I’ve been searching through the site, but haven’t seen any mention of the new shock- and vibration-reducing grip on Estwing tools. Does anyone know about this? I was hoping to find some mention of it here.
I’ll tell you up front, I am connected to Estwing Mfg. Co. My grandfather, Ernest Estwing, was the founder of the company, and the majority of the extended family is still involved in the company. The new grip looks the same as the old grip, i.e. blue vinyl, but it’s a different material, and has reduced vibration and shock about 50%.
We haven’t had much feedback from the general public, although the field testers didn’t want to give their hammers back at the end of the test. If anyone knows about the grip and would like to comment, especially if you have tried it, I would love to hear what you think. We started shipping it about a year ago, so if you’ve bought an Estwing tool in that time, you very possibly have the new grip. There is a shock-reduction label on the neck, if you aren’t sure. Thanks!
Replies
Hi, JEF-
I use an older 22oz. framer and like it a lot. Yes, I've noticed the advertising of the shock reducing grip, but frankly never really got the message that there was anything new about it. Maybe because the hammer and grip look just like they always have. Perhaps the advertising needs to convey this fact more clearly?.......I know it would probably be a (risky?) bold move, but maybe a new grip color would attract new/more attention. On the other hand the blue is a trademark feature. I'm not a marketing guy, just some ideas.
Ken Hill
I'm not a carpenter and I don't usually do anywhere near the amount of hammering that they do but after a rash of wandering hammers I found I needed two new ones. The big box I ended up at had no American wood handled models so I checked out the newer Eswings. The handle feels softer than the old Eswings and seems to absorb some of the shock. Made in USA, reliable design and a fair price. What more could I ask for?
I've been useing an Estwing for years,in fact it's the same one I've had for I don't know how long.One of the guys that I work with has one too but we can each tell which is which just by the feel with looking.
I'd be happy to try your new model my address is listed below.Vince Carbone
not in the market but I'll be happy to try new one use estwing for years.
Send 20 oz please. Thanks.
yes ...I spent the bucks..been using Estwing my all of 27 years in the biz....wasnt impressed at all and actually felt kinda ripped off. Counted on a tried and true company not to jive me but guess what? Hype! No difference in the world. I gave the hammer to a good worker who needed it and deserved such an expensive hammer. Sorry to see a good company run with hype. What a wate of about $30 that I didnt need to spend.
Be well
Namaste'
Andy
It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
FWIW, I give the guy a lot of credit for being up front with who he is and why he was posting. Yes, in a way he's asking us to buy his product, but in the right way. I wish more manufacturers would post here and solicit comments.
I have an old construction-site curved claw hammer with a good hickory handle that I got in about '74, and a 22 oz (I think) Estwing that I got in about '81, so I don't plan on buying any more. Sorry. BTW, that old hickory hex shaped handle sure feels good in the hand.
"FWIW, I give the guy a lot of credit for being up front with who he is and why he was posting. Yes, in a way he's asking us to buy his product, but in the right way.
I think I missed being "up front" about a couple of things. Firstly, perhaps irrelevantly, I'm a gal, not a guy. ;-)
Secondly, and far more importantly, I'm not asking anyone to buy our product by posting here. Seriously. We sell lots and lots of hammers and other tools. I'm not in the marketing department, and if I were, I wouldn't expect to get business by advertising on a discussion forum! It's just that we haven't heard anything much back from the general public. I certainly have been wondering what anyone thinks about the grip. I thought this forum would be a good place to "hear" what's what. And I can see from the responses that I was right about that.
I do sincerely appreciate each and every reply, even negative ones, because that is what I am interested in -- what people think. So if you've had experience with the new grip, I'd like to know what it was, good or bad or indifferent. Of course, I enjoy reading the positive ones the most! :-) And I even like "hearing" that you've had your trusty old Estwing for umpteen years, and have no need to replace it.
Now a couple of specific responses: First, to Ken Hill, regarding changing the color of the grip. Yes, we considered that, but in the end, for several reasons, decided to stay with the same color. It is, after all, our trademark. Literally -- that particular shade of blue is a registered trademark.
Second, to Andy Clifford, I'm sorry that you think the grip is "hype". We tested the shock absorption on a machine that measures such things. There was a marked decrease (about 50%) in all the samples tested (and there were many more than just a couple tested). The majority of the truss shop workers who field tested the hammers were enthusiastic about it, and felt there was a noticeable difference. That said, there were those who thought there wasn't much of a difference. Apparently you feel the same, which is unfortunate. As far as I know, all our retailers will take back our tools and give a refund. I would be interested to hear of any that don't. In any case, I appreciate you taking the time to respond.
