Hi everyone.
I was using a newer estwing 20 ounce hammer with leather handle today, to drive some cut nails for furring strips. That thing was ringing like a bell, and the guy I work for said that “thats supposedly the sign of a good hammer”
Just curious if you all had any thoughts or experiences. Its kind of loud but kind of neat too to hear it ring like that, kind of a high pitched ping.
Oops maybe should have posted this in tools.
Webby
Edited 11/24/2009 9:26 pm ET by webby
Edited 11/24/2009 9:28 pm ET by webby
Replies
that hammer is near bout useless as t@@s on a bull.
I dunno, my hatred for cut nails not withstanding, it drove them ok.
It was a gift, a birthday present. Webby
The Estwing is known for its ring. Some guys swear by them, I have one but seldom use it and have never been crazy about them.
The ringing probably had more to do with the fact that you were pounding cut nails into what I presume was concrete. How's your elbow feeling?
Those leather handled estwings are brutal.
My elbow feels fine. That was the last thing on my mind, falling off a wobbly walk board 20 feet up (with ladders spaced about 20 feet apart) was my main concern. I did about half the wall then said thats it. With no benefits and no workers comp, at 12 an hour it wasn't worth it, I let the boss get out there and finish it, (since it was his house).
There can't be much more frustrating things to try and do up that high - try and beat a effeing cut nail into concrete block. I hate those things. Kind of makes you feel like a caveman beating on something with a club. Youre thinking there has to be a better way.
Webby
Edited 11/24/2009 10:54 pm ET by webby
There definitely is a better way. No workers comp? A wobbly board 20' up? Your boss isn't fit to be a boss, but it's your neck that'll be broken.
Glad you had the sense to say no.
Yeah, its a long story but thats the situation. Usually I am cool with everything we do, - kind of just handy man stuff all the way up to kitchen and bath renos, porches built, decks etc. There are times when I know the workload is too much because it is just me and him- would be nice with another set of hands, but...
Usually I feel pretty safe in whatever we are doing so I don't raise a ruckus, but yesterday was a little much. Here in WV many split levels, because of the terrain, are one story at the front and drop to two at the back, well his drops to two plus at the back. it was about 20 feet up just to mount the furring for the starter. I don't do enough of that to get used to it and don't want to. The side wasnt so bad, but the back had my legs a little shaky.
So I had to look out for myself at that point. He is a licensed GC, and Master Plumber due to the amount of hours he had he qualified.
So during some tough jobs like that I get frustrated because for the amount I do labor wise to help him i feel like he is shorting me at 12 an hour, no benefits no withholding and no workers comp. Then throw on the danger of that height, and the fact that it was his house, I feel like he is getting alot of cheap labor to improve his house and life at my expense. So I can get really po'd and I also didn't want to cause myself to fall due to emotions and temper, so I got off there. He knew I didn't like that job, already told him. I mentioned conversationally that it wasnt worth it to me what with no insurance and all, - he said there are worse things.
I remember thinking at the time that "I can't believe I am doing this", and "this is the stupidest thing I have ever done, and I just want to finish out the day without getting hurt".
Funny thing is he has fallen before and brocken his back, and I for one don't want to have that happen to me. -- Usually I am cool with stuff but if he is not going to look out after me I have to look out for myself.
Besides, he was just trying to save money- he has a guy that is going to put the siding on, 'cause he has pumpjacks with long enough poles.
Webby
Edited 11/25/2009 10:40 am ET by webby
There is a better way...rather than cutnails use a ramset and pull the trigger. More learned minds may know but I can't think of what one would attach with a cutnail that they couldn't just ramset.
I was trying to ramset some platon dranage membrane clips onto a foundation wall a few weeks ago. Would not sink the nails. Went back to hand hammering masonry nails to get the job done. Elbow was not happy.Steve
Edited 11/25/2009 12:18 am by mmoogie
the estwing ping.
mine is 20+ years old. still pings
Cool.Webby
One of my prime memories of my father building our garage back in the early 60's was his leather handled hammer. I saw one in Lowes about 5-6 years ago, on the sale rack I think, and jumped on it. Brings back a lot of memories."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I like them, I have a 16 for siding and trim and a 20 both with leather handles.
I have an all around rubber handled 20and a rubber handled smooth face 23 for tearing out and demo.Webby
Twenty years ago i lost my first estwing. Bought a new one and it was ringin' like a church! Gave it away and bought another but this time i checked it out in the store by tapping it against others.
I haven't met anyone who doesn't get driven nuts by the ringing.
Make music with your hammer, get rhythm!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ5pqSc29oA
Mike
Small wheel turn by the fire and rod, big wheel turn by the grace of god.
What jercarp said:
>>>I have one but seldom use it and have never been crazy about them.
Me too. I've had too many "ringers" with the Estwings. The Hart Woody (now Douglas) is the way to go IMO.
Scott.
I have a hart decker, never got a woody ( er' hammer I mean) , couldn't justify the expense.
Webby
Edited 11/25/2009 10:14 am ET by webby
Must depend... no Estwing I've ever had was a ringer... but my Hart Trimmer rang for about 5 years... got a Stilleto now, it just whomps.http://www.tvwsolar.com
We'll have a kid
Or maybe we'll rent one
He's got to be straight
We don't want a bent one
He'll drink his baby brew
From a big brass cup
Someday he may be president
If things loosen up
I had a Stanley Fat Max 24oz that I hated to use cuz it rang so loud. No one would ever borrow it. I somehow lost it. I check hammers now before I buy.
