Comments on: Best Framing Hammer for Pros

By: Tommy

Tommy — Tue, 25 May 2021 03:26:01 +0000

Same Martinez is my #1 pick why no mention of them in the artical? Considering he did also invented the stiletto. I guess since he doesn’t pay to get his product into the mags they always leave out their awesome hammers. Yeah they are expensive but you get what you pay for. Plus if your someone that needs to be convinced why they should try and or buy a high end hammer then most likely they will not see the reason and why waste your time trying to?

By: Johny Martin

Johny Martin — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 01:44:59 +0000

Martinez

By: JerseyPete

JerseyPete — Sun, 12 Jan 2020 21:35:04 +0000

Curious about thoughts on an Estwing with a hammertooth for those twisted 2x4s. https://amzn.to/30eZVx8

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 09:02:16 +0000

When i first started framing i bought a vaughan calif framer with a curved handle probably cause i thought it looked coolest. I show up to work and by boss grabbed the hammer and said whats this you brought your grandmas sewing hammer? Haha.. then threw it across the job site. When i went to go get it he snatched my fatmax xtreme tape and threw it and said come back with real tools. Now i know but i got this hammer i really liked and havent found one as comfortable ever since.. It was a 19 ounce blue max with a painted blue wooden straight hammer..i broke the handle and decided that durability was king and now use the estwing 21 ounce steel handle one. ive had it for like 15 years, it feels natural now, but i remember missing that 19ounce blue max..i still miss it…but then i wouldnt have a nice patenad estwing..and as they age they look awesome i.m.o. the steel patena, and the glossiness of the blue handle..hard earned ..leather handled estwings as well. But yeah the rigging axes i guess if there are alot of palets and you dont got your midwest (hands down the best) tin snips.

By: Luke

Luke — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 23:47:11 +0000

I always wanted a really good hammer so I went out and purchased a Hart Hammer 5- 6 years ago. The rubber end piece on the handles fell off about 18 months ago. I recently took it back to Bunnings who showed it to the sales rep who said it was not cover by the limited life time warranty as I don’t have the receipt. I purchased what I thought was a really good hammer that was going to last me a life time and I am a home handy man so not even using it that often. What a load of rubbish. Anyway, I have now purchased an Estwing hammer which I should have done in the first place.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 03:46:55 +0000

You are reaffirming my love of Estwing. My old boss during a reno job, 16 years ago, used to make fun of my “baby Estwing’ 16 oz general-purpose hammer. (as I did not have an actual Estwing framing hammer) I still have that little hammer, after first purchasing it 24 years ago! Still very useful.
Now that I have finally enrolled in the union carpentry course and am trying to tool up on a budget, finding your article is a big help. I might play it safe and just get the Estwing framer, but I am tempted to blow the budget (budget? I’m broke and in school at the moment!) on the full titanium Stiletto Ti-bone framer. (which was not in your review) My experience from racing mountain bikes in the 1980s & 90s is that titanium is an excellent shock absorber. (no suspension forks when I started) Titanium has taken Golfing by storm for that very same reason. They’re all using titanium drivers now.
Having had jobs that gave me either tennis-elbow or carpal-tunnel, (or both!) I am placing long-term injury-prevention high on my list.
I do wish Estwing would make a titanium hammer.

By: McBridecreek

McBridecreek — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 16:47:43 +0000

I’ve seen a lot of hammers in my 30 year career. The challenge has always been finding a durable unbreakable hammer with excellent ergonomics. I started framing in 1982; All of the pro framers then carried a hickory handled hammer. Estwings are great durable hammers but hard on the elbow. Back then, framers daily drove hundreds of nails by hand. Framing hammers were heavy, the common thought was it drove 16d GVS nails better. Many guys used rigging axes. Plumb and Vaughan 28oz were best. Nothing beats the balanced swing of a rigging ax. I still use a 22oz Plumb ax with a Hart handle and dremel milled face for rafters. You young Death Stickers would have your hands full trying to outrun me with my old ax. I have an old Dalluge 21oz framing hammer for walls. I use a Hard core 19oz as a daily beater. Since the late 80’s I’ve been using a Hitachi gun as much as possible. Today, it seems to make sense to find the lightest hammer, with good swing ergonomics, as a daily carried hammer. The Vaughan VW18 18oz with a hickory handle looks sweet. I still think wood handles save the elbow. I can’t seem to swallow the cost of a Titanium hammer that is only a couple ounces lighter than the Vaughan. Titanium milled heads don’t last nearly as long as steel ones. For beginners, the Vaughan California Framer is pretty hard to beat, cost effective and tough. A Dalluge 21oz, with wood handle is my all time favorite. Don’t forget a rigging ax. Axes can do some things a claw hammer can’t.

By: Clint DeBoer

Clint DeBoer — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 11:00:23 +0000

In reply to Chuck arthur.

Love their hammers

By: Chuck arthur

Chuck arthur — Sun, 21 Aug 2016 14:43:02 +0000

In reply to Jason.

Vaughan is producing a steel headed version of the Coonrad design, made in USA

By: Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Sat, 18 Jun 2016 16:04:23 +0000

In reply to Jason.

Supposedly Dalluge now makes Mr. Coonrad’s hammer as they explain on their website. But they now make the titanium heads in China not the USA. Hopefully they will not start making their other Dalluge models overseas.