You don't know me and have no reason to take my word for it. Nevertheless, I will tell you that producing the best quality tools that we can and dealing fairly and honorably with all were principles of paramount importance to my grandfather; his children and grandchildren and employees of the company feel just the same. We wouldn't spend the money to change over to a new grip material if we didn't believe it was a definitely improvement.
Now who can argue with a post like that!
I've got 4 Estwing hammers, 3 framers and a finish and I love them, but they get a vacation once in a while because of the elbow thing. Today, as a result of this forum, I purchased one of the new Estwings for my current client who was trying to drive 16d galvy sinkers with one of those fiberglass handled things with a smooth face and he had a smile on his face after a couple of hours with the new hammer. Of course, that is a poor test, but when I tried the new hammer I didn't notice a lot of difference except the rubber was soft and fresh and not hard and shiny like my 25 year-old favorite.
I do have a Stanley framer I bought last year because of it sports a soft cushioned grip around a steel shank and it's OK, but I prefer "old blue" or the Senco. Some people would bitch even if they were hung with a new rope.
Ok JEF, sorry about the gender thing, but I read it as a variation of Jeff. So what do you go by? Also, right or wrong, for better or worse, the majority of the posters here are male.
And I still contend that you were/are soliciting sales (because in a way you're advertising the product), and I still contend that I don't have a problem with your method, becasue it wasn't a blatant in-your-face sell job like we have seen on a rare occassion. The posters here are not shy about giving opinions about products, and could probably give a few good suggesstions for improvements, but no body (except you) asks, and we're not even aware if they read the messages. Oh well, it's their loss.
Because of your posting, I picked up one of the new hammers in the store today. I don't remember mine ever being that clean. The grip felt softer, a little squishy. Does it grip better with sweaty hands?
To ELCID72 ~ No apology needed, regarding gender. I just wanted to make sure I gave you all the facts. JEF are (is?) my initials.
Regarding a better grip with sweaty hands, I am embarassed to report that I'm not sure. I THINK it is better, partially because the material is not as hard as what was previously used. As far as we can tell with aging simulations, this current material will harden slightly, but does not seem to affect the shock absorption properties. The old grip hardened somewhat with age, and turned kind of green. We don't think this one will go green (or some other funky color), but only time will tell us for certain.
To John Carroll -- that name seems familiar -- were you just on the last Survivor series? :-) Yes, the new grip material has been phased in for all the blue-handled tools now. We still make the old-time stacked leather grip, but the blue grip has been more popular for quite some time now. Too bad it doesn't look as good as the leather!
jef
I do love the new leather grip andled Estwing I bought a few weeks ago. Its no framing hammer but it feels good to me
AndyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
JEF, No, that was not me. I've actually never seen the show.
Bought a 16 oz. Estwing a few months ago. From what you've said, I assume it has the new grip. Unfortunately, I haven't noticed that the grip feels extraordinary.
I am happy with the hammer, though, having wanted one for ten years now. On one of my very first construction jobs (eighteen-years-old and doing general grunt work) a fellow took me under his wing and became a sort of mentor. After watching me beat the heck of out my fiderglass handled hammer he pulled out his Estwing, held it next to my hammer, and said "METAL." while nodding. Then he looked at mine, which was falling apart, and said, "FIBERGLASS." while shaking his head.
I don't know why that lesson stuck with me so well. My parents sure tried to teach me more important ones that didn't stick at all. Anyway, I've wanted an Estwing since then. Now that I have it I'm happy despite the fact that the grip felt pretty normal.
Sam, if it's the shock reduction grip, there is a label saying so on the neck. If it doesn't say so, then it's the older grip. As soon as we were able to go into production, we just went ahead and made the switch. The distribution system and stock turnover of the retailers determined how fast the new grip appeared in the individual stores.
Actually, I have seen some of the older ones still for sale in some of the small hardware stores. It's sad how difficult it for the small stores to compete. I'd much rather go to a smaller store. And it really bugs me to discover that I (who am amongst the amateurs) know more than store personnel! Must be all my many years of living. ;-)
I don't do anywhere near the hammering of many other posters, but I just picked up an Estwing guaged roofing hammer for a garage re-roof... I'm half way done so far hand-nailing everything and have no complaints. The hammer feels very solid and well-made.
