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You need a hobby. Some people have found collecting things a rewarding hobby. ;)
If everything seems to be going well, you've obviously overlooked something.
LOL Mr. Pita- When I grow up, I think I will start some kind of hobbie.Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
hammers IS HIS HOBBY!.
Excellence is its own reward!
I know. Tongue was firmly in cheek. Hence the ;)If everything seems to be going well, you've obviously overlooked something.
I am in awe, truely unworthy and in the presence of a true Hammer Geek.
More from the Pro Deck Wood Butcher Collection, please.
OK WFLATHER - the sixth hammer from the bottom left is my daily swing. None of the hammers in this picture have hit a nail.
The sad part is they never will as long as I'm alive.
I'm hoping some day they will be of great value.
The original Hart woody $65. 8 years ago is worth $500.today
The early aluminum handled Stiletto Titaniums on top are worth $350-$400 today even though you couldn't pull a nail w/o the head breaking off.
You see when they stop production of these bad boys they go up quite a bit in value, that's if you don't use them.
They are all fun to hold, dust off, and swing, but it is torcher not being able to go and bang on something with them......... :-)
Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Edited 3/20/2003 5:36:08 PM ET by Pro-Dek
The original Hart woody $65. 8 years ago is worth $500.today
Man, I knew I should have bought 2 of em...mine is used....waffle all gone. Love it tho. Used to be Estwing man...got so I couldnt hold a cup of coffee, switched back to wood.
got so I couldnt hold a cup of coffee, switched back to wood.
Is that what is going on?! I've been using Estwing for years- get this shooting pain up the back of my hand some times. Actually, it's probably that crappy tunnel syndrome from all this mouse heavy CAD work that occupies the majority of my working hours these days.Kevin Halliburton
"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -Elbert Hubbard-
hows that rat?
Feels like a brick right now. Been a long day, time to pack it in... catch you guys in the mornin.Kevin Halliburton
"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -Elbert Hubbard-
So you're a mouse killer ?????Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Have you used any of those fancy new toys? And if so, how do you like them?
Sorry caseynick - I'm kind of sick in the head...........I collect em.
My daily swing is the original Hart Woody 22oz. Stainless head.
This is the last picture I took but that was five hammers ago.
Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
How can you be so biased?
Straight claw frammers only?
Nice collection!!!! ;)
See - Now there ya go slammin the curved axe handle. Now ya know it was harder to curve that handle than just throw some metal on a straight stick. :-) Thanks IMERC Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob, I'm with ya on the straight claw, but I just saw you got one of those duckie things,guess Blodgett never gets in any tight spots;-)
I've got at least that many hammers, but Mrs Snort would never let me bring those old rusty beat up things in the house to take a picture...maybe the next time she goes out for milk! EliphIno!
They weren't all straight claws. The Shark Corp. "Duck" hammer was shown, and I just got one. I am glad to see the set-the-nail feature. Didn't know it was there, as the tool came without any how-to info.
The eyes on the side are for side striking and the catspaw design claw is really a good idea because it rolls the nail out instead of putting all the torque on the handle.
Looks like a good hammer for $35 bucks.
Have fun using it and do let us know how you like it.Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Hey Mr. Micro,
How well do you like that duck-billed, Japenese style hammer? Is it balanced good? Good for driving nails? I've been wanting one of those myself, but so far no luck in finding one locally. Looks like I gotta mail order one to get it, sooo before I do, give me some pros and cons on its performance, OK?
Thanks.
Davo
Boy, you could start a trivia thread with that picture. I picked out a Fat Max, three Titanium Death Sticks ($$$), four Douglas's with bolt on heads, and a Nail Blaster - scratched my head over the rest of them. I'm guessing the goofy looking Shark Grip is one of your new ones- didn't see it in the fan picture.
What is your favorite "collected" thumb smasher? Based on quantity I'm guessing it's either the Titanium Death Sticks (isn't that the coolest name a hammer ever had) or one of the Douglas's. What is the priciest hammer you've ever bought?
Looks like a signiture on those two hammers on the lower right. Are those "celebrity" endorsed framers? :-)>
Sorry, are these questions getting annoying? I tend to talk a lot when I'm at a loss for words- very impressive!
Kevin Halliburton
"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -Elbert Hubbard-
Kevin- you can ask all the questions you want about hammers and I will do my best to answer them.
The most expensive hammer I bought was the all titanium "Ti Bone" from Stiletto at $200. it is the 4th from right on top.They now have a curved yellow axe handle for the same price.
