How Do You Know What Weight Hammer to Buy?
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What's the All-time Hammer for You?
A hammer is so much more than just a handle and a hammer head. There's more to the humble hammer than the typical layperson might think. To larn more about the hammer, which models and which features work best for everyone from a seasoned pro to a newbie DIYer, nosotros reached out to Charlie Vaughan, a fifth-generation hammer maker. In add-on to Vaughan, we reached out to a production service managing director at Stiletto and had a few conversations with people in the trades well-nigh which hammers they use and why.
Ultimately, choosing the right hammer comes down to how it feels in your hand equally well as how you lot plan to utilize information technology. If y'all're looking for a hammer, hither's everything you demand to know forth with some of our favorite product recommendations.
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Which Hammer Handle Is Best?
The 3 most basic handle options are steel, fiberglass, and forest. Hammer handles come up in a diversity of lengths and almost are available in either a directly, curved, or hatchet style configuration.
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Steel Handle d Hammers
Steel handles are the strongest of the bunch. It'south tough to vanquish a solid or welded piece of steel when it comes to overall strength. Only steel is as well the heaviest choice, and that extra weight doesn't necessarily mean that steel-handled hammers pack more punch. A lot of the hammer'due south weight is down away from the strike point, and so information technology doesn't really affect the hitting power. Steel hammers are the worst offenders for causing vibrations that affect the user. Heavy vibrations can lead to repetitive strain injuries and other ailments. Because of their strength, steel-handled hammers are a favorite amidst masons and demo crews.
Nosotros recommend this sixteen-ounce curved claw model from Estwing.
What the Pros Had To Say:
"With all the nailing guns out there, well-nigh people these days utilise their hammer for 'devastation' rather than 'construction,'" says Charlie Vaughn, president of Vaughn Manufacturing. "So the kind of hammer yous want really depends on what you're going to do with the hammer. For demolition, steel would be the best selection."
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Fiberglass Handle d Hammers
Fiberglass handles transmit less vibration than steel, but nonetheless more forest. Electricians love fiberglass handles considering they are not-conductive. Plumbers and mechanics tend to prefer fiberglass because a decent one can be had for not a lot of money.
We recommend this 7-ounce model from Stanley.
What the Pros Had To Say:
"All I really use a hammer for are modest jobs similar tacking up pipe hangers and tapping on a putty pocketknife or screwdriver," says plumber Les Zell. "And my hammers tend to become left at jobs, stolen, or lost behind walls, so I tend to behave an inexpensive ane."
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Hammers With Woods Handles
Forest handles transmit less vibration than fiberglass and much less vibration than metal handles. Wood is also the lightest handle material, which means almost of the weight is upwards in the head (where information technology counts). Woods handles can exist replaced if they are damaged and can fifty-fifty be customized for those uber-particular hammer connoisseurs out there. Wood handles are strong, but non every bit stiff as steel, and then not the best option for demo work.
If a hammer is going to hang from your pouch all day long, you probably don't want information technology to be super heavy. And if you pound on a whole bunch of nails, a low vibrating wood handle is just the ticket. So, naturally, woods handles are typically preferred by framers, trim carpenters, and siding installers.
Nosotros recommend this 16-ounce rip hammer from Vaughan & Bushnell.
What the Pros Had To Say:
"When it comes to fewer vibrations, woods handles are by far the best," says Vaugh. "And when it comes to the best type of wood, hickory is the simply way to go."
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Length and Contour of Hammer Handles
Near hammer handles are 14 to 18 inches long and are available in either a direct, curved or hatchet manner. Hatchet-fashion hammer handles are a bit narrower than straight handles.
Some remodelers similar sixteen-in. handles because they can use them as a quick guide to locating (not layout) a stud behind drywall or sheathing if they know the location of an next stud. At that place are also siding installers who spend a good portion of the twenty-four hours on ladders and don't like long hatchet-style handles or curved handles, because they tend to protrude forward just far plenty to grab on the rungs when climbing down a ladder.
Many plumbers, electricians and mechanical workers oftentimes find themselves itch around in tight spaces and therefore prefer short hammers, considering they're less likely to get hung up.
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Pay Attention To the Grip
Some folks just love the feel of wood, and most wood handle hammers don't take a grip material added to them. Cushy handle grips feel good but also tend to clothing faster. Trim carpenters oft choose grips with a rubber bottom then the handle doesn't go out a mark when they squat down or bump into finished surfaces.
