I need some ordinary hammers (12, 16, 20 oz).
Are these tools in the "you get what you pay for" category?
Perhaps you could briefly explain why I should consider spending $70 or
more, when I could probably find all 3 for around $10 at HF.
If you can think of a reason related to safety (I'm afraid of flying
metal) or the tool's lifetime I would be persuaded by that.
The 16oz claw hammer I've been using is sort of a family heirloom,
having belonged to my grandfather. I have my grandfather's watch too,
but I've been able to Use the hammer. And I think of Arkansas whenever I
swing it. If my arm gets tired, that helps me swing it better.
Bill
BTW, Anyone heard of the MWTCA ("Midwest Tool Collectors Association")?
Someone from the Indian state fair was handing out membership brochures
in a antique tool booth. Here is a link to their website:
http://www.mwtca.org/the-gristmill.html
Also, yes it's true, you may have seen a video, a few hours after I left
fair, at least 40 people were injured and 5 have died so far after the
stage and scaffolding (and speakers, lights, etc.) blew over at 9 pm
last night due to a gust of wind. The fair was closed today, reopens
tomorrow.
On Aug 15, 3:32=A0am, Bill <[email protected]> wrote:
> I need some ordinary hammers (12, 16, 20 oz).
>
> Are these tools in the "you get what you pay for" category?
>
> Perhaps you could briefly explain why I should consider spending $70 or
> more, when I could probably find all 3 for around $10 at HF.
> If you can think of a reason related to safety (I'm afraid of flying
> metal) or the tool's lifetime I would be persuaded by that.
>
> The 16oz claw hammer I've been using is sort of a family heirloom,
> having belonged to my grandfather. =A0 I have my grandfather's watch too,
> but I've been able to Use the hammer. And I think of Arkansas whenever I
> swing it. =A0If my arm gets tired, that helps me swing it better.
>
> Bill
>
> BTW, Anyone heard of the MWTCA ("Midwest Tool Collectors Association")?
> Someone from the Indian state fair was handing out membership brochures
> in a antique tool booth. =A0Here is a link to their website:
>
> http://www.mwtca.org/the-gristmill.html
>
> Also, yes it's true, you may have seen a video, a few hours after I left
> fair, at least 40 people were injured and 5 have died so far after the
> stage and scaffolding (and speakers, lights, etc.) blew over at 9 pm
> last night due to a gust of wind. The fair was closed today, reopens
> tomorrow.
I need four.
16 Oz Estwing claw hammer with leather wrapped handle.
24 Oz Estwing Long, framer.
2 pound dead blow. I also have a 1 pound for assembly.
Big ol' ballpeen , guessing at 3 lbs.
All of which I have owned forever.
Then I have a rubber mallet, a wooden mallet, 2 sledges, a triangular
rotating head small hammer, a brass hammer.
THEN a HF grade 3 dollar one in case somebody wants to borrow a hammer.
Leon wrote:
>
> I think I would be more concerned with the head of the hammer
> shattering and sending out metal splinters if it were a cheap Chinese
> hammer. If I were using the hammer to do more than hang pictures I
> think I would go with a safer, quality hammer.
True, but there is no evidence that framing hammers sold by Harbor Freight
pose any more risk of flying shrapnel than any other commonly available
hammer. No need to invest in an Estwing for the type of work Bill is ever
likely to do.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
On Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:26:05 -0400, willshak <[email protected]> wrote:
>Larry Jaques wrote the following:
>> On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:51:55 -0400, Bill <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Roy wrote:
>>>
>>>>>> Say I want to bend some 1/8" thick 1/2" (soft) steel stock for instance.
>>>>>> I take it from your post that this would be disrespectful to my claw
>>>>>> hammer, but (somehow) less so to a ballpeen hammer.
>>>>> It would be disrespectful to any hammer. Use a brake or bender, silly.
>>>> Whoa, Larry, whoa!!! You been smokin' some of that whacky backy? A man of
>>>> your experience should know that the proper response to a statement like that
>>>> would be that he needs to go out and acquire a forge, anvil, dozens of tongs and
>>>> hammers, couple of leg vises, trip hammer and a water wheel with mill dam to
>>>> power it. Get hold of yourself, man! Your response required he only add one or
>>>> two new tools to the shoppe.
>>> Yeah, I like your attitude! Especially, the water wheel! ; )
>>
>> Yeah, yeah, yeah, and how many of you will be _allowed_ to do any of
>> that, hmm?
>>
>> Silly married critters, I swear...
>
>
>I give my wife a certain amount of money a month (it's over $1k, of
>which her car payment, and credit cards, would be included). What she
>does with the rest of it is her business. What I do with my money (after
>household expenses, utilities, food, bills, and repairs) is my business.
It's all in one bucket. I make it and she spends it. ;-) There is never any
friction about what I spend on tools. She'll sometimes kid me, particularly
when we're in Atlanta (Rockler, Woodcraft, PeachTree, and Highland - not in
that order), but nothing I don't dish back.
On Aug 16, 2:56=A0pm, dpb <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 8/16/2011 7:20 AM, dpb wrote:
> ...
> OBTW, the other thing wrt to using a ballpeen or machinists hammer
> instead of a claw hammer for mechanical work is that the weight balance
> is better for the purpose; they just feel better when used for the
> things they were designed for than does a claw hammer which isn't
> intended for the purpose.
>
> --
The handle design varies, too. Hickory handled silversmiths'
hammers have oval, teardrop-shaped grips. In use, you hold
them loosely so they can pivot about the center of the teardrop,
giving constant striking force and constant rhythm -- with not
much practice, you can use said tool to raise (or sink) a flat
copper disc into a perfect hemisphere.
On Aug 15, 3:32=A0am, Bill <[email protected]> wrote:
> I need some ordinary hammers (12, 16, 20 oz).
>
> Are these tools in the "you get what you pay for" category?
>
> Perhaps you could briefly explain why I should consider spending $70 or
> more, when I could probably find all 3 for around $10 at HF.
> If you can think of a reason related to safety (I'm afraid of flying
> metal) or the tool's lifetime I would be persuaded by that.
Check how well the tool is finished. A hammer with a
roughly finished shank will raise blisters. Spend a
couple of dollars more, or pick up a mill file on your way
out to smooth down the edges.
Bill <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
>
> I need some ordinary hammers (12, 16, 20 oz).
>
> Are these tools in the "you get what you pay for" category?
>
> Perhaps you could briefly explain why I should consider spending $70
> or more, when I could probably find all 3 for around $10 at HF.
> If you can think of a reason related to safety (I'm afraid of flying
> metal) or the tool's lifetime I would be persuaded by that.
>
> The 16oz claw hammer I've been using is sort of a family heirloom,
> having belonged to my grandfather. I have my grandfather's watch
> too, but I've been able to Use the hammer. And I think of Arkansas
> whenever I swing it. If my arm gets tired, that helps me swing it
> better.
>
> Bill
>
>
My big pet peeve with the hammers I had was the head would work its way
loose. So I bought one that's one piece between the head and shank. So
far, it's working out pretty nicely. (I'm not a big hammer user, it's
usually used for the occasional nail, a little gentle persuasion here
and there and that's it.)
Puckdropper
Larry Jaques <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> On Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:16:35 -0400, "Mike Marlow"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>>Yeahbut, don't you find it harder to drive those screws, than nails?
>
> Of course. They just don't seem to hammer nearly as easily as nails.
>
Well, that's because you need to predrill for screws.
Puckdropper
In article <[email protected]>,
Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet> wrote:
> I think I would be more concerned with the head of the hammer shattering
> and sending out metal splinters if it were a cheap Chinese hammer. If I
> were using the hammer to do more than hang pictures I think I would go
> with a safer, quality hammer.
I think it unlikely that any store would knowingly sell hammers likely to
fail in such a way as to cause injury, because of the risk of litigation.
However, I have seen hammers with chipped heads, broken shafts and claws,
and heads so soft they started to "mushroom"
Quality steel, properly hardened and tempered does matter and personally I
would always prefer a wooden shaft.
I have had a 20oz Stanley Claw hammer for over 40 years (I have others too
but it's the one I use most) it still does a very good job. I have made
one "modification", a blacksmith's trick. Get some of the rubber,
self-adhesive binding they use to wrap the handles of tennis raquets and
wrap round the shaft as it gives a better more comfortable grip,
especially for those of you where weather is hot and hands can become
quite sweaty. This is particularly advantageous if you have large hands as
it increases the effective diameter. (If you can say something not round
has a diameter <g>)
--
Stuart Winsor
In article <[email protected]>,
Bill <[email protected]> wrote:
> This reminds me of a question that occurred to me while I was watching
> the blacksmiths at the state fair the other day. They were positioning
> the flat end of a ball peen hammer on the red hot iron (which was on the
> anvil of course, and hitting the ball end of that hammer with another
> hammer to help flatten the iron. They did this over and over, and it
> felt "wrong" to me, but I didn't ask or say anything. What's the
> verdict?
"NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!!!!"
Says my blacksmithing daughter, "it's b****y dangerous".
"A proper 'flatter' isn't that expensive"!
--
Stuart Winsor
Swingman wrote:
> Watch these guys use hammers of all kinds:
>
>
> http://vimeo.com/1582825
Which really brings home the idea that so much of what we think about
hammers (as reflected in this thread), is relative to what we know - what we
use. These guys used hammers and saws and planes that we don't commonly
use, but put them to some pretty good use. How many woodworkers here would
have drawn a plane down a piece of wood like that guy did? Just goes to
show - so much of what we think is not all that relevant - it's just a
reflection of what we're used to.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
On Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:43:32 -0400, "Mike Marlow"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Bill wrote:
>
>>
>> The shattering is/was a primary concern. I could never foresee all of
>> the uses (or misuses) that I find for a hammer. Nobody mentioned this,
>> but hammers help overcome stubborness...wherever you find it.
>>
>
>No - BIGGER hammers help to overcome stubborness...
Spare the sledge, spoil the child, eh?
--
...in order that a man may be happy, it is
necessary that he should not only be capable
of his work, but a good judge of his work.
-- John Ruskin
Larry Jaques wrote:
>
> Disclaimer: I use screws as fasteners a bit more often than nails.