I think the "sweet sixteen" from Dalluge is my favorite. It is 3rd from the left on the bottom. It swings like 20 oz. and has the best balance along with the Vaughan TiTech of any of these hammers.
My favorite head design is the douglas tool with the "D" shaped head and side puller.
Handles? that's a tough one. I like axe handles. My favorites for grip are Dalluge,Stilleto(wood),and Vaughan(wood). Hart framers are pretty good too.Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
What are those two square headed hammers with the signatures on the handle, third and fourth from the right on the bottom?Kevin Halliburton
"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -Elbert Hubbard-
Ok, a little surfing around and I think I found the answer to my own question. third and fourth from the right on the bottom:
Hart Woody Straight Handle Hammer
Hart Woody Curved Handle Hammer
Still wondering about the autographs though.
Maybe Thad from "Trading Spaces"- Bob Villa- Norm? :-)>
Actually I'm guessing "Todd Douglas Coonrad?"
Stumbled across something I found entertaining...
Do you know the name of Douglas' top marketing guy?
Reed Duffus...
Couple of quotes from an article I read:
Nailed it: Inventor hammers out success in niche market
By CAROLYN LEAL
Sentinel Correspondent
..."The relationship between the head and the handle make it superior to conventional hammers," Duffus said.
...According to Duffus, carpenters prefer wood-handled hammers because they create less vibration to the hand and arm.
Won't be the first time I let some Duffus talk me in to spending more money than I should on a tool I really don't need-
My new Douglas 20 oz. traction faced framer should be here some time next week... Thanks for the link.
Kevin Halliburton
"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -Elbert Hubbard-
Glad to hear you bought one Kevin. Hope you enjoy it.
You pegged it! The Hart woody of today is no match for the Douglas designed head.It's an OK hammer but not as pretty.
"Now get out there and put a little more toe on the nail!"
Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
NOW, if someone put all those features in one....I'd buy one for my collection and one to use,....Cheers,Phil.If it is to be.... 'twil be done by me.
Hmmm I had your Hart Woody daily swinger pegged as a Douglas with a couple of extra bolts. Never seen that one before but if I was buying a hammer with the objective criteria I use to buy fishing lures (yea, that one "looks" like it would catch something) that is the one I would have picked. Where did you find that little smacker? It just says, "don't mess with me, I am a proffesional framer."
Kevin Halliburton
"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -Elbert Hubbard-
Kevin- Thomas Douglas Coonrad designed the 3 bolt stainless for Hart years ago. He left to go back to framing and make his own line of hammers called the Douglas.
He now has an 18-20-22 and 23 oz. line of 2 bolt hammers.
visit his site
http://www.douglastool.comBob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Now there's dedication. I've had a Woodie for three years now, but don't tell anyone.
Tried to buy another of the originals, no wonder I couldn't find one. Got the Douglas instead as a gift for a guy who really just hadn't grasped the idea that all hammers are not equal. Thanks to Blodgett for parting with it.
How 'bout an unofficial hammer of the month club. You're nominated as omnipotent decider of hammer.
You ever part with your ball caps? That's my collection fetish. Got a couple of hundred of them now. Like the idea of one that says "Wanna get Decked" . . . kinda catchy.
" An example from the monkey: The higher it climbs, the more you see of its behind." Saint Bonaventure
Are you kidding???????Blodgett got rid of an original Hart Woody? Is it the steel or the stainless head? I'll get you a cap but it's gonna cost ya. E-me an address.Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Naw, couldn't find the Hart. Nobody wanted to part with one. He had a douglas with essentially the same features I was looking for (hey, it's a gift anyways) and wasn't using. He apparently is fairly fond of the duck. The new Harts aren't half what they used to be. I'll miss mine when it's all worn to heck." An example from the monkey: The higher it climbs, the more you see of its behind." Saint Bonaventure
Did I see a Bob Hart Titanium in your collection? I think they call the "framer" a T1-14 and the trimmer a T1-11. I have one of each, not new but used. Good hammers and I think would be collectable. I'm getting the Dalluge Sweet 16 tomorrow. Just saw it today, didn't even realize they made them. You gotta have an original Plumb rigging axe for that collection. The ORIGINAL framing tool. My first boss told me, "Don't let them sell you a Vaughn or anything but a Plumb rigging axe." I discovered over the years that he was right. No other axe has the balance or feel of a Plumb. That was before nail guns, of course. Now my thoughts are, why tote 28 ozs. around to back up a nail gun, when you can tote 14 ozs?
I think you saw the small Stiletto "stainless" trim hammer-first one on the bottom right. Actually Hart doesn't make a Titanium hammer that I'm aware of. The T-14 and T-11 are both forged steel heads.
