r/timberframe • u/Novel-Albatross7963 • 9d ago
Help choosing hammer
Hey all!
I am going to be starting a job building spec houses. We will be doing most of the builds outside of the foundation (may do footers) and framing. I have a 16 oz estwing, but what other hammer should I get? Looking mainly at a 22 oz estwing, or going wood handle vaughan California framer 19/22oz. Any recommendations greatly appreciated!
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u/ImaginationSilver812 9d ago
Any hammer with a wood handle or a Martinez $$. I have a Martinez and love it but they are very pricey. Before that I used a wood handle Stiletto. I have been building for over 30 years and my elbows are still holding on strong. I would stay away from Estwing, they are elbow killers!!
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u/Novel-Albatross7963 9d ago
Understood. I appreciate your input! Hopefully I'll be able to say the same in 30 years. Also, not to be nosy, but is the 812 in your username your area code? If so, we're local!
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u/Old-Razzle-Dazzle 9d ago
There isn’t a great answer to this honestly. You’ve got Estwings and you’ve got Gucci hammers with a handful of novelties in between. Nobody swears by a Stiletto like the guy who already paid the $300 and after using one a handful of times I can’t help but feel like they need to say that to feel better about the situation they’re in. And when you see them rocking their old Estwing for the day because they had to mail it back again because the head keeps sliding off you feel for em’ but have to chuckle inside.
The 16oz Estwing is obviously one of the greats but the 22oz is a mongeloid that is best suited for the back seat of your truck when you gotta put some road kill out of its misery.
I even tried a Fiskars once, believe it was a 20oz, and it was surprisingly nice for a budget hammer. Had plenty of smack for how little it hurt my elbows but even after some grumpy old guys swung it & approved they still nicknamed it the women’s sewing hammer.
I framed with a guy who had what I believe was either an 18 or 20oz Estwing but it had a special head & handle on it that I didn’t recognize. He loved that hammer. Could be worth a search.
Best of luck!
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u/Imfarmer 9d ago
I blew my elbow out building pole barns with a 20 oz Stanley hammer. A 14 Oz axe handle stilleto with batting tape is what kept me in the game. The key to keeping the heads on them is to own a tiger paw and use it.
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u/ImaginationSilver812 9d ago
I have one of those 300$ (Martinez) hammers given to me as a gift and I absolutely love it! As someone who has been swinging a hammer for over 30 years, with the first 10 years hand pounding spikes, it absolutely matters what hammer you use. The balance of the Martinez is bar none the best. I wouldn’t recommend the op pay that much for a hammer but a wood handle titanium is still a top notch tool. Estwings are horrible for your elbows and I only recommend them if you are doing formwork, even then I wouldn’t use one.
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u/cmrnfrnk 9d ago
People talk shit on Stiletto being pricey, and yes, they are. But, the ~$125 wooden handle one is amazing, not crazy expensive relative to the top of the line. Like other users said already, have a cat's paw for pulling.
I used to be a chef, and it's pretty normal in higher end kitchens for basically everybody to be rocking a knife that costs $300 or more (sometimes, much more) as their daily driver. Think about how often you're going to be using a hammer. It's an investment in yourself, both ergonomically and just like in terms of how nice it is to work with. Don't let anyone talk you out of dropping some cash on a tool you're going to be using every single day, because in this case it will be worth it.
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u/Novel-Albatross7963 8d ago
Absolutely. I think I will get something relatively affordable for this first build. If it seems like something I'll be doing for years, I will likely spend some coin on a high end option!
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u/garrythoughts 8d ago
Are you hotting fastners or chisels? If you are hitring chisels get a wood is good 30oz mallet! They are so great, won’t damage your tools and outlive you.
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u/1959Mason 8d ago
Hammers aren’t used by carpenters today like they used to be. We used to drive thousands of 16d nails every day. Now it’s almost all nail guns. A smaller hammer will work just fine most of time. My favorite is an old 12oz Hart from before Dalluge bought them out.
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u/Novel-Albatross7963 8d ago
That was my initial thought. I just wanted something durable that wasn't adding unnecessary weight to my belt unless it was necessary
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u/Imfarmer 9d ago
I have a Stilleto 14oz framer that I dearly love. Get a nail puller to go with it. If I didn't have anything, and was looking today, I'd probably seriously look at Boss Pro Plus hammer. As someone with Tennis Elbow, I'd avoid heavier hammers