Andy
I picked up an Estwing roofing hammer and I am quite pleased with the performance. In fact thats all I'll use on a roof other than a gun. But on the same note I'll stick with my Stilletto for framing. Yes it is an 80 dollar hammer, and at first it does seem a little odd using a hammer that only weighs 13 ounces, but nothing out performs it. For those of you who don't believe, pick one up, use it for a month and you'll never pick up another hammer again. Remember it's the leverage that drives the nail, not the weight.
Dave-
It's the mass.
Ken Hill
It's the head that drives the nailBob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob-
And it makes a difference how hard or smart that head is!
Ken Hill
They're all hard, and they really SMART if you miss. heheBob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
How is that titanium hammer on your wrists? Do you like the straight or the curved handle? I need to find the right hammer for doing a lot of siding and some roofing, too. Smooth face I guess?
My right wrist is a mess. Even the Estwings hurt me. Gripping in general is tough. I find the Stiletto for $74.99 at my reliable catalog supplier. And there's a new one that has a replaceable steel nose for $199! Whoo hoo! That's a HAMMER!
There is also a 10 oz one. Wow, would it just be really be flaunting my femininity to have that? Shoot, at 10 oz, I could wear it as a hair accessory. Like the old movies where the secretary always has a pencil in her bun.
I think I know why prodek collects wooden hammers.
I was working with a retired carpenter who used only wooden hammers. He told told me a hammer has to be smooth and fit you hand just right, like the inside of a woman's thigh.
I don't think I'll ever forget that. Cracks me up every time I remember it.
Just a tip (so to speak..lol)....straight claw for roofing......reason being? Cause if you start to slide off the roof you can slam the claw into the roof like an ice climbing pick and I aint kiddin'. I've done it numorous times as I was walking stupid on a roof. To date....in 27 years in the biz I've never been hurt real bad.....ut oh...I shouldnt a said that.....
Be well
Namaste'
AndyIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
E=m(c) squared.
The ultimate power tool. A nuclear hammer. Quick, powerful and a joy to use.
The down side? You have to work really hard for 15 years to get a license to own one. You have to have a guy with a masters degree in nuclear engineering on site to operate one and the real kicker. It's hard to get to work on time with all the protesters blocking the way.
Also lead lined codpieces chafe something fierce on those hot, sunny days.
My dad had an estwing with a leather handle that I always borrowed for projects. Eventually I got one of my own, and it served me well for many years. Then it disappeared. Follows a long interval of using cheap temporary hammers, bought until the estwing surfaced. It didn't. I gave up and went to buy a new one. I saw the new blue one, but the hype didn't impress me. Some of my temporary hammers had various gimmicks, and I admit I didn't give the blue estwing a chance. The leather gripped one was tried and true, and -- what can I say? -- I bought it. Don't know if that's useful feedback for your marketing folks, but it's true.
Re knowing more than the HW store clerks: I have a standard test. (First I should say I'm female, and I've been renovating or building houses my entire adult life.) I get irritated when I go into a hardware store and the teenage boy who has maybe spent part of a summer as a gofer on a construction site (no more than that, or he wouldn't be a sales clerk) starts telling me that I don't want the tools or materials I say I want. He's got a y chromosome, he KNOWS. (well, no, they don't use that argument but sometimes that's what it seems to boil down to.)
ANYWAY - I just go in and ask if they have any #3 sweep gouges. Or perhaps a slick. They virtually never have them, but the reaction tells me a lot. One time, the clerk's face lit up; he apologized that they didn't have any, but he had some catalogs and they could order it, and we got to chatting brands and profiles and sharpening angles. That's one guy I'll ask advice of. More typically the reaction is 'huh? what's that?", or worse - "what are you trying to do? Oh, for THAT you need (points to something totally unsuitable but in stock). LOL.
My local hardware store is run by two women. One of the reasons I moved to this town...
what town is that by the way??????????It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
South Berwick Maine. Great area.
I have an older 20 oz. estwing that is a great back-up and is
of course unbreakable. Also have one of those new estwings,
but don't like it one bit. It feels like a foam noodle and gets
stuck in and out of the hammer loop-- yuk. I "gave" it to my other
helper, but wish it would leave the jobsite. Nothing new under the
sun, wood handles still the best.
