...and why are they so much lighter than regular steel hammers? Seems like a 14 oz hammer would hit like... a 14 oz hammer.
Are titanuim hammers worth it?
- Thread starter KLF
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depends on how they are balanced , the weight is in a different place .
would i pay 100-150$ for a good titanium hammer ? hell no , not unless i was a framer . they usually only last about 2-3 years if your a framer any way then the necks break .
stilleto's are the only ones that last more then 3 years . personally the best framing hammer to buy Stiletto Tools
the douglas's and hearts usually break fairly quickly and the handles are to expensive .
what hammer were you looking at ?
would i pay 100-150$ for a good titanium hammer ? hell no , not unless i was a framer . they usually only last about 2-3 years if your a framer any way then the necks break .
stilleto's are the only ones that last more then 3 years . personally the best framing hammer to buy Stiletto Tools
the douglas's and hearts usually break fairly quickly and the handles are to expensive .
what hammer were you looking at ?
- Thread starter
- #4
I'll start by saying I hate buying cheap crappy tools. A good well-made tool can make a job much better.
So I've been doing a lot of framing lately. My only decent hammer now is an old Sandvik 16 oz claw hammer. It's nice, but not a real framer. I used a (borrowed) 23oz Stanley FatMax today, it was OK, but I'm thinking my 50-year-old arm is gonna be pissed at me tomorrow. It's an OK hammer, actually decent for only $18 at Homey Depot.
The Douglas's look nice, I think 20oz would work well for me. They're really well made, maybe $60 on-line. I have a 15-oz finisher, it's super nice.
Doing some more searching, I found the Stilettos. I can see why they cost more, titanium ain't cheap. I'm just wondering if they're worth it, although truthfully I can't justify the expense. And I can't figure out the weight difference. They don't explain it on their website either.
I rarely use my hammer to pull nails, that's what catspaws and crowbars are for. I can't recall ever breaking a handle.
So I've been doing a lot of framing lately. My only decent hammer now is an old Sandvik 16 oz claw hammer. It's nice, but not a real framer. I used a (borrowed) 23oz Stanley FatMax today, it was OK, but I'm thinking my 50-year-old arm is gonna be pissed at me tomorrow. It's an OK hammer, actually decent for only $18 at Homey Depot.
The Douglas's look nice, I think 20oz would work well for me. They're really well made, maybe $60 on-line. I have a 15-oz finisher, it's super nice.
Doing some more searching, I found the Stilettos. I can see why they cost more, titanium ain't cheap. I'm just wondering if they're worth it, although truthfully I can't justify the expense. And I can't figure out the weight difference. They don't explain it on their website either.
I rarely use my hammer to pull nails, that's what catspaws and crowbars are for. I can't recall ever breaking a handle.
Here's the same model framing hammer I have. 
$150 on my local CL, and I can have an el cheapo hammer and crowbars for demo. I bought enough nails for life......
Just looked again for kicks......here's another one for $150.
Hitachi Clipped Head Framing Nailer
$150 on my local CL, and I can have an el cheapo hammer and crowbars for demo. I bought enough nails for life......
Just looked again for kicks......here's another one for $150.
Hitachi Clipped Head Framing Nailer
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I'm with bigndn. Hammers are for destruction, not construction.
fj40charles
SILVER Star
You need to make sure the clipped head nails are okay for construction. Some codes do not allow the use of clipped head nails.
I would use a nail gun when possible to save time and shoulder/elbow joints.
I used Estwing hammers, but for home use.
I would use a nail gun when possible to save time and shoulder/elbow joints.
I used Estwing hammers, but for home use.
- Thread starter
- #9
I already have a really nice Porter-Cable FR-350A framing gun, also a craigslist deal. $120 in the case, it looks brand new, and the guy even tossed in a full case of 8d nails. Several towns in our area do not allow clipped head nails in framing.
Back on topic: All the framing I'm doing lately is for Habitat for Humanity. Since most of our labor force is volunteers, we do not use pneumatic nailers for framing, they are too dangerous. Besides, it's a huge mindset thing for these folks to hand-bang the nails. We do have a bunch of finish nailers for interior work, to reduce the dents in trim, but we have to be careful who we let use them. We also have a couple of siding nailers, and a crown stapler for doing flooring.