>
Yeahbut, don't you find it harder to drive those screws, than nails?
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
On Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:03:20 -0500, Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:
>Watch these guys use hammers of all kinds:
>
>
>http://vimeo.com/1582825
Cool. I love the gossamer shavings of those planes, too.
Another nice thing about the worksite: no radio blaring.
--
...in order that a man may be happy, it is
necessary that he should not only be capable
of his work, but a good judge of his work.
-- John Ruskin
Bill wrote:
> I need some ordinary hammers (12, 16, 20 oz).
>
> Are these tools in the "you get what you pay for" category?
>
> Perhaps you could briefly explain why I should consider spending $70
> or more, when I could probably find all 3 for around $10 at HF.
> If you can think of a reason related to safety (I'm afraid of flying
> metal) or the tool's lifetime I would be persuaded by that.
>
> The 16oz claw hammer I've been using is sort of a family heirloom,
> having belonged to my grandfather. I have my grandfather's watch
> too, but I've been able to Use the hammer. And I think of Arkansas
> whenever I swing it. If my arm gets tired, that helps me swing it
> better.
> Bill
>
There's a subtle difference in the head shape of a "roofing hammer" and the
other kind. If you're using a roofing hammer to drive ordinary nails, you'll
have trouble.
Anyway, get a hammer that feels best in your hand, that has the most
comfortable grip. Whether it comes from HF or one of the high-priced spreads
is irrelevant regarding quality. Virtually all hammers on the market are
indestructable, with handles that simply will not break unless used as an
emergency pin to hold two railroad freight cars together. On a trip up a
mountain pass. In the winter.
Hint #1: Take your new hammer and rub its head across some concrete to
scratch up the face. The hammer will strike better.
Hint #2. Forget the hammer and get a palm nailer.
Bill wrote:
>
> The shattering is/was a primary concern. I could never foresee all of
> the uses (or misuses) that I find for a hammer. Nobody mentioned this,
> but hammers help overcome stubborness...wherever you find it.
>
No - BIGGER hammers help to overcome stubborness...
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
In article <[email protected]>,
Larry Jaques <[email protected]> wrote:
>On Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:31:26 -0500, Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet>
>wrote:
>
>>On 8/15/2011 7:53 AM, k-nuttle wrote:
>>> I suspect that your categories "Cheap Chinese" and "Quality" are
>>> irrelevant as I suspect there are no hammers made in the US today.
>>>
>>> I think that unless you buy a hammer at the Dollar Store, you will not
>>> have to worry about the head shattering, and even those will probably be
>>> OK.
>>
>>I really don't see much difference in Harbor Freight and the Dollar
>>Store for the most part.
>
>Yabbut, you're a Festering Prude. Whaddya expect?
>
>P.S: The dollar stores sell what Harbor Freight _won't_.
You can get Festools at the Dollar Store ??
Larry Jaques wrote the following:
> On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:51:55 -0400, Bill <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>> Roy wrote:
>>
>>>>> Say I want to bend some 1/8" thick 1/2" (soft) steel stock for instance.
>>>>> I take it from your post that this would be disrespectful to my claw
>>>>> hammer, but (somehow) less so to a ballpeen hammer.
>>>> It would be disrespectful to any hammer. Use a brake or bender, silly.
>>> Whoa, Larry, whoa!!! You been smokin' some of that whacky backy? A man of
>>> your experience should know that the proper response to a statement like that
>>> would be that he needs to go out and acquire a forge, anvil, dozens of tongs and
>>> hammers, couple of leg vises, trip hammer and a water wheel with mill dam to
>>> power it. Get hold of yourself, man! Your response required he only add one or
>>> two new tools to the shoppe.
>> Yeah, I like your attitude! Especially, the water wheel! ; )
>
> Yeah, yeah, yeah, and how many of you will be _allowed_ to do any of
> that, hmm?
>
> Silly married critters, I swear...
I give my wife a certain amount of money a month (it's over $1k, of
which her car payment, and credit cards, would be included). What she
does with the rest of it is her business. What I do with my money (after
household expenses, utilities, food, bills, and repairs) is my business.
--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @
Larry Jaques wrote the following:
> On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:25:08 -0500, Roy <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:21:55 -0700, Larry Jaques
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>> It would be disrespectful to any hammer. Use a brake or bender, silly.
>> Whoa, Larry, whoa!!! You been smokin' some of that whacky backy? A man of
>> your experience should know that the proper response to a statement like that
>> would be that he needs to go out and acquire a forge, anvil, dozens of tongs and
>> hammers, couple of leg vises, trip hammer and a water wheel with mill dam to
>> power it. Get hold of yourself, man! Your response required he only add one or
>> two new tools to the shoppe.
>
> As so many of you idjuts are married, I try to suggest single (or
> multiple small) tool purchases so they will fly past SWMBO's irate
> replies when you wish to do something manly and bold. For the single
> man, definitely go for a whole new -stable- of toys. I'm single and
> half my living room is littered with my toys.
> Bwahahahahahaha! YMMV.
I'm married and my living room is lettered with toys.
They're not mine tho. They're my grandson's toys who we daycare 3 days a
week.
>
>
>>> It's much easier on the steel, too, creating less splitting and
>>> shearing in the bend. Fast bends rip it, slow bends finess it,
>>> Grasshoppa.
>>>
>>>
>>>> Something I've seen other people do is to actually pound on the end of a
>>>> wrench with a hammer to loosen a stuck nut. Maybe they wrapped cloth
>>>> around it first, I'm not sure. Cardinal sin???
>>> Use a stick/club, not a hammer, if you can't get an impact on it.
>> Use a 5 foot piece of 2 inch schedule 40 pipe (aka a cheater bar).
>
> Even better. I had an ovulated piece of pipe I'd use on smaller
> wrenches in tight spaces. About 14" long, it would nearly triple the
> effective length of the wrench. Then I bought a MAC front-end ratchet
> set and those Chebby suspension nuts became piece of cake/duck
> souplike.
>
>
> I think I'll make an HF Tool Run today. Pittsburgh Pro hammahs are on
> sale for $2.99, and I needs me wunna them new, non-waffle faced toys.
>
> --
> ...in order that a man may be happy, it is
> necessary that he should not only be capable
> of his work, but a good judge of his work.
> -- John Ruskin
--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @
On 8/15/2011 2:32 AM, Bill wrote:
>
> I need some ordinary hammers (12, 16, 20 oz).
>
> Are these tools in the "you get what you pay for" category?
>
> Perhaps you could briefly explain why I should consider spending $70 or
> more, when I could probably find all 3 for around $10 at HF.
> If you can think of a reason related to safety (I'm afraid of flying
> metal) or the tool's lifetime I would be persuaded by that.
>
> The 16oz claw hammer I've been using is sort of a family heirloom,
> having belonged to my grandfather. I have my grandfather's watch too,
> but I've been able to Use the hammer. And I think of Arkansas whenever I
> swing it. If my arm gets tired, that helps me swing it better.
>
> Bill
>
>
> BTW, Anyone heard of the MWTCA ("Midwest Tool Collectors Association")?
> Someone from the Indian state fair was handing out membership brochures
> in a antique tool booth. Here is a link to their website:
>
> http://www.mwtca.org/the-gristmill.html
>
> Also, yes it's true, you may have seen a video, a few hours after I left
> fair, at least 40 people were injured and 5 have died so far after the
> stage and scaffolding (and speakers, lights, etc.) blew over at 9 pm
> last night due to a gust of wind. The fair was closed today, reopens
> tomorrow.
>
What are you going to use them for? Hanging the occasional picture, get
a cheap one. Building a small building, get a better one.
"Bill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> dpb wrote:
>
>> Then, in regards to your comment upthread about them being "persuaders"
>> for most anything; you definitely do _not_ want to abuse a claw hammer
>> used by using it as a machinist's or in place of a ballpeen hammer--you
>> should have an assortment there as well, from gentle 12-16oz to serious
>> of 2-3lb, again, just how large to go depends on what sort of
>> application(s) one has for them.
>
> Please excuse my naivety How is the business end of a claw hammer
> different than that of a ballpeen hammer?
>
> Say I want to bend some 1/8" thick 1/2" (soft) steel stock for instance.
> I take it from your post that this would be disrespectful to my claw
> hammer, but (somehow) less so to a ballpeen hammer.
Which end are you considering the business end? They are designed for
different business on one end. They do handle differently. If you look at
the nail striking end, the ball peen has a longer thick end while the claw
hammer tapers back much sooner. The bp does not seem as accurate for nails
and the balance is different.
Shows great progress! No price increases for the last 20 years!
-----------
"WW" wrote in message news:[email protected]...
How many "name brand hammers" are now made in China. Sad thing that so
many great tool manufactures now use China but the list price cost has not
changed. ww
Have to be really good with the aim too.
-------
"HeyBub" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
Yep! But just try to find one with a Torx head. They can't be had for love
or money.
On 8/15/2011 5:09 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>
> Good hammers feel good in the hand, they strike and stay on the nail
> head, they last for decades. They just work better and are easier on the
> arm if you can get than nail in with less blows.
And, with the better hammers, you won't even know when you hit your thumb.
Guaranteed!
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 4/15/2010
KarlC@ (the obvious)
Your not driving framing nails. Stick with the 16 oz.
--------------
"Bill" wrote in message news:[email protected]...
Yes, I was considering different hammer weights (12, 16, 20 oz).
I'm not sure that I'd want to reach for a 22 oz hammer for molding or
brads, though I don't have much experience with the former (yet!)
On 8/15/2011 7:53 AM, k-nuttle wrote:
> On 8/15/2011 8:09 AM, Leon wrote:
>> On 8/15/2011 6:58 AM, HeyBub wrote:
>>> Bill wrote:
>>>> I need some ordinary hammers (12, 16, 20 oz).
>>>>
>>>> Are these tools in the "you get what you pay for" category?
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps you could briefly explain why I should consider spending $70
>>>> or more, when I could probably find all 3 for around $10 at HF.
>>>> If you can think of a reason related to safety (I'm afraid of flying
>>>> metal) or the tool's lifetime I would be persuaded by that.
