Thread: What Do You Have In The Mail Right Now?

Originally Posted by rickmccarey

On a soap kick. Have this one coming. Anyone tried it?




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Don't know if I wanna smell like that, I might try to lick my lather prior to shaving

I've been wanting a new framing hammer at work, and decided I wanted something Titanium. Our local Hardware store has the Stiletto Hammers, but the big one is over $300 and the Hickory handled on, although much cheaper, is very unbalanced and goofy to swing. So after reading about the Dalluge 16oz framing hammer, and how everyone who has one loves them, I decided to order one. It's in the mail straight from Amazon, which means it may get here quite quick. Can't wait to pound some nails with this baby.

Put the air nailers DOWN boys!

Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY

I've been wanting a new framing hammer at work, and decided I wanted something Titanium. Our local Hardware store has the Stiletto Hammers, but the big one is over $300 and the Hickory handled on, although much cheaper, is very unbalanced and goofy to swing. So after reading about the Dalluge 16oz framing hammer, and how everyone who has one loves them, I decided to order one. It's in the mail straight from Amazon, which means it may get here quite quick. Can't wait to pound some nails with this baby.

Put the air nailers DOWN boys!

What, $300, does that read your mind and do it all for you..

wow! $300 for what seems to be a gimmick.

IIRC my knowledge of metallurgy, titanium has the less density. So it is lighter per volume of material. It is equal to, or stronger than steel per weight. So, if you were to get a 16 oz. hammer of both materials, the titanium hammer would have a much larger head. As with hammers, weights are usually chosen based on the task intended. Less particular is the exact size (geometric dimensions) of the hammer. So I can't see the insight trying to lighten a hammer, while keeping it roughly the same size?

...Also, isn't titanium more prone to deformation and/or chipping than steel? And wouldn't a larger head of the same weight be too bulky, getting in the way??

I am open to enlightenment...

A GA7 with a Shavemac knot. Cocobolo and Amber.

Originally Posted by Crawler

wow! $300 for what seems to be a gimmick.

IIRC my knowledge of metallurgy, titanium has the less density. So it is lighter per volume of material. It is equal to, or stronger than steel per weight. So, if you were to get a 16 oz. hammer of both materials, the titanium hammer would have a much larger head. As with hammers, weights are usually chosen based on the task intended. Less particular is the exact size (geometric dimensions) of the hammer. So I can't see the insight trying to lighten a hammer, while keeping it roughly the same size?

...Also, isn't titanium more prone to deformation and/or chipping than steel? And wouldn't a larger head of the same weight be too bulky, getting in the way??

I am open to enlightenment...

Well, I used to use a 24oz California framer for 3-4 years. It was nice for driving nails that were below your shoulders, but anything above your head or in front of your face can turn your arm into a cocked noodle. You learn how to use both hands pretty quick, giving your dominant hand a rest. That hammer is also a beast while on your pouch. The handle's so long it hits your leg all day, gets caught in truss webs, and is awkward just crouching down. Also, with a pouch full of nails and tools the 24oz head makes the weight even worse.



My current hammer is a 20oz Japanese made framing hammer, but is more of an all round hammer that's good for everything. It has a fiberglass handle and a very sharp hook claw, which is better suited for pulling nails than a straight claw. Also, when your entire crew has these hammers, you just yell at your buddy for his hammer and it can immediately be turned into a cats paw (nail puller.) It does have a smaller striking face, but I've become use to it and I believe I am now a nail head sniper. I've been using this hammer for the past 7 years and really like it, but wish I had more when I'm driving framing spikes.



Now, let's talk about the Titanium hammer.

I've used my buddies 14oz Hickory handled Stiletto all day while framming, and for some reason it hits hard. The main key feature of Titanium is that it has ten times the recoil shock absorption of typical hammer steel. I've read that with steel framing hammers, up to 30% of the users kinetic swing speed can be lost due to recoil vibration. There are a lot of long term injuries that occur using heavy steel hammers, over the course of many years. Carpal tunnel being the most common. The lighter head allows you to generate more head speed, and with the more efficient recoil transfer that Titanium has, they are able to drive nails better than regular steel hammers.

After all this being said, the key is to just try one or ask someone who has used both for a number of years. I'm sure there's still guys out there that still love their steel hammers, but most that have tried Titanium, stay with the titanium.

Here's something cool that kinda ties this into razor collecting. The Douglas company has ceased production of their steel hammers just a few years back. The prices of those used hammers are starting to climb, because they were such a well made hammer. People are starting to snatch them up on ebay just like razors. All these new companies replicate the ''Douglas'' pattern head. They even have NOS hammers floating around now. I'm now on the search for mine.



sorry for the long post.....

Originally Posted by hrfdez

Just got my JS today.
Attachment 244598

Nice seeing your JS original after watching his video


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Pardon the pun but you hit the nail on the head Andrew.
Titanium provides the energy and mass strike effect of a heavier hammer, in a lighter form than its equivalent steel brother.
Head speed, like in golf, has everything to do with it. The mass of the head as it hits the nail transfers that energy into the nail. The lack of bounce, or recoil keeps more of that energy traveling down through the nail then back out the back end of the tool as bounce.
I traded up from estwing to Douglas years back and never regretted it.
Well not till my belt went walking over a weekend break that is.
Keep that hammer close sir, folks that spy it on the job may try to appreciate it more...

Andrew my experience with hammers s limited to 10# sledges, that would be our normal use in my field, but my dad had a custom home construction business for fear 45 years, was a carpenter. He was swinging an Estwing hammer for a while and then had elbow and wrist trouble, it all boiled down to the hammer, went back to wood handles and problem solved, so whatever it cost to swing, it's small compared to the benefits, I would pay t n a second and the titanium is working n the same principal as a dead blow hammer. As far as head speed that is what drives the bail , no different than baseball, the strongest guys aren't always the guys who can hit the long ball, it's bat speed thru the ball. Tc

Originally Posted by MikeB52

Pardon the pun but you hit the nail on the head Andrew.
Titanium provides the energy and mass strike effect of a heavier hammer, in a lighter form than its equivalent steel brother.
Head speed, like in golf, has everything to do with it. The mass of the head as it hits the nail transfers that energy into the nail. The lack of bounce, or recoil keeps more of that energy traveling down through the nail then back out the back end of the tool as bounce.
I traded up from estwing to Douglas years back and never regretted it.
Well not till my belt went walking over a weekend break that is.
Keep that hammer close sir, folks that spy it on the job may try to appreciate it more...

Ahhh! So you don't have the Douglas anymore???

the strongest guys aren't always the guys who can hit the long ball, it's bat speed thru the ball. Tc

Head speed, like in golf, has everything to do with it.

Yup. I've beat a few big guys in nail driving competitions at Buck and Does. Most of the time 3 hits is all it takes to beat them. They try so hard, and swing so hard they fold the nail over usually on the first or second blow. They grab the biggest hammer and I grab anything that has a wood or fibreglass handle.