Hi All,
Sorry to post the same discussion again but I got ZERO feedback on it before. I browsed the archives but some of the discussions are 250 threads long and move in and out of focus on the subject.
So here’s the question:
How long are these hammers lasting? Can you pull a nail with the claws? I’ve heard/read elsewhere guys are snapping them off. I agree that in relation to what we spend our money on and the hammer gets more use than anything that $180 isn’t too much IF it lasts. I’m one of those that get’s the framers elbow and $180 is cheap to alleve that.
Thanks,
N
Replies
I don't see how a $ 180 hammer is going to save your elbow. My elbow starts to hurt way too much to reach my wallet for a $180 freakin hammer.
Framers elbow is another thing entirely, linament used to work, elbow pad helped but I have heard about magnets, accupuncture, squeeze balls etc.
Try posting "Framers Elbow" in General Discussion to pull out all the old guys with their collective assortment of aches and pains and bunions...
Turtleneck
Its not a smile- its a cramp
If you look at it as 4180 for a hammer yea. But how many tools do you have that cost more than $200 that get occational use? As a framer can sink 500 nails a day ( I never counter but that sounds reasonable).
If they hold up I see it as a good investment.
N
I have an aluminum handled stiletto that I bought about two years ago. It is an awesome hammer, for certain things. Is it for yanking huge nails out? No. That is hard on any hammer, not to mention your arm. Is it for smacking I-beams? No. Use a sledge. Is it for driving nails all day long, especially over head, YES! It is so light and fast and yet it really drives em home. The only problem with this is that whenever someone is driving nails overhead and they don't have a stiletto, they want yours. To be totally honest, my first one broke, but Stiletto replaced it no questions asked. It didn't bother me one bit. That's just how much I like the hammer. When I first brought it back from the JLC LIVE show everyone in our crew instantly bought one too.
I did notice that they only sell the all titanium model, or the wood/titanium original. Obviously the aluminum wasn't a perfect match, but that shows that the company is wise enough to admit a mistake and move on. The new tibone has the steel face and should be indistructable. When or if mine ever breaks I will quickly replace it with a TiBone.
If all those guys who say "Oh that's too much too spend" are hampering your decision, look at it this way. Who's arm are we talking about here? Are those naysayers standing there ready to pound that nail in for you? Believe me, when you spend all day doing what we do, you deserve any tool you want to help you do a better job. Go for it! Doug
Notrix,
There was a discussion about Titanium hammers last week. I posted in that thread about the Tibone. http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=29470.1
I bought mine back in October. I use it everyday and I have zero complaints. One of the guys I work with just ordered one because he likes it so much.
Your arm will feel better. These things transfer almost no vibration. I went to the Stiletto booth at the JLC LIVE! in Vegas and they had me beat on the concrete floor with the hammer. There was no vibration at all.
I pull quite a few nails (because the guys I work with are sloppy :-)) and I haven't had any problem with the head. I think this hammer will last for years. I'll probably replace the face in a year or so.
You will not regret buying this hammer. I guarantee you that. In the thread above I posted my reasons for buying it and how I justified the price. I'm always amazed at how people respond to the questions about the Tibone and haven't actually tried one. If you try one for a week, you'll have to buy one.
Let me know if you get one and how you like it. I bought the straight handled one. I ordered the axe handle, but I got the straight. I'm glad I got the straight handled version. It doesn't get hung up on my hammer loop. I wear Diamondbacks and the hammer loop is nice and big.
Here is my hammer
View Image
I'd swing the Vaughan "TiTech" for $65. before I laid out $200 for the "Tibone". The balance and handle length are much better.
Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Here is a picture comparison of the Tibone and Titech
Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Pro-Dek,
We hired a guy the other week who used the Vaughn Ti-tech. I tried it out and I didn't like it that well. I do like the handle on yours and I think it would grow on me real fast. The face peice on his hammer made a lot of noise. It's like it wasn's connected very tightly. He tried to get it to go away, but it wouldn't. By the way, I use the Tibone and love it. I love the lighter weight. And that guy is now fired for trying start fights. Maybe it was the hammer :-)?
You staying busy? We build west of you near McCormick Woods and have been swamped with work lately. Go figure huh? WA has the highest or nearly highest unemployment rate.
Edited 4/13/2003 8:25:12 PM ET by TIMUHLER
Tim, The Vaughan Titech has a rubber washer that goes between the steel striker and the titanium. It sounds like that guy replaced the head without putting in the main feature that helps absorb the shock.
Deck season is real slow so I've been remodeling bathrooms and kitchens. I have some large decks coming up soon but nothing on the board for April or May.(YET)
Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Edited 4/14/2003 9:12:07 PM ET by Pro-Dek
Pro-Dek,
Thanks for the reply. My Tibone has the rubberwasher and I didn't even think that it might be missing on the Vaughn. By the way, who carries that hammer?