>>>>
>>>> The 16oz claw hammer I've been using is sort of a family heirloom,
>>>> having belonged to my grandfather. I have my grandfather's watch
>>>> too, but I've been able to Use the hammer. And I think of Arkansas
>>>> whenever I swing it. If my arm gets tired, that helps me swing it
>>>> better.
>>>> Bill
>>>>
>>>
>>> There's a subtle difference in the head shape of a "roofing hammer"
>>> and the
>>> other kind. If you're using a roofing hammer to drive ordinary nails,
>>> you'll
>>> have trouble.
>>>
>>> Anyway, get a hammer that feels best in your hand, that has the most
>>> comfortable grip. Whether it comes from HF or one of the high-priced
>>> spreads
>>> is irrelevant regarding quality. Virtually all hammers on the market are
>>> indestructable, with handles that simply will not break unless used
>>> as an
>>> emergency pin to hold two railroad freight cars together. On a trip up a
>>> mountain pass. In the winter.
>>
>> I think I would be more concerned with the head of the hammer shattering
>> and sending out metal splinters if it were a cheap Chinese hammer. If I
>> were using the hammer to do more than hang pictures I think I would go
>> with a safer, quality hammer.
>>
>>
>>
>>
> I suspect that your categories "Cheap Chinese" and "Quality" are
> irrelevant as I suspect there are no hammers made in the US today.
>
> I think that unless you buy a hammer at the Dollar Store, you will not
> have to worry about the head shattering, and even those will probably be
> OK.
I really don't see much difference in Harbor Freight and the Dollar
Store for the most part.
Get the HFT hammers. If they break before your job is done return them.
Get a few of the fiberglass and a few of the wood. Keep the list
updated as the "lastability" of the HFT hammers.
As a kid we used rocks to nail bent nails to build club houses. The
rocks help up.
Mike in Ohio
PS: I read about the stage collapse on FB. I fee sorrow for the people
effected.
On 08/15/2011 03:32 AM, Bill wrote:
>
> I need some ordinary hammers (12, 16, 20 oz).
>
> Are these tools in the "you get what you pay for" category?
>
> Perhaps you could briefly explain why I should consider spending $70 or
> more, when I could probably find all 3 for around $10 at HF.
> If you can think of a reason related to safety (I'm afraid of flying
> metal) or the tool's lifetime I would be persuaded by that.
>
> The 16oz claw hammer I've been using is sort of a family heirloom,
> having belonged to my grandfather. I have my grandfather's watch too,
> but I've been able to Use the hammer. And I think of Arkansas whenever I
> swing it. If my arm gets tired, that helps me swing it better.
>
> Bill
>
>
> BTW, Anyone heard of the MWTCA ("Midwest Tool Collectors Association")?
> Someone from the Indian state fair was handing out membership brochures
> in a antique tool booth. Here is a link to their website:
>
> http://www.mwtca.org/the-gristmill.html
>
> Also, yes it's true, you may have seen a video, a few hours after I left
> fair, at least 40 people were injured and 5 have died so far after the
> stage and scaffolding (and speakers, lights, etc.) blew over at 9 pm
> last night due to a gust of wind. The fair was closed today, reopens
> tomorrow.
>
On Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:13:19 -0500, Roy <[email protected]>
wrote:
>On Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:20:24 -0700, Larry Jaques
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:17:04 -0500, Roy <[email protected]>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:48:33 -0700, Larry Jaques
>>><[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>>On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:51:55 -0400, Bill <[email protected]>
>>>>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>Roy wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Say I want to bend some 1/8" thick 1/2" (soft) steel stock for instance.
>>>>>>>> I take it from your post that this would be disrespectful to my claw
>>>>>>>> hammer, but (somehow) less so to a ballpeen hammer.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It would be disrespectful to any hammer. Use a brake or bender, silly.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Whoa, Larry, whoa!!! You been smokin' some of that whacky backy? A man of
>>>>>> your experience should know that the proper response to a statement like that
>>>>>> would be that he needs to go out and acquire a forge, anvil, dozens of tongs and
>>>>>> hammers, couple of leg vises, trip hammer and a water wheel with mill dam to
>>>>>> power it. Get hold of yourself, man! Your response required he only add one or
>>>>>> two new tools to the shoppe.
>>>>>
>>>>>Yeah, I like your attitude! Especially, the water wheel! ; )
>>>>
>>>>Yeah, yeah, yeah, and how many of you will be _allowed_ to do any of
>>>>that, hmm?
>>>>
>>>>Silly married critters, I swear...
>>>
>>>
>>>You're a cold, cruel man, Larry.
>>
>>Ah, you betcha! <evil grinne>
>
>To keep this on topic, you need to know these guys were fishing out of a wooden
>boat one of them had built. Boat was probably made of cherry and painted
>yellow....
And you called _me_ cold and cruel, you flatulent fiend?
>Four married guys go fishing. After an hour, the following conversation
>took place:
>
>First guy: "You have no idea what I had to do to be able to come out
>fishing this weekend. I had to promise my wife that I would paint every room in
>the house next weekend."
>
>Second guy: "That is nothing, I had to promise my wife that I would build her a
>new deck for the pool."
>
>Third guy: "Man, you both have it easy! I had to promise my wife that I would
>remodel the kitchen for her."
>
>They continue to fish. When they realized that the fourth guy has not said a
>word, they asked him. "You haven't said anything about what you had to do to be
>able to come fishing this weekend. What's the deal?"
>
>Fourth guy: "I just set my alarm for 5:30 am. When it went off, I shut off my
>alarm, gave the wife a slap on her ass and said: "Fishing or Sex?" and she said:
>"Wear sun-block."
Yeah, sounds about right from what I've heard from most married folks.
;)
--
...in order that a man may be happy, it is
necessary that he should not only be capable
of his work, but a good judge of his work.
-- John Ruskin
On 8/15/2011 6:58 AM, HeyBub wrote:
> Bill wrote:
>> I need some ordinary hammers (12, 16, 20 oz).
>>
>> Are these tools in the "you get what you pay for" category?
>>
>> Perhaps you could briefly explain why I should consider spending $70
>> or more, when I could probably find all 3 for around $10 at HF.
>> If you can think of a reason related to safety (I'm afraid of flying
>> metal) or the tool's lifetime I would be persuaded by that.
>>
>> The 16oz claw hammer I've been using is sort of a family heirloom,
>> having belonged to my grandfather. I have my grandfather's watch
>> too, but I've been able to Use the hammer. And I think of Arkansas
>> whenever I swing it. If my arm gets tired, that helps me swing it
>> better.
>> Bill
>>
>
> There's a subtle difference in the head shape of a "roofing hammer" and the
> other kind. If you're using a roofing hammer to drive ordinary nails, you'll
> have trouble.
>
> Anyway, get a hammer that feels best in your hand, that has the most
> comfortable grip. Whether it comes from HF or one of the high-priced spreads
> is irrelevant regarding quality. Virtually all hammers on the market are
> indestructable, with handles that simply will not break unless used as an
> emergency pin to hold two railroad freight cars together. On a trip up a
> mountain pass. In the winter.
I think I would be more concerned with the head of the hammer shattering
and sending out metal splinters if it were a cheap Chinese hammer. If I
were using the hammer to do more than hang pictures I think I would go
with a safer, quality hammer.
On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:51:55 -0400, Bill <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Roy wrote:
>
>>>> Say I want to bend some 1/8" thick 1/2" (soft) steel stock for instance.
>>>> I take it from your post that this would be disrespectful to my claw
>>>> hammer, but (somehow) less so to a ballpeen hammer.
>>>
>>> It would be disrespectful to any hammer. Use a brake or bender, silly.
>>
>> Whoa, Larry, whoa!!! You been smokin' some of that whacky backy? A man of
>> your experience should know that the proper response to a statement like that
>> would be that he needs to go out and acquire a forge, anvil, dozens of tongs and
>> hammers, couple of leg vises, trip hammer and a water wheel with mill dam to
>> power it. Get hold of yourself, man! Your response required he only add one or
>> two new tools to the shoppe.
>
>Yeah, I like your attitude! Especially, the water wheel! ; )
Yeah, yeah, yeah, and how many of you will be _allowed_ to do any of
that, hmm?
Silly married critters, I swear...
--
...in order that a man may be happy, it is
necessary that he should not only be capable
of his work, but a good judge of his work.
-- John Ruskin
On Tue, 16 Aug 2011 06:10:43 -0400, "Ed Pawlowski" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"Bill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> dpb wrote:
>>
>>> Then, in regards to your comment upthread about them being "persuaders"
>>> for most anything; you definitely do _not_ want to abuse a claw hammer
>>> used by using it as a machinist's or in place of a ballpeen hammer--you
>>> should have an assortment there as well, from gentle 12-16oz to serious
>>> of 2-3lb, again, just how large to go depends on what sort of
>>> application(s) one has for them.
>>
>> Please excuse my naivety How is the business end of a claw hammer
>> different than that of a ballpeen hammer?
>>
>> Say I want to bend some 1/8" thick 1/2" (soft) steel stock for instance.
>> I take it from your post that this would be disrespectful to my claw
>> hammer, but (somehow) less so to a ballpeen hammer.
>
>Which end are you considering the business end? They are designed for
>different business on one end. They do handle differently. If you look at
>the nail striking end, the ball peen has a longer thick end while the claw
>hammer tapers back much sooner. The bp does not seem as accurate for nails
>and the balance is different.
ISTR that the angle between the head and the handle is not zero with a claw
hammer. The head is angled something like 3degrees toward the handle to
compensate for the arc of the swing. If it the angle were zero, nails would
tend to bend outward. Ballpeen hammers aren't used in the same way so aren't
angled. Cheap hammers may not have this right, either. OTOH, it seems like
it shouldn't be difficult to get right *once*.
"Bill" wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Are these tools in the "you get what you pay for" category?
> Perhaps you could briefly explain why I should consider spending $70 or
> more, when I could probably find all 3 for around $10 at HF.
http://douglastool.com/catalog/20-oz-finish-hammer-extreme-rip-claw
I bought one of these on sale at Grizzly a few years ago and either it's a
joy to use or the fact that I spent fifty bucks on it makes me think it's a
joy to use--either way it's a joy to use. I love the claw, I love the
super-magnet nail-set, I love the fact that anybody who sees it oohs and
aahs.