All I used to use was a wood handled Plum hammers. I have an Eswing or 2 and some Stanleys.. I prefer my Senco.
Jef,
If you look in FHB # 146, you'll see me working with a 30-year-old Estwing roofing hammer. It has been about as durable and reliable as a tool can be. The original waffled face has long since been worn smooth and the blue handle has turned green but it's still going strong. I hope you offer the shock-absorbing technology on your gauged roofing hammers too.
Thanks for a great tool. John Carroll
I love my old Estwing 22oz curved claw with the laminated leather handle. I first picked it up in the mid seventies and my hand felt like it was made for it. Since then a few laminations have fallen out and it's a bit rusty. I repair it by packing duct tape in the slot where the laminate is missing. The blue handles never felt good in my hand and never made it out of the store. I used fiberglass for a while doing production framing in the eightys and I can still feel the pain and swelling in my arm every Friday, barely to recover over the weekend. I prefer wood now. No more elbow problems and swollen hands. I still have that old indestructable Estwing though and the handle still feels good.
Have been useing Estwing since 72. Lost the old one several months ago. bought a new one sure is nice to have sharp claws , not ground down ones . Have allways reccomended Estwing to new guys , seen them change brands and allways go back to Estwig Maybe you can answer the question of why new hammers ring or ping for the first two or three houses. Th answers Ive got you could write a book on and most are pretty humorous. The old hammer I had , more than once I uesd a wood rasp to rough up the handle , the new one is an improvement on the best. Oh and I have never had any problems with my elbows or shoulder and Ive wore out quite a few nail bags.
I'm a safety person. Reducing vibration is important in reducing the liklihood of injury. I used the Eastwing roofing hammer (old version) for a few roofs and found the handle to reduce felt vibration compared to other hammers I have used. However, a softer handle can make things worse. Those foam rubber lined tools being the extreme example, such approaches make the user grip the tool tighter to retain control, once again adding to the likelihood of repetitive stress issues.
I prefer to use a wood handled hammer (California framer for framing and 16 oz. curved claw for trim, both Vaughan), but love my Estwing 22 oz. straight claw long handle for any demo work or rough stuff. I also give it to anyone who is helping me that doesn't know much about tools. I never worry about someone abusing my Estwing and breaking it, no matter how strong and reckless they are. If they broke my Estwing, I would be very impressed at their ability. I have tried, and it's practically impossible (without the help of a 4' 1-1/4" pipe, that is). Good product.
So Jon, how did you have knowledge of a 4' pipe and an Estwing hammer?
While we're on the subject of hammers, on p.7 of the June/July 2002 FHB, there is an ad for a titanium hammer. Isn't titanium a lot lighter than steel? And it probably costs a lot more. Who would choose titanium over steel, all things being equal?
Lighter means you can swing it faster. Energy increases as the square of speed, but only linearly with weight, so you can hit harder with a lighter hammer.
Could you please explain the squared vs. linearly a little further? Thanks.
Probably not very coherently. :) But I'm sure somebody who understands physics will correct me.
If you double the weight of a hammer and can swing it at the same speed, you can deliver twice as much energy to the nail. But if you leave the weight the same and double the speed, you can deliver four times as much energy.
It's the same reason a baseball player would cork at bat, so he can swing it faster, and the same reason that bullets in infantry rifles have been getting smaller and faster for 150 years, reduced mass and increased speed for a net increase in energy delivered.
I'm a little bit skeptical here. Your arm has only so much energy available. Also there is a maximum rate at which you can swing your arm - and thus the hammer.
There are certain dynamics in which speed changes things a bit - for instance powder-activated tools can shot a nail into a steel beam or a slab of concrete but you can peck away all day with an 8 oz. watchmaker's hammer and not make much more than a dimple.
But I think the general rule is: Energy = speed X mass.
-Hope I'm right.
-Peter
If I remember my physics correctly, the equation is
energy = mass x velocity^2 (thats velocity squared)
Thats why rifles do more damage than pistols for the same caliber.
If I remember my physics E=m x v squared is correct. But don't put too fine a point on it. From a mechanics point of view it is easy to double the mass, doubling the impact but much harder to increase the speed 41% to get the same effect. ( The square root of 2 = 1.414)
You can make up for a lighter head by swinging faster, light heads accelerate faster given the same amount of muscle, and having a longer handle but only to a point. A high quality hammer also helps. A more elastic, very hard but tempered enough to not shatter, head absorbs less of the swing.
