Jn

"Jack"

27/02/2006 11:16 AM

Broken Vaughan 999ML 20-Ounce hammer

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004Z2XA/qid=1141066861/sr=1-21/ref=sr_1_21/104-3052631-4777532?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=228013

Got this nice hammer a couple of years ago. Never used it much since
converted to screws and air nailers. Broke it yesterday while pulling on a
3" nail. The hickory broke off at the hammer head - second time this
happened. Anyone know what the warranty is on this sucker?

I like the feel of the Vaughan but what would be a nicer hammer with a
stronger handle?


This topic has 11 replies

rh

"robo hippy"

in reply to "Jack" on 27/02/2006 11:16 AM

27/02/2006 3:55 PM

Straight clawed hammers are lousy for pulling nails. Get the nail
started, then place a block under the head to pull the nail the rest of
the way. You can pull the nail by rocking the hammer from side to side,
or you could use a nail puller. I did concrete work, and broke many
wood handles, both the round and axe styles. Hammers drive nails well,
curved claw hammers do an ok job of pulling nails, straight claw
hammers are lousy nail pullers.
robo hippy

Td

"Teamcasa"

in reply to "Jack" on 27/02/2006 11:16 AM

27/02/2006 4:27 PM


"robo hippy"
> Straight clawed hammers are lousy for pulling nails.
They pull fine if your strong enough.
Mine pulls 16d sinkers just fine.

> You can pull the nail by rocking the hammer from side to side,
That's how you brake the handles.

I do use a nail puller the get the head out far enough to get the hammer on
it.

If been using the FAT MAX framer for over a year, built 20+ (small) houses,
same hammer.

Dave



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JP

"Jay Pique"

in reply to "Jack" on 27/02/2006 11:16 AM

27/02/2006 4:54 PM


Teamcasa wrote:
> "robo hippy"
> > Straight clawed hammers are lousy for pulling nails.
> They pull fine if your strong enough.
> Mine pulls 16d sinkers just fine.
>
> > You can pull the nail by rocking the hammer from side to side,
> That's how you brake the handles.

Really? I pretty much always hook the nail and then go sideways with
it to start, then pop it right out by pulling parallel with the claws.
But I've been using steel and fiberglass handles much more than wood,
so that may be the difference.

> I do use a nail puller the get the head out far enough to get the hammer on
> it.

If I break out the nail puller (cat's paw), I just use that to finish
the job.

> If been using the FAT MAX framer for over a year, built 20+ (small) houses,
> same hammer.

If you wear it out, I've got a one that's almost brand new to sell you.
That hammer was just too big for me - too thick and felt real heavy.
Pneumatics have made me weak.

JP

Td

"TeamCasa"

in reply to "Jack" on 27/02/2006 11:16 AM

27/02/2006 6:29 PM


"Jay Pique" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Teamcasa wrote:
>> "robo hippy"
>> > Straight clawed hammers are lousy for pulling nails.
>> They pull fine if your strong enough.
>> Mine pulls 16d sinkers just fine.
>>
>> > You can pull the nail by rocking the hammer from side to side,
>> That's how you brake the handles.
>
> Really? I pretty much always hook the nail and then go sideways with
> it to start, then pop it right out by pulling parallel with the claws.
> But I've been using steel and fiberglass handles much more than wood,
> so that may be the difference.
Estwing? Good hammer - hard on the wrist.
Death Stick? Too expensive - Even for me!

>> I do use a nail puller the get the head out far enough to get the hammer
>> on
>> it.
>
> If I break out the nail puller (cat's paw), I just use that to finish
> the job.
Agreed - sometimes.

>> If been using the FAT MAX framer for over a year, built 20+ (small)
>> houses,
>> same hammer.
>
> If you wear it out, I've got a one that's almost brand new to sell you.
> That hammer was just too big for me - too thick and felt real heavy.
I like em like that!

> Pneumatics have made me weak.
My guns serve me well also, but sometimes you just need to slam a sinker
home by hand!

Dave



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JP

"Jay Pique"

in reply to "Jack" on 27/02/2006 11:16 AM

27/02/2006 6:45 PM


TeamCasa wrote:
> Jay Pique wrote:
>
> > Pneumatics have made me weak.
> My guns serve me well also, but sometimes you just need to slam a sinker
> home by hand!