Vern.
Made me think of this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0PamtXZO70
Maybe Eastwing should use it in an ad.
LOL yeah, I didn't know if they all did or what, my rubber handled ones dont ring neither does my leather 16. I know when I have had enough computer, I start to ryhm. Ah, almost lunch time.Webby
I think the traditional Estwings look, feel and swing like a hammer should. Ringing is just an anomaly of the forging process.
Some injuries are the result of cumulative damage. Most modern carpenters don't swing a hammer all day like we did in the past. Using the Estwing day after day will likely result in carpenters elbow, tendonitis. It might take many years but I guarantee you won't like it if it happens to you. The ringing could also have long term consequences for your hearing. I wouldn't want to work next to you.
Construction workers are often placed in bad situations by an ignorant boss. Most veterans have dozens of horror stories. The US government has laws in place to protect you from idiots like your boss. He is breaking the law, plain and simple. He could end your working career, permanently. The work is potentially dangerous enough without being stupid. You and your family and future are being taken advantage of. Maybe you should have the OSHA guidelines for contractors mailed to him. If you feel you regularly are put in compromising safety situations, I'd call them. A few of my former friends aren't around anymore due to avoidable job site accidents, don't be a victim.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Thanks hammer1, points well taken. I agree.
It was supposed to be a stop gap job after a layoff, but then the economy tanked. I told myself this was the last year but we will see. Yesterday was an anomaly, i am not excusing him, but like I said normally I feel pretty safe.
But I am not afraid to take care of myself either. No one likes to walk off a job but I have to protect myself.
I think he takes alot of risks, or what I always understood to be risks. I think it means I am picking up some bad habits.
For example I have always heard not to get an aluminum ladder next to service drop wires. However at one point he was bracing the aluminum extension ladder nest to the insulator for the service drop on the house and was in contact with both the drop wires and ladder but nothing happened. Dangerous, Crazy or just a fact of the construction environment? I am not sure maybe someone can clarify this for me?
Webby
Edited 11/25/2009 4:57 pm ET by webby
Edited 11/25/2009 5:19 pm ET by webby
heres a clarification: your boss is an idiot. Don't ever mess with a ladder and power.
Yeah definitely on the first point and I thought so on the second. Thanks.
But was the only reason he didn't get shocked was just a lack of good grounding? The aluminum ladder was placed on the concrete driveway, against the insulator, supported the Werner taskmaster aluminum plank, and he was in contact with both simultaneously.
I was also on the plank at the time. I assume I was at risk for a shock too?
Webby
Edited 11/25/2009 5:51 pm ET by webby
Edited 11/25/2009 5:51 pm ET by webby
Edited 11/25/2009 5:52 pm ET by webby
Yes. Very much so. If there was a nick in the insulation, you both would be dead, plain and simple. Some painters around here got killed last year just moving a ladder and bumping into a service drop. You need to find a new boss.
I agree, thanks.Webby
Take a hacksaw blade and make a small cut between the claws, in the y so to speak.
Ok, i had thuoght about something like that.Webby
Give er', it works.
The first hammer i bought (about 20 years ago) was a steel shanked, rubber handled Plumb. Sound like the church bell tower. It ended up at the bottom of my tool box (the ringing drove me nuts), i used it as a back up. I final got rid of it about 4 months ago. Farm & Fleet had a sale on Stilettos, trade a hammer in and get $50 off. i think i got a good deal. I love the Stiletto, 14 oz with wood handle. Smaller then I'm use to but has the same striking power as my old 21 oz.
PANIC CHAOS DISORDER.........my work is done here.
I have two estwings and have no ringing problems. My stilleto T-bone on the other hand rings quite a bit.
I haven't owned an Estwing in over 20 years, since I had one stolen on a jobsite while I was still in HS. Since then I've used a True Temper Rocket (still miss that hammer!) and a selection of random cheap junk hammers that break or wear out.
Last week I'd finally had enough of my Walmart hammer (looks like an Estwing with a bright orange handle) and bought a brand new 22 oz smooth-face Estwing. I was driving 10d spiral galvanized nails through pine battens for my shed, and that hammer rings like a bell. First it was fascinating, because I hadn't heard a hammer ring like that in years, then it got annoying. I'm glad I don't have to use it every day, or I'd get another new hammer.
The first Estwing I ever bought, a 20 oz. straight claw, never rang.
It got stolen, and I bought a replacement. And another. I never found another Estwing that didn't ring. It drove me nuts.
Now I have a Douglas. Much quieter.
I have to admit, I kind of like the ring. For one, it lets me know that I got a good hit on the nail, and also, I think its the sign of a good hammer. Maybe harmonics or something, but it makes me feel like my hammer is "in tune".
You must have been a blacksmith in a past life. A cracked anvil won't sing.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
PROUD MEMBER OF THE " I ROCKED WITH REZ" CLUB
I bought a new Estwing 20 oz straight claw nylon handle hammer about 10 years ago, and it rang like yours. Had many Estwings before that never rang. Called Estwing and talked to their customer service reps. Their solution, file one of the two halves of the claw. Not too much, jult a little at a time and see if the ringing stops. Sounded odd, but I tried it and it works. I guess the hammer head is acting like a tuning fork, and you just need to tweak it to stop the ringing.
Try it, it worked for me.
Nick
Thanks it is rather annoying.Webby