You can probably get a real nice hammer that will last for years for less
money, maybe they even have some at HF. But I'm keeping this one, it just
works too well.
On Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:05:20 -0500, Steve Turner
<[email protected]> wrote:
>On 8/16/2011 12:17 PM, Larry Jaques wrote:
>> On Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:08:34 -0400, "Mike Marlow"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> Robatoy wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> I need four.
>>>> 16 Oz Estwing claw hammer with leather wrapped handle.
>>>> 24 Oz Estwing Long, framer.
>>>> 2 pound dead blow. I also have a 1 pound for assembly.
>>>> Big ol' ballpeen , guessing at 3 lbs.
>>>>
>>>> All of which I have owned forever.
>>>> Then I have a rubber mallet, a wooden mallet, 2 sledges, a triangular
>>>> rotating head small hammer, a brass hammer.
>>>
>>> Yupp - I have a rubber mallet. Somehow, I can't bring myself to consider it
>>> a hammer.
>>
>> My polyurethane mallet is my favorite hammer, and I have probably 20
>> hammers of various types, from 3oz to 3lb, and 5 and 10lb sledges.
>
>Holy Cow, it's C-less touting the advantages of polyurethane! I'm shocked, I
No, no, it's a rubber mallet. That's all. I'm -not- coating anything
in ugly plastic, thankyouverymuch.
>tell ya, shocked! Next thing is you'll be telling us it has a stained cherry
>handle too! :-)
Don't EVEN go there!@, turkey. ;)
--
...in order that a man may be happy, it is
necessary that he should not only be capable
of his work, but a good judge of his work.
-- John Ruskin
On Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:41:23 -0400, willshak <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
>You can hammer nails with a ball peen hammer, but you might find it
>impossible to pull out a bent nail with a ball peen hammer.
A ball peen hammer's face has a slight crown to it. They suck for
hammering nails.
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
On 8/19/2011 10:37 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>
> "Larry Jaques" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> On Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:03:20 -0500, Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> Watch these guys use hammers of all kinds:
>>>
>>>
>>> http://vimeo.com/1582825
>>
>> Cool. I love the gossamer shavings of those planes, too.
>> Another nice thing about the worksite: no radio blaring.
>>
>
> Interesting comment about the radio. There was a nice rhythmic sound of
> them working.
The hammer taps in the section on sheathing a roof reminded me of
beating on horseshoes back when I was shoeing horses ... always tried to
get a rhythm going with hammer on the anvil, with a couple of anvil hits
spaced evenly to keep you eye/muscle memory sharp for that next hit on
the metal that counts.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 4/15/2010
KarlC@ (the obvious)
Michael Kenefick wrote:
> Get the HFT hammers. If they break before your job is done return
> them. Get a few of the fiberglass and a few of the wood. Keep the
> list updated as the "lastability" of the HFT hammers.
>
> As a kid we used rocks to nail bent nails to build club houses. The
> rocks help up.
>
I personally hate both wood handles and fiberglass handles. I prefer steel
handles. Pretty much a matter of choice. I wouldn't buy an assortment
unless you want to buy different weight hammers. For most casual work, a 20
or 22 oz hammer will cover it all.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
Robatoy wrote:
>
> I need four.
> 16 Oz Estwing claw hammer with leather wrapped handle.
> 24 Oz Estwing Long, framer.
> 2 pound dead blow. I also have a 1 pound for assembly.
> Big ol' ballpeen , guessing at 3 lbs.
>
> All of which I have owned forever.
I've had a go-to hammer since forever, and it's a 20oz Stanley. I've framed
with it, trimmed and finished with it, and used it for all sorts of unintend
uses. It's just my buddy when it comes to hammers. That said, like you, I
have a selection of hammers. I have 6 ball peen hammers (Harbor Freight
set) that I use for the ugly, dirty stuff. I really do not like using my
go-to hammer for dirty work, so it does not get exposed to sheet metal or
steel work, etc. I also have a selection of dedicated purpose body hammers
for body work. These guys don't get used for anything else. The face of a
body hammer is something one protects, because its shape is important. Then
of course, there's the BFH. This guy gets used a lot and is loved in a very
different way. I don't have to feed it special treats, I don't have to be
nice to it, I can just grab it and let things get brutal. It seems to love
that treatment. I think it's a 3 pounder, and I know it's about all I can
control with one hand and an energetic swing. Then finally, I have the big
guns - a couple of 6 pounders which see only occassional use. Definitely
not one hand hammers... Funny thing is that there are probably only a few
times that those 6 pounders ever really accomplished a hammer task that the
3 pounder couldn't do. So - I don't reach out both hands for those very
quickly.
>
> Then I have a rubber mallet, a wooden mallet, 2 sledges, a triangular
> rotating head small hammer, a brass hammer.
Yupp - I have a rubber mallet. Somehow, I can't bring myself to consider it
a hammer.
>
> THEN a HF grade 3 dollar one in case somebody wants to borrow a
> hammer.
I have an orphan hammer too - a 16oz Stanley that I consider to be my wife's
hammer.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:48:33 -0700, Larry Jaques
<[email protected]> wrote:
>On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:51:55 -0400, Bill <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>>Roy wrote:
>>
>>>>> Say I want to bend some 1/8" thick 1/2" (soft) steel stock for instance.
>>>>> I take it from your post that this would be disrespectful to my claw
>>>>> hammer, but (somehow) less so to a ballpeen hammer.
>>>>
>>>> It would be disrespectful to any hammer. Use a brake or bender, silly.
>>>
>>> Whoa, Larry, whoa!!! You been smokin' some of that whacky backy? A man of
>>> your experience should know that the proper response to a statement like that
>>> would be that he needs to go out and acquire a forge, anvil, dozens of tongs and
>>> hammers, couple of leg vises, trip hammer and a water wheel with mill dam to
>>> power it. Get hold of yourself, man! Your response required he only add one or
>>> two new tools to the shoppe.
>>
>>Yeah, I like your attitude! Especially, the water wheel! ; )
>
>Yeah, yeah, yeah, and how many of you will be _allowed_ to do any of
>that, hmm?
>
>Silly married critters, I swear...
You're a cold, cruel man, Larry.
On Aug 15, 8:36=A0am, Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> And, with the better hammers, you won't even know when you hit your thumb=
.
>
> Guaranteed!
Yeah, that's right! Similarly, in the medical field, sterile needles
don't hurt. Only dirty needles hurt. Unless, maybe, they are Chinese
sterile needles.
Sonny
On Tue, 16 Aug 2011 01:17:52 -0400, Bill <[email protected]>
wrote:
>dpb wrote:
>
>> Then, in regards to your comment upthread about them being "persuaders"
>> for most anything; you definitely do _not_ want to abuse a claw hammer
>> used by using it as a machinist's or in place of a ballpeen hammer--you
>> should have an assortment there as well, from gentle 12-16oz to serious
>> of 2-3lb, again, just how large to go depends on what sort of
>> application(s) one has for them.
>
>Please excuse my naivety How is the business end of a claw hammer
>different than that of a ballpeen hammer?
>
>Say I want to bend some 1/8" thick 1/2" (soft) steel stock for instance.
>I take it from your post that this would be disrespectful to my claw
>hammer, but (somehow) less so to a ballpeen hammer.
It would be disrespectful to any hammer. Use a brake or bender, silly.
It's much easier on the steel, too, creating less splitting and
shearing in the bend. Fast bends rip it, slow bends finess it,
Grasshoppa.
>Something I've seen other people do is to actually pound on the end of a
>wrench with a hammer to loosen a stuck nut. Maybe they wrapped cloth
>around it first, I'm not sure. Cardinal sin???
Use a stick/club, not a hammer, if you can't get an impact on it.
>I actually don't own any "serious" hammers (yet), but I'm sure I would
>use one if it was nearby. I'm inspired by the commedian Gallagher's
>"Sledgo-matic". : )
Since it's a wooden head, he actually uses a mallet-o-matic.
--
Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.
-- Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Larry Jaques" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:03:20 -0500, Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Watch these guys use hammers of all kinds:
>>
>>
>>http://vimeo.com/1582825
>
> Cool. I love the gossamer shavings of those planes, too.
> Another nice thing about the worksite: no radio blaring.
>
Interesting comment about the radio. There was a nice rhythmic sound of
them working.
On Tue, 16 Aug 2011 09:05:14 -0500, [email protected]
(Robert Bonomi) wrote:
>In article <[email protected]>,
>Larry Jaques <[email protected]> wrote:
>>On Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:31:26 -0500, Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>On 8/15/2011 7:53 AM, k-nuttle wrote:
>>>> I suspect that your categories "Cheap Chinese" and "Quality" are
>>>> irrelevant as I suspect there are no hammers made in the US today.
>>>>
>>>> I think that unless you buy a hammer at the Dollar Store, you will not
>>>> have to worry about the head shattering, and even those will probably be
>>>> OK.
>>>
>>>I really don't see much difference in Harbor Freight and the Dollar
>>>Store for the most part.
>>
>>Yabbut, you're a Festering Prude. Whaddya expect?
>>
>>P.S: The dollar stores sell what Harbor Freight _won't_.
>
>You can get Festools at the Dollar Store ??
Probably not RSN.
--
Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.
-- Franklin D. Roosevelt
On Fri, 19 Aug 2011 23:37:27 -0400, "Ed Pawlowski"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"Larry Jaques" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> On Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:03:20 -0500, Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>Watch these guys use hammers of all kinds:
>>>
>>>
>>>http://vimeo.com/1582825
>>
>> Cool. I love the gossamer shavings of those planes, too.
>> Another nice thing about the worksite: no radio blaring.
>>
>
>Interesting comment about the radio. There was a nice rhythmic sound of
>them working.
Right, music unto itself. And no grating commercials.
--
...in order that a man may be happy, it is
necessary that he should not only be capable
of his work, but a good judge of his work.
-- John Ruskin
On 8/15/2011 8:09 AM, Leon wrote:
> On 8/15/2011 6:58 AM, HeyBub wrote:
>> Bill wrote:
>>> I need some ordinary hammers (12, 16, 20 oz).