No axes in my collection. Those things scare me. I mean think about it, swinging a blade past your ear to hit a nail? Not to mention cutting my hand every time I reached back to grab it out of my toolbelt. What if there were an earthquake and all these hammers started falling from my walls? I can handle a few bumps on the noggin but I don't want to lose any limbs from an axe. OK, you get the picture :-)
The only Hart Hammers I own are the 21 oz Mag, 21 oz.California Special and the 25 oz. California Special All great hammers for the price.
Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Edited 3/21/2003 12:02:10 PM ET by Pro-Dek
Bob, talk about scary, Back when I was getting started roofing, I once grabbed my shingle hatchet and swung it while holding the nail to set between two fingers. As the blade sailed past my eye I saw that it was facing the wrong way - blade instead of hammer head. I rotated and pulled my stroke in the nick of time. I cut the skin on the tip of my middle finger off clean. Another time, the blade snagged the brim of my basde ball cap and when I swung ddown, it yanked on my head, making me lose balance..
Excellence is its own reward!
I can see using an axe to build a log cabin, or roofing, but tell me again why a framer needs an axe? Maybe they just like being called "hackers".
This outta get a response...............
Let the flame wars begin!Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Instead of a flame war, how about a old timers set on the back porch in the rocking chair and pet the hound tale?
When I started framing... (is this a good start? It implies way back - long ago and far away....) all we used was green lumber from the sawmill. Since we were some of his better customers, he would sell to us the stuff that had been stickered for at least a year - city folks in a great big hurry for everything got to buy the more expensive "fresh lumber" right off the end of the saw.
But even with a year of air drying, a 2x12 can still be heavy and rough. A quarter of them had some pretty high crowns in them. I was taught that any framer worth his salt would know how to use a sharp rigging axe. We would snap a chaulk line down the side of the floor joist and twenty or thirty whacks later have a good straight top. You knew how hard to whack it depending on whether you were going an eighth or a half inch deep and by whether it was knotty or not.
Three-four whacks and a slide stroke (like with an adz ) then another 3-4 chop whacks and a slide.
.
Excellence is its own reward!
WHAT FLAME WAR?
This framer on the job on the back swing taps the adjoining stud and deflects his hatchet. So much for his cheek, eye and piece of forehead.
Never saw such tool change out so fast in your life.
BE SAFE!
I do think tha tOSHA has a "special" list and that riggin axes is on it..
Excellence is its own reward!
I was more than sure that Hart advertised the T1-11 and T1-14 as tianium hammers. If I wasn't so lazy, I'd run out to my truck to look and make sure. Whatever. I like both of them, steel or titanium. BUT, I got the Dalluge sweet 16 today and it is sweet. I understand the collector point of view, but you are missing out by not swinging some of those collectors items you have. Just my opinion, but I'd never go back to using a Woody or Douglas after hammering for awhile with my Stiletto. I didn't get to use my Dalluge too much today as I was cutting stairs, but I think I'm going to like it as much as the Stiletto. Also, any old time framer knows that you don't keep the blade sharp on a rigging axe. You just use the blade to chop out those nails that get bent. You know, deep down inside, that a Plumb axe on the wall would complete your collection. Plumb is owned by Cooper Tools now. Thats how to get them. They are really hard to find anymore. Happy collecting.........
Douglas 20 oz smooth faced framer. best hammer I EVER used or held. I often thank ProDek for providing the link that led to me getting one.
Wood Hoon
AJINNZ- Glad to hear you like your hammer. I'm a bit surprised you bought a smooth face. The Douglas serrated head is designed so if you miss the nail you won't rip your thumb off.
I like collecting the serrated (waffle) headed hammers because anyone can make a smooth face. I like the technology that goes into casting or machining the part that hits the nail.
Here is the line-up of the Hart and Douglas serrated headed hammers.Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Making your own frames here is getting uncommon. Most get prenailed ones. Assembly is done with pasload nail guns. I prefer a good hammer to nail guns any day. I am somewhat odd in this respect here i think.
I have a waffle head Hart 25 oz. beast of a tool. can sink 4" nails with effortless ease. However I never got to use it. Also it chewed up wrecking bars and chisel handles something awful.
I figgured the smooth face would be more universal. and it is. I use mine for everything from framing to putting in finishing nails, to demolition work. Never had a problem with ricochets anyway.
Wood Hoon
Plumb used to make some very special roofing hatchets too! I'm not talking about those heavey thumbsmashers with the gauge holes but light balanced tack dancers..
Excellence is its own reward!