What’s the best reasonably priced framing hammer? I saw one that only weighed 16 oz. but nailed like it weighed 28 oz.
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Montana
I'm old school. So old trying to retire.
but, if framing houses again it would always be a wood handle. Vaughn smooth or wafflehead. Used to use something heavier but I think they have a 22oz.
Thanks for the info. I'm checking in to the Vaughn.
+1 on wood hammer. But
+1 on wood handle hammer, waffle, I always liked 28 oz for floor sheathing and toenails into sill plates, 22 oz for everything else.
But only if the compressor breaks, otherwise N88.
I appreciate the help.
Best hammer ever is the one I left hanging on a fence in Rio Bravo, Mexico about 20 years ago.
That sounds like a good excuse for a trip.
I've never felt bad about it -- I'm sure the people there put it to good use.
another geezer perspective...
I own and haved used wood handled hammers from 13-28 oz. Like these other old cranks reporting thus far, my production nailing is past and if not for nail guns I'd be done with nailing. But I always have a 20 oz. blue grass wood handled straight claw at reach.
If circumstances forced me to do any production hand nailing I would test a titanium model but they are not so hot for chisel striking or moving walls or whatever around.
Thanks for the help.
I can't bring myself to pay $200 for a hammer. That's about what they get for some of the titanium models.
In the olden days.
When I started framing the weapon of choice for most, was a wooden handled Plumb rigging axe. I think it came in at 28 oz. As I was told the blade was not for cutting wood but for cutting nails. A swift swipe with the blade would cut or knock out most bent natils. For nail pulling there was a slot perpendicular to the blade that had incredible leverage. So incredible that you could break the handle. Most guys had the handle wrapped with pipe wrap tape as a preventative measure. The width of the blade was 3.5", which could be handy. I was told that it was for spacing skip sheathing on roofs, but I never did that. Plywood was the norm. I'm not quite that old. Vaughn made an axe, too, but nobody used it. I think I used a 28 oz hammer after I gave up the axe, but not for long. When I stopped hand nailing entirely I went to a 20 oz fiberglass handled Vaughn, which I still use. I've got a set; one smooth and one waffle.
I've got a curved claw steel handle Eastwing that's the cats ass for stripping forms. I'd sure hate to drive many nails with a steel handled hammer.
I use the Vaughn 24 oz mill face framer. Enough heft to drive 12 and 16d sinkers in two blows (if not using a nailgun) and leverage to yank nails and studs during demo. No issues with vibration. I wrap the fiberglass shank near the head in multiple layers of electrical tape. When the tape gets scarred up, I wrap it some more. I start the tape from scratch every 5 years or so. The fiberglass shank ittself has yet to see a gouge over the past 30 years. Also, I like the fact that from tip of claw to tip of handle is exactly 16". I don't think this is by coincidence. You can get roughly the same model I have for about $35 which is still reasonable.
Best Frame Hammer
When I started framing sheathing, subfloors, walls and roofs was all 1x6 t&g. Everything ran wild and the new kid got the handsaw (the non-electric kind) to cut the wild ends. Only thing we could get was a wood handeled Plumb or a steel shank leather handle Estwing. Us real men used the steel shank until most of us destroyed our elbows. Then we became smart real men and got wood or fiberglass. I found a graphite handled Estwing with straight claw waffle face 22oz. Bought the thing on the spot. It did such a good job absorbing the shock that I was able to get rid of the band I had to keep on my forearm. I used that hammer untill I retired and still have it for my honey doos. So that's my call for the best frame hammer. Estwing Graphite. For you youngsters a bit of advice. Forget about the real man stuff. It's a long way from your 20s to your 60s. Work smart. The job can hurt if you don't.
It's a long way from your 20s to your 60s. Work smart.
No kidding!
and, those last few years are not just another single year, the sore geometrically progresses.
Just what I needed thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts.
I have a 23 ounce Vaughn Cali Framer and it works great for me.