was originally made by Douglas. I couldn't tell if yours had the dimple pattern on the strike face or not.
I’ve been using the leather handle estwing for years now(20+) the only problem with it is that the accent rings break up and you have to tighten them up every now and again, in my workshop/ shed/ dump I use a little old no name wooden handled 16oz.love it !! I just had to use a Stanley Steelmaster for a day and remembered why I hated the things, we used to use them till the handles broke up or they bent and they always felt wrong,used to cause blisters too ! But my favourite finishing hammer has always been the Stanley Warrington pattern, they have amore compact head than most.
I swing a Stiletto 15oz Ti-bone. Great hammer! I also run with the green oxy nylon bags. I ended up taking off the rear hammer loop because I found my hammer kept hitting the back of my legs and also the long handle on the made it difficult to remove.
Great channel - Keep it up!
In Denmark I'd say most carpenters use a spikedhammer - type "laegtehammer" into google picturesearch - the cool thing is you can stick it into a roofbeam or 2x4 or whatever and then grab it again when you need it. Just don't do it with people working underneath because it could come lose and drop. Not really for finer work, but framing and most carpentry it's great for. Also it's square so you can hit smaller areas with just the corner.
I swing a Stilleto.
Stilleto or bust. If I lost mine, I would buy a new one that same day.
A stilleto can be a knife, womans shoe or a hammer. You should look into it. Did you notice the capitol S.
Same here! Only hammer I will buy. I really like my wood handled stilletto.
Check out Martinez, its the guy that designed Stiletto then sold the company and made a new hammer and better.
sean thorton same
I reckon you could modify the handle of the Vaughan so it wouldn't wear out so quickly. But let's face it, if I bought a Vaughan at age 56, it would still be shiny when I die. :P
I just restored my late Dad's Estwing stacked-leather handle splitting hatchet, and even after 35 years of neglect it came up beautifully, and it is a wonderful little kindling splitter - very delicate. I love the fact they still make the same hatchet today. You have to love a company which knows it got it right, and doesn't mess with it.
My 20oz Estwing cost about 20$ 10-15yrs ago at Home Depot...I still use it a lot for demo or any other "hard" work.
I've owned a Vaughn for about 2 years and I use the hell out of it. great hammers
Scott, non hammer post here, love Estwings though...those cedar boards behind you look amazing, as do the other cedar claddings vids I've seen on your channel. I don't know how the Kiwi Carpentry apprentice/training system works, but it's doing something right as the level of attention to detail and pride of work you guys display is outstanding...best I've seen. Almost wish I was 18 again so I could emigrate to NZ and start again, ( probably a bit too cold for me though haha)
My 16oz eastwing rubber handle is half broken, showing the 1976 year on it, still using it every day ! I have a titanium vaughan that i use when its hammertime but in general, i dont use a hammer enough to justify carrying a long handle hammer around
Hey Scott, where do you buy a replacement handle for the Dalluge handle? I can't seem to find one anywhere at all
The old style HART hammers are the best, best balance, and the best looking.
I have Hart, estwing, dalluge, Stanley, Douglas
Still rocking with my 28oz curved claw estwing 20 years later. Started off nailing timber frame kits and the toffee hammer my boss gave me on the first day just couldn't drive those nails in
Been using estwing ..many yrs ..how do like the Vaughn titanium?? Just ordered one for like 80$ 16 oz also...just curious...thanks luv the vids
I love my estwings, but prefer the feel and balance of a good wooden handle. Also you can choke up on a wooden handle when necessary.
I used to work a lot with wire rope, and the the Estwings were great for putting on serving sleeves (the bit of bent metal that holds the tail of the wire in place), since you can use the thin steel upper handle to slide along the wire and tap the serving sleeve on or off.
I started with a 24oz estwing then went on to a 30oz framer that was fast but took a lot of swinging after 20 years my elbow feels if I use a steel handle hammer now. Can’t justify titanium hammer for the amount of nails I drive as a lot are gun nails now. So I settled for Vaughn Californian framer 23oz have to say I don’t use any estwings now even on the occasional form work of fencing I do. My elbow stopped swelling and hurting straight away.
carpenter since 1969 ,still use my 24 oz estwing but also the same year bought a stanley 20 oz for second fix too light for framing or roofing and the grip is stuffed now .no need to replace them yet
Wow, solid hammers for sure
Whereabouts did you get your tool belt from plus the Belt Suspenders?!
