Thread: Hammer

buy the standard hammer every chippy buys, an estwing.

Estwing, or if you are really limited to $50, Plumb will serve you well. I'd get a 20 oz hammer for my first one, down the track you might find you can weild a 24 oz hammer OK.

Cheers
Michael

I'd stick with a wooden handle. Aside from that, I think Estwing is overpriced. Most hammers made today are made well enough the head will outlast you unless you abuse it.

ron

Can't go wrong with an Estwing.

Estwing or Plumb

Stanley has gone to crap, got a fatmax, first and last stanley hammer.
Only got it coz the leather handle on my 40 year old Estwing fell apart.

Woulda got a Cyclone Rocket but I don't think they're around any more.

Back when the exchange rate was better (last year), I ordered a 16oz Estwing from Lee Valley, along with some other bits and pieces I needed. Cost me about $34 delivered. Pretty good value since Bunnings was selling the same hammer for about $95 at the time... And Lee Valley are always a pleasure to deal with.

+1 on the Estwing...you can sometimes luck into one on ebay for around $50.00. I have both leather and rubber grip. The leather one is circa 1954, getting a bit ratty.

Another brand which I have used and liked is Vaughan. Their framers are especially nice if you don't have a nail gun. I see them sometimes at my local Mitre 10, don't know if its their regular line.

If you have a friend in the US get him to mail you one purchased from Amazon.

Greg

Look around the second hand shops and see if you can pick up a Chenney hammer, it can be recognized by the recess in the front of the claw by a recess with 2 ball bearings. They are stll around and although it may need a new handle they are a gem of a hammer to use. I picked up one the other day, it was going free, it had superb balance etc. What is around these days are a heap of junk particular as the likes of Stanley etc are ex China, India etc.
Mac

still use two of my old mans , beautiful weight and balance , the ball bearings , so the old man a said were to hold a nail to get it started into the wood using the hammer as a punch, intresting

The first tool my Dad gave me was a Cheyney Nailer. His old man gave him one which he used all the time. The ball bearing feature was used for starting jolt-head nails in 3x2 framing timber where you only had one hand to use. (the other was occupied holding onto something solid). The 3" or 4" nail was inserted with the head in the recess and the ball bearings holding the shaft of the nail at right angles to the handle. You then swung the lot, point first at the place you wanted to nail, twisted the hammer up, leaving the nail sticking out ready to turn the hammer over and belt it home.
That said, not much framing is done on site now and even less by hammer. My choice for the odd time I need to clout a nail would be my trusty Estwing.
Cheers
Graeme

The plumb has good balance, and feel and at around $35 quite good value. I'm not sure the modern Eastwings are worth the difference in cost out here, especially when you consider Sears sell them for $US20 or so.

I second the plumb. Estwings are a pain in the #### to look after, (The leather ones) and if they aren't the rings fall off. Also be careful of what you buy, I was in my local old hardware store (because I wont shop at bunnings and this is the last remaining small store in my area) and they had an Estwing for $35 or so. When I took a closer look I saw it was made in Taiwan (and poorly made at that). They must have sold some contracts...

It all depends what you're using it for.

A general purpose chippies hammer is the Plumb or the Estwing, 16oz or 20oz. (this is the weight of the head of the hammer in ounces - one ounce = 28g)

If you're looking for one for furniture building (mainly driving in small pins) then you don't probably want a claw hammer. You'll want a cross-pein hammer, either a Warrington hammer or a London-pattern hammer, the cabinetmaker's hammer patterns.

So, it depends on what you need it for. Using a 20oz claw hammer to drive in a 12mm brad is a trifle difficult.

There are a few varieties in local stores, just pick one up and swing it around - you'll feel the one with the balance that's right.

Go with that one.

Cheers,

eddie