So I lost my Douglas 20 oz framing hammer the other day. Loved the Douglas, but now that I need a new hammer am thinking about a Titanium one. Any thoughts?? If I was to go with a Titanium, Im thinking about the wood handled Stiletto. Also, has anybody had any experience with the interchangeable heads??
Man I am so pissed I lost it. I might have to go and buy both a Douglas and a Titanium just to teach myself a lesson!!!!
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Replies
stick with the douglas. After I bought mine part of the crew all and went and got one. But I guess it is a matter of personal choice. The steel shank is a blessing.
I have all three mallets. Douglas 20, Stilletto wood handle and solid titanium.
I really like all three.
I broke three of four handles in the wooden Stilletto, so I bought the Ti-bone 15 oz. I use that for framing. I can easily drive 16d nails in two manly swings even with my little chicken arms.
If you buy the wooden handled Stilletto carry a cats claw, the handles are made out of firewood. Either that or I just suck at using one.
I will remember before I forget.
I take it the wood handles on the Ti Stiletto are a week point?? They bust just from hammering or getting smashed into stuff? Bought a Douglas yesterday but still thinking about getting a Stiletto. Is yours the smooth faced or milled?? With a hammer that light, might use it for trim also ( if a got the smooth head).Live by the sword, die by the sword....choose your sword wisely.
THey are weak, I stopped buying replacements from Stilletto and started making my own. Kind of fun.
I like the Douglas alot, nice mallet. I would like a straight handle on it.
All my hammers are smooth face, they arrive with the waffled face and I clamp the belt sander to the table and sand the faces flat.
If you do alot of framing the wooden handled stilletto's head will start to mushroom around the edges of the face. Easily fixable with the beltsander again.
THats probably part of the reason why they started making Ti-hammers with interchangable steel faces.
For trim look into their 10 oz hammer, I get laughed at for having a 20" handled framing hammer in my pouch when I am throwing casing and base on. The longer handles are kind of awkward in trim situations.
View ImageI will remember before I forget.
Sweet looking handle!!! They make fun of you if you use that for trimming??? Probably just jealous.Live by the sword, die by the sword....choose your sword wisely.
I have the 14oz Stiletto framing hammer. It's my day to day hammer, although I'll switch it up for a heavier, cheaper hammer if I'm doing only demo.
The handle that came with the Stiletto sucks. I never destroyed them, but it came loose on me very shortly after my purchase. I soaked it in water every night, but after a while decided to replace it.
I just bought some $6 dollar replacement at the hardware store, and used a spokeshave and a sander to make it fit. From that point, it's been solid and a pleasure to use.
It started as a milled face, but you can hardly tell anymore due to the amount of use.
I always liked the estwing for framing.
Look very hard at the Vaughn Ti-Tech if you like titanium wood handled framing hammers. I've owned the solid Titanium Stilletto, the wood handled Stilletto and now use the Vaughn Ti-Tech. I went through a new wood handle with the Stilletto about every month or two. And I just didn't like the all titanium Ti-Bone either. But I've been swinging the same hickory handled Ti-Tech going on three years now and still love it. Same piece of hickory too. The Ti-Tech also has a removeable steel striking face which holds up much better than the Stilletto solid titanium head I had which mushroomed and splintered considerably. I prefer the weight of the 16oz Ti-Tech over my 14oz Stilletto too.... just enough extra 'oooomph' for persuading lumber into position.
If you can get your hands on both before purchasing that'd be great. What feels good to one may feel horrible to someone else.
Oh yeah.... and the Vaughn is only like $80 or so.
Edited 4/14/2007 1:36 pm ET by dieselpig
Glad you posted. I was all set to order a Stilletto, but think Ill try the Vaughn. How does it fit your hand?? If I remeber correctly, you've said you got small hands. Me too! Have you ever switched up the heads??? Thinking of getting the smooth head also, switching to that when Im doing ext. trim or decks or such.
Was going to e-mail you about some other tool question, but cant remember what it was. Something about nail guns or compressors. Brain going to mush.
Thanks for the info on the Vaughn.Live by the sword, die by the sword....choose your sword wisely.
It's very comfortable to me anyway. I don't have exceptionally small hands (size large gloves), but the handle on mine is the same shape as the handle on the Vaughan 23oz California Framer that they sell at home depot if you're looking for a comparison. I also add a Stilletto handle wrap to my hammers as well and this packs them out a hair but the rubber grip is nice to have. I've never switched up the head on mine and stick with the waffle face since I'm always framing.View Image
Have Stilletos in straight and curved handles. Like the curved. The Douglas handle seems too slabby for my hand. Besides, I have the old Hart Woody version.
As DieselP pointed out - check out the TiTech. Since my van got emptied and there went the Dalluge Sweet 16, I have been using the TiTech, curved handle. No complaints. Steel nose. Good idea.
However, I really like the Sweet 16. Nice lines and feel. Besides, I think those two extra oz. make a difference.
The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.