>>>
>>> Are these tools in the "you get what you pay for" category?
>>>
>>> Perhaps you could briefly explain why I should consider spending $70
>>> or more, when I could probably find all 3 for around $10 at HF.
>>> If you can think of a reason related to safety (I'm afraid of flying
>>> metal) or the tool's lifetime I would be persuaded by that.
>>>
>>> The 16oz claw hammer I've been using is sort of a family heirloom,
>>> having belonged to my grandfather. I have my grandfather's watch
>>> too, but I've been able to Use the hammer. And I think of Arkansas
>>> whenever I swing it. If my arm gets tired, that helps me swing it
>>> better.
>>> Bill
>>>
>>
>> There's a subtle difference in the head shape of a "roofing hammer"
>> and the
>> other kind. If you're using a roofing hammer to drive ordinary nails,
>> you'll
>> have trouble.
>>
>> Anyway, get a hammer that feels best in your hand, that has the most
>> comfortable grip. Whether it comes from HF or one of the high-priced
>> spreads
>> is irrelevant regarding quality. Virtually all hammers on the market are
>> indestructable, with handles that simply will not break unless used as an
>> emergency pin to hold two railroad freight cars together. On a trip up a
>> mountain pass. In the winter.
>
> I think I would be more concerned with the head of the hammer shattering
> and sending out metal splinters if it were a cheap Chinese hammer. If I
> were using the hammer to do more than hang pictures I think I would go
> with a safer, quality hammer.
>
>
>
>
I suspect that your categories "Cheap Chinese" and "Quality" are
irrelevant as I suspect there are no hammers made in the US today.
I think that unless you buy a hammer at the Dollar Store, you will not
have to worry about the head shattering, and even those will probably be
OK.
As someone has already said, get a hammer that feels good in your hand,
and has a handle wide enough that the hammer will not turn as you strike
the nail. Also get one of the weight for the type of nails you will be
driving. If you will be doing a lot of spikes, you want a heavier
hammer as it takes less force to set the nail. It will make a big
difference after driving them for a day. If you are doing brads, use a
small light hammer.
My favorite hammer is about 70 years old or older? (It was my
grandfather's) with sufficiently shape to the handle so that it does not
wobble in your hand as you are driving the nail.
On 8/15/2011 7:53 AM, k-nuttle wrote:
...
> I suspect that your categories "Cheap Chinese" and "Quality" are
> irrelevant as I suspect there are no hammers made in the US today.
...
Suspect again... :)
<http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/Toolmakers-Hammer-With-Magnifying-Glass-Made-in-USA-by-The-LS-Starrett-Company/productinfo/232-53041/>
BTW, all Vaughan products are US-made...
<http://hammernet.com/vaughan/pages/products/professional-curved-claw-hammers.php>
AFAIK, Estwing still makes their products in US as well...
--
Mike Marlow wrote:
> Michael Kenefick wrote:
>
>> Get the HFT hammers. If they break before your job is done return
>> them. Get a few of the fiberglass and a few of the wood. Keep the
>> list updated as the "lastability" of the HFT hammers.
>>
>> As a kid we used rocks to nail bent nails to build club houses. The
>> rocks help up.
>>
>
> I personally hate both wood handles and fiberglass handles. I prefer steel
> handles. Pretty much a matter of choice. I wouldn't buy an assortment
> unless you want to buy different weight hammers. For most casual work, a 20
> or 22 oz hammer will cover it all.
Yes, I was considering different hammer weights (12, 16, 20 oz).
I'm not sure that I'd want to reach for a 22 oz hammer for molding or
brads, though I don't have much experience with the former (yet!)
Leon wrote:
> On 8/15/2011 6:58 AM, HeyBub wrote:
>> Bill wrote:
>>> I need some ordinary hammers (12, 16, 20 oz).
>>>
>>> Are these tools in the "you get what you pay for" category?
>>>
>>> Perhaps you could briefly explain why I should consider spending $70
>>> or more, when I could probably find all 3 for around $10 at HF.
>>> If you can think of a reason related to safety (I'm afraid of flying
>>> metal) or the tool's lifetime I would be persuaded by that.
>>>
>>> The 16oz claw hammer I've been using is sort of a family heirloom,
>>> having belonged to my grandfather. I have my grandfather's watch
>>> too, but I've been able to Use the hammer. And I think of Arkansas
>>> whenever I swing it. If my arm gets tired, that helps me swing it
>>> better.
>>> Bill
>>>
>>
>> There's a subtle difference in the head shape of a "roofing hammer"
>> and the
>> other kind. If you're using a roofing hammer to drive ordinary nails,
>> you'll
>> have trouble.
>>
>> Anyway, get a hammer that feels best in your hand, that has the most
>> comfortable grip. Whether it comes from HF or one of the high-priced
>> spreads
>> is irrelevant regarding quality. Virtually all hammers on the market are
>> indestructable, with handles that simply will not break unless used as an
>> emergency pin to hold two railroad freight cars together. On a trip up a
>> mountain pass. In the winter.
>
> I think I would be more concerned with the head of the hammer shattering
> and sending out metal splinters if it were a cheap Chinese hammer. If I
> were using the hammer to do more than hang pictures I think I would go
> with a safer, quality hammer.
The shattering is/was a primary concern. I could never foresee all of
the uses (or misuses) that I find for a hammer. Nobody mentioned this,
but hammers help overcome stubborness...wherever you find it.
Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.
Bill
On 8/15/2011 1:15 PM, Bill wrote:
> Mike Marlow wrote:
>> Michael Kenefick wrote:
>>> Get the HFT hammers. If they break before your job is done return
>>> them. Get a few of the fiberglass and a few of the wood. Keep the
>>> list updated as the "lastability" of the HFT hammers.
>>>
>>> As a kid we used rocks to nail bent nails to build club houses. The
>>> rocks help up.
>>>
>>
>> I personally hate both wood handles and fiberglass handles. I prefer
>> steel
>> handles. Pretty much a matter of choice. I wouldn't buy an assortment
>> unless you want to buy different weight hammers. For most casual work,
>> a 20
>> or 22 oz hammer will cover it all.
>
> Yes, I was considering different hammer weights (12, 16, 20 oz).
> I'm not sure that I'd want to reach for a 22 oz hammer for molding or
> brads, though I don't have much experience with the former (yet!)
I am discovering the downside of owning multiple hammers of different
sizes and weights. Also the dis-advantage of an nice size vice and
other shop tools.
They are a pain to pack for an cross country move.
They are two big to pack in the small boxes and create too much weight
when you put them with other things in the bigger boxes.
On 8/15/2011 12:15 PM, Bill wrote:
> Mike Marlow wrote:
>> Michael Kenefick wrote:
>>
>>> Get the HFT hammers. If they break before your job is done return
>>> them. Get a few of the fiberglass and a few of the wood. Keep the
>>> list updated as the "lastability" of the HFT hammers.
...
>> I personally hate both wood handles and fiberglass handles. I prefer
>> steel handles. Pretty much a matter of choice. I wouldn't buy an assortment
>> unless you want to buy different weight hammers. For most casual work,
>> a 20 or 22 oz hammer will cover it all.
>
> Yes, I was considering different hammer weights (12, 16, 20 oz).
> I'm not sure that I'd want to reach for a 22 oz hammer for molding or
> brads, though I don't have much experience with the former (yet!)
And I use all of the above... :)
One definitely will want a selection from small to larger; how large
will depend mostly on what one intends to use one for...20 or even 24
for heavy framing but it'll definitely be overkill and clumsy for
interior/light work.
And, there's the question for claw hammers of curved or straight-clawed;
again I have both for various purposes.
My favorite fencing hammer is one of granddad's old wooden handled, for
light framing I have an old Plumb fiberglass bent claw while a
steel-handled 20-oz for heavier framing, etc. For interior general
finish work I have a 16-oz Estwing. Then there's a random selection of
other stuff down to both an 8- and 6-oz claw hammers, tack hammers of
various ilks for screens, etc., and another set specifically for
upholstery, etc.
Then, in regards to your comment upthread about them being "persuaders"
for most anything; you definitely do _not_ want to abuse a claw hammer
used by using it as a machinist's or in place of a ballpeen hammer--you
should have an assortment there as well, from gentle 12-16oz to serious
of 2-3lb, again, just how large to go depends on what sort of
application(s) one has for them.
My problem w/ the cheapies I've used has been two-fold--I've observed
that in general the Chinese dollar-bin that one finds brought along when
going to the "pitch in and help" construction projects for church,
HforH, disaster relief projects, etc., is that they are very soft and
faces get dinged very quickly and easily so it becomes difficult to keep
them from taking off directionally when the faces are marred. But,
because they're soft, they aren't particularly prone to chipping,
thereby causing shrapnel.
OTOH, I've seen some from India in particular that are very hard but at
the expense of being very brittle and those are likely to chip.
The problem imo w/ the HF and ilk is that one just doesn't know what one
is going to get on any given day/order. Like most of their other tools,
if one isn't using them regularly, why not? Most likely all that
happens is that one is out a few bucks in a few months or a year but if
one only uses it once every six months for an hour at a time it might
last a lifetime. It just all depends on the application, the user and
the frequency of use and the particular luck of the draw for a given tool...
I've not bought a new hammer in probably 30 years; I've put new handles
in the heads of several of granddad's since coming back and while some
of them were the equivalent of the dollar-bin now when new, that was
probably 70 years ago at least and the quality of the faces on them is
nearly that of expensive ones today other than the very, very best...
--
dpb wrote:
> Then, in regards to your comment upthread about them being "persuaders"
> for most anything; you definitely do _not_ want to abuse a claw hammer
> used by using it as a machinist's or in place of a ballpeen hammer--you
> should have an assortment there as well, from gentle 12-16oz to serious
> of 2-3lb, again, just how large to go depends on what sort of
> application(s) one has for them.
Please excuse my naivety How is the business end of a claw hammer
different than that of a ballpeen hammer?
Say I want to bend some 1/8" thick 1/2" (soft) steel stock for instance.
I take it from your post that this would be disrespectful to my claw
hammer, but (somehow) less so to a ballpeen hammer.