What the Pros Had To Say:
"I swing the 15 oz. Estwing Ultra, polish confront. I use information technology for demo, framing, trim, dirt digger," says Josh Blake, a carpenter. "Can't beat the classic Estwing grip and the side smash puller is super handy."
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How Heavy Should a Hammer Head Exist?
Near hammer heads weigh anywhere between 16 and 22 ounces. But that can be a picayune misleading considering in that location's no industry standard on how to weigh a hammer head. Weighing a hammer head with wooden and fiberglass handles is straightforward: just take the head off the handle and counterbalance information technology. Merely in that location is more than of a gray area when it comes to hammers that are fabricated with integrated steel handles and strike guards.
At that place are several things to consider when it comes to the weight of a hammer:
How yous use it:If you do a lot of hammering in a higher place your head or fifty-fifty directly on, and then lighter is meliorate. If you are always swinging down low, like a stonemason building forms, and then heavy is okay.
How often you use it: If information technology'southward necessary that a hammer hangs from your pouch all twenty-four hour period, only you lot use information technology infrequently, buy a lighter hammer. In that location's no betoken in carrying around a massive weight on your side if yous barely ever use it.
Your strength: Recall high schoolhouse physics? Here's a quick refresher: Force = Mass ten Acceleration. This means a heavier hammer packs a larger wallop. Only that's merely if y'all can swing the beast. There's a point where a hammer becomes too heavy to swing fast, and a greater force would be accomplished past swinging a lighter hammer, faster. What that point is volition depend on the forcefulness of the swinger.
Remainder: Some folks love to swing a hammer with a super heavy head and a feather-calorie-free handle. Some prefer a hammer with a lower center of gravity similar steel handled hammers accept. Whenever possible, swing a hammer before buying i. Ask your friends, neighbors or the folks effectually y'all on a jobsite to try out their hammer before ownership yours.
What the Pros Had To Say:
"The idea of balance means that weight is evenly distributed betwixt meridian and bottom AND forward and astern," says Vaughn. "A well-balanced hammer volition HELP swing itself. If you lot have an unbalanced hammer you might have less work hitting the nail but More than work bringing it back up…unbalanced hammers cause muscles to anguish subsequently utilise!"
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Milled Faced vs. Polish Hammer Heads
This is an easy decision. A milled-faced hammer (sometimes called waffle-head) has a little traction, if you volition, and is designed to bulldoze in a boom without bending it over. But that final blow is going to exit a waffle shaped mark on the surface. That's okay for crude framing, but if y'all work with whatever cloth similar interior trim, where a waffle-shaped marking would be undesirable, and then become yourself a hammer with a smooth-faced head.
What the Pros Had To Say:
"I use three unlike DeWalt hammers. The 22oz framing hammer, the 14oz finish hammer, and the 22oz demo hammer," says full general contractor Stu Cushman. "I swear past all of them for the condolement of handles, longer necks, and oversized faces. I tin can swing them all day and not get fatigued, the residual is awesome. I've been a carpenter/full general carpenter for over 25 years and apply a hammer for most everything I practice. I have found that the DeWalt line works best for me."
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Are Titanium Hammer Heads Worth the Money?
Hammers with a titanium head typically cost between $75 and $200, but they can reach the $300 neighborhood. So what practise you get for all that coin? More bang where you want it. When a steel head strikes a nail, about xxx% of the energy from the accident recoils support the hammer. When a titanium hammer caput strikes a smash, only iii% of the energy bounces back. This means a titanium hammer will become the same results as a much-heavier steel hammer.
Also, this recoiled free energy from a steel hammer head doesn't just vanish into the ether; some of it will discover its way back into the joints of the person swinging the hammer in the grade of vibrations. If you pound in a bunch of nails every twenty-four hours and would enjoy properly operation wrists, elbows, and shoulders 10 years from now, then invest in a titanium head hammer.
We recommend this model from Stiletto.
"All twenty-four hours, every 24-hour interval I swing a 14-oz. Stiletto with an eighteen-in. wooden handle," says framing carpenter Jonah Jardine. "It doesn't weigh hardly anything, merely it swings like a 24-oz. monster."
Titanium hammers are genuinely astonishing, but be advised: You may desire to keep a steel hammer on hand for your demo work because steel is actually harder than titanium. Or you could buy a hammer with a steel head (or head face up) and a titanium handle, combining the best of both worlds.
