November 20, 20169 yr 5 minutes ago, HARO50 said: And there are a lot of tools I'd get more use out of than a $300 titanium hammer. Amen to that! Don't know much about them fancy titanium what-not's. I am still on the job site for my day job, I don't see any fancy titanium anything with the men. They, we are still all using Vaughn, some nice Husky's as well, but mostly traditional hammers in the basic sense, wood handle and steel heads for the carpenters, and the masons gravitate towards all steel hammers.
November 20, 20169 yr Author 3 minutes ago, John Morris said: What the heck! "Made in China" even. I told my wife even if I splurged on one, I'd be afraid it would get lost or stolen, but I don't think I'd forget and leave it behind somewhere.
November 20, 20169 yr Just now, kmealy said: "Made in China" even. I told my wife even if I splurged on one, I'd be afraid it would get lost or stolen, but I don't think I'd forget and leave it behind somewhere. Yepers, I just can't see it though, but then I have never used one either. Perhaps it is that good, I don't know. I just can't see a 20 oz. anything driving in nails the way I like to drive em in.
November 20, 20169 yr I agree with John Morris on the air nailer for walls. If one person tries to hold a stud on the mark and air nail it holding the nailer straight is a chore and a back breaker plus keeping his hands out of the way from a ricochet nail. and fighting the bulky nail gun and air hose drug across the panel. I have seen 2 workers do it, one hold the stud and the other do the nailing. But that means 2 men for a one man job. Also if the nail hits a knot and angles out of the stud or plate you have to shoot another one.Those large nail guns are somewhat unweildy especially nailing horizontally. Also agree with it not drawing 2 boards tight when they nail,so you don't get the rigidity of hand nailing. Agree on air nailers for sheathing and roofing. I like the subfloor screwed down. @Haro50 You are right on about a brad nailer for trimming out they are the only way. Herb
November 21, 20169 yr 5 hours ago, HARO50 said: if I bring home one more hammer, is that all it would take???
November 21, 20169 yr All of mine are wood handled hammers....including a few that needed handles when they showed up. One, I even had to make a handle for... Since you just can't find a good Cobbler's hammer handle any more... I can't even hold onto an Estwing's handle anymore.....it just slides right out of my hand, usually on the up-swing ( Heads up! Sorry about that..) Another lesson to learn is HOW to swing a hammer....if your elbow is tired and sore....you are doing it wrong.
November 21, 20169 yr Good conversation! Hammers are definitely a personal thing. I used a 24 oz Estwing for a long time as a general hammer. I finally had to go to a Senco air nailer because of a damaged tendon in my right elbow. I got to the point that I couldn't even hold a glass of water. I'd take a swing and go to make a second strike and realize the hammer wasn't in my hand. When I sprung for the framer I got a Paslode trim nailer, also. Best move I ever made. Most of the framers on jobs that I consulted on, used wood handled hammers. They claimed there was a lot less vibration and cut down on the fatigue. Now the framers just "hang around". Mostly, I use a 20 and a 16 for shop hammers. However, I still pull out the framing hammers when things get serious. The air nailers are still here and the trim nailer still does service, occasionally. So, I guess the best thing to do is ask what the SIL what the intended use is for the hammer? Hammers may be like routers...the more the merrier.
November 21, 20169 yr Author Popular Post Yeah, pulled the trigger on the 20oz Estwing (plastic handle). SIL is not a pro, but has done a lot of home repair/remodel work. He wanted something "to hammer in and pull out nails." He's currently just finished one bathroom (took a year) and started on the second. Could not find any contractor in their small town who was interested in bidding on the job. House was built in the '70s by a guy from Finland whose hobbies were carpentry and masonry and he built it like they do in Finland. In the dining/living room combo is a yhuge stone fireplace, I think it's called a Russian Stove. The idea is to build a hot fire, heat up the several ton pile of stones around it (roughly 6' diameter and 6' tall) and bask in the warmth for the rest of the day. I also got him a 10 Estwing nail puller / trim pry bar and a 6" little pry bar. Thanks for all the suggestions.
November 22, 20169 yr 20 minutes ago, kmealy said: Yeah, pulled the trigger on the 20oz Estwing (plastic handle). SIL is not a pro, but has done a lot of home repair/remodel work. He wanted something "to hammer in and pull out nails." He's currently just finished one bathroom (took a year) and started on the second. Could not find any contractor in their small town who was interested in bidding on the job. House was built in the '70s by a guy from Finland whose hobbies were carpentry and masonry and he built it like they do in Finland. In the dining/living room combo is a yhuge stone fireplace, I think it's called a Russian Stove. The idea is to build a hot fire, heat up the several ton pile of stones around it (roughly 6' diameter and 6' tall) and bask in the warmth for the rest of the day. I also got him a 10 Estwing nail puller / trim pry bar and a 6" little pry bar. Thanks for all the suggestions. Good selection, I am sure he will use them all for a long time to come. Herb
November 22, 20169 yr What costs less in framing 16D nails or the pneumatic equivalent? If he is a commercial builder then go for a higher priced model. I have one older claw steel handle good for tight places but I always go to my framing hammer with rubber grips and a composite shaft. If the cost of framing with Nails is higher than pneumatic and the son is a commercial builder then invest in a framing nailer. I have used both hammer and pneumatic and never had a pneumatic wall feel loosy goosey as others have commented. The trick is to put the walls bottom plate again something immovable like a block wall then use your foot to hold to top plate tight. Then nail. Rotate the wall so top is against the block wall and nail the bottom on. Never free nail anything with pneumatic. It will bounce the wood apart. How about toe nailing I think pneumatic is much faster?
November 22, 20169 yr Still have my old framer ( aka War Club) I used when I was on the foundation crews.. Can't even get it all in a picture....24oz, rip claw, waffle face. Since a lot of what I did was concrete form work, nail guns weren't needed. Also have a couple 16oz curved claw hammers, most have wood handles. All but one of the ball pean hammers have wood handles as well. hate metal handles....I can feel it "ring" up past my elbow. Have "gunned" a few walls....prefer the War Club. Shoulder hurts after a day of gun work.
November 23, 20169 yr 1 hour ago, Michael Thuman said: and never had a pneumatic wall feel loosy goosey as others have commented. they do if the operator is using ''shorts''' as in 3x120/121 instead of 3¼x131... now a SN IV canon w/ the accessory mag will handle 4'' 20d's and punch them all the way into an LVL...
November 29, 20169 yr Really late coming onto this discussion... Thinking of migrating to one of these... Edited November 29, 20169 yr by Grandpadave52
November 30, 20169 yr On 11/28/2016 at 9:28 PM, Grandpadave52 said: Really late coming onto this discussion... Thinking of migrating to one of these... Aw, come on, Dave! You know that Milwaukee tools are much better than DeWalt tools...My local supplier is having a sale that ends this Friday. Good prices and fantastic quality...
November 30, 20169 yr 2 minutes ago, Dadio said: OOwhee..... you guys are getting serious now... herb not yet...
November 30, 20169 yr Author Pleased to see this morning that the exact hammer I bought my SIL was voted "Best All-Purpose Hammer" by The Family Handyman (see last item in the list)
November 30, 20169 yr 16 minutes ago, kmealy said: Pleased to see this morning that the exact hammer I bought my SIL was voted "Best All-Purpose Hammer" by The Family Handyman (see last item in the list) Great Job!
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