Replies

1. 
   Leigh_Golemgeske | Dec 18, 2001 06:27am | #1

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   I have a Stiletto14 oz. framer. Cured my tendonitis over night. No problems. One of the best $65 I ever spent.

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   Michael_Ampula | Dec 18, 2001 06:57am | #2

   *Gotta agree with the tendonitis thing. I've had a few cortisone shots in the elbow but after starting to use the 'lite' hammer, presto-chango!I can't get used to a lightweight trim hammer however. I stick with the Hart tools trimmer.If you've just got a few to drive try one of the pneumatic palm nailers. Don't seem to cause me any pain. Of course the Paslode nailer eliminates all need for the hammer!

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   Michael_Ampula | Dec 18, 2001 06:58am | #3

   *PS. The 'lite' hammer seems VERY balanced. I rarely leave any mule tracks as the result of a poor swing at the end of the day.

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   Brent_Weir | Dec 19, 2001 09:31am | #4

   *bought one as a gift for my "partner" (no longer my partner, that dirty S.O.B.) and yes, the head did mushroom quite a bit. It was a "deathstick" by Dead-on mfg.magnet fell out of the head too.BRENT

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   Dave_Crosby | Dec 19, 2001 06:07pm | #5

   *Alan,Some of the titanium hammers really are impressive, some are not, and whether you'll like the better ones all depends upon what you want to use them for and why.I've tried most of them, and the only ones I'd buy are from Stilletto (Ruger), especially the ones with the hollow metal handle and the steel face (prevents mushrooming). Awesome hammer -- it does everything the manufacturer says it will.The one drawback I've found to these hammers is that although they're outstanding for driving nails, the lower mass means that if you're in the habit of using your hammer for moving framed walls around, i.e. "tweaking" a wall one way or another before you nail it down, you'll be disappointed. These hammers just don't have the mass.For me, that's no problem. I keep a sledge hammer handy all the time anyway. (It's my favorite tool, right after the fork.)One of the other benefits of the titanium hammer, and especially the larger Ruger Stilleto (because of the ergonomics) is that it's quite an equalizer on the job for women. I recently worked with a young woman who was more than capable, but just didn't have the upper body strength for a 23 ounce hammer. I let her try the 14 oz. Stilletto with the metal handle, and she soon became just as fast as anyone at nailing.There were some early problems with QC on these hammers, but most have been solved, and Stilleto's customer service is unusually responsive.Dave

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   Jerry_Albrecht | Dec 20, 2001 10:31pm | #6

   *I bought Stilleto(Ruger) a couple years back with the curved wooden handle when I started framing my house. I bought it because I had messed up my shoulder and didn't want to swing a heavy hammer all day. Was I glad, the worst thing about it was you have to keep your eye on it, everyone on the site wanted it. I don't have any problem with mushrooming, matter of fact the serrations in the face are as sharp as ever. The handle doesn't hold very well when pulling nails though. But I would highly recommend it, helped my carpel tunnel too.

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   alan_welch | Dec 20, 2001 10:31pm | #7

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   Has anyone used one of the new titanium framing hammers? If so, what do you think? I have heard that the solid titanium deforms/mushrooms over time, but I have no experience with titanium hammers. Please help. I would be interested, if Larry Haun would review such hammers for the magazine. You can always count on his well researched reviews.