Something I've seen other people do is to actually pound on the end of a
wrench with a hammer to loosen a stuck nut. Maybe they wrapped cloth
around it first, I'm not sure. Cardinal sin???
I actually don't own any "serious" hammers (yet), but I'm sure I would
use one if it was nearby. I'm inspired by the commedian Gallagher's
"Sledgo-matic". : )
Bill
DGDevin wrote:
>
>
> "Bill" wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>
>
>> Are these tools in the "you get what you pay for" category?
>
>> Perhaps you could briefly explain why I should consider spending $70
>> or more, when I could probably find all 3 for around $10 at HF.
>
> http://douglastool.com/catalog/20-oz-finish-hammer-extreme-rip-claw
>
> I bought one of these on sale at Grizzly a few years ago and either it's
> a joy to use or the fact that I spent fifty bucks on it makes me think
> it's a joy to use--either way it's a joy to use. I love the claw, I love
> the super-magnet nail-set, I love the fact that anybody who sees it oohs
> and aahs.
>
> You can probably get a real nice hammer that will last for years for
> less money, maybe they even have some at HF. But I'm keeping this one,
> it just works too well.
Looks like a very nice hammer. The magnet nail set would be nice to have.
As far as HF, I can't accept the idea of having a hammer that even has a
chance of breaking. What depth has he fallen to if a man can't count on
his hammer....
BTW, don't mentions hammers around my wife or she'll starting singing
that Pete Seeger song.
On 8/16/2011 12:17 AM, Bill wrote:
...
> Please excuse my naivety How is the business end of a claw hammer
> different than that of a ballpeen hammer?
>
> Say I want to bend some 1/8" thick 1/2" (soft) steel stock for instance.
> I take it from your post that this would be disrespectful to my claw
> hammer, but (somehow) less so to a ballpeen hammer.
>
> Something I've seen other people do is to actually pound on the end of a
> wrench with a hammer to loosen a stuck nut. Maybe they wrapped cloth
> around it first, I'm not sure. Cardinal sin???
...
It's not that there's a lot of difference in the faces themselves
(although generally a _good_ claw hammer will be somewhat better
finished) but that the abuse accorded the ballpeen will, over time,
damage even a good ballpeen face by denting, etc. Doing that to the
face of a hammer used for nailing makes for mishits and marring a
surface when driving flush that and generally makes the pleasure of
using a the hammer for its intended purpose far less as well as
potentially marring the work or requiring extra work.
It's the same idea as one doesn't use a _good_ screwdriver as a pry bar
or a chisel; one doesn't use the good chisel for a paint scraper on
100-yr old caked enamel of 30 coats or to dig out access for a nail head
to pull...
One can get away w/ some light work, obviously, but in general there
should be a tool for the specific purpose even if it's a dollar bin claw
hammer that one delegates for the purpose and another one like it for
nailing.
$0.02, imo, etc., etc., etc., ...
--
On 8/16/2011 7:20 AM, dpb wrote:
...
OBTW, the other thing wrt to using a ballpeen or machinists hammer
instead of a claw hammer for mechanical work is that the weight balance
is better for the purpose; they just feel better when used for the
things they were designed for than does a claw hammer which isn't
intended for the purpose.
--
Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>
> "Bill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> dpb wrote:
>>
>>> Then, in regards to your comment upthread about them being "persuaders"
>>> for most anything; you definitely do _not_ want to abuse a claw hammer
>>> used by using it as a machinist's or in place of a ballpeen hammer--you
>>> should have an assortment there as well, from gentle 12-16oz to serious
>>> of 2-3lb, again, just how large to go depends on what sort of
>>> application(s) one has for them.
>>
>> Please excuse my naivety How is the business end of a claw hammer
>> different than that of a ballpeen hammer?
>>
>> Say I want to bend some 1/8" thick 1/2" (soft) steel stock for instance.
>> I take it from your post that this would be disrespectful to my claw
>> hammer, but (somehow) less so to a ballpeen hammer.
>
> Which end are you considering the business end? They are designed for
> different business on one end. They do handle differently. If you look
> at the nail striking end, the ball peen has a longer thick end while the
> claw hammer tapers back much sooner. The bp does not seem as accurate
> for nails and the balance is different.
Thank you. My recollection is consistent with your explanation. I'll
check this again for myself at Sears.
Nova wrote:
> On Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:41:23 -0400, willshak<[email protected]>
> wrote:
>>
>> You can hammer nails with a ball peen hammer, but you might find it
>> impossible to pull out a bent nail with a ball peen hammer.
>
> A ball peen hammer's face has a slight crown to it. They suck for
> hammering nails.
Actually, I more or less learned that when I was a little kid--being
attracted to the size of the smaller ball peen. Remember when a 16oz
hammer seemed heavy to use?
I remember too when it was a lot of work to dig a full shovel-full of
dirt. Having grown some since, I enjoy digging full shovel-fulls of
dirt..lol.
On 8/16/2011 12:17 PM, Larry Jaques wrote:
> On Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:08:34 -0400, "Mike Marlow"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Robatoy wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> I need four.
>>> 16 Oz Estwing claw hammer with leather wrapped handle.
>>> 24 Oz Estwing Long, framer.
>>> 2 pound dead blow. I also have a 1 pound for assembly.
>>> Big ol' ballpeen , guessing at 3 lbs.
>>>
>>> All of which I have owned forever.
>>> Then I have a rubber mallet, a wooden mallet, 2 sledges, a triangular
>>> rotating head small hammer, a brass hammer.
>>
>> Yupp - I have a rubber mallet. Somehow, I can't bring myself to consider it
>> a hammer.
>
> My polyurethane mallet is my favorite hammer, and I have probably 20
> hammers of various types, from 3oz to 3lb, and 5 and 10lb sledges.
Holy Cow, it's C-less touting the advantages of polyurethane! I'm shocked, I
tell ya, shocked! Next thing is you'll be telling us it has a stained cherry
handle too! :-)
--
See Nad. See Nad go. Go Nad!
To reply, eat the taco.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbqboyee/
dpb wrote:
> On 8/16/2011 7:20 AM, dpb wrote:
> ...
> OBTW, the other thing wrt to using a ballpeen or machinists hammer
> instead of a claw hammer for mechanical work is that the weight balance
> is better for the purpose; they just feel better when used for the
> things they were designed for than does a claw hammer which isn't
> intended for the purpose.
>
> --
This reminds me of a question that occurred to me while I was watching
the blacksmiths at the state fair the other day. They were positioning
the flat end of a ball peen hammer on the red hot iron (which was on the
anvil of course, and hitting the ball end of that hammer with another
hammer to help flatten the iron. They did this over and over, and it
felt "wrong" to me, but I didn't ask or say anything. What's the verdict?
Bill
Roy wrote:
>>> Say I want to bend some 1/8" thick 1/2" (soft) steel stock for instance.
>>> I take it from your post that this would be disrespectful to my claw
>>> hammer, but (somehow) less so to a ballpeen hammer.
>>
>> It would be disrespectful to any hammer. Use a brake or bender, silly.
>
> Whoa, Larry, whoa!!! You been smokin' some of that whacky backy? A man of
> your experience should know that the proper response to a statement like that
> would be that he needs to go out and acquire a forge, anvil, dozens of tongs and
> hammers, couple of leg vises, trip hammer and a water wheel with mill dam to
> power it. Get hold of yourself, man! Your response required he only add one or
> two new tools to the shoppe.
Yeah, I like your attitude! Especially, the water wheel! ; )
Stuart wrote:
> In article<[email protected]>,
> Bill<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> This reminds me of a question that occurred to me while I was watching
>> the blacksmiths at the state fair the other day. They were positioning
>> the flat end of a ball peen hammer on the red hot iron (which was on the
>> anvil of course, and hitting the ball end of that hammer with another
>> hammer to help flatten the iron. They did this over and over, and it
>> felt "wrong" to me, but I didn't ask or say anything. What's the
>> verdict?
>
> "NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!!!!"
>
> Says my blacksmithing daughter, "it's b****y dangerous".
>
> "A proper 'flatter' isn't that expensive"!
>
Thank you for your answer!
Bill
Roy wrote:
> On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:48:33 -0700, Larry Jaques
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:51:55 -0400, Bill<[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Roy wrote:
>>>
>>>>>> Say I want to bend some 1/8" thick 1/2" (soft) steel stock for instance.
>>>>>> I take it from your post that this would be disrespectful to my claw
>>>>>> hammer, but (somehow) less so to a ballpeen hammer.
>>>>>
>>>>> It would be disrespectful to any hammer. Use a brake or bender, silly.
>>>>
>>>> Whoa, Larry, whoa!!! You been smokin' some of that whacky backy? A man of
>>>> your experience should know that the proper response to a statement like that
>>>> would be that he needs to go out and acquire a forge, anvil, dozens of tongs and
>>>> hammers, couple of leg vises, trip hammer and a water wheel with mill dam to
>>>> power it. Get hold of yourself, man! Your response required he only add one or
>>>> two new tools to the shoppe.
>>>
>>> Yeah, I like your attitude! Especially, the water wheel! ; )
>>
>> Yeah, yeah, yeah, and how many of you will be _allowed_ to do any of
>> that, hmm?
>>
>> Silly married critters, I swear...
Come on now, Larry. Do you have a water wheel with a milldam?
My wife would be the first one to say "lets buy it!"--that's sort of a
character flaw she has...lol. Roy has expensive ideas!
Good ones, but expensive...
>
>
> You're a cold, cruel man, Larry.
"willshak" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
I give my wife a certain amount of money a month (it's over $1k, of
which her car payment, and credit cards, would be included). What she
does with the rest of it is her business. What I do with my money (after
household expenses, utilities, food, bills, and repairs) is my business.
=================
Ours works similarly to that except when I run out of cash I have to perform
well in the bedroom, and the wife gives me more.
Times can be tough but it all works out in the end.
--
Eric
Larry Jaques wrote:
> On Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:03:20 -0500, Swingman<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Watch these guys use hammers of all kinds:
>>
>>
>> http://vimeo.com/1582825
>
> Cool. I love the gossamer shavings of those planes, too.
> Another nice thing about the worksite: no radio blaring.
You didn't notice the rhythm in the hammering?