I always used a 24 oz. Wpnt be changing as the rubber handle estwing still works well. If its too heavy maybe work harder?
@Jesse Johnson been a carpenter since 21 and now 58. Im just not a pussy. Just because you believe it doesnt make it true
Hi I sought like the hammer explanation, but to do justice to estwings which are a tradesman hammer ,used for removing cement and material from edges of formwork, is a reason why they have metal throat necks ,the hammers designed for a number of uses, I no why your saying timber titanium head is best but when your working on a frame like hardwood or cypress and need to drive a 4inch spike in I take the estwing as there weighted to get nails in compared to 16oz
From another new Zealand builder how are you going with that hammer now? Replaced the handle yet?
I have the little estwing for normal jobs but framing I use the long one for pulling apart walls easer
Hey Scott, keen on the Dalluge but just wondering if you could answer a few questions now you've run it for a while. How often do you replace handles? Do both the claw and side puller function well enough when pulling nails? And what is the actual overall length? 16 or 17" conflicting info on the net. Cheers 🤘
My oldest Estwing is 50 years old and belonged to my father . I'm a carpenter also and love Estwings . I currently own 6 different models , from that old 20oz curved claw , to a modern 15oz Ultra straight claw . I do like the look off that Dalluge although generally I think wood handles look outdated . It's roughly £120 here in the UK but that's as far as I would go . Most off the time now we're using nail guns and I have swung a hammer for 30years and have no issues with carpal tunnel etc... The likes of the Martinez are way overpriced when you consider a head costs £70 alone. Whilst an Estwing cost £30 . You are being conned folks .
Great vid! I have been looking at the leather handled estwing hammers, but heard some ppl say the leather wrapping wears and loosens over time. How had yours held up? Would you buy it again?
Yeah, I use to work with a guy who got a similar one from America custom made, thought it was the same at that price! Will stick with the eastwing 4 now I think
Hey mate，Did you buy your tools in Amazon or local NZ store？
What tool belt are you wearing????? I need it
Do you notice at the end of the day that there's less vibration transferred into your arm with wood handled hammers vs metal handled hammers? Love the siding on that house btw!
I use the DeWalt straight claw hammer. I would like to have a staleto
Dang, idk where you’re buying your hammers from, but over here in South Carolina, USA, one of your steel Estwing hammers is $30 at any hardware store.
Well he is in New Zealand. With the exchange rate 30 bucks usd is about 60 bucks nzd. You can buy them here for between 70-100 bucks nzd. So about 35-50 usd. So basically the same price as you but a little extra for being shipped to the other side of the planet.
Kinda like when you buy our wine or lamb it's more expensive than what we pay.
Pretty obvious really
Easily my favorite hammer is the 21oz Vaughn California Framer with the blue fibreglass handle. So durable, so comfortable.
The Estwing leather handle 20 Oz isn’t bad for your wrist and the newer rubber nylon grips take the shock
Hey scott what did you find took out the most shock out of your wrist, leather or rubber & which is more durable?
I've always loved my 20 oz estwing. It's a classic. Although, eventually I'll get something like the vahan.
That's a very sexy hammer right there. What ear defenders are you guys using?
Around here(Canada) a 14oz Stiletto is the way to go. I've had my Stiletto less than 10years but, I've lost track of how many times I've replaced the handle. Don't lend your hammer folks! One time, I lent it to someone, I hear "pinging" noises outside and found the fella trying to bust up a concrete walkway with it!! lol
Hey mate love the videos. One question does the vaughn hit you in the back of the knees when you walk? I have it and had to move my holder to the side because it was bruising the back of my knees...love the hammer though I cop alot of comments on site too from team estwing 😊
It hits me on the the leg sometimes but it isn't too bad. The hammer is so light and having a timber handle helps too. Always good to try new tools eh mate
i have at least a dozen hammers of varying weight n styles lying ard e house, straight claw, rip claws, curved claw or no claw u name it...its really an eye opener for me to see hammers tt cost more than multiples of all my hammers combined.