Yes indeed. Although, I ran into an old oak 2x4 the other day that
*really* got the best of me!

JP

rh

"robo hippy"

in reply to "Jack" on 27/02/2006 11:16 AM

27/02/2006 10:16 PM

Pulling is all leverage, and the fulcrum point. With the straight
clawed hammer, as soon as the head is rocked back beyond where the
handle is you loose a lot of leverage, with the short lever (hammer
head) increasing in length to as much as 6 inches. Sure strength works,
but you will have to work much harder. Why work harder than you have
to? All of the extra force goes to the weakest place, the handle where
it joins the head, and wood will break. Solid steel handles work, (not
the hollow ones) but are hell on your wrists and hands by the end of
the day, week, months and years. Fiberglass is ok, and a bit stronger
that wood, but will break eventually. They do offer better shock
absorption than steel, but not better than wood.
Rocking side to side and breaking the handle? You've got to be kidding
me. I have pulled miles of nails that way and never even loosened up
the handle. This method offers the best leverage. Ever tried to pull a
bent 8d duplex nail from a steel stake? The side to side way works the
easiest, and it is almost impossible to pull it out the conventional
way. Efficiency is intelligent laziness. A nail puller works better,
and with less effort than a hammer.
robo hippy

c

in reply to "Jack" on 27/02/2006 11:16 AM

01/03/2006 6:57 PM

I make handles for hammers out of Bois d'arc. If it's not extremely
strong, you never know because the wood so beautiful, you'll avoid
using it, thereby your hammer handle will last virtually forever. If
you'd like one, let me know.

p

in reply to "Jack" on 27/02/2006 11:16 AM

02/03/2006 5:50 AM


[email protected] wrote:
> I make handles for hammers out of Bois d'arc. If it's not extremely
> strong, you never know because the wood so beautiful, you'll avoid
> using it, thereby your hammer handle will last virtually forever. If
> you'd like one, let me know.

Don't worry. _That_ hammer handle will last forever anyway. You can
use osage orange wood to pry tractors out of mudholes. That stuff is
hard as a rock and just as heavy. I'd bet it makes a damn fine tool
handle.

-Phil

AD

Andy Dingley

in reply to "Jack" on 27/02/2006 11:16 AM

27/02/2006 9:17 PM

On Mon, 27 Feb 2006 11:16:28 -0800, "Jack" <n> wrote:

>I like the feel of the Vaughan but what would be a nicer hammer with a
>stronger handle?

I've got the bigger (26 oz?) Vaughan framing hammer with the "axe style"
handle. I've clad a couple of barns and sheds with it now and there's no
sign of handle trouble.

Best bit is people with £200 air nailers laughing at my "expensive" £30
hammer. I don't have an air hose to trip over either.

Gg

"GeeDubb"

in reply to "Jack" on 27/02/2006 11:16 AM

27/02/2006 1:10 PM


"Jack" <n> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004Z2XA/qid=1141066861/sr=1-21/ref=sr_1_21/104-3052631-4777532?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=228013
>
> Got this nice hammer a couple of years ago. Never used it much since
> converted to screws and air nailers. Broke it yesterday while pulling on a
> 3" nail. The hickory broke off at the hammer head - second time this
> happened. Anyone know what the warranty is on this sucker?
>
> I like the feel of the Vaughan but what would be a nicer hammer with a
> stronger handle?
>
replace the hickory handle with fiberglass (available at your local BORG) or
start using a pry bar for removing nails.

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to "Jack" on 27/02/2006 11:16 AM

28/02/2006 6:42 AM


"Jack" <n> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004Z2XA/qid=1141066861/sr=1-21/ref=sr_1_21/104-3052631-4777532?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=228013
>
> Got this nice hammer a couple of years ago. Never used it much since
> converted to screws and air nailers. Broke it yesterday while pulling on a
> 3" nail. The hickory broke off at the hammer head - second time this
> happened. Anyone know what the warranty is on this sucker?
>
> I like the feel of the Vaughan but what would be a nicer hammer with a
> stronger handle?
>

If the nail is tight pull the handle 90 degrees left or right instead of in
the normal direction. This puts less strain on the handle and gives you
more leverage.


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