Back on topic: All the framing I'm doing lately is for Habitat for Humanity. Since most of our labor force is volunteers, we do not use pneumatic nailers for framing, they are too dangerous. Besides, it's a huge mindset thing for these folks to hand-bang the nails. We do have a bunch of finish nailers for interior work, to reduce the dents in trim, but we have to be careful who we let use them. We also have a couple of siding nailers, and a crown stapler for doing flooring.
splitshot
Head cook, Bottle washer, and Peace keeper.
Here's the same model framing hammer I have.
View attachment 374009
Just looked again for kicks......here's another one for $150.
Hitachi Clipped Head Framing Nailer
I'll jump on this wagon also..
Iffin' you want to go the "Manuel Labor" way, nothing beats a Vaughn..
I take a belt sander to take off some of the waffle before they have a chance to take off some of my thumb.
All I can add is that I prefer wooden handled framing hammers over steel, way easier on the arm.
Here is an article about titanium hammers, and a discussion about the article, from a recent issue od Fine Homebuilding (great magazine).
What's the Difference: Titanium hammers vs. steel hammers - Fine Homebuilding Article
Titanium hammers up for grabs. Want one? - Fine Homebuilding
What's the Difference: Titanium hammers vs. steel hammers - Fine Homebuilding Article
Titanium hammers up for grabs. Want one? - Fine Homebuilding
Is this a good buy?
STILETTO TiBONE 15OZ TITANIUM FRAMING HAMMER
STILETTO TiBONE 15OZ TITANIUM FRAMING HAMMER
splitshot
Head cook, Bottle washer, and Peace keeper.
Ben, any relation to Tom?
No, but I'm a fan, wish I had some of his knowledge/skill.
- Thread starter
- #17
Not when you see that you can buy one from Amazon (free shipping) for $220.
Amazon.com: Stiletto Tools Inc TB15MS Ti-Bone Titanium Hammer With Straight Handle: Home Improvement
The $275 price is a lie.
Lets see I've got a couple 20-28oz Vaughan's (23oz is my favorite frammer next to my Hitachi NR-83 & 90).
Douglas (Santa Cruz, CA) makes great demo hammers, got 4 or 5 frammers and one finish.
My Stilleto's (one finish one frammer) sit on my shop wall and are good for shop use.
#1-never use to remove a nail, ask White Shark I destroyed one of his long ago.
#2-never hit anything not intended to be struck, Titanium will chip and potentially shatter.
Douglas (Santa Cruz, CA) makes great demo hammers, got 4 or 5 frammers and one finish.
My Stilleto's (one finish one frammer) sit on my shop wall and are good for shop use.
#1-never use to remove a nail, ask White Shark I destroyed one of his long ago.
#2-never hit anything not intended to be struck, Titanium will chip and potentially shatter.
personally the douglas's handles snap and the handle costs about the same as the hammer , also had a neck snap right below the head .
i don't like them .
i use a cheap steal hammer with a wooden handle for some reason i really like it , no idea why .
stanley fat max anything is heavy heavy heavy , the fat max labels all over them just piss me off .
i would just get a steal hammer or like bigndn said a nice hitachi spiker , maybe thats why i like my hammer . because i use a spiker for actual framing and basically everything .
i use them more for alignment , a nail bar pulls my nails and a gun puts in my nails .
i don't like them .
i use a cheap steal hammer with a wooden handle for some reason i really like it , no idea why .
stanley fat max anything is heavy heavy heavy , the fat max labels all over them just piss me off .
i would just get a steal hammer or like bigndn said a nice hitachi spiker , maybe thats why i like my hammer . because i use a spiker for actual framing and basically everything .
i use them more for alignment , a nail bar pulls my nails and a gun puts in my nails .
I've got a Ti hammer and I find it nice for some tasks where you have a lot of overheat swinging. Hits pretty hard. I have a collection of nice hammers but like someone else posted, often I find myself using a cheapo wooden handled one. Hard to improve on some things. I have a wooden handles Dead On California style framer that I really like as well.