They don't need no stinkin' radio! ; )
Nice video!
>
> --
> ...in order that a man may be happy, it is
> necessary that he should not only be capable
> of his work, but a good judge of his work.
> -- John Ruskin
On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:17:04 -0500, Roy <[email protected]>
wrote:
>On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:48:33 -0700, Larry Jaques
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:51:55 -0400, Bill <[email protected]>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>Roy wrote:
>>>
>>>>>> Say I want to bend some 1/8" thick 1/2" (soft) steel stock for instance.
>>>>>> I take it from your post that this would be disrespectful to my claw
>>>>>> hammer, but (somehow) less so to a ballpeen hammer.
>>>>>
>>>>> It would be disrespectful to any hammer. Use a brake or bender, silly.
>>>>
>>>> Whoa, Larry, whoa!!! You been smokin' some of that whacky backy? A man of
>>>> your experience should know that the proper response to a statement like that
>>>> would be that he needs to go out and acquire a forge, anvil, dozens of tongs and
>>>> hammers, couple of leg vises, trip hammer and a water wheel with mill dam to
>>>> power it. Get hold of yourself, man! Your response required he only add one or
>>>> two new tools to the shoppe.
>>>
>>>Yeah, I like your attitude! Especially, the water wheel! ; )
>>
>>Yeah, yeah, yeah, and how many of you will be _allowed_ to do any of
>>that, hmm?
>>
>>Silly married critters, I swear...
>
>
>You're a cold, cruel man, Larry.
Ah, you betcha! <evil grinne>
--
...in order that a man may be happy, it is
necessary that he should not only be capable
of his work, but a good judge of his work.
-- John Ruskin
On Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:16:35 -0400, "Mike Marlow"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Larry Jaques wrote:
>
>>
>> Disclaimer: I use screws as fasteners a bit more often than nails.
>>
>
>Yeahbut, don't you find it harder to drive those screws, than nails?
Of course. They just don't seem to hammer nearly as easily as nails.
--
Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.
-- Franklin D. Roosevelt
On Mon, 15 Aug 2011 03:32:47 -0400, Bill <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>I need some ordinary hammers (12, 16, 20 oz).
>
>Are these tools in the "you get what you pay for" category?
Howdy Bill.
There are very few tools that are not in some aspect of the "you get what you
pay for category". I think this factoid was discussed in one of the hand plane
threads late fall last year. Hammers are the same as hand planes in this
respect, only you hold them different.
>
>The 16oz claw hammer I've been using is sort of a family heirloom,
>having belonged to my grandfather.
Like clamps, you can't have too many hammers. SWMBO claims I took up
blacksmithing years back just to have an excuse to have a whole new stable of
hammers (and tongs, anvils, leg vises, etc), but she tends to exaggerate.
For carpentry, I like the 24 oz Estwing framing hammer. I also like my yellow
handled 20 oz smooth Stanley rip hammer and an ancient Stanley deep claw, mainly
because of the octagonal wood handle. Just a super hammer to hold. For light
work I use pin or brad air nailers while the glue dries. (Just kidding. I don't
stain cherry either.)
I don't recall ever chipping a hammer working wood. I have broken a cheap ball
peen hammer and chipped a cheap 2 lb engineer's hammer with mishits working
metal.
Why not add hammers to your rust hunt list along with planes and chisels and
saws and clamps (etc.) at the weekly yard sales/fleas, and just pick them up as
you find them? Sometimes you can get a good hammer or axe head for pocket
change and then rehandle it. Some people don't want to bother with rehandling a
tool, but it is not a big deal.
>BTW, Anyone heard of the MWTCA ("Midwest Tool Collectors Association")?
It seems you are headed down the slippery slope at a dead run. So to speed your
decent, let me suggest you check out the Oldtools mailing list:
http://ruckus.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
Contact me off list for two guys who have been very good at supplying me with
old tools for a couple years. Note I have carefully concealed my real email
address.
Regards,
Roy
On Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:20:24 -0700, Larry Jaques
<[email protected]> wrote:
>On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:17:04 -0500, Roy <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:48:33 -0700, Larry Jaques
>><[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:51:55 -0400, Bill <[email protected]>
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>>Roy wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>>> Say I want to bend some 1/8" thick 1/2" (soft) steel stock for instance.
>>>>>>> I take it from your post that this would be disrespectful to my claw
>>>>>>> hammer, but (somehow) less so to a ballpeen hammer.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It would be disrespectful to any hammer. Use a brake or bender, silly.
>>>>>
>>>>> Whoa, Larry, whoa!!! You been smokin' some of that whacky backy? A man of
>>>>> your experience should know that the proper response to a statement like that
>>>>> would be that he needs to go out and acquire a forge, anvil, dozens of tongs and
>>>>> hammers, couple of leg vises, trip hammer and a water wheel with mill dam to
>>>>> power it. Get hold of yourself, man! Your response required he only add one or
>>>>> two new tools to the shoppe.
>>>>
>>>>Yeah, I like your attitude! Especially, the water wheel! ; )
>>>
>>>Yeah, yeah, yeah, and how many of you will be _allowed_ to do any of
>>>that, hmm?
>>>
>>>Silly married critters, I swear...
>>
>>
>>You're a cold, cruel man, Larry.
>
>Ah, you betcha! <evil grinne>
To keep this on topic, you need to know these guys were fishing out of a wooden
boat one of them had built. Boat was probably made of cherry and painted
yellow....
Four married guys go fishing. After an hour, the following conversation
took place:
First guy: "You have no idea what I had to do to be able to come out
fishing this weekend. I had to promise my wife that I would paint every room in
the house next weekend."
Second guy: "That is nothing, I had to promise my wife that I would build her a
new deck for the pool."
Third guy: "Man, you both have it easy! I had to promise my wife that I would
remodel the kitchen for her."
They continue to fish. When they realized that the fourth guy has not said a
word, they asked him. "You haven't said anything about what you had to do to be
able to come fishing this weekend. What's the deal?"
Fourth guy: "I just set my alarm for 5:30 am. When it went off, I shut off my
alarm, gave the wife a slap on her ass and said: "Fishing or Sex?" and she said:
"Wear sun-block."
On Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:21:55 -0700, Larry Jaques
<[email protected]> wrote:
>On Tue, 16 Aug 2011 01:17:52 -0400, Bill <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>>dpb wrote:
>>
>>> Then, in regards to your comment upthread about them being "persuaders"
>>> for most anything; you definitely do _not_ want to abuse a claw hammer
>>> used by using it as a machinist's or in place of a ballpeen hammer--you
>>> should have an assortment there as well, from gentle 12-16oz to serious
>>> of 2-3lb, again, just how large to go depends on what sort of
>>> application(s) one has for them.
>>
>>Please excuse my naivety How is the business end of a claw hammer
>>different than that of a ballpeen hammer?
>>
>>Say I want to bend some 1/8" thick 1/2" (soft) steel stock for instance.
>>I take it from your post that this would be disrespectful to my claw
>>hammer, but (somehow) less so to a ballpeen hammer.
>
>It would be disrespectful to any hammer. Use a brake or bender, silly.
Whoa, Larry, whoa!!! You been smokin' some of that whacky backy? A man of
your experience should know that the proper response to a statement like that
would be that he needs to go out and acquire a forge, anvil, dozens of tongs and
hammers, couple of leg vises, trip hammer and a water wheel with mill dam to
power it. Get hold of yourself, man! Your response required he only add one or
two new tools to the shoppe.
>It's much easier on the steel, too, creating less splitting and
>shearing in the bend. Fast bends rip it, slow bends finess it,
>Grasshoppa.
>
>
>>Something I've seen other people do is to actually pound on the end of a
>>wrench with a hammer to loosen a stuck nut. Maybe they wrapped cloth
>>around it first, I'm not sure. Cardinal sin???
>
>Use a stick/club, not a hammer, if you can't get an impact on it.
Use a 5 foot piece of 2 inch schedule 40 pipe (aka a cheater bar).
>
>
>>I actually don't own any "serious" hammers (yet), but I'm sure I would
>>use one if it was nearby. I'm inspired by the commedian Gallagher's
>>"Sledgo-matic". : )
>
>Since it's a wooden head, he actually uses a mallet-o-matic.
Bill wrote the following:
> Nova wrote:
>> On Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:41:23 -0400, willshak<[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> You can hammer nails with a ball peen hammer, but you might find it
>>> impossible to pull out a bent nail with a ball peen hammer.
>>
>> A ball peen hammer's face has a slight crown to it. They suck for
>> hammering nails.
>
> Actually, I more or less learned that when I was a little kid--being
> attracted to the size of the smaller ball peen. Remember when a 16oz
> hammer seemed heavy to use?
>
> I remember too when it was a lot of work to dig a full shovel-full of
> dirt. Having grown some since, I enjoy digging full shovel-fulls of
> dirt..lol.
Just wait a few years. You'll be reverting to the half full shovel in
time. :-)
--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @
Bill wrote the following:
> dpb wrote:
>
>> Then, in regards to your comment upthread about them being "persuaders"
>> for most anything; you definitely do _not_ want to abuse a claw hammer
>> used by using it as a machinist's or in place of a ballpeen hammer--you
>> should have an assortment there as well, from gentle 12-16oz to serious
>> of 2-3lb, again, just how large to go depends on what sort of
>> application(s) one has for them.
>
> Please excuse my naivety How is the business end of a claw hammer
> different than that of a ballpeen hammer?
>
> Say I want to bend some 1/8" thick 1/2" (soft) steel stock for instance.
> I take it from your post that this would be disrespectful to my claw
> hammer, but (somehow) less so to a ballpeen hammer.
>
> Something I've seen other people do is to actually pound on the end of a
> wrench with a hammer to loosen a stuck nut. Maybe they wrapped cloth
> around it first, I'm not sure. Cardinal sin???
>
> I actually don't own any "serious" hammers (yet), but I'm sure I would
> use one if it was nearby. I'm inspired by the commedian Gallagher's
> "Sledgo-matic". : )
>
> Bill
You can hammer nails with a ball peen hammer, but you might find it
impossible to pull out a bent nail with a ball peen hammer.
