Thread: Rocket claw hammer

Drool,
almost makes me wish I was still building so I could buy one! I take it you brought it into the country yourself. Just how embaressingly expensive was it? Also I saw those "weight forward" Estwing monstrosities at Bunnings. I honestly can't imagine anyone buying one. I had a swing of one and it didn't feel right. I asked the toolshop bloke if they would let me try it out and they declined. I just can't see any chippies going "hmmm, doesn't feel or look right and I can't try out a demo model, what the hell I'll buy one anyway" Yours is one seriously nice looking hammer though.

Mick

I did bring it in, ebay! OK then if you must know....well....errr......OK it cost US$195 plus about US$35 shipping, then convert to A$. It was a bit mad but after living with it for a while I'm not the least bit sorry. If you take into consideration how long it will last & that its an every day tool, the price paid in exchange for comfort & no injury is not an issue in my books. A couple of days of solid nailing with a crap hammer is enough to give you tendon damage for 6 months.

So around the $300 AUD mark, that's a lot of money but like you say a crap tool will give you tendon damage. If it makes you more productive or extends your working life then it's worth any amount of money.

Mick

Mick, guy I know who used to live here was given one of these things by his mum for his birthday a while back.

It used a decent sized hatchet handle, prolly closer to half an axe handle. Not sure of the weight, but it felt a little heavier than ally would be. Compared to a steel head, it weighs nothing. Very surprising that something so light works so well. Doesn't feel much different to swinging an axe handle with one hand actually.

Anyway, Ben (the guy with the hammer) likes it so much that he bought a spare one, just in case he lost it. He didn't want to be even a few hours without one on the job.

If I ever build anything more than a chicken coop, I'll buy one.

The few swings I had of it sold me there and then. Not just because it's light, but it really drives the nails in. It's prolly a physics thing I can't be bothered thinking about...

Originally Posted by Schtoo

Mick, guy I know who used to live here was given one of these things by his mum for his birthday a while back...............

Sure beats socks!, How good is that, a mum that knows what sort of hammer to buy.

Mick

Back to the original question. Attie I'm sorry to say you may have to let go of your love affair with rocket hammers The builder I did my work experience with during high school gave me one, I used them all through my apprenticeship and many years after. I found them to be the best and most comfortable hammers to use, the extra handle length makes a lot of differance. Sadly about eight years ago one of my kids left it down at the creek after building a cubby house. I spent a lot of time looking for a replacment without any luck and finaly relented and bought an estwing not bad value for money. I still sometimes check the hammer racks if I'm in a hardware I've not been in before.

Speaking of hammers does anybody know if you can still get hammers with a nail clip in the head. The old guy I did my time with had one and always delighted in showing the new apprentices how it worked. I was a spring loaded clip built into the head just above the claw, a nail could be fitted into it and started one handed, they where designed for starting nails that where just out of reach. out dated know by nail guns but still a great invention.

Originally Posted by julianx

Speaking of hammers does anybody know if you can still get hammers with a nail clip in the head. The old guy I did my time with had one and always delighted in showing the new apprentices how it worked. I was a spring loaded clip built into the head just above the claw, a nail could be fitted into it and started one handed, they where designed for starting nails that where just out of reach. out dated know by nail guns but still a great invention.

Lee Valley sell them.

Originally Posted by julianx

Speaking of hammers does anybody know if you can still get hammers with a nail clip in the head. The old guy I did my time with had one and always delighted in showing the new apprentices how it worked. I was a spring loaded clip built into the head just above the claw, a nail could be fitted into it and started one handed, they where designed for starting nails that where just out of reach. out dated know by nail guns but still a great invention.

There are a few hammers have a magnetic clip built into the top of the head that does the same thing. I have one on my Douglas, the couple of times I have used it it has been excellent.

Does anyone know where I can get a Cyclone Rocket Claw Hammer, 30oz? My dad is a builder and this is the only type of hammer that he will use, he broke his previous one and the people we know who have one wont give them up. They are very hard to find, any stores selling them in NSW?