BMC West in Issaquah on east lake Sammamish has lot's of them. They carry the replacement head package with the rubber washer and allen wrench as well.Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
You seem to be the hammer expert. I've been reading what you guys have written about the T-bone. I checked them out at the tool store, their pretty nice. The only thing is that I don't really want to spend that much on a hammer and I like wooden handles. Are the Stiletto wodden handled models good hammers. What are the down sides to these hammers.
Al
The only down side to a wood handled Stiletto for me is the weight (15oz.) I'm used to swinging a 22oz. The handle is excellent the balance is excellent. I think you will be real happy with that hammer.Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Thanks, I think I might just have to pick one up today.
Al
I think I'd go for the Vaughn myself.
BTW: your action hammer and nail seem to be back.
: )
Quittin' Time
I know Luka, that is too wierd. I looked the other day and there was just a box with a red X in it. Do you think it is my computer acting up? When I reboot everything seems to be fine.Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Yeah, I think it's your computer.
I think you should let me recycle it for you, and just get yourself a new one.
Or, you could follow our new friend's advice, and format the c drive and start all over again from scratch. he he he
Next time I am over, I'll have a look at the computer
: )
Quittin' Time
Could someone please explain the benefit of a LIGHTER hammer? Is it that you get to hit the nail more times?
If I wanted a lighter hammer, I could go buy a 12 oz Sears Homeowner model.
And Titanium? Too likely to snap off. For example, I would never buy a Titanium ice screw for hanging on the side of a glacier, even if they are less weight to haul up the dang mountain. Too many people have died using them. They fracture a lot quicker than steel.
Seems to me like the tool company marketing is in overdrive. Like my real estate agent says, "if you can't sell a litter of puppies at $100 a piece, charge $1000!"
OFFBALANCE,
I used to think the same way you do. I went to the JLC LIVE! in Las Vegas last October and I argued with the salesman at the Stiletto booth. I didn't understand why you would use a light hammer.
Here is how he explained it to me. I don't remember the exact numbers, but I'll give you the idea. He said that the steel heads on our hammers lose some if their force through vibration. So you when you hit then nail, some of the energy from your swing is lost when you hit the nail because the head vibrates. Titanium has almost no vibration, for instance the 16oz Tibone puts the same amount of energy into the nail as my old 24oz Dalluge steel head hammer. What that means is that you can use a lighter hammer to drive a nail and the energy that comes from the swing is roughly the same between the two hammers. It's easier on the arm to swing the lighter hammer and the result is the same.
You do naturally swing faster and this helps. I used to think that it is harder to swing faster and be accurate, but it's not like you are throwing the hammer at the nail as fast as you can. So far everyone that has used my Tibone loves it. One of the guys I work with has framed for 25 years and he tried it out and easily could drive the nail in one swing (after the nail was set).
The other advantage to the Titanium is that with nearly no vibration, there is less fatigue to the arm. Too much vibration too often is bad on the tedons and ligaments in your arm. Here in Washington state, labor and industries recommends a titanium hammer so that you don't get "framers" elbow. I haven't researched that yet, but that is what Stiletto told me. You can take that or leave it, it could be marketing hype, I'm not sure.
I do love this hammer though. Hope this answers some of your questions. I'm not an expert so I may not have helped.
Sounds good to me Tim. My son just broke his Dalluge "sweet sixteen". I will post a picture of a broken Titanium head and how it was broken soon, so stay tuned.Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Still no shots of that broken hammer yet.
Here is an update!
DALLUGE is pronounced "duh-Loo-gee"
and all this time I thought it was "day-looge"
I finally got a brochure that tells about their product line.
They have a 20-21-24-and 26oz. hammer and they are all sweet.
Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Edited 5/7/2003 1:14:17 AM ET by Pro-Dek
Tim,
How are you Buddy?
Here in Washington state, labor and industries recommends a titanium hammer so that you don't get "framers" elbow.
I like that "Framers Elbow". I guess that's what I had for swinging a 28 oz estwing for 17 years. I had the surgery done 2 years ago on both elbows believe it or not. They cut my elbows open and pulled the tendons and muscle back and grinded the elbow down. When the cast came off my arm stayed at 90° for a week or two. That's when everyone figured that they could beat me up. ;-)
Felt pretty good ;-(
My elbows feel great now. Maybe I'll check into this hammer or just keep letting the nail gun do most of the work. (Never Retire your Hammer)
Joe Carola
Hey Joe,
Good seein' ya again.
Was reading this thread because I finally got the permit to do my 1680 crib here on LI. I got sick of swinging MY 28 oz Estwing. MAybe I should save it for trim work so I don't have to slam it so hard...lol.
Should be ready for the demo on the 1940's addition that was put on here and then the foundation if I ever get anyone to call me back for concrete form work. Might end up doing ICF's myself.
Then....the framing which should be a gas tieing into a 323 year old house..
If ya want I'll send you a copy (reduced version) of the plans. LEt me know whatcha think.
Be well dude
Namaste,
Andy......PS...If by chance youre slow in a month or so let me know. The tipi makes a great guest house and I have a nice framing job coming up :)
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