What the Pros Had To Say:
"We do not recommend excessively chirapsia on hardened steel objects such as steel boom pullers, pry & crow bars, concrete stakes, foundation bolts, scaffolding pins & cup-locks, etc., as these objects will crusade the milling on the solid Stiletto titanium hammer confront to wear down faster, just as they would on a steel milled confront," says Joel Allen, manager of sales & service for Stiletto Tools. "The wear is typically just faster when used [titanium] in these applications, but commonly no chipping or spalling (mushrooming) occurs."
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Flat-Top Hammer Heads
Flat-top hammers are steadily condign more than popular. The apartment-top allows the caput to get into tighter spots. Plus, they look cool!
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Does Your Hammer Head Need a Strike Guard?
Non-steel handles can go shell up past misses. You know, those times when you miss the nail and the handle smashes against the surface. If you love wood handles and want to prevent them from getting beat up past overstrikes, consider a hammer with overstrike protection, like the 1 pictured above.
Nosotros recommend this model from Vaughan.
What the Pros Had To Say:
"I'm a wood handle guy, but when my crew gets their hands on them (specially the newbies), they tend to beat out up the handles pretty skilful," says Lee Nelson, remodeler and tree service professional person, Shell Lake, Wisconsin. "I started buying the Vaughan Dalluge xvi-oz. hammers with the strike guard. They work awesome, and no more shredded handles.
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Which Hammer Head is Best?
Really, to each his own. At that place are dozens of specialty hammer heads to choose from, and it really just matters how you use your hammer and how skilful it feels in your hand. The hammer shown to a higher place is a Japanese hammer with a uniquely shaped head.What the pros had to say:
What the Pros Had To Say:
"In one case y'all've found a favorite hammer, null else compares," says Brad Holden, woodworker and Family Handyman editor. "Well-nigh twenty years ago, I took a take chances on this odd-looking hammer. I was relieved to find the residual and experience exactly to my liking. Likewise the perfect feel, in that location are some nice extras. The steep claw angle gives aplenty leverage for pulling nails. Likewise, the claw'due south tips are pointed to assist in digging out nails that are sunk beneath the surface. A milled face on the side of the head allows "sideways" hammering in tight quarters. I don't apply it ofttimes, but information technology has saved me more than once."
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Hammer Claws: Straight, or Curved?
Directly
There are two types of straight clawed hammers: short and long. Long, straight claws are sharper and work peachy for stabbing into a hunk of woods if you lot want to grab concur of it. Only directly claws are also thinner and can pause off in a severe demo state of affairs. Curt claws are more rugged but don't pierce wood likewise.
Curved
Curved claws tin pull most nails out of wood without the help of a spacer, simply provide less leverage than direct claws. Curved claws also don't beetle every bit far out, which makes a curved-clawed hammer less probable to get hung up on obstacles or jab you lot in the leg when crawling around tight spaces.
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Get a Side Puller
It used to be that the all-time way to get the nearly leverage when pulling a stubborn boom was to wedge the blast between the claws and pull the hammer sideways. Now nearly manufacturers have at least a few models with a congenital-in side puller. The beginning ones to hitting the market were kind of clunky, but now many are hardly noticeable.
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Magnet Smash Holder
Magnetic nail holders are a great mode to start nails that can't exist reached with two easily, or for when y'all only accept one mitt available because the other is property on to a ladder or scaffolding.
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Changeable/Replaceable Parts
Some manufacturers offering replaceable or interchangeable parts like handle grips, hammer faces, and fifty-fifty the hammer heads themselves. This model from Martinez has a replaceable head and grip.
What the Pros Had To Say:
"I love the Martinez M1," says Pádraig (Podge) Maloney. "I'm a framer who also hangs siding and installs exterior trim, windows and doors my projects. I employ both the shine and milled heads on my M1. That way I don't need multiple hammers for different purposes, and swapping the heads takes less than v minutes. Plus, I can swing that titanium all twenty-four hour period without any elbow bug."
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Adjustable Hook
Here'due south one for y'all demolition heads. The claw on this hammer is adjustable, then y'all tin can pull nails with more leverage or get into those hard-to-reach areas.
We love this model from Crescent.
Originally Published: March 03, 2021
Source: https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/everything-you-need-to-know-about-buying-a-hammer/
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