I started with a 30 year old 20oz Estwing that was a little bent out of shape, but it did the job. Moved on to a 22oz Maximum framing hammer. Horrible tool in my opinion. Very heavy and unbalanced, put a lot of stress on the elbow. Got a 20oz Vaughan just like yours, except steel, and broke the handle after a few months. Great hammer, but leave the prying to the bars with this one. Upgraded to a 23oz Vaughan California Framer, since it was cheaper than a new handle. Another great hammer, has an awesome handle and swings hard. I tried a 16oz Fiskars once I got more into finishing. Good little hammer, but it's pretty heavy overall for it's size. Now I'm back to the tried and true 20oz Estwing ripclaw for general use, and I love it. Would definitely go for a 19oz Vaughan Cali if I did more framing. Love everything about the 23oz, but she's a little heavy for me to swing all day. Great for foundations/below the waste work, or driving heavy spikes.
How do the handles break? Ive been looking at changing to wooden handle for a while now and people keep talking about them only lasting x amount of time under heavy use. Are they snapping from mis hitting them?
I can’t see very well but we’re those hammers with finishing heads or worn out waffle heads?
18oz stock woody long handle Vaughn, replaced the handle after a few good years on the job and gave it some custom woodburning for cool factor. If your aim is good then the wood lasts longer. Thought Estwing was cool till I owned those same two games but in 22 and 20oz, not a big fan, got the woody and never looked back
It not the tanium that gives the hammer less vibration it's the wood handle. He did mention that he had a beginner hammer for 10 years.
I have a mini stiletto, love it for fencing. I can swing all the day with no fatigue.
It’s not good for Formwork but it wasn’t intended for such work.
That Vaughan is sold as a "Dalluge" but was actually invented by a Company called Douglas that sold them thee Design, so if you want a ocd crazy quality one the polished Douglas is the one to get for 180usd instead of 150usd.
My late uncle was a carpenter for over thirty years. He always wore carpenter's jeans and carried his hammer in the hammer pocket that has a loop of cloth above it to hold the hammer in place. He told me the reason he didn't like steel handled hammers was because the narrow steel neck of the hammer tended to tear out that loop in his jeans. He always carried a fiberglass handled hammer, at least from the time I was old enough to notice, care, and talk to him about such matters.
Hey mate loving the videos! I’m a builder down in Christchurch and I’m keen to get my hands on a Vaughan hammer like yours. Did you get it locally or online? Cheers
Hey man, I picked mine up at Placemakers off the shelf. Just found it online, cost a bit more though. Maybe ask the Placemakers near you they may know he distributer in NZ ?
snappy.co.nz/products/vaughan-16oz-titanium-dalluge-hammer
Awesome cheers mate!
68 usd for the estwing? They’re cheaper than that. More along the lines of 20-25 for a 16 oz or 35-40 for the 20 oz leather handle
Bloody hell most of my hammers got stolen over the years. There is only one hammer. Estwing 20 oz.
Great video Scott! Have you heard anything about the new hybrid multi-use hammer? It’s coming out in November I think by Boss Hammer Company.
Hello Scott, I intend to study carpentary, could you please help me how to study?
Home depot's "Husky" brand is sufficient for starters. Theyre solid and swing great. Both finish and waffle face framing hammers. Vaughn's "California Framer" 20oz is awesome and super reliable too.
Steel hammers can vibrate too much. Fiberglass break easily. Wood is always the way to go.
Having weight in the head assists driving nails in. The handle needs to be that much longer to compensate for a lack of weight in titanium = speed instead of force.
I still use an all steel Redback with a curved shank to work over & around beams without the shank bottoming out first.
Airborne Images wrong
How many Oz's is best? I was looking at the estwing 24oz Vs 20oz
Found this channel today and I just love it
Videos like these make me jealous of other trades. Working as a heavy mechanic I've got 4 hammers worth $250 combined, while most end up with 8 or 9 different hammers for different shit. Most have 10 - 15k worth of tools in there boxes and another 10k at home.
Bought the Vaughan framing hammer last year, cost me about £130, but damn I notice the difference in my elbows after using it all day! Lot of money for a hammer but totally worth it
I've had a Douglas hammer for ten plus years and I've never had to replace the handle once.