I like a lighter hammer with a longer handle, better to increase that speed. Most carpenters, at least those who still use hammers, will hammer more nails in a day than I sink in a year. Still I do like to set them with a minimum of wear and tear on my rapidly aging arm.
E=mc2
you have to be able to swing the hammer at the speed of light to get the maximum energy for your effort.
Nail guns are much easier , but a pain to setup.
EinsTien
Do not try this at home!
I am a trained professional!
But I much prefer the knockdown power of my 45-70 (w/black powder) @ 300 yds vs. a .223.
Besides, I checked out those titanium hammers recently, and while they're real pretty and feel nice, I'm not ready to spend $70 + for one.
Edited 5/28/2002 1:34:08 AM ET by Notchman
No doubt about it! But which one would you pick if you had to fire it as often as you swing a hammer? Or carry it 40 hours a week?
I find it troublesome to afford the heavy ammunition OR the lighter hammer. What's a man to do?!
I have a whole lot of hammers. Probably 4 out of 10 of them are Estwings. I don't know why I have so many. Some must have come with my husband, and a buddy of mine was renting a house to a carpenter and took all the guys tools when he skipped out on the rent. Somehow I ended up with this box of hammers. I know that's a joke, "dumb as a box of hammers" but anyway, that's part of how I got so many. They're all too heavy for me, or the grip is wrong, or the handle is too long. Hard to say. I'm a girl, too, so that's my excuse. I find myself just using the lightest hammer I can put my hands on when I need one. I used a fiberglass one yesterday morning for about 30 nails and had to take the afternoon off, though. Now I know my mistake after reading these posts. I think my one wooden handled hammer has a loose head, so I don't use that one. I found it in a parking lot in downtown Atlanta. I always wondered if it was a discarded weapon.
So anyway, JEF, if you spend a lot of time thinking about and measuring properties of hammers, tell me what is the deal with titanium hammers? Why do they say it has the same power as a heavier one? Just because of the head size and the length of the handle? Is there a physical property I can understand, like momentum or inertia, that is used to describe hammer "power"? I don't know the lingo, so the physics sounds like bunk to me.
I have a titanium crowbar and absolutely love it. I would get a titanium hammer if any of the hype made sense at all. Or if they cost what a Russian surplus crowbar goes for.
Are you kidding, or did you actually get a Ti crowbar? Where? I'm a mountain biker and the word titanium always lights up. inquiring minds want to know...........
Ken Hill
No, I really have a Titanium crowbar. A friend of mine gave it to me for my birthday. I don't know where he found it. I'll see if he'll tell me.
B
Titanium crowbars. Also Ti shovels and trowels. Lots of other neat stuff.
http://secure.sovietski.com/cgi-bin/Sovietski.storefront/3cf42ad10003ada62b05c0a80a12063d/Product/View/206272
We weren't fighting communism. We just wanted their neat titanium tools.
Excellent! "You might also enjoy a mine detector!" I especially like how the trowel is chemically inert so it's good for organic gardening. I never knew my magnetically active trowel was going to have an unholistic effect on my vegetables!
B
Estwing is a great homeowners hammer but wood handles have the best balance and shock absorption , and ease of handling in the field.
Estwing will probably be around long after we are gone because they are indestructible.
For the money I think the Vaughan TiTech has incorporated great balance,a shock absorption replacement steel head screwed to a titanium body on a long comfortable wood handle.
I collect wood handled hammers Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Breeze, I am very hazy on physics myself. What 4LORN1 posted is what I've been told about titanium-headed hammers -- here's the quote:
You can make up for a lighter head by swinging faster, light heads accelerate faster given the same amount of muscle, and having a longer handle but only to a point. A high quality hammer also helps. A more elastic, very hard but tempered enough to not shatter, head absorbs less of the swing.
I haven't a CLUE what a sweep gouge is or what it's used for! I guess I can't use that for a test.
http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/Merchant/merchant.mv?Screen=BIGP&description=Spade+Gouge+%237+Sweep&fullimagepath=/prodimg/ee/big/EE-505-77XX_big.gif
A curved gouge. The curve is parabolic in appearance (but I have no idea if it really is). .
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
I know it's a few years since you put this msg. out. What has been your feedback? Does this vibration-damping actually work? Thanks , Tuna