--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @
Mike Marlow wrote the following:
> Michael Kenefick wrote:
>
>> Get the HFT hammers. If they break before your job is done return
>> them. Get a few of the fiberglass and a few of the wood. Keep the
>> list updated as the "lastability" of the HFT hammers.
>>
>> As a kid we used rocks to nail bent nails to build club houses. The
>> rocks help up.
>>
>
> I personally hate both wood handles and fiberglass handles. I prefer steel
> handles. Pretty much a matter of choice. I wouldn't buy an assortment
> unless you want to buy different weight hammers. For most casual work, a 20
> or 22 oz hammer will cover it all.
>
When I first got a P/T job with a general contractor, I showed up with
the usual homeowner's wood handled claw hammer. The others were using
regular framing hammers. A couple had Estwings, I liked the way the
Estwings rang when hitting the nails, so I bought 3 of them. One 22 oz.
smooth faced, one 22 oz. milled face, and a 14 oz. drywall hammer.
--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @
On Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:29:33 -0400, "Mike Marlow"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Leon wrote:
>
>>
>> I think I would be more concerned with the head of the hammer
>> shattering and sending out metal splinters if it were a cheap Chinese
>> hammer. If I were using the hammer to do more than hang pictures I
>> think I would go with a safer, quality hammer.
>
>True, but there is no evidence that framing hammers sold by Harbor Freight
>pose any more risk of flying shrapnel than any other commonly available
>hammer. No need to invest in an Estwing for the type of work Bill is ever
>likely to do.
I've used HF framing hammers exclusively (for probably 30 years) and
have never seen shrapnel from one. I've broken a couple handles over
the years, but that was from misses (I was too hot and tired to aim)
or abuse (nail pulling the hard way) not any fault of the hammah.
Watch for the hammers with the actual wedge. The tar they're starting
to use now, instead of wedges, can be lethal. And watch the grain
direction in the handle, as with any manufacturer.
Disclaimer: I use screws as fasteners a bit more often than nails.
--
Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.
-- Franklin D. Roosevelt
I use my Estwing claw hammers for everything. Today it was chipping brick
away to fasten a railing fastening plate to pillars made from rock-faced
brick. Done it many times and they still drive framing nails just fine but
then they are only a few decades old yet.
Just drag the faces over some rough sandpaper once in a while, to remove the
polish, and the nails don't tend to slip off when struck.
-------------
"willshak" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
When I first got a P/T job with a general contractor, I showed up with
the usual homeowner's wood handled claw hammer. The others were using
regular framing hammers. A couple had Estwings, I liked the way the
Estwings rang when hitting the nails, so I bought 3 of them. One 22 oz.
smooth faced, one 22 oz. milled face, and a 14 oz. drywall hammer.
--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @
chaniarts wrote:
> On 8/15/2011 8:16 AM, Mike Marlow wrote:
>> Larry Jaques wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Disclaimer: I use screws as fasteners a bit more often than nails.
>>>
>>
>> Yeahbut, don't you find it harder to drive those screws, than nails?
>
> isn't that what the heavier hammers are for?
Yep! But just try to find one with a Torx head. They can't be had for love
or money.
On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 10:18:20 -0400, willshak <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Larry Jaques wrote the following:
>> On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:25:08 -0500, Roy <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:21:55 -0700, Larry Jaques
>>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>> It would be disrespectful to any hammer. Use a brake or bender, silly.
>>> Whoa, Larry, whoa!!! You been smokin' some of that whacky backy? A man of
>>> your experience should know that the proper response to a statement like that
>>> would be that he needs to go out and acquire a forge, anvil, dozens of tongs and
>>> hammers, couple of leg vises, trip hammer and a water wheel with mill dam to
>>> power it. Get hold of yourself, man! Your response required he only add one or
>>> two new tools to the shoppe.
>>
>> As so many of you idjuts are married, I try to suggest single (or
>> multiple small) tool purchases so they will fly past SWMBO's irate
>> replies when you wish to do something manly and bold. For the single
>> man, definitely go for a whole new -stable- of toys. I'm single and
>> half my living room is littered with my toys.
>> Bwahahahahahaha! YMMV.
>
>
>I'm married and my living room is lettered with toys.
>They're not mine tho. They're my grandson's toys who we daycare 3 days a
>week.
The evil feminine mind shows a favoritism, doesn't it?
--
...in order that a man may be happy, it is
necessary that he should not only be capable
of his work, but a good judge of his work.
-- John Ruskin
On Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:08:34 -0400, "Mike Marlow"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Robatoy wrote:
>
>>
>> I need four.
>> 16 Oz Estwing claw hammer with leather wrapped handle.
>> 24 Oz Estwing Long, framer.
>> 2 pound dead blow. I also have a 1 pound for assembly.
>> Big ol' ballpeen , guessing at 3 lbs.
>>
>> All of which I have owned forever.
>> Then I have a rubber mallet, a wooden mallet, 2 sledges, a triangular
>> rotating head small hammer, a brass hammer.
>
>Yupp - I have a rubber mallet. Somehow, I can't bring myself to consider it
>a hammer.
My polyurethane mallet is my favorite hammer, and I have probably 20
hammers of various types, from 3oz to 3lb, and 5 and 10lb sledges.
>> THEN a HF grade 3 dollar one in case somebody wants to borrow a
>> hammer.
>
>I have an orphan hammer too - a 16oz Stanley that I consider to be my wife's
>hammer.
There ya go.
--
...in order that a man may be happy, it is
necessary that he should not only be capable
of his work, but a good judge of his work.
-- John Ruskin
On Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:31:26 -0500, Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet>
wrote:
>On 8/15/2011 7:53 AM, k-nuttle wrote:
>> I suspect that your categories "Cheap Chinese" and "Quality" are
>> irrelevant as I suspect there are no hammers made in the US today.
>>
>> I think that unless you buy a hammer at the Dollar Store, you will not
>> have to worry about the head shattering, and even those will probably be
>> OK.
>
>I really don't see much difference in Harbor Freight and the Dollar
>Store for the most part.
Yabbut, you're a Festering Prude. Whaddya expect?
P.S: The dollar stores sell what Harbor Freight _won't_.
--
Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.
-- Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Bill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I need some ordinary hammers (12, 16, 20 oz).
>
> Are these tools in the "you get what you pay for" category?
>
> Perhaps you could briefly explain why I should consider spending $70 or
> more, when I could probably find all 3 for around $10 at HF.
> If you can think of a reason related to safety (I'm afraid of flying
> metal) or the tool's lifetime I would be persuaded by that.
>
> The 16oz claw hammer I've been using is sort of a family heirloom, having
> belonged to my grandfather. I have my grandfather's watch too, but I've
> been able to Use the hammer. And I think of Arkansas whenever I swing it.
> If my arm gets tired, that helps me swing it better.
>
> Bill
>
How many "name brand hammers" are now made in China. Sad thing that so
many great tool manufactures now use China but the list price cost has not
changed. ww
On Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:25:08 -0500, Roy <[email protected]>
wrote:
>On Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:21:55 -0700, Larry Jaques
><[email protected]> wrote:
>>It would be disrespectful to any hammer. Use a brake or bender, silly.
>
>Whoa, Larry, whoa!!! You been smokin' some of that whacky backy? A man of
>your experience should know that the proper response to a statement like that
>would be that he needs to go out and acquire a forge, anvil, dozens of tongs and
>hammers, couple of leg vises, trip hammer and a water wheel with mill dam to
>power it. Get hold of yourself, man! Your response required he only add one or
>two new tools to the shoppe.
As so many of you idjuts are married, I try to suggest single (or
multiple small) tool purchases so they will fly past SWMBO's irate
replies when you wish to do something manly and bold. For the single
man, definitely go for a whole new -stable- of toys. I'm single and
half my living room is littered with my toys.
Bwahahahahahaha! YMMV.
>>It's much easier on the steel, too, creating less splitting and
>>shearing in the bend. Fast bends rip it, slow bends finess it,
>>Grasshoppa.
>>
>>
>>>Something I've seen other people do is to actually pound on the end of a
>>>wrench with a hammer to loosen a stuck nut. Maybe they wrapped cloth
>>>around it first, I'm not sure. Cardinal sin???
>>
>>Use a stick/club, not a hammer, if you can't get an impact on it.
>
>Use a 5 foot piece of 2 inch schedule 40 pipe (aka a cheater bar).
Even better. I had an ovulated piece of pipe I'd use on smaller
wrenches in tight spaces. About 14" long, it would nearly triple the
effective length of the wrench. Then I bought a MAC front-end ratchet
set and those Chebby suspension nuts became piece of cake/duck
souplike.
I think I'll make an HF Tool Run today. Pittsburgh Pro hammahs are on
sale for $2.99, and I needs me wunna them new, non-waffle faced toys.
--
...in order that a man may be happy, it is
necessary that he should not only be capable
of his work, but a good judge of his work.
-- John Ruskin
"Bill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I need some ordinary hammers (12, 16, 20 oz).
>
> Are these tools in the "you get what you pay for" category?
>
> Perhaps you could briefly explain why I should consider spending $70 or
> more, when I could probably find all 3 for around $10 at HF.
> If you can think of a reason related to safety (I'm afraid of flying
> metal) or the tool's lifetime I would be persuaded by that.
I see you already know the answer. Some 20+ years ago a fellow I know
started building his house. He bought a half dozen cheap hammers for
framing. The cheap hammers had broken handles or were otherwise gone in a
couple of days.
Good hammers feel good in the hand, they strike and stay on the nail head,
they last for decades. They just work better and are easier on the arm if
you can get than nail in with less blows.
Git yerself an Estwing unit!
I got a few of them some years ago and never thought much about any
difference but try one of the old cheap ones now?...forget it! They are
dangerous!
I'm not sure about better hammers making you senseless (2) though???
1------------
"Sonny" wrote in message
news:f1c0f159-ac3e-4a2a-83e4-280053a4c88b@p10g2000yqi.googlegroups.com...
Yeah, that's right! Similarly, in the medical field, sterile needles
don't hurt. Only dirty needles hurt. Unless, maybe, they are Chinese
sterile needles.
Sonny
2----------------
On Aug 15, 8:36 am, Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:
And, with the better hammers, you won't even know when you hit your